Median house price
$838k
+14% change
NSW · Maitland Council
Metford, 2323
Est. population · Jun 2025
4,665
Growth (1 yr)
+0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.1%
Median age
35
Median income
$1,484/wk
Employment rate
57.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$838,000
Languages at home
7.4%non-English
Most common: Cantonese, Samoan, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Metford is a practical mid-sized suburb in Maitland Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. School and preschool provision is plentiful within the local area.
Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Getting around is straightforward, with buses and trains tying neighbouring communities together. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Reported crime has been rising recently. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because community and employment lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Metford snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$590/wk
Houses $630 · Units $470
Population (ERP)
4,665
+0.3% 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
#124
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
77th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
44th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
36th
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
- 46.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 39% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2739th in Australia
- State rank
- 828th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #124 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #561 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
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 house price (October to December 2025)
- $838,000
- Median price change
- +13.6%
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
4,665(June 2025)
+0.3% annual · +1.1% over 5 years · 44th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.3%
- 5-year growth
- +1.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +14
- Change in 5 years
- +53
- Growth rank in NSW
- 44th 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 (~4,700), extrapolated at +0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- 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)
- 1,476 / 223 / 53
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 498
- Against the person
- 127
- Against property
- 238
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 106.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 37 residents
- State safety percentile
- 77.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +14%
Most common offence types
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment254
- Malicious Damage To Property260
- Steal From Motor Vehicle212
- Steal From Retail Store289
- Transport Regulatory Offences250
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
- 7
- Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
- 975
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 36th
School list
- Arise Christian CollegeSpecial · Independent · ICSEA 971 · 34th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 61 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
- Maitland Christian SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1047 · 67th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 832 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
- Hunter River Community SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 958 · 28th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 70 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Metford Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 887 · 8th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 265 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Ashtonfield Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1008 · 50th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 514 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Hunter Valley Grammar SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1134 · 92th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 1,161 students · Top SEA quarter 54% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- OneSchool Global NSW - MaitlandCombined · Independent · ICSEA 975 · 36th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 108 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 1.7 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
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
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
95 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship · 7 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools · 3 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 3 parks mapped in suburb, 7 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 64 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 11 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.64
Community(3)
- Hunter River Community SchoolSchool
17 Melaleuca Drive, Metford
- Maitland Christian SchoolSchool
75-81 Chelmsford Drive
- Metford Public SchoolSchool
Metford
Health & services(1)
- Heal Specialist Urgent CareClinic
30 Metford Road
Sport & outdoors(14)
- McLeod Avenue ParkPark
- Park
- Willow Drive ParkPark
- Casurina PlaygroundPlayground
- Chelmsford Drive Oval PlaygroundPlayground
- Playground (5)
- Chelmsford OvalSports field
- Cricket NetsSports field
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Transport(33)
31 bus stops · 2 train stations
Other(23)
- Ice Box LiquorAlcohol
- Bicycle Parking
- College
- TAFE NSW MaitlandCollege
- Compressed Air
- East Maitland Fire StationFire station
270 New England Highway
- Garden (5)
- Maitland City CouncilParking
- Parking (10)
- 7-Eleven MetfordPetrol station
456 Metford Road
- Pearl EnergyPetrol station
- UnitedPetrol station
- Metford Community Baptist ChurchPlace of worship
83-85 Chelmsford Drive
- Post Box (3)
- Australia Post Distribution CentrePost Depot
34 Metford Road
- Public toilets
- Shelter (5)
- National StorageStorage Rental
32 Turton Street
- Safe 'n' SOUND Self StorageStorage Rental
40 Metford Road
- TelstraTelephone
- Track (3)
- Vending machine
- Yes
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
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 · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- Metford Community Baptist Church
83-85 Chelmsford Drive
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- New Maitland Hospital (1.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Heal Specialist Urgent CareMetford RoadClinic
- YesYes
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)
- 242
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 51.9
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· 6 proposals
August 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1 DUMARESQ PARADE METFORD 2323Additional Information Requested
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 CHELMSFORD DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
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· 10 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
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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Exercise caution. Traffic controllers will be on site to direct motorists.Turton Street, Chelmsford Drive27 Jul 2026 – 07 Sep 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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 3.1 km away).
Coalition 32.3%Labor 67.7%
10.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- MetfordLabor 68.7% · Coalition 31.3% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
- AshtonfieldLabor 65.6% · Coalition 34.4% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- East Maitland SouthLabor 60.9% · Coalition 39.1% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- ChisholmLabor 55.2% · Coalition 44.8% TPP (2025)2.6 km away
- East Maitland CentralLabor 64.8% · Coalition 35.2% TPP (2025)2.6 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)
- 2/10
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.