NSW · Maitland Council
Metford, NSW, 2323
Desirability index
#366 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Metford is a smaller suburban community in the Maitland area, home to around 4,707 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,845 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+14%), roughly 604.4 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $590 (flats $470, houses $630), 4 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 4,707
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,484
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 73 of 1,829
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,625
- Employment rate
- 57.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 168 / 223 / 53
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $470
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $630
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $590
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 185
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 2,845
- Against the person
- 725
- Against property
- 1,360
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 604.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 6 residents
- State safety percentile
- 26.6th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +13.5%
Most common offence types
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment254
- Malicious Damage To Property260
- Steal From Motor Vehicle212
- Steal From Retail Store289
- Transport Regulatory Offences250
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 964.5
- Arise Christian CollegeSpecial
- Hunter River Community SchoolSpecial
- Maitland Christian SchoolCombined
- Metford Public SchoolPrimary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
64 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP McCubbin Cl
- FTB McCubbin Cl
- Maitland Christian School, School Grounds
- Maitland Christian School, School Grounds
- Metford Station
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
84 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 CHELMSFORD DRIVE METFORD 2323Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool33 LOWE STREET METFORD 2323Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure29 STONEHAVEN DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 WATERS WAY METFORD 2323Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Centre-based child care83 CHELMSFORD DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
2025· 14 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah38 EUCALYPTUS CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure34 MCLEOD AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah64 HARGREAVES CIRCUIT METFORD 2323Determined
- Demolition20 BOYD AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space40 FERRABY DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure21 SCHANCK DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure34 MCLEOD AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Hotel or motel accommodation; Erection of a new structure34 TURTON STREET METFORD 2323Determined
August 2025
- Subdivision29 STRUTT CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support16 SOMERS CLOSE METFORD 2323Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure14 MELALEUCA DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
April 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 DUDLEY CLOSE METFORD 2323Withdrawn
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Service station71 TURTON STREET METFORD 2323Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house19 STONEHAVEN DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
2024· 11 proposals
December 2024
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia2 NOLAN CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure43 WILLOW DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
October 2024
- Demolition; Horticulture17 EUCALYPTUS CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined
September 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure43 DUMARESQ PARADE METFORD 2323Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)3 LUPIN CLOSE METFORD 2323Determined
- Industrial development; Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure60 TURTON STREET METFORD 2323Determined
- Demolition44 FERRABY DRIVE METFORD 2323Withdrawn
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah26 STRADBROKE AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined
June 2024
- Subdivision28 BOYD AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined
May 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool4 CUMMINS PLACE METFORD 2323Determined
February 2024
- Industrial development; Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure60 TURTON STREET METFORD 2323Determined
2023· 17 proposals
December 2023
- Demolition4 STEVENS CLOSE METFORD 2323Determined
November 2023
- Educational establishment; Erection of a new structure; School75 CHELMSFORD DRIVE METFORD 2323Withdrawn
October 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Carport11 HARGREAVES CIRCUIT METFORD 2323Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space8 DUDLEY CLOSE METFORD 2323Determined
August 2023
- Other23 TENNYSON STREET METFORD 2323Determined
- Shed4 TAMAR CLOSE METFORD 2323Determined
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy19 DRYSDALE CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined
July 2023
- Shed18 O'DONNELL CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs26 STRADBROKE AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined
- Subdivision of land; Health services facilities; Mixed use development; Earthworks / change in levels; Business premises; Office premisesMETFORD ROAD METFORD 2323Determined
2022· 18 proposals
18 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 19 proposals
19 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
47 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Ice Box LiquorAlcohol
- Bicycle Parking
- Chelmsford Dr At Grevillea DrBus stop
- Chelmsford Dr at Tennyson StBus stop
- Chelmsford Dr at Turton StBus stop
- Chelmsford Dr opp Early Learning CentreBus stop
- Chelmsford Dr opp Maitland Christian SchoolBus stop
- Chelmsford Dr opp Tennyson StBus stop
- Chemsford Dr opp Grevillea DrBus stop
- Early Learning Centre, Chelmsford DrBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- McLeod Avenue ParkPark
- Willow Drive ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Heal Specialist Urgent CareMetford Roadclinic
- Yesyes
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 60.7/100
- Cohort rank
- #366 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- CCP McCubbin Cltransport
- FTB McCubbin Cltransport
- Maitland Christian School, School Groundstransport
- Maitland Christian School, School Groundstransport
- Metford Stationtransport
- Heal Specialist Urgent CarehealthMetford Roadclinic
- Yeshealthyes
- McLeod Avenue Parkgovernmentpark
- Willow Drive Parkgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning38 EUCALYPTUS CRESCENT METFORD 2323Lodged 10 Dec 2025 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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