Islington vs Mayfield

In both, most homes are detached houses. In Islington, about half of households rent. In Mayfield, most households own their home. On these figures, Islington tends to suit share households.

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

Mayfield

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (74% vs 56%)
  • But Islington has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mayfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($375/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mayfield

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 10%)
  • But Islington has more units and townhouses to downsize into (44% vs 26%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Islington Mayfield
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.

Islington Mayfield
Walkability 89 / 94
Islington — Walkability: 89/100 Mayfield — Walkability: 94/100
Low fire risk 100 / 79
Islington — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mayfield — Low fire risk: 79/100

Demographics

Mayfield has more residents (9,760 vs 2,026); Islington has higher household incomes ($95,056 vs $81,432).

Islington Mayfield
Population 2,026 9,760
+382% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.6% +4.8%
Median age 35 36
Median household income $95,056/yr
+14% vs other
 $81,432/yr
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+13% vs other
 $375/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Islington Mayfield
0-4 5.0% / 6.3%
Islington — 0-4: 5.0% Mayfield — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 8.2% / 9.2%
Islington — 5-14: 8.2% Mayfield — 5-14: 9.2%
15-19 3.6% / 4.0%
Islington — 15-19: 3.6% Mayfield — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 10.5% / 7.1%
Islington — 20-24: 10.5% Mayfield — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 22.2% / 20.2%
Islington — 25-34: 22.2% Mayfield — 25-34: 20.2%
35-44 15.6% / 14.7%
Islington — 35-44: 15.6% Mayfield — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 14.5% / 11.4%
Islington — 45-54: 14.5% Mayfield — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 10.8% / 11.4%
Islington — 55-64: 10.8% Mayfield — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 6.7% / 8.5%
Islington — 65-74: 6.7% Mayfield — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 2.6% / 4.5%
Islington — 75-84: 2.6% Mayfield — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 0.7% / 2.6%
Islington — 85+: 0.7% Mayfield — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Islington 44.1% lone person
Islington — Lone Person: 44.1% Islington — Couple Families: 23.8% Islington — One Parent Families: 13.3% Islington — Group Household: 16.5% Islington — Other Families: 2.3%
Mayfield 44.8% lone person
Mayfield — Lone Person: 44.8% Mayfield — Couple Families: 27.3% Mayfield — One Parent Families: 15.4% Mayfield — Group Household: 10.5% Mayfield — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Islington 47.8% renting
Islington — Owned Outright: 20.8% Islington — Mortgage: 31.4% Islington — Renting: 47.8%
Mayfield 42.1% renting
Mayfield — Owned Outright: 23.4% Mayfield — Mortgage: 34.5% Mayfield — Renting: 42.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Islington Mayfield
Bachelor Degree 22.1% / 15.4%
Islington — Bachelor Degree: 22.1% Mayfield — Bachelor Degree: 15.4%
Certificate III & IV 14.1% / 15.9%
Islington — Certificate III & IV: 14.1% Mayfield — Certificate III & IV: 15.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 7.3%
Islington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Mayfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 7.8% / 4.7%
Islington — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8% Mayfield — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 1.9%
Islington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Mayfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

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.

Islington Mayfield
England 2.3% / 2.3%
Islington — England: 2.3% Mayfield — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.4%
Islington — New Zealand: 1.8% Mayfield — New Zealand: 1.4%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.7%
Islington — Philippines: 0.9% Mayfield — Philippines: 0.7%
India 1.0% / 0.5%
Islington — India: 1.0% Mayfield — India: 0.5%
South Africa 0.9% / —
Islington — South Africa: 0.9% Mayfield — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.6%
Islington — Scotland: not among its largest Mayfield — Scotland: 0.6%
Vietnam — / 0.5%
Islington — Vietnam: not among its largest Mayfield — Vietnam: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Islington 55.9% houses
Islington — Houses: 55.9% Islington — Townhouses: 30.4% Islington — Flats / Apartments: 13.8%
Mayfield 74.3% houses
Mayfield — Houses: 74.3% Mayfield — Townhouses: 17.3% Mayfield — Flats / Apartments: 8.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Islington Mayfield
Median house price $1,010,000 $1,025,000
Median unit price $770,000 $735,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 24 sales
 20 days
from 109 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Islington Mayfield
2 bed $848K / $901K
Islington — 2 bed: $848K (12 sales) Mayfield — 2 bed: $901K (44 sales)

