Lorn vs South Maitland.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $990,000 and $605,000. South Maitland edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
South Maitland (median $605,000) is roughly 64% cheaper to buy into than Lorn ($990,000). Over the past year, South Maitland (-2.8%) ran 9.2 percentage points ahead of Lorn (-12%) on house-price growth.
South Maitland scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 8/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving South Maitland (993) sits above Lorn (982). Lorn skews owner-occupied (81%), South Maitland runs more rental-dense (64% owner).
For buyers
South Maitland is the lower entry point at $605,000 median, 64% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
South Maitland carries both higher gross yield (5.50% vs 3.36%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
South Maitland edges out on average school ICSEA (993 vs 982). Lorn also has a higher family-household share (74% vs 52%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Lorn or South Maitland cheaper to buy in?
South Maitland has the lower median house price at $605,000, roughly 64% 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 South Maitland?
Over the past 12 months, South Maitland grew -2.8% vs -12% in Lorn, a gap of 9.2 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 South Maitland have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), South Maitland scores 993 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 South Maitland?
South Maitland scores 8/100 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 South Maitland?
Gross rental yield on houses is 5.50% in South 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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