suburb.guide

NSW · Maitland Council

Metford, 2323

Current weather

17.5°CClear sky

65% humidity · 12.2 km/h wind · 21.9° / 12.6° today · 2.5 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

43.4/100
Average

Top 43% of New South Wales' suburbs

82% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Excellent transport
  • Cycling
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
What Metford is known for: Excellent transport, Cycling, Green suburb, High desirability

Suburb profile

Metford is a practical mid-sized suburb in Maitland, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Connections to the wider metro area are straightforward, with neighbouring communities close at hand. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout.

Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car.

The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability and schools and education. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

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

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 · 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.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)

Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum

Data sources & freshness

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
514
Against the person
131
Against property
246
Rate per 1,000 residents
109.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 36 residents
State safety percentile
77th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+13.8%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

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 · 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

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)

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 structure
    17 CHELMSFORD DRIVE METFORD 2323Under Assessment

  • May 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    33 LOWE STREET METFORD 2323Determined

  • February 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    29 STONEHAVEN DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined

  • January 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    15 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 care
    83 CHELMSFORD DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
2025· 14 proposals

  • December 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    38 EUCALYPTUS CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined

  • November 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    34 MCLEOD AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    64 HARGREAVES CIRCUIT METFORD 2323Determined
  • Demolition
    20 BOYD AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    40 FERRABY DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined

  • October 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    21 SCHANCK DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    34 MCLEOD AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined

  • September 2025

  • Demolition; Hotel or motel accommodation; Erection of a new structure
    34 TURTON STREET METFORD 2323Determined

  • August 2025

  • Subdivision
    29 STRUTT CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined

  • June 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    16 SOMERS CLOSE METFORD 2323Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    14 MELALEUCA DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined

  • April 2025

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    10 DUDLEY CLOSE METFORD 2323Withdrawn

  • March 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Service station
    71 TURTON STREET METFORD 2323Determined

  • February 2025

  • Demolition; Dwelling house
    19 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 Australia
    2 NOLAN CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined

  • November 2024

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure
    43 WILLOW DRIVE METFORD 2323Determined

  • October 2024

  • Demolition; Horticulture
    17 EUCALYPTUS CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined

  • September 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    43 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 structure
    60 TURTON STREET METFORD 2323Determined
  • Demolition
    44 FERRABY DRIVE METFORD 2323Withdrawn

  • July 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    26 STRADBROKE AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined

  • June 2024

  • Subdivision
    28 BOYD AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined

  • May 2024

  • Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool
    4 CUMMINS PLACE METFORD 2323Determined

  • February 2024

  • Industrial development; Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure
    60 TURTON STREET METFORD 2323Determined
2023· 10 proposals

  • December 2023

  • Demolition
    4 STEVENS CLOSE METFORD 2323Determined

  • November 2023

  • Educational establishment; Erection of a new structure; School
    75 CHELMSFORD DRIVE METFORD 2323Withdrawn

  • October 2023

  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    11 HARGREAVES CIRCUIT METFORD 2323Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    8 DUDLEY CLOSE METFORD 2323Determined

  • August 2023

  • Other
    23 TENNYSON STREET METFORD 2323Determined
  • Shed
    4 TAMAR CLOSE METFORD 2323Determined
  • Dwelling; Dual occupancy
    19 DRYSDALE CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined

  • July 2023

  • Shed
    18 O'DONNELL CRESCENT METFORD 2323Determined
  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    26 STRADBROKE AVENUE METFORD 2323Determined
  • Subdivision of land; Health services facilities; Mixed use development; Earthworks / change in levels; Business premises; Office premises
    METFORD ROAD METFORD 2323Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

55 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).

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

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

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
2
Emergency department
Not in suburb
  • Heal Specialist Urgent CareMetford Roadclinic
  • Yesyes

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

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.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

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 · 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.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability Index

Desirability score
43.4/100 — Average
State standing
Top 43% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
2868th in Australia
State rank
916th in NSW
Peer rank
#235 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#572 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data confidence
82%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
  • Casurina Playgroundamenitiesplayground
  • Chelmsford Dr At Grevillea Dramenitiesbus_stop
  • Chelmsford Dr at Tennyson Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Chelmsford Dr at Turton Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Chelmsford Dr opp Early Learning Centreamenitiesbus_stop
  • Chelmsford Dr opp Maitland Christian Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
  • Chelmsford Dr opp Tennyson Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Chelmsford Drive Oval Playgroundamenitiesplayground
  • Chelmsford Ovalamenitiespitch

Data sources & freshness

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.