Rutherford vs Lochinvar

Rutherford is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 40 in Lochinvar. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lochinvar, most households are couple families. On these figures, Rutherford tends to suit people living alone, while Lochinvar suits 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

Lochinvar

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 60%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 87%)
  • But Rutherford has more parks and reserves (6 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Lochinvar

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($440,000 vs $835,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 27%)
  • But Rutherford has cheaper units ($565,000 vs $657,500)

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

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Rutherford has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 12%)
  • Lochinvar leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Rutherford sits closer to the CBD (171.6 km vs 177.2 km)
  • Lochinvar has a shorter drive in (125 min vs 132 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Rutherford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (13% vs 3%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Rutherford returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.4%)
  • Lochinvar is growing faster (39.7% vs 10.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Rutherford Lochinvar
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.

Rutherford Lochinvar
Walkability 28 / 26
Rutherford — Walkability: 28/100 Lochinvar — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 14 / 10
Rutherford — Safety: 14/100 Lochinvar — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 100 / 79
Rutherford — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lochinvar — Low fire risk: 79/100

Demographics

Rutherford has more residents (13,091 vs 1,095); Lochinvar has higher household incomes ($118,924 vs $76,700).

Rutherford Lochinvar
Population 13,091
+92% vs other
 1,095
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.2% +39.7%
Median age 35 40
Median household income $76,700/yr $118,924/yr
+55% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $370/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rutherford Lochinvar
0-4 7.5% / 7.9%
Rutherford — 0-4: 7.5% Lochinvar — 0-4: 7.9%
5-14 14.4% / 13.9%
Rutherford — 5-14: 14.4% Lochinvar — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 5.7% / 4.7%
Rutherford — 15-19: 5.7% Lochinvar — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 5.9% / 4.5%
Rutherford — 20-24: 5.9% Lochinvar — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 15.9% / 12.7%
Rutherford — 25-34: 15.9% Lochinvar — 25-34: 12.7%
35-44 12.7% / 13.0%
Rutherford — 35-44: 12.7% Lochinvar — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 10.5% / 13.9%
Rutherford — 45-54: 10.5% Lochinvar — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 9.3% / 12.2%
Rutherford — 55-64: 9.3% Lochinvar — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 9.7% / 10.6%
Rutherford — 65-74: 9.7% Lochinvar — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 6.1% / 4.8%
Rutherford — 75-84: 6.1% Lochinvar — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.3% / 1.8%
Rutherford — 85+: 2.3% Lochinvar — 85+: 1.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rutherford 38.9% couple families
Rutherford — Couple Families: 38.9% Rutherford — Lone Person: 34.7% Rutherford — One Parent Families: 21.5% Rutherford — Group Household: 3.4% Rutherford — Other Families: 1.6%
Lochinvar 56.9% couple families
Lochinvar — Couple Families: 56.9% Lochinvar — Lone Person: 22.5% Lochinvar — One Parent Families: 15.0% Lochinvar — Group Household: 2.0% Lochinvar — Other Families: 3.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rutherford 36.0% renting
Rutherford — Owned Outright: 25.5% Rutherford — Mortgage: 38.5% Rutherford — Renting: 36.0%
Lochinvar 12.0% renting
Lochinvar — Owned Outright: 34.7% Lochinvar — Mortgage: 53.2% Lochinvar — Renting: 12.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rutherford Lochinvar
Certificate III & IV 20.3% / 21.6%
Rutherford — Certificate III & IV: 20.3% Lochinvar — Certificate III & IV: 21.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 8.3%
Rutherford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% Lochinvar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Bachelor Degree 5.0% / 7.3%
Rutherford — Bachelor Degree: 5.0% Lochinvar — Bachelor Degree: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 1.7%
Rutherford — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Lochinvar — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.4%
Rutherford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Lochinvar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

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.

