Moving to Rutherford NSW 2320
What the official numbers say about living in Rutherford — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $360 a week, against a median household income of $1,475 a week.
About 61% of homes are owner-occupied and 34% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Rutherford grew 29% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (10,182 → 13,091 people).
Around 71% of households are families, averaging 2.6 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Punjabi, Tagalog, Afrikaans.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Rutherford scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (84% of workers), while 13% work from home.
Nearest train station: Telarah, 1.9 km south-east.
Nearest railway halt: East Greta Junction, 2.9 km south-east.
Nearest airport: Maitland Airport, 3.2 km north-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 132 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 14 schools · 7 cafes & restaurants · 4 supermarkets · 11 parks — see them all on the Rutherford profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Maitland Tutorial Centre 550 m · Rutherford Public School 550 m · Rutherford Technology High School 750 m · Saint Paul's Primary School 1.1 km · Telarah Public School 1.5 km · Hunter Trade College 3.2 km · Maitland Public School 3.7 km · Nillo Infants School 3.7 km
Groceries: Woolworths 350 m · ALDI 550 m · Coles 600 m · IGA 2 km
Parks and reserves: Norm Chapman Oval 300 m · Finney Close Park 400 m · Max McMahon Oval 650 m · Peppertree Park 1.3 km · Vi Denny-Bowtell Park 1.4 km · McDonald Street Park 1.5 km · Spotted Gum Park 2.2 km · Walka Recreation & Wildlife Reserve 2.4 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Rutherford, most often seen first: Coastal New South Wales Australian Magpie · Common Myna · Eastern Asian Spotted Dove · Australian Magpie · Eastern Rainbow Lorikeet · Eastern Crested Pigeon.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Rutherford, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford here | 13,091 | — | 2/10 | 12% |
| Telarah | 2,318 | — | 1/10 | 7% |
| Aberglasslyn | 6,552 | — | 5/10 | 7% |
| Farley | 605 | — | 4/10 | 22% |
| Maitland | 1,972 | — | 2/10 | 8% |
| Lorn | 1,465 | — | 9/10 | 5% |
| Gillieston Heights | 4,796 | — | 5/10 | 4% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Maitland — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Paterson — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2320 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Rutherford profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $360 a week, and about 34% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 29% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 10,182 people to 13,091. It sits about 132 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Telarah station is roughly 1.9 km away. Local government is Maitland council, and the federal seat is Paterson.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Rutherford vs Aberglasslyn · Rutherford vs Maitland.
Nearby guides: Telarah · Aberglasslyn · Farley · Maitland · Lorn · Gillieston Heights.
Keep an eye on Rutherford
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