South Maitland vs East Maitland

East Maitland is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 44 in South Maitland. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In South Maitland, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in East Maitland: a median of $825,000, against $640,000 in South Maitland, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, South Maitland tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

East Maitland

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (12 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

South Maitland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($640,000 vs $825,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Maitland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $330/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

East Maitland

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 64/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (160.4 km vs 164 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

East Maitland

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

East Maitland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (0.7% vs -8.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

South Maitland and East Maitland 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 Maitland East Maitland
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 Maitland East Maitland
Walkability 64 / 89
South Maitland — Walkability: 64/100 East Maitland — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 17 / 8
South Maitland — Safety: 17/100 East Maitland — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 66
South Maitland — Low fire risk: 100/100 East Maitland — Low fire risk: 66/100

Demographics

East Maitland has more residents (11,860 vs 432); East Maitland has higher household incomes ($73,944 vs $51,740).

South Maitland East Maitland
Population 432 11,860
+2645% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -8.3% +0.7%
Median age 44 40
Median household income $51,740/yr $73,944/yr
+43% vs other
Median weekly rent $280/wk $330/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Maitland East Maitland
0-4 7.4% / 5.5%
South Maitland — 0-4: 7.4% East Maitland — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 7.2% / 11.7%
South Maitland — 5-14: 7.2% East Maitland — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 3.5% / 6.0%
South Maitland — 15-19: 3.5% East Maitland — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 5.6% / 6.1%
South Maitland — 20-24: 5.6% East Maitland — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 13.0% / 13.1%
South Maitland — 25-34: 13.0% East Maitland — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 14.4% / 12.5%
South Maitland — 35-44: 14.4% East Maitland — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 12.5% / 12.9%
South Maitland — 45-54: 12.5% East Maitland — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 16.2% / 11.7%
South Maitland — 55-64: 16.2% East Maitland — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 11.8% / 10.9%
South Maitland — 65-74: 11.8% East Maitland — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 5.8% / 6.6%
South Maitland — 75-84: 5.8% East Maitland — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 3.2% / 2.9%
South Maitland — 85+: 3.2% East Maitland — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Maitland 51.8% lone person
South Maitland — Lone Person: 51.8% South Maitland — Couple Families: 23.5% South Maitland — One Parent Families: 18.2% South Maitland — Group Household: 3.5% South Maitland — Other Families: 2.9%
East Maitland 43.8% lone person
East Maitland — Lone Person: 43.8% East Maitland — Couple Families: 33.2% East Maitland — One Parent Families: 18.0% East Maitland — Group Household: 3.3% East Maitland — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Maitland 33.2% renting
South Maitland — Owned Outright: 37.4% South Maitland — Mortgage: 29.5% South Maitland — Renting: 33.2%
East Maitland 37.6% renting
East Maitland — Owned Outright: 30.8% East Maitland — Mortgage: 31.6% East Maitland — Renting: 37.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Maitland East Maitland
Certificate III & IV 18.5% / 17.9%
South Maitland — Certificate III & IV: 18.5% East Maitland — Certificate III & IV: 17.9%
Bachelor Degree 4.6% / 10.4%
South Maitland — Bachelor Degree: 4.6% East Maitland — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 8.0%
South Maitland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% East Maitland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 2.5%
South Maitland — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% East Maitland — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.6%
South Maitland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% East Maitland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

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 Maitland East Maitland
England 1.9% / 1.8%
South Maitland — England: 1.9% East Maitland — England: 1.8%
Vietnam 1.6% / —
South Maitland — Vietnam: 1.6% East Maitland — Vietnam: not among its largest
Germany 1.2% / 0.4%
South Maitland — Germany: 1.2% East Maitland — Germany: 0.4%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.9%
South Maitland — New Zealand: 0.7% East Maitland — New Zealand: 0.9%
Greece 1.4% / —
South Maitland — Greece: 1.4% East Maitland — Greece: not among its largest
South Africa 0.9% / —
South Maitland — South Africa: 0.9% East Maitland — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.8%
South Maitland — Philippines: not among its largest East Maitland — Philippines: 0.8%
China — / 0.4%
South Maitland — China: not among its largest East Maitland — China: 0.4%
India — / 0.4%
South Maitland — India: not among its largest East Maitland — India: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Maitland 68.5% houses
South Maitland — Houses: 68.5% South Maitland — Flats / Apartments: 21.3% South Maitland — Townhouses: 10.2%
East Maitland 74.5% houses
East Maitland — Houses: 74.5% East Maitland — Flats / Apartments: 8.2% East Maitland — Townhouses: 17.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

South Maitland East Maitland
Median house price $640,000 $825,000
Median unit price — $557,500
Median land price — $825,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 49 days
from 5 sales
 28 days
from 190 sales

Zoning mix

South Maitland has more rural and farming land (83% vs 29%).

South Maitland East Maitland
Rural and farming 83% 29%
Residential 0% 35%
Parks and recreation 12% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 12%
Environmental 0% 9%
Commercial 0% 2%
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 Maitland East Maitland
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.

South Maitland East Maitland
Houses — 3.9%
$660/wk on $890K
Units — 4.1%
$498/wk on $631K

Ranking within NSW

South Maitland East Maitland
House price Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Income Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 86% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 56% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 66% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 27% of NSW

Liveability

East Maitland is more walkable (89 vs 64).

South Maitland East Maitland
Grade — B
Score — 51/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

East Maitland carries more bushfire risk (34 vs 0).

South Maitland East Maitland
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
34/100
Crime High
83/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

South Maitland East Maitland
Inside the suburb 1 6
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in South Maitland

  • Hunter Valley Grammar School - Farm Independent · Secondary

Schools in East Maitland

  • Maitland High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • OneSchool Global NSW - Maitland Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Linuwel School Ltd Independent · Combined at peers
  • Maitland Grossmann High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Maitland East Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

South Maitland East Maitland
Supermarkets 0 6
Cafes & restaurants 0 18
Parks & reserves 1 22
Childcare 1 12
GPs 0 7
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 10
Fuel stations 1 6
Waterways 0 25

Mobility

South Maitland sits further from the CBD (164 km vs 160.4 km).

South Maitland East Maitland
Walkability score 64/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 164 km
+2% vs other
 160.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 122 min 118 min
Public transport score 20/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 0.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 326.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 24.5 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2320
 0.5%
postcode 2323
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2320
 44
postcode 2323

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 Maitland East Maitland
Car (driver) 82.6% / 69.5%
South Maitland — Car (driver): 82.6% East Maitland — Car (driver): 69.5%
Worked from Home 12.5% / 23.0%
South Maitland — Worked from Home: 12.5% East Maitland — Worked from Home: 23.0%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 4.2%
South Maitland — Car (passenger): 2.8% East Maitland — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 2.1% / 1.5%
South Maitland — Walked Only: 2.1% East Maitland — Walked Only: 1.5%
Train — / 1.1%
South Maitland — Train: not among its largest East Maitland — Train: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.6%).

Setting

South Maitland East Maitland
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 22.2 km 19.6 km

NBN connectivity

South Maitland East Maitland
Connectivity score 100/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
203 premises
 95%
6,608 premises

Climate

South Maitland East Maitland
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)

South Maitland East Maitland
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

South Maitland

Affordable Parks Quiet

East Maitland

Parks Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Maitland

South Maitland vs Maitland South Maitland vs Louth Park

Other comparisons with East Maitland

East Maitland vs Thornton East Maitland vs Metford East Maitland vs Ashtonfield East Maitland vs Chisholm East Maitland vs Tenambit East Maitland vs Raworth
Full data on South Maitland Full data on East Maitland
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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