Median house price
$852k
+15% change
NSW · Maitland Council
Morpeth, 2321
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,857
Growth (1 yr)
+0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+5.6%
Median age
55
Median income
$1,122/wk
Employment rate
43.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$852,000
Languages at home
1.7%non-English
Most common: German, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
- Education hub
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Morpeth is a practical smaller community in Maitland Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. It sits well away from Sydney, trading metro convenience for space and a slower regional pace. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric.
Fitness and outdoor sport options are a real part of local life, not just a distant club trip away. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. Getting around is straightforward, with buses tying neighbouring communities together.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
Desirability lands around average here: softer safety, plus community and employment weighing on the result versus similar metro suburbs, even with growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Morpeth snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $680 · Units $520
Population (ERP)
1,857
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.4%
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
#80
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
27th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
53rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
57th
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
- 40.2/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3721st in Australia
- State rank
- 1132nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #80 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #683 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $520
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $680
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 293
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $852,000
- Median price change
- +15.1%
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
1,857(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +5.6% over 5 years · 53th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.6%
- 5-year growth
- +5.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +11
- Change in 5 years
- +99
- Growth rank in NSW
- 53th 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 (~2,000), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,686
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $1,122
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 60 of 809
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,788
- Employment rate
- 43.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 485 / 246 / 13
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)
- 86
- Against the person
- 36
- Against property
- 31
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 46.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 47 residents
- State safety percentile
- 26.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +9.2%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault132
- Fraud62
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment151
- Malicious Damage To Property99
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,023
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 57th
School list
- Morpeth Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1023 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 262 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 0.5 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
37 public transport stops in this suburb
- Canterbury Dr Before London Av
- Edward Close Bvd After St Johns Dr
- Morpeth Public School, High St
- Tank St At High St
- Tank St Opp High St
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
57 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 1 cafes · 2 pubs · 2 places of worship · 7 swimming pools · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 37 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 8 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 38/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.59
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 2.37
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.78
Food & drink(4)
- Cafe
- River Royal InnPub
97 Swan Street, Morpeth
- The Commercial Hotel MorpethPub
127 Swan Street, Morpeth
- Restaurant
Shopping(1)
- Spar ExpressConvenience store
Community(1)
- Morpeth Public SchoolSchool
Morpeth
Sport & outdoors(11)
- Illalaung ParkPark
- James Street ReservePark
- Morpeth CommonPark
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (7)
Entertainment(1)
- Morpeth MuseumMuseum
Transport(19)
19 bus stops
Other(16)
- Morpeth LiquorAlcohol
- Antiques
- Attraction
- Bench
- Morpeth Fire StationFire station
169 Swan Street, Morpeth
- Garden (2)
- Parking (2)
- Parking Space (2)
- Picnic Table (2)
- Morpeth Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
- Saint James' Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
19 Tank Street
- Morpeth Police StationPolice
- Morpeth Post OfficePost office
- Public toilets
- Shelter
- Waste Basket
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Illalaung ParkPark
- James Street ReservePark
- Morpeth CommonPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 7
- 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
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Morpeth Uniting Church
- Saint James' Anglican Church
19 Tank Street
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- New Maitland Hospital (4.1 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)
- 86
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 46.3
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· 11 proposals
July 2026
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (external)1 ALBUERA CLOSE MORPETH 2321Additional Information Requested
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 CARLISLE PLACE MORPETH 2321Determined
May 2026
- Business premises; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia68 SWAN STREET MORPETH 2321Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 James Street, Morpeth. 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport6 DUCKENFIELD ROAD MORPETH 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportBUTCHERS LANE MORPETH 2321Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport75 HIGH STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Demolition; Horticulture37 HIGH STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5 JOHN STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Demolition; Swimming pool42 CLOSE STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 CARLISLE PLACE MORPETH 2321Determined
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 NORTHUMBERLAND STREET MORPETH 2321Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Horticulture121 PRINCESS STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Demolition; Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Shade structures of canvas, fabric, mesh or the like; Food and drink premise; Artisan food and drink industry; Hours of operation and trading130 SWAN STREET MORPETH 2321Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport62 JAMES STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Horticulture; Agriculture80 PRINCESS STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure14 MATILDA CIRCLE MORPETH 2321Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space46 JAMES STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Demolition; Horticulture; Agriculture108 HIGH STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise123 SWAN STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 ALBUERA CLOSE MORPETH 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool24 CARLISLE PLACE MORPETH 2321Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportBUTCHERS LANE MORPETH 2321Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 DUCKENFIELD ROAD MORPETH 2321Determined
May 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation107 SWAN STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures160 SWAN STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Supporting Development6 Albuera Close, Morpeth, NSW, 2321Determined
- Subdivision123 PRINCESS STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure35 JAMES STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation40 CLOSE STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 NORTHUMBERLAND STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure5A NORTHUMBERLAND STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure125 HIGH STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Demolition7 GEORGE STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
October 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure125 HIGH STREET MORPETH 2321Rejected
- Demolition; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support74 PRINCESS STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Landscaping structures118 PRINCESS STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space95 HIGH STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
August 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50 JAMES STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure47 HIGH STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise123 SWAN STREET MORPETH 2321Determined
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
- Exercise caution. Use diversions. Traffic controllers will be on site to direct motorists.Swan Street, Northumberland Street26 Oct 2025 – 29 Oct 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Heritage
2 heritage places
- Morpeth House, Closebourne House, Adjoining Chapels and Diocesan Registry GroupMorpeth Road, MorpethSHR
- St James' Anglican Church Group, Morpeth17 Tank Street, MorpethSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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 5.2 km away).
Coalition 40.8%Labor 59.2%
2.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +9.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- MorpethLabor 58.3% · Coalition 41.7% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
- TenambitLabor 65.7% · Coalition 34.4% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
- ChisholmLabor 55.2% · Coalition 44.8% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
- East Maitland CentralLabor 64.8% · Coalition 35.2% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
- MetfordLabor 68.7% · Coalition 31.3% TPP (2025)4.0 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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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.