State Electorate · Area profile
Maitland
392 km²
A significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 7.5% sets Maitland apart from most other areas. This is a growing community of over 90,000 people, characterized by a younger-than-average population and a high number of families with children. Most residents live in large, separate houses, creating a residential landscape that is much more spacious than the state average. It is a place where traditional family structures remain common and the community is expanding rapidly.
38 schools within reach make Maitland convenient for families.
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Maitland is noticeably younger than the rest of Australia, with a typical resident aged 36 and a high proportion of children under 15. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen sharply since 2011 to 7.5%, which is well above the national figure.
The area is predominantly Australian-born, with 86.9% born here, which is far below the state and national averages. The proportion of people born overseas has fallen significantly since 2011 to just 9.2%.
English is the primary language for 90.6% of the community. The number of people using another language at home has dropped to 5.5%, which is far below the New South Wales average.
More than half the population identifies as Christian, while 38.5% report no religion. This figure for people with no religion has risen by 11 points since 2011.
The community has fewer people with higher qualifications than most areas, with only 15.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. There has been a significant drop in the proportion of residents who completed Year 12 since 2011.
Typical weekly household incomes are about $1,766, which is roughly in line with the national figure. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week has fallen slightly since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.2% of people reporting a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are particularly prevalent, affecting 13.2% of residents.
Many residents provide unpaid support, with 32.0% caring for children and 13.1% providing other unpaid care. There is also a much higher rate of former Defence Force members compared to most areas.
Homes in Maitland are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per household. Families with children are common, and one-parent families have risen to 16.4% since 2011.
Separate houses are the dominant dwelling type at 87.3%, with 84.7% of homes having three or more bedrooms. This is far above the state average and reflects a strong preference for larger family homes.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, with 59.0% of people driving to work and only 0.6% using public transport. Despite this, the area has a very high number of public transport stops per person.
Maitland is a dynamic area where 43.7% of people have moved house in the last five years. Conversely, the number of recent overseas arrivals has fallen to 9.9%.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most other areas, with a full-time employment rate of 59.8%. Health care, social assistance, and retail are the biggest industries for local workers.
The area is considered somewhat walkable, with nearly 90% of homes within a short walk of a park. However, it is far below the state average for access to groceries and health services on foot.