Maitland vs Rutherford

Rutherford is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 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. On these figures, Maitland tends to suit people living alone, while Rutherford suits families with children.

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

Rutherford

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 6)
  • is already more of a family suburb (60% vs 43%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 72%)

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

First-home buyers

Rutherford

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($565,000 vs $740,000)
  • has cheaper land ($835,000 vs $1,075,000)

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 $360/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Maitland

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 28/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (122 min vs 132 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (164.9 km vs 171.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Maitland

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 28/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 13%)
  • But Rutherford carries lower crime risk (86/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

Rutherford

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (10.2% vs 4.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Maitland and Rutherford 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 Rutherford
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 Rutherford
Walkability 85 / 28
Maitland — Walkability: 85/100 Rutherford — Walkability: 28/100
Safety 2 / 14
Maitland — Safety: 2/100 Rutherford — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Maitland — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rutherford — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Rutherford has more residents (13,091 vs 1,972); Maitland skews older (43 vs 35).

Maitland Rutherford
Population 1,972 13,091
+564% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.6% +10.2%
Median age 43 35
Median household income $64,532/yr $76,700/yr
+19% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk $360/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maitland Rutherford
0-4 4.2% / 7.5%
Maitland — 0-4: 4.2% Rutherford — 0-4: 7.5%
5-14 10.0% / 14.4%
Maitland — 5-14: 10.0% Rutherford — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 4.8% / 5.7%
Maitland — 15-19: 4.8% Rutherford — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 6.3% / 5.9%
Maitland — 20-24: 6.3% Rutherford — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 13.7% / 15.9%
Maitland — 25-34: 13.7% Rutherford — 25-34: 15.9%
35-44 13.7% / 12.7%
Maitland — 35-44: 13.7% Rutherford — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 14.7% / 10.5%
Maitland — 45-54: 14.7% Rutherford — 45-54: 10.5%
55-64 12.1% / 9.3%
Maitland — 55-64: 12.1% Rutherford — 55-64: 9.3%
65-74 10.4% / 9.7%
Maitland — 65-74: 10.4% Rutherford — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 6.3% / 6.1%
Maitland — 75-84: 6.3% Rutherford — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 4.4% / 2.3%
Maitland — 85+: 4.4% Rutherford — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Maitland 47.6% lone person
Maitland — Lone Person: 47.6% Maitland — Couple Families: 23.6% Maitland — One Parent Families: 19.8% Maitland — Group Household: 5.8% Maitland — Other Families: 3.2%
Rutherford 34.7% lone person
Rutherford — Lone Person: 34.7% Rutherford — Couple Families: 38.9% Rutherford — One Parent Families: 21.5% Rutherford — Group Household: 3.4% Rutherford — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Rutherford 36.0% renting
Rutherford — Owned Outright: 25.5% Rutherford — Mortgage: 38.5% Rutherford — Renting: 36.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Maitland Rutherford
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 20.3%
Maitland — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Rutherford — Certificate III & IV: 20.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 5.8%
Maitland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Rutherford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8%
Bachelor Degree 8.3% / 5.0%
Maitland — Bachelor Degree: 8.3% Rutherford — Bachelor Degree: 5.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 1.1%
Maitland — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Rutherford — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 0.8%
Maitland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Rutherford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

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 Rutherford
England 2.0% / 1.6%
Maitland — England: 2.0% Rutherford — England: 1.6%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.1%
Maitland — New Zealand: 0.9% Rutherford — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 0.8% / 0.8%
Maitland — Philippines: 0.8% Rutherford — Philippines: 0.8%
India 0.4% / 0.8%
Maitland — India: 0.4% Rutherford — India: 0.8%
Bangladesh 0.8% / —
Maitland — Bangladesh: 0.8% Rutherford — Bangladesh: not among its largest
South Africa 0.4% / 0.4%
Maitland — South Africa: 0.4% Rutherford — 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 — Townhouses: 13.7% Maitland — Flats / Apartments: 14.7%
Rutherford 86.9% houses
Rutherford — Houses: 86.9% Rutherford — Townhouses: 10.9% Rutherford — Flats / Apartments: 2.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Maitland Rutherford
Median house price $712,500 $755,000
Median unit price $740,000 $565,000
Median land price $1,075,000 $835,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 17 sales
 23 days
from 192 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 Rutherford
2 bed $590K / $575K
Maitland — 2 bed: $590K (12 sales) Rutherford — 2 bed: $575K (14 sales)

12 vs 14 sales

3 bed $705K / $725K
Maitland — 3 bed: $705K (36 sales) Rutherford — 3 bed: $725K (198 sales)

36 vs 198 sales

4 bed $810K / $815K
Maitland — 4 bed: $810K (7 sales) Rutherford — 4 bed: $815K (158 sales)

7 vs 158 sales

Zoning mix

Maitland has more rural and farming land (51% vs 1%); Rutherford has more industrially zoned land (31% vs 3%).

Maitland Rutherford
Rural and farming 51% 1%
Residential 27% 38%
Industrial 3% 31%
Parks and recreation 9% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 10%
Environmental 2% 8%
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 Rutherford
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 Rutherford
Houses 3.4%
$590/wk on $912K
 4.2%
$655/wk on $808K
Units — 4.2%
$500/wk on $625K

Ranking within NSW

Maitland Rutherford
House price Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 56% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 29% of NSW

Liveability

Maitland is more walkable (85 vs 28); Maitland scores higher overall (35 vs 28).

Maitland Rutherford
Grade C D
Score 35/100 28/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Maitland carries more crime risk (98 vs 86).

Maitland Rutherford
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
86/100
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Maitland Rutherford
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 3
Rated below peers 1 0

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 Rutherford

  • Rutherford Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Rutherford Technology High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Paul's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Maitland Rutherford
Supermarkets 3
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 11 7
Parks & reserves 6
same for both
Childcare 6 10
GPs 11 2
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4
same for both
Fuel stations 1 8
Waterways 0 9

Mobility

Rutherford sits further from the CBD (171.6 km vs 164.9 km).

Maitland Rutherford
Walkability score 85/100 28/100
Distance to Sydney 164.9 km 171.6 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 122 min 132 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 254.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 253.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2320
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2320
same for both

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 Rutherford
Car (driver) 59.7% / 78.4%
Maitland — Car (driver): 59.7% Rutherford — Car (driver): 78.4%
Worked from Home 23.3% / 13.3%
Maitland — Worked from Home: 23.3% Rutherford — Worked from Home: 13.3%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 5.3%
Maitland — Car (passenger): 4.3% Rutherford — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Walked Only 6.8% / 1.5%
Maitland — Walked Only: 6.8% Rutherford — Walked Only: 1.5%
Train 3.2% / 0.6%
Maitland — Train: 3.2% Rutherford — Train: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.4%).

Setting

Maitland Rutherford
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.8 km 28.2 km

NBN connectivity

Maitland Rutherford
Connectivity score 73/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
2,033 premises
 53%
6,279 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Maitland

—

Rutherford

Large Blocks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Maitland

Maitland vs East Maitland Maitland vs Gillieston Heights Maitland vs Telarah Maitland vs Lorn Maitland vs Louth Park Maitland vs South Maitland

Other comparisons with Rutherford

Rutherford vs Aberglasslyn Rutherford vs Telarah Rutherford vs Lochinvar Rutherford vs Windella Rutherford vs Farley Rutherford vs Oakhampton
Full data on Maitland Full data on Rutherford
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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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