Waratah vs Mayfield

Mayfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in Waratah. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Waratah, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Mayfield, most households own their home. On these figures, Waratah tends to suit older residents.

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

Mayfield

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (74% vs 62%)
  • But Waratah has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Waratah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (155.3 km vs 158 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Waratah

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 16%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 26%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Waratah Mayfield
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.

Waratah Mayfield
Walkability 88 / 94
Waratah — Walkability: 88/100 Mayfield — Walkability: 94/100
Low fire risk 100 / 79
Waratah — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mayfield — Low fire risk: 79/100

Demographics

Mayfield has more residents (9,760 vs 4,927); Waratah skews older (41 vs 36).

Waratah Mayfield
Population 4,927 9,760
+98% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.7% +4.8%
Median age 41 36
Median household income $78,572/yr $81,432/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $375/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Waratah Mayfield
0-4 4.0% / 6.3%
Waratah — 0-4: 4.0% Mayfield — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 8.2% / 9.2%
Waratah — 5-14: 8.2% Mayfield — 5-14: 9.2%
15-19 4.2% / 4.0%
Waratah — 15-19: 4.2% Mayfield — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 8.4% / 7.1%
Waratah — 20-24: 8.4% Mayfield — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 17.0% / 20.2%
Waratah — 25-34: 17.0% Mayfield — 25-34: 20.2%
35-44 11.3% / 14.7%
Waratah — 35-44: 11.3% Mayfield — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 11.3% / 11.4%
Waratah — 45-54: 11.3% Mayfield — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 10.2% / 11.4%
Waratah — 55-64: 10.2% Mayfield — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 9.1% / 8.5%
Waratah — 65-74: 9.1% Mayfield — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 7.4% / 4.5%
Waratah — 75-84: 7.4% Mayfield — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 8.8% / 2.6%
Waratah — 85+: 8.8% Mayfield — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Waratah 45.7% lone person
Waratah — Lone Person: 45.7% Waratah — Couple Families: 24.0% Waratah — One Parent Families: 17.0% Waratah — Group Household: 11.0% Waratah — Other Families: 2.2%
Mayfield 44.8% lone person
Mayfield — Lone Person: 44.8% Mayfield — Couple Families: 27.3% Mayfield — One Parent Families: 15.4% Mayfield — Group Household: 10.5% Mayfield — 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.

Waratah 48.4% renting
Waratah — Owned Outright: 22.2% Waratah — Mortgage: 29.3% Waratah — Renting: 48.4%
Mayfield 42.1% renting
Mayfield — Owned Outright: 23.4% Mayfield — Mortgage: 34.5% Mayfield — Renting: 42.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Waratah Mayfield
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 15.9%
Waratah — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% Mayfield — Certificate III & IV: 15.9%
Bachelor Degree 14.4% / 15.4%
Waratah — Bachelor Degree: 14.4% Mayfield — Bachelor Degree: 15.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 7.3%
Waratah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% Mayfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 4.9% / 4.7%
Waratah — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9% Mayfield — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 1.9%
Waratah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Mayfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

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

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.

Waratah Mayfield
England 1.8% / 2.3%
Waratah — England: 1.8% Mayfield — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.4%
Waratah — New Zealand: 1.3% Mayfield — New Zealand: 1.4%
Philippines 0.8% / 0.7%
Waratah — Philippines: 0.8% Mayfield — Philippines: 0.7%
Nepal 1.2% / —
Waratah — Nepal: 1.2% Mayfield — Nepal: not among its largest
India 0.7% / 0.5%
Waratah — India: 0.7% Mayfield — India: 0.5%
Scotland — / 0.6%
Waratah — Scotland: not among its largest Mayfield — Scotland: 0.6%
Vietnam — / 0.5%
Waratah — Vietnam: not among its largest Mayfield — Vietnam: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Waratah 62.5% houses
Waratah — Houses: 62.5% Waratah — Townhouses: 19.4% Waratah — Flats / Apartments: 18.1%
Mayfield 74.3% houses
Mayfield — Houses: 74.3% Mayfield — Townhouses: 17.3% Mayfield — Flats / Apartments: 8.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Waratah Mayfield
Median house price $975,000 $1,025,000
Median unit price $734,000 $735,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 19 sales
 20 days
from 109 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.

