Maitland - North

The area is notably young, with children making up a much higher share of the population than in most similar areas. While the typical resident is 38, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 4.3%, which is slightly above the national average.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has among the lowest proportions of overseas-born people for its level, at just 7.5%. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

English is the dominant language, with only 3.0% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages. Very few residents speak little or no English.

The number of people reporting no religion rose 20 points since 2011 to 36.8%, though this remains lower than in most similar areas. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 57.6%.

The community is becoming more qualified, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher rising to 24.0% since 2011. Year 12 completion has also increased to 53.7%.

Income levels are much higher than in most similar areas, with the typical weekly family income reaching $2,552. A significant 33.1% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is far above the national figure.

A higher than average 30.9% of residents have a long-term health condition, and 9.8% live with a mental health condition. However, those needing help with daily activities are fewer than in most areas.

The area has a very high rate of unpaid care, with 35.3% of people caring for children, far above the national average. Unpaid housework and general caregiving are also more common here than elsewhere.

First Nations people in the area are noticeably younger, with a typical age of 19. They achieve higher outcomes than the national average, with a 51.0% Year 12 completion rate and a lower unemployment rate of 7.1%.

Homes here are larger and more crowded than usual, with 2.9 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 65.0% of families.

Housing is dominated by large separate houses, with 92.9% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Renting is far less common than in the state, at only 13.1%, while 37.7% of homes are owned outright.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, and the typical walk to a transport stop takes 27 minutes.

About 39.8% of residents moved here in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are much less common than in most other areas, at 4.6%.

More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, at 67.7%. The unemployment rate is much lower than the national figure at 3.2%.

The area is ranked as highly advantaged, scoring 10 out of 10 for access to money and resources. Overall, it is more advantaged than about 70% of similar areas.

The area receives far more annual rainfall than the New South Wales average, with 943mm. Maximum temperatures are slightly higher than in most areas.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 4.0. Residents have very limited access to health services and groceries within a 15-minute walk compared to the state average.