Maitland vs Gillieston Heights

Gillieston Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 43 in Maitland. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Maitland, about half of households are people living alone. In Gillieston Heights, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Gillieston Heights: a median of $820,000, against $712,000 in Maitland, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Maitland tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Gillieston Heights suits young adults, families with children, and couples.

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

Gillieston Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 98/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 43%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 72%)
  • But Maitland has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Gillieston Heights

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($295,000 vs $740,000)
  • has cheaper land ($458,000 vs $1,075,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 28%)
  • But Maitland has cheaper houses ($712,500 vs $820,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Maitland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Maitland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 19/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Maitland

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 19/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 9%)
  • But Gillieston Heights carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

Gillieston Heights

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (52.3% vs 4.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Maitland Gillieston Heights
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.

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Walkability 85 / 19
Maitland — Walkability: 85/100 Gillieston Heights — Walkability: 19/100
Safety 2 / 42
Maitland — Safety: 2/100 Gillieston Heights — Safety: 42/100
Low fire risk 100 / 72
Maitland — Low fire risk: 100/100 Gillieston Heights — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Gillieston Heights has more residents (4,796 vs 1,972); Gillieston Heights has higher household incomes ($103,272 vs $64,532).

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Population 1,972 4,796
+143% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.6% +52.3%
Median age 43 30
Median household income $64,532/yr $103,272/yr
+60% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk $430/wk
+34% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maitland Gillieston Heights
0-4 4.2% / 10.8%
Maitland — 0-4: 4.2% Gillieston Heights — 0-4: 10.8%
5-14 10.0% / 16.1%
Maitland — 5-14: 10.0% Gillieston Heights — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 4.8% / 4.4%
Maitland — 15-19: 4.8% Gillieston Heights — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 6.3% / 6.9%
Maitland — 20-24: 6.3% Gillieston Heights — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 13.7% / 21.1%
Maitland — 25-34: 13.7% Gillieston Heights — 25-34: 21.1%
35-44 13.7% / 15.8%
Maitland — 35-44: 13.7% Gillieston Heights — 35-44: 15.8%
45-54 14.7% / 9.2%
Maitland — 45-54: 14.7% Gillieston Heights — 45-54: 9.2%
55-64 12.1% / 6.5%
Maitland — 55-64: 12.1% Gillieston Heights — 55-64: 6.5%
65-74 10.4% / 5.6%
Maitland — 65-74: 10.4% Gillieston Heights — 65-74: 5.6%
75-84 6.3% / 2.8%
Maitland — 75-84: 6.3% Gillieston Heights — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 4.4% / 0.9%
Maitland — 85+: 4.4% Gillieston Heights — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Maitland 23.6% couple families
Maitland — Couple Families: 23.6% Maitland — Lone Person: 47.6% Maitland — One Parent Families: 19.8% Maitland — Group Household: 5.8% Maitland — Other Families: 3.2%
Gillieston Heights 52.4% couple families
Gillieston Heights — Couple Families: 52.4% Gillieston Heights — Lone Person: 24.9% Gillieston Heights — One Parent Families: 18.3% Gillieston Heights — Group Household: 2.7% Gillieston Heights — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Maitland 42.4% renting
Maitland — Owned Outright: 28.5% Maitland — Mortgage: 29.1% Maitland — Renting: 42.4%
Gillieston Heights 38.7% renting
Gillieston Heights — Owned Outright: 18.9% Gillieston Heights — Mortgage: 42.4% Gillieston Heights — Renting: 38.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 20.6%
Maitland — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Gillieston Heights — Certificate III & IV: 20.6%
Bachelor Degree 8.3% / 7.5%
Maitland — Bachelor Degree: 8.3% Gillieston Heights — Bachelor Degree: 7.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.5%
Maitland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Gillieston Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 2.3%
Maitland — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Gillieston Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.4%
Maitland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Gillieston Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

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.

