Lorn vs Maitland.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $990,000 and $645,000. Maitland edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Maitland (median $645,000) is roughly 53% cheaper to buy into than Lorn ($990,000). Over the past year, Maitland (+1.2%) ran 13.2 percentage points ahead of Lorn (-12%) on house-price growth.
Maitland scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 54/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Maitland (990) sits above Lorn (982). Lorn skews owner-occupied (81%), Maitland runs more rental-dense (56% owner).
For buyers
Maitland is the lower entry point at $645,000 median, 53% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Maitland carries both higher gross yield (5.16% vs 3.36%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Maitland edges out on average school ICSEA (990 vs 982). Lorn also has a higher family-household share (74% vs 59%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Lorn or Maitland cheaper to buy in?
Maitland has the lower median house price at $645,000, roughly 53% below Lorn ($990,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Lorn or Maitland?
Over the past 12 months, Maitland grew +1.2% vs -12% in Lorn, a gap of 13.2 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Lorn or Maitland have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Maitland scores 990 vs 982 in Lorn. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Lorn or Maitland?
Maitland scores 54/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Lorn or Maitland?
Gross rental yield on houses is 5.16% in Maitland vs 3.36% in Lorn. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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