12 vs 44 sales

3 bed $1.04M / $1.02M
Islington — 3 bed: $1.04M (40 sales) Mayfield — 3 bed: $1.02M (133 sales)

40 vs 133 sales

4 bed $1.41M / $1.28M
Islington — 4 bed: $1.41M (6 sales) Mayfield — 4 bed: $1.28M (31 sales)

6 vs 31 sales

Zoning mix

Islington has more industrially zoned land (14% vs 2%).

Islington Mayfield
Residential 57% 82%
Industrial 14% 2%
Parks and recreation 13% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 5%
Environmental 5% 0%
Commercial 4%
same for both
Planning zones cover 99% of Islington and 100% of Mayfield. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Islington Mayfield
New dwellings approved 912
across Newcastle
same for both
Approvals change year on year +77%
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.

Islington Mayfield
Houses 4.0%
$688/wk on $905K
 3.9%
$730/wk on $984K
Units — 4.6%
$580/wk on $662K

Ranking within NSW

Islington Mayfield
House price Higher than 50% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 46% of NSW

Liveability

Mayfield scores higher overall (65 vs 58).

Islington Mayfield
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100 65/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Mayfield carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0).

Islington Mayfield
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
21/100
Crime 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 22
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Islington Mayfield
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 3.3 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 3.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.8% 2.3%

Schools in Islington

  • Islington Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Mayfield

  • Hunter Christian School Independent · Combined below peers
  • San Clemente Catholic College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • St Columban's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Dominic's Catholic College Catholic · Combined · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Islington Mayfield
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 7 16
Parks & reserves 2 9
Childcare 1 8
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 3 4

Mobility

Islington Mayfield
Walkability score 89/100 94/100
Distance to Sydney 158.2 km 158 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 121 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 89.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 250.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2296
 0.6%
postcode 2304
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2296
 31
postcode 2304

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.

Islington Mayfield
Car (driver) 54.0% / 60.1%
Islington — Car (driver): 54.0% Mayfield — Car (driver): 60.1%
Worked from Home 34.7% / 30.0%
Islington — Worked from Home: 34.7% Mayfield — Worked from Home: 30.0%
Walked Only 3.4% / 2.6%
Islington — Walked Only: 3.4% Mayfield — Walked Only: 2.6%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 3.7%
Islington — Car (passenger): 2.2% Mayfield — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Bicycle 3.5% / 1.3%
Islington — Bicycle: 3.5% Mayfield — Bicycle: 1.3%
Bus 1.9% / 1.5%
Islington — Bus: 1.9% Mayfield — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.1%).

Setting

Islington Mayfield
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
3.6 km to a named beach
 2.3 km

NBN connectivity

Islington Mayfield
Connectivity score 71/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
1,293 premises
 99%
5,219 premises

Climate

Islington Mayfield
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Islington Mayfield
PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³ 6.6 µg/m³
PM10 22.6 µg/m³ 21.1 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.89 pphm 0.75 pphm

Council rates

Islington Mayfield
Average residential rate $1,783/yr
same for both
Council Newcastle
same for both

Federal electorate

Islington Mayfield
Division Newcastle
same for both
Member Sharon Claydon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Islington Mayfield
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Islington

Coastal Parks Professionals Townhouses

Mayfield

Coastal Gentrifying Parks Regional Centre Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Islington

Islington vs Hamilton Islington vs Georgetown Islington vs Tighes Hill Islington vs Maryville Islington vs Wickham Islington vs Hamilton North

Other comparisons with Mayfield

Mayfield vs Waratah Mayfield vs Georgetown Mayfield vs Mayfield West Mayfield vs Tighes Hill Mayfield vs Mayfield East Mayfield vs Hamilton North
Full data on Islington Full data on Mayfield
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.

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