Maitland Gillieston Heights
England 2.0% / 1.5%
Maitland — England: 2.0% Gillieston Heights — England: 1.5%
India 0.4% / 1.9%
Maitland — India: 0.4% Gillieston Heights — India: 1.9%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.2%
Maitland — New Zealand: 0.9% Gillieston Heights — New Zealand: 1.2%
Philippines 0.8% / 0.8%
Maitland — Philippines: 0.8% Gillieston Heights — Philippines: 0.8%
Bangladesh 0.8% / —
Maitland — Bangladesh: 0.8% Gillieston Heights — Bangladesh: not among its largest
South Africa 0.4% / 0.4%
Maitland — South Africa: 0.4% Gillieston Heights — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Maitland 71.5% houses
Maitland — Houses: 71.5% Maitland — Flats / Apartments: 14.7% Maitland — Townhouses: 13.7%
Gillieston Heights 85.6% houses
Gillieston Heights — Houses: 85.6% Gillieston Heights — Flats / Apartments: 6.9% Gillieston Heights — Townhouses: 7.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Median house price $712,500 $820,500
Median unit price $740,000 $295,000
Median land price $1,075,000 $458,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 17 sales
23 days
from 83 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.

Maitland Gillieston Heights
3 bed $705K / $725K
Maitland — 3 bed: $705K (36 sales) Gillieston Heights — 3 bed: $725K (29 sales)

36 vs 29 sales

4 bed $810K / $843K
Maitland — 4 bed: $810K (7 sales) Gillieston Heights — 4 bed: $843K (109 sales)

7 vs 109 sales

Zoning mix

Gillieston Heights has more land zoned for conservation (33% vs 2%); Maitland has more rural and farming land (51% vs 39%).

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Rural and farming 51% 39%
Environmental 2% 33%
Residential 27% 26%
Parks and recreation 9% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 1%
Industrial 3% 0%
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

Maitland Gillieston Heights
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.

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Houses 3.4%
$590/wk on $912K
4.0%
$650/wk on $850K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Maitland Gillieston Heights
House price Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Schools Higher than 31% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW

Liveability

Maitland is more walkable (85 vs 19); Gillieston Heights scores higher overall (40 vs 35).

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Grade C
same for both
Score 35/100 40/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Gillieston Heights carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 0); Maitland carries more crime risk (98 vs 58).

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
Low
28/100
Crime High
98/100
Moderate
58/100
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 3
within 5 km
1
within 5 km

Schools

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Maitland

  • All Saints College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St John the Baptist Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Maitland Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • All Saints College (St Peter's) Catholic · Secondary

Schools in Gillieston Heights

  • Gillieston Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • The Heights Learning Community Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 11 2
Parks & reserves 6 4
Childcare 6 3
GPs 11 1
Pharmacies 2 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Walkability score 85/100 19/100
Distance to Sydney 164.9 km 163.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 122 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 254.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
34.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2320
0.6%
postcode 2321
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2320
69
postcode 2321

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.

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Car (driver) 59.7% / 75.6%
Maitland — Car (driver): 59.7% Gillieston Heights — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 23.3% / 19.2%
Maitland — Worked from Home: 23.3% Gillieston Heights — Worked from Home: 19.2%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 3.6%
Maitland — Car (passenger): 4.3% Gillieston Heights — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 6.8% / 0.5%
Maitland — Walked Only: 6.8% Gillieston Heights — Walked Only: 0.5%
Train 3.2% / 0.3%
Maitland — Train: 3.2% Gillieston Heights — Train: 0.3%
Bus 1.9% / 0.7%
Maitland — Bus: 1.9% Gillieston Heights — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.6%).

Setting

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.8 km 25.6 km

NBN connectivity

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Connectivity score 73/100 99/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
2,033 premises
99%
2,339 premises

Climate

Maitland Gillieston Heights
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)

Maitland Gillieston Heights
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

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Average residential rate $1,908/yr
same for both
Council Maitland
same for both

Federal electorate

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Maitland Gillieston Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Maitland

—

Gillieston Heights

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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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