South Arm vs Maclean

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Maclean, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in South Arm: a median of $756,000, against $678,000 in Maclean, though rent is higher in Maclean. On these figures, Maclean 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

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • South Arm is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 44%)
  • Maclean has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • South Arm leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 33%)
  • Maclean has cheaper houses ($678,500 vs $756,240)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Arm

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 34%)
  • has cheaper rent ($275/wk vs $330/wk)
  • But Maclean has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 13%)

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

Commuting to the city

Maclean

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (21/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (421 min vs 447 min)
  • But South Arm sits closer to the CBD (638.2 km vs 648.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Maclean

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (21/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Maclean

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.7% vs -17.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

South Arm Maclean
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.

South Arm Maclean
Walkability 0 / 21
South Arm — Walkability: 0/100 Maclean — Walkability: 21/100
Low fire risk 23 / 72
South Arm — Low fire risk: 23/100 Maclean — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Maclean has more residents (2,778 vs 196); South Arm has higher household incomes ($75,504 vs $50,180).

South Arm Maclean
Population 196 2,778
+1317% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -17.3% +5.7%
Median age 56
same for both
Median household income $75,504/yr
+34% vs other
 $50,180/yr
Median weekly rent $275/wk $330/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Arm Maclean
0-4 5.1% / 4.7%
South Arm — 0-4: 5.1% Maclean — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 7.7% / 9.4%
South Arm — 5-14: 7.7% Maclean — 5-14: 9.4%
15-19 5.1% / 4.0%
South Arm — 15-19: 5.1% Maclean — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 1.5% / 3.2%
South Arm — 20-24: 1.5% Maclean — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 10.2% / 7.9%
South Arm — 25-34: 10.2% Maclean — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 2.0% / 8.6%
South Arm — 35-44: 2.0% Maclean — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 12.8% / 10.8%
South Arm — 45-54: 12.8% Maclean — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 22.4% / 15.1%
South Arm — 55-64: 22.4% Maclean — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 21.4% / 15.7%
South Arm — 65-74: 21.4% Maclean — 65-74: 15.7%
75-84 8.7% / 13.4%
South Arm — 75-84: 8.7% Maclean — 75-84: 13.4%
85+ 4.1% / 7.2%
South Arm — 85+: 4.1% Maclean — 85+: 7.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Arm 35.6% lone person
South Arm — Lone Person: 35.6% South Arm — Couple Families: 35.6% South Arm — One Parent Families: 22.2% South Arm — Group Household: 6.7% South Arm — Other Families: 0.0%
Maclean 50.6% lone person
Maclean — Lone Person: 50.6% Maclean — Couple Families: 24.4% Maclean — One Parent Families: 19.4% Maclean — Group Household: 3.7% Maclean — 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.

South Arm 12.7% renting
South Arm — Owned Outright: 54.9% South Arm — Mortgage: 32.4% South Arm — Renting: 12.7%
Maclean 32.2% renting
Maclean — Owned Outright: 47.7% Maclean — Mortgage: 20.1% Maclean — Renting: 32.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

South Arm Maclean
England 5.6% / 3.2%
South Arm — England: 5.6% Maclean — England: 3.2%
New Zealand — / 1.5%
South Arm — New Zealand: not among its largest Maclean — New Zealand: 1.5%
Philippines — / 1.0%
South Arm — Philippines: not among its largest Maclean — Philippines: 1.0%
Scotland — / 0.7%
South Arm — Scotland: not among its largest Maclean — Scotland: 0.7%
India — / 0.4%
South Arm — India: not among its largest Maclean — India: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

Qualifications

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

South Arm Maclean
Certificate III & IV 23.0% / 16.0%
South Arm — Certificate III & IV: 23.0% Maclean — Certificate III & IV: 16.0%
Bachelor Degree 8.7% / 7.9%
South Arm — Bachelor Degree: 8.7% Maclean — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 6.8%
South Arm — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Maclean — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 1.8%
South Arm — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Maclean — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 1.8%
South Arm — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Maclean — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Arm 100.0% houses
South Arm — Houses: 100.0% South Arm — Townhouses: 0.0% South Arm — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Maclean 86.8% houses
Maclean — Houses: 86.8% Maclean — Townhouses: 6.8% Maclean — Flats / Apartments: 6.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

South Arm Maclean
Median house price $756,240 $678,500
Median unit price — $447,500
Median land price — $287,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 35 days
from 57 sales

Zoning mix

South Arm has more rural and farming land (80% vs 26%); Maclean has more land zoned for conservation (40% vs 14%).

South Arm Maclean
Rural and farming 80% 26%
Environmental 14% 40%
Residential 5% 21%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 0% 3%
Commercial 0% 1%
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

South Arm Maclean
New dwellings approved 246
across Clarence Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -80%
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.

South Arm Maclean
Houses — 4.8%
$640/wk on $699K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

South Arm Maclean
House price Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Income Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 15% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Maclean is more walkable (21 vs 0).

South Arm Maclean
Grade — D
Score — 18/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

South Arm carries more bushfire risk (77 vs 28).

South Arm Maclean
Bushfire High
77/100
 Low
28/100
Crime — High
88/100
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 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

South Arm Maclean
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in South Arm

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

Schools in Maclean

  • Maclean High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Maclean Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

South Arm Maclean
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 10
Parks & reserves 0 10
Childcare 0 1
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Maclean sits further from the CBD (648.3 km vs 638.2 km).

South Arm Maclean
Walkability score 0/100 21/100
Distance to Sydney 638.2 km 648.3 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 447 min 421 min
Public transport score 20/100
Bus
 61/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 25.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 2460
 0.2%
postcode 2463
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 2460
 70
postcode 2463

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.

South Arm Maclean
Car (driver) 66.7% / 74.1%
South Arm — Car (driver): 66.7% Maclean — Car (driver): 74.1%
Worked from Home 33.3% / 10.3%
South Arm — Worked from Home: 33.3% Maclean — Worked from Home: 10.3%
Walked Only — / 10.1%
South Arm — Walked Only: not among its largest Maclean — Walked Only: 10.1%
Car (passenger) — / 4.8%
South Arm — Car (passenger): not among its largest Maclean — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bus — / 0.7%
South Arm — Bus: not among its largest Maclean — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.1%).

Setting

South Arm Maclean
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.8 km 7.3 km

NBN connectivity

South Arm Maclean
Connectivity score 30/100 68/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
78 premises
 29%
1,583 premises

Climate

South Arm Maclean
Annual rainfall 1,408 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

South Arm Maclean
Average residential rate $1,380/yr
same for both
Council Clarence Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

South Arm Maclean
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

South Arm Maclean
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

South Arm

Retirees Rural

Maclean

Acreage Affordable Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Arm

South Arm vs Gulmarrad South Arm vs Ashby South Arm vs Woodford Island South Arm vs Ilarwill South Arm vs Tyndale

Other comparisons with Maclean

Maclean vs Gulmarrad Maclean vs Townsend Maclean vs Harwood Maclean vs Ashby Maclean vs James Creek
Full data on South Arm Full data on Maclean
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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