Median house price
$816k
+10% change
NSW · Maitland Council
Horseshoe Bend, 2320
Est. population · Jun 2025
486
Growth (1 yr)
+2.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+18.5%
Median age
40
Median income
$1,375/wk
Employment rate
52.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$816,000
Languages at home
4.5%non-English
Most common: Cantonese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Horseshoe Bend is a quieter smaller community in Maitland Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Distance from the metro area around Sydney is part of the appeal, with regional hubs closer to hand than the city. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because parks and green space, plus community and employment lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum, plus schools and education. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Horseshoe Bend snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$600/wk
Houses $620 · Units $485
Population (ERP)
486
+2.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#238
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
69th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
92nd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
62nd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 30.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5586th in Australia
- State rank
- 1803rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #238 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #831 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 88%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $485
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 357
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $816,000
- Median price change
- +10%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
486(June 2025)
+2.5% annual · +18.5% over 5 years · 92th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.5%
- 5-year growth
- +18.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +12
- Change in 5 years
- +76
- Growth rank in NSW
- 92th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~600), extrapolated at +4.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 427
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $1,375
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 7 of 174
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,344
- Employment rate
- 52.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 140 / 13 / 3
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 46
- Against the person
- 13
- Against property
- 17
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 94.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 33 residents
- State safety percentile
- 68.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.9%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions609
- Domestic Violence Related Assault329
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment381
- Malicious Damage To Property307
- Steal From Motor Vehicle237
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,035
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 62th
School list
- All Saints CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1023 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 1,191 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- St John the Baptist Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1047 · 67th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 397 students · Top SEA quarter 24% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Nillo Infants SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1076 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 52 students · Top SEA quarter 28% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Maitland Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 936 · 20th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 405 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Saint Nicholas Early EducationHunter Streetchildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Amenities
15 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship · 1 sports centres · 3 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 0/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Community(2)
- Saint Nicholas Early EducationChildcare
Hunter Street
- All Saints College - Sports FieldsSchool
Sport & outdoors(5)
- PCYCSports centre
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (3)
Other(3)
- Parking (3)
- Place of worship
- Storage Rental (4)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Place of worship
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Maitland Private Hospital (4.3 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 24
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 49.4
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 8 proposals
July 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah66 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Storage premises; Self storage units11 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support110 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Demolition; Horticulture64 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision111 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Subdivision24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
January 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)8 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation9 RAGLAN STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Minor building alterations (external)8 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure64 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
September 2025
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation32 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)15 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Demolition9 RADFORD STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation128 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Fences34 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
May 2025
- Attached dwelling; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure108 Carrington Street HORSESHOE BEND NSW 2320Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool88 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
April 2025
- Attached dwelling; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure108 Carrington Street HORSESHOE BEND NSW 2320Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)128 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure85 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure102 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space28 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
2024· 12 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Subdivision7 BELLA STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house23 ALBERT STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure89 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences32 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
May 2024
- Demolition; Educational establishment; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; School24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
April 2024
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure7 BELLA STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support45 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
March 2024
- Demolition9 RAGLAN STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
January 2024
- Attached dwelling; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure110 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Attached dwelling; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure108 Carrington Street HORSESHOE BEND NSW 2320Determined
2023· 6 proposals
October 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure15 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure68 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
July 2023
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision of land110 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Rejected
May 2023
- Multi-dwelling housing67 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
January 2023
- Shed46 ODD STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Other2 CATHCART STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
2022· 1 proposal
August 2022
- Dwelling64 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Paterson
- Member of Parliament
- Meryl SWANSON (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 127,926
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.3 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 43.1%Labor 56.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.7 km away).
Coalition 29.8%Labor 70.2%
13.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- MaitlandLabor 72.4% · Coalition 27.6% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
- East MaitlandLabor 69.0% · Coalition 30.9% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- East Maitland CentralLabor 64.8% · Coalition 35.2% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- East Maitland SouthLabor 60.9% · Coalition 39.1% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
- TenambitLabor 65.7% · Coalition 34.4% TPP (2025)3.4 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Maitland Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.