Maitland

Maitland is notably younger than the state and national figures, with 21.4% of people being children under 15. The First Nations population has also grown, reaching 7.2% in 2021, which is well above the national figure.

The community is overwhelmingly born in Australia, at 87.0%, which is far below the national figure of 27.7% for overseas-born residents. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the main language for 90.5% of residents, and the share of people using another language at home is far below the New South Wales average. Only 0.7% of the population speaks little or no English.

Most residents identify as Christian, though the number of people reporting no religion rose 23 points since 2011 to reach 38.4%.

Year 12 completion is far below the national figure at 44.8%, though this rose 9.5 points since 2011. Only 15.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state average.

Typical weekly household income is $1,792, which is about the same as the national figure. The number of households earning $3,000 or more per week rose 11 points since 2011 to reach 20.7%.

Health challenges are common here, with 34% of people living with a long-term health condition, well above the national figure. Mental health conditions are particularly high, affecting 13.1% of residents.

Caregiving is a major part of local life, with 32.2% of people providing unpaid childcare, which is among the highest rates for similar areas. A higher than average 4.1% of residents served in the Defence Force.

Maitland is home to 6,272 First Nations people, one of the largest groups at this level. The typical First Nations resident is noticeably younger than the national figure, with a median age of 21.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per home. This is consistent with the high number of children in the area and the fact that 58.2% of households are couples with children.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 86.9% of dwellings, far above the state average. Large homes are the norm, with 84.4% of houses having three or more bedrooms.

Cars are essential for most, as only 0.6% of people commute by public transport. While there are many transport stops, the drive time to the city is much higher than in most other areas.

The area has seen significant movement, with 44.3% of residents moving in the last five years, which is well above the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals fell to 9.9% since 2011.

More adults are working or looking for work here than in most other areas, at 64.4%. The most common industries for local workers are health care, social assistance, and retail trade.

The population continues to grow quickly, with an 11.1% increase since 2021, which is well above the New South Wales average.

The area is warmer and wetter than the state average, with an average annual rainfall of 857mm.

While most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, the area is far below the state average for access to groceries and health services within a 15-minute walk.