Horseshoe Bend vs East Maitland

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in East Maitland: a median of $825,000, against $730,000 in Horseshoe Bend. On these figures, East Maitland tends to suit people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

East Maitland

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (12 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 0)
  • But Horseshoe Bend carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 92/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Horseshoe Bend

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper houses ($730,000 vs $825,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

East Maitland

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 57/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (118 min vs 124 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (160.4 km vs 165 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

East Maitland

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (26% vs 11%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 57/100)
  • But Horseshoe Bend carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 92/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Horseshoe Bend

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.5% vs 0.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Horseshoe Bend and East Maitland drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Walkability 57 / 89
Horseshoe Bend — Walkability: 57/100 East Maitland — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 36 / 8
Horseshoe Bend — Safety: 36/100 East Maitland — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 66
Horseshoe Bend — Low fire risk: 100/100 East Maitland — Low fire risk: 66/100

Demographics

East Maitland has more residents (11,860 vs 427).

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Population 427 11,860
+2678% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.5% +0.7%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $71,500/yr $73,944/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $330/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
0-4 3.7% / 5.5%
Horseshoe Bend — 0-4: 3.7% East Maitland — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 13.8% / 11.7%
Horseshoe Bend — 5-14: 13.8% East Maitland — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 5.9% / 6.0%
Horseshoe Bend — 15-19: 5.9% East Maitland — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 7.5% / 6.1%
Horseshoe Bend — 20-24: 7.5% East Maitland — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 10.1% / 13.1%
Horseshoe Bend — 25-34: 10.1% East Maitland — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 13.3% / 12.5%
Horseshoe Bend — 35-44: 13.3% East Maitland — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 14.1% / 12.9%
Horseshoe Bend — 45-54: 14.1% East Maitland — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 15.2% / 11.7%
Horseshoe Bend — 55-64: 15.2% East Maitland — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 10.3% / 10.9%
Horseshoe Bend — 65-74: 10.3% East Maitland — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 4.2% / 6.6%
Horseshoe Bend — 75-84: 4.2% East Maitland — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ — / 2.9%
Horseshoe Bend — 85+: not among its largest East Maitland — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Horseshoe Bend 34.5% lone person
Horseshoe Bend — Lone Person: 34.5% Horseshoe Bend — Couple Families: 33.6% Horseshoe Bend — One Parent Families: 22.7% Horseshoe Bend — Other Families: 6.7% Horseshoe Bend — Group Household: 2.5%
East Maitland 43.8% lone person
East Maitland — Lone Person: 43.8% East Maitland — Couple Families: 33.2% East Maitland — One Parent Families: 18.0% East Maitland — Other Families: 1.7% East Maitland — Group Household: 3.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Horseshoe Bend 30.7% renting
Horseshoe Bend — Owned Outright: 31.3% Horseshoe Bend — Mortgage: 38.0% Horseshoe Bend — Renting: 30.7%
East Maitland 37.6% renting
East Maitland — Owned Outright: 30.8% East Maitland — Mortgage: 31.6% East Maitland — Renting: 37.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Certificate III & IV 18.5% / 17.9%
Horseshoe Bend — Certificate III & IV: 18.5% East Maitland — Certificate III & IV: 17.9%
Bachelor Degree 9.4% / 10.4%
Horseshoe Bend — Bachelor Degree: 9.4% East Maitland — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 8.0%
Horseshoe Bend — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% East Maitland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 2.5%
Horseshoe Bend — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% East Maitland — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.6%
Horseshoe Bend — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% East Maitland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
England 0.9% / 1.8%
Horseshoe Bend — England: 0.9% East Maitland — England: 1.8%
Philippines 1.6% / 0.8%
Horseshoe Bend — Philippines: 1.6% East Maitland — Philippines: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.9%
Horseshoe Bend — New Zealand: 0.7% East Maitland — New Zealand: 0.9%
China 0.9% / 0.4%
Horseshoe Bend — China: 0.9% East Maitland — China: 0.4%
Germany 0.7% / 0.4%
Horseshoe Bend — Germany: 0.7% East Maitland — Germany: 0.4%
India — / 0.4%
Horseshoe Bend — India: not among its largest East Maitland — India: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Horseshoe Bend 88.6% houses
Horseshoe Bend — Houses: 88.6% Horseshoe Bend — Townhouses: 8.2% Horseshoe Bend — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
East Maitland 74.5% houses
East Maitland — Houses: 74.5% East Maitland — Townhouses: 17.4% East Maitland — Flats / Apartments: 8.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Median house price $730,000 $825,000
Median unit price — $557,500
Median land price — $825,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 48 days
from 3 sales
 28 days
from 190 sales

Zoning mix

Horseshoe Bend has more rural and farming land (65% vs 29%).

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Rural and farming 65% 29%
Residential 25% 35%
Parks and recreation 3% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 12%
Environmental 6% 9%
Commercial 0% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
New dwellings approved 1,413
across Maitland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +20%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Houses — 3.9%
$660/wk on $890K
Units — 4.1%
$498/wk on $631K

Ranking within NSW

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
House price Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Income Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 86% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 60% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 66% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 27% of NSW

Liveability

East Maitland is more walkable (89 vs 57).

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Grade — B
Score — 51/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

East Maitland carries more bushfire risk (34 vs 0); East Maitland carries more crime risk (92 vs 64).

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
34/100
Crime Moderate
64/100
 High
92/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Inside the suburb 0 6
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Horseshoe Bend

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in East Maitland

  • Maitland High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • OneSchool Global NSW - Maitland Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Linuwel School Ltd Independent · Combined at peers
  • Maitland Grossmann High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Maitland East Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Supermarkets 0 6
Cafes & restaurants 0 18
Parks & reserves 0 22
Childcare 0 12
GPs 0 7
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 10
Fuel stations 0 6
Waterways 0 25

Mobility

Horseshoe Bend sits further from the CBD (165 km vs 160.4 km).

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Walkability score 57/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 165 km
+3% vs other
 160.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 124 min 118 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2320
 0.5%
postcode 2323
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2320
 44
postcode 2323

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Car (driver) 70.4% / 69.5%
Horseshoe Bend — Car (driver): 70.4% East Maitland — Car (driver): 69.5%
Worked from Home 21.1% / 23.0%
Horseshoe Bend — Worked from Home: 21.1% East Maitland — Worked from Home: 23.0%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 4.2%
Horseshoe Bend — Car (passenger): 2.8% East Maitland — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 3.5% / 1.5%
Horseshoe Bend — Walked Only: 3.5% East Maitland — Walked Only: 1.5%
Train 2.1% / 1.1%
Horseshoe Bend — Train: 2.1% East Maitland — Train: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.4%).

Setting

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 22.4 km 19.6 km

NBN connectivity

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Connectivity score 100/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
192 premises
 95%
6,608 premises

Climate

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Annual rainfall 996 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Average residential rate $1,908/yr
same for both
Council Maitland
same for both

Federal electorate

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Horseshoe Bend East Maitland
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Horseshoe Bend

Acreage Quiet River

East Maitland

Parks Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend vs Maitland Horseshoe Bend vs Lorn

Other comparisons with East Maitland

East Maitland vs Thornton East Maitland vs Metford East Maitland vs Ashtonfield East Maitland vs Chisholm East Maitland vs Tenambit East Maitland vs Raworth
Full data on Horseshoe Bend Full data on East Maitland
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or