Waratah Mayfield
2 bed $900K / $901K
Waratah — 2 bed: $900K (9 sales) Mayfield — 2 bed: $901K (44 sales)

9 vs 44 sales

3 bed $999K / $1.02M
Waratah — 3 bed: $999K (40 sales) Mayfield — 3 bed: $1.02M (133 sales)

40 vs 133 sales

4 bed $1.02M / $1.28M
Waratah — 4 bed: $1.02M (10 sales) Mayfield — 4 bed: $1.28M (31 sales)

10 vs 31 sales

Zoning mix

Waratah Mayfield
Residential 71% 82%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 5%
Parks and recreation 8%
same for both
Commercial 6% 4%
Industrial 3% 2%
Environmental 2% 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

Waratah Mayfield
New dwellings approved 912
across Newcastle
same for both
Approvals change year on year +77%
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.

Waratah Mayfield
Houses 4.0%
$750/wk on $972K
 3.9%
$730/wk on $984K
Units 4.8%
$480/wk on $525K
 4.6%
$580/wk on $662K

Ranking within NSW

Waratah Mayfield
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Schools Higher than 3% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 49% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW

Liveability

Mayfield scores higher overall (65 vs 42).

Waratah Mayfield
Grade C B
Score 42/100 65/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Mayfield carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0).

Waratah Mayfield
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
21/100
Crime High
91/100
 —
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 18
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Waratah Mayfield
Inside the suburb 8 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 4 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 2.4 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 3.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.6% 2.3%

Schools in Waratah

  • Callaghan College Waratah Campus Government · Secondary at peers
  • Corpus Christi Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Philip's Christian College - Waratah Independent · Combined at peers
  • Waratah Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Philip's Christian College Dynamic Learning Independent · Combined · Special school below peers
  • Newcastle Middle School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Mayfield

  • Hunter Christian School Independent · Combined below peers
  • San Clemente Catholic College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • St Columban's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Dominic's Catholic College Catholic · Combined · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Waratah Mayfield
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 16
Parks & reserves 3 9
Childcare 9 8
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 1 3
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 2
Fuel stations 0 4

Mobility

Mayfield sits further from the CBD (158 km vs 155.3 km).

Waratah Mayfield
Walkability score 88/100 94/100
Distance to Sydney 155.3 km 158 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 117 min 121 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 145.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 250.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2298
 0.6%
postcode 2304
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 26
postcode 2298
 31
postcode 2304

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.

Waratah Mayfield
Car (driver) 62.3% / 60.1%
Waratah — Car (driver): 62.3% Mayfield — Car (driver): 60.1%
Worked from Home 26.8% / 30.0%
Waratah — Worked from Home: 26.8% Mayfield — Worked from Home: 30.0%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 3.7%
Waratah — Car (passenger): 3.8% Mayfield — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Walked Only 4.0% / 2.6%
Waratah — Walked Only: 4.0% Mayfield — Walked Only: 2.6%
Bus 1.5% / 1.5%
Waratah — Bus: 1.5% Mayfield — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.3%).

Setting

Waratah Mayfield
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.8 km 2.3 km

NBN connectivity

Waratah Mayfield
Connectivity score 69/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
2,512 premises
 99%
5,219 premises

Climate

Waratah Mayfield
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Waratah Mayfield
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 21.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.75 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Waratah Mayfield
Average residential rate $1,783/yr
same for both
Council Newcastle
same for both

Federal electorate

Waratah Mayfield
Division Newcastle
same for both
Member Sharon Claydon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Waratah Mayfield
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Waratah

Parks Retirees

Mayfield

Coastal Gentrifying Parks Regional Centre Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Waratah

Waratah vs Lambton Waratah vs North Lambton Waratah vs Waratah West Waratah vs Georgetown Waratah vs Mayfield West Waratah vs Broadmeadow

Other comparisons with Mayfield

Mayfield vs Georgetown Mayfield vs Islington Mayfield vs Mayfield West Mayfield vs Tighes Hill Mayfield vs Mayfield East Mayfield vs Hamilton North
Full data on Waratah Full data on Mayfield
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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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