Rutherford Lochinvar
England 1.6% / 1.7%
Rutherford — England: 1.6% Lochinvar — England: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.4%
Rutherford — New Zealand: 1.1% Lochinvar — New Zealand: 1.4%
Philippines 0.8% / 0.3%
Rutherford — Philippines: 0.8% Lochinvar — Philippines: 0.3%
India 0.8% / —
Rutherford — India: 0.8% Lochinvar — India: not among its largest
Germany 0.3% / 0.5%
Rutherford — Germany: 0.3% Lochinvar — Germany: 0.5%
South Africa 0.4% / —
Rutherford — South Africa: 0.4% Lochinvar — South Africa: not among its largest
Indonesia — / 0.4%
Rutherford — Indonesia: not among its largest Lochinvar — Indonesia: 0.4%
Canada — / 0.4%
Rutherford — Canada: not among its largest Lochinvar — Canada: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rutherford 86.9% houses
Rutherford — Houses: 86.9% Rutherford — Townhouses: 10.9% Rutherford — Flats / Apartments: 2.1%
Lochinvar 97.0% houses
Lochinvar — Houses: 97.0% Lochinvar — Townhouses: 0.8% Lochinvar — Flats / Apartments: 2.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Rutherford Lochinvar
Median house price $755,000 $800,000
Median unit price $565,000 $657,500
Median land price $835,000 $440,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 192 sales
 48 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.

Rutherford Lochinvar
3 bed $725K / $775K
Rutherford — 3 bed: $725K (198 sales) Lochinvar — 3 bed: $775K (46 sales)

198 vs 46 sales

4 bed $815K / $820K
Rutherford — 4 bed: $815K (158 sales) Lochinvar — 4 bed: $820K (155 sales)

158 vs 155 sales

5 bed $950K / $974K
Rutherford — 5 bed: $950K (15 sales) Lochinvar — 5 bed: $974K (26 sales)

15 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Lochinvar has more rural and farming land (62% vs 1%); Rutherford has more industrially zoned land (31% vs 4%).

Rutherford Lochinvar
Rural and farming 1% 62%
Residential 38% 28%
Industrial 31% 4%
Parks and recreation 13% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 2%
Environmental 8% 3%
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

Rutherford Lochinvar
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.

Rutherford Lochinvar
Houses 4.2%
$655/wk on $808K
 3.4%
$670/wk on $1.01M
Units 4.2%
$500/wk on $625K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Rutherford Lochinvar
House price Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 29% of NSW —

Liveability

Lochinvar scores higher overall (49 vs 28).

Rutherford Lochinvar
Grade D B
Score 28/100 49/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Lochinvar carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0).

Rutherford Lochinvar
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
21/100
Crime High
86/100
 High
90/100
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 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

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

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

Schools in Lochinvar

  • Lochinvar Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's College Catholic · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Lochinvar sits further from the CBD (177.2 km vs 171.6 km).

Rutherford Lochinvar
Walkability score 28/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 171.6 km 177.2 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 132 min 125 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 73/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 253.5
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.

Rutherford Lochinvar
Car (driver) 78.4% / 70.3%
Rutherford — Car (driver): 78.4% Lochinvar — Car (driver): 70.3%
Worked from Home 13.3% / 23.4%
Rutherford — Worked from Home: 13.3% Lochinvar — Worked from Home: 23.4%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 4.1%
Rutherford — Car (passenger): 5.3% Lochinvar — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 1.5% / 2.3%
Rutherford — Walked Only: 1.5% Lochinvar — Walked Only: 2.3%
Train 0.6% / —
Rutherford — Train: 0.6% Lochinvar — Train: not among its largest

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

Setting

Rutherford Lochinvar
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 28.2 km 33.3 km

NBN connectivity

Rutherford Lochinvar
Connectivity score 74/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
6,279 premises
 72%
1,323 premises

Climate

Rutherford Lochinvar
Annual rainfall 996 mm 804 mm
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.1°C 5.1°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Rutherford Lochinvar
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Rutherford

Large Blocks Regional Centre

Lochinvar

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rutherford

Rutherford vs Aberglasslyn Rutherford vs Telarah Rutherford vs Maitland Rutherford vs Windella Rutherford vs Farley Rutherford vs Oakhampton

Other comparisons with Lochinvar

Lochinvar vs Windella Lochinvar vs Farley Lochinvar vs Bishops Bridge Lochinvar vs Luskintyre Lochinvar vs Oswald Lochinvar vs Allandale
Full data on Rutherford Full data on Lochinvar
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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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