Maclean, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Maclean NSW is 2,778 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Maclean is $525 per week ($27,300 per year). Median rent in Maclean is $330 per week ($1,430 per month). Maclean has a median age of 56 years, older than the national median of 38. Maclean has a population density of 285 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Maclean is England. The most common religion is No religion (35.7% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Australian Indigenous Languages. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Maclean is $1,387.

There were 70 recorded offences in Maclean in 2025-26, a rate of 25 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (21 offences).

Population
2,778
Census 2021
Median income
$525/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$330/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
56years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Maclean vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Maclean is $525 a week, 31% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,975th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $330 a week, $55 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 34.2% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 56, 13 years older than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureMacleanTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$525/wk$765/wk −31%$766/wk
Household income$965/wk$1,704/wk −43%$1,637/wk
Rent$330/wk$385/wk −14%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,387/mo$1,965/mo −29%$1,733/mo
Median age5643 +13 yrs42
Rent share of household income34.2%22.6% +11.6 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Maclean, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Maclean Population

2,778 residents at the 2021 Census.

Maclean Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$525/wk
$27,300 per year
Ranked 7,967 of 14,663
Median Rent
$330/wk
$1,430 per month
Ranked 3,803 of 14,663
Median Age
56years
18 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,387/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Maclean Rent Prices & Affordability

34% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $965/wk
Median rent $330/wk
Rent to income 34.2%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Maclean against your income

About $4,182 a month
Median rent $330/wk
Left after rent $635/wk
Rent share 34.2%

Maclean Schools

6
schools nearby
3
government
961
avg ICSEA score
1,384
total students
St Joseph's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 135 students
1019
ICSEA
Pacific Valley Christian School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 277 students
985
ICSEA
Maclean High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 689 students
959
ICSEA
Valley Hope Christian School Independent
Combined · U · 51 students
951
ICSEA
Harwood Island Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 34 students
943
ICSEA
Maclean Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 198 students
908
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Maclean, with a map

Maclean Map

Maclean, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Maclean, New South Wales: 29.4510°S, 153.2173°E

Maclean Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (6)

People in Maclean

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.1% (1,308) Female 52.9% (1,469)

Population Density

285
people per km²
2,778 people · 9.7 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,269
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
3.2%
New Zealand
1.5%
Philippines
1.0%
Scotland
0.7%
United States of America
0.5%
Papua New Guinea
0.4%
India
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Australian Indigenous Languages
0.8%
Spanish
0.4%
Malayalam
0.4%
Cantonese
0.3%
Southeast Asian Austronesian languages: Other
0.3%
Mandarin
0.2%
French
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
42.1%
Australian
37.0%
Scottish
12.8%
Irish
12.6%
Australian Aboriginal
9.6%
German
3.7%
Filipino
1.3%
Italian
1.0%
Dutch
1.0%
Chinese
0.9%
French
0.9%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
35.7%
Anglican
18.6%
Catholic
18.3%
Not stated
8.8%
Presbyterian and Reformed
4.9%
Uniting Church
4.0%
Christian (other)
1.6%
Baptist
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

10.2%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
41.9% 997
Separated
4.5% 107
Divorced
11.9% 284
Widowed
11.7% 278
Never married
30.1% 716

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
40.6%
Couple: children under 15
29.3%
One parent: children under 15
12.0%
One parent: no children under 15
9.2%
Couple: no children under 15
8.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
34.4%
2 persons
40.9%
3 persons
11.1%
4 persons
8.1%
5 persons
3.5%
6+ persons
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Maclean

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,127 occupied private dwellings in Maclean at the 2021 Census, 30.5% were rented, 45.3% owned outright and 19.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.2% 25 dwellings
Owned outright
45.3% 510 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
19.1% 215 dwellings
Rented
30.5% 344 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
3.5% 39 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
92.8%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
4.2%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.9%
2 bedrooms
18.3%
3 bedrooms
54.6%
4 bedrooms
20.3%
5 bedrooms
2.7%
6+ bedrooms
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
7.7%
$450-$599/mo
2.1%
$600-$799/mo
7.2%
$800-$999/mo
13.4%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
18.0%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
23.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
20.6%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
2.6%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
6.7%
1 vehicle
45.8%
2 vehicles
35.8%
3 vehicles
7.4%
4+ vehicles
4.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Maclean

Employment

Employed full-time
20.5% 442 people
Employed part-time
17.3% 372 people
Unemployed
3.3% 72 people
Not in labour force
58.8% 1,267 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
26.9%
Community & Personal Service
18.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
12.3%
Managers
11.4%
Labourers
11.1%
Clerical & Administrative
10.7%
Sales Workers
5.2%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.1%
$1-$149/wk
1.5%
$150-$299/wk
1.9%
$300-$399/wk
3.0%
$400-$499/wk
11.4%
$500-$649/wk
8.2%
$650-$799/wk
12.2%
$800-$999/wk
11.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.6%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
7.4%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
3.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.7%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.3%
$4,000+/wk
3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.8%
$1-$149/wk
5.3%
$150-$299/wk
7.8%
$300-$399/wk
10.9%
$400-$499/wk
7.8%
$500-$649/wk
6.4%
$650-$799/wk
11.7%
$800-$999/wk
12.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
2.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.9%
$3,500+/wk
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
69.9%
Did not go to work
12.6%
Walked only
9.5%
Car (passenger)
4.6%
Other
1.3%
Truck
1.1%
Bus
0.6%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
42.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
38.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
11.6%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.7%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
44.6%
Bachelor Degree
22.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.9%
Postgraduate Degree
5.7%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.2%
Certificate I/II
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Health
18.5%
Management & Commerce
16.6%
Society & Culture
15.5%
Engineering
11.6%
Education
10.3%
Architecture & Building
9.0%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.8%
Agriculture & Environment
3.2%
Creative Arts
3.2%
Information Technology
3.0%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
30.9%
Secondary: Government
27.6%
Vocational Education
12.6%
Pre-school
10.4%
Primary: Catholic
8.7%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.2%
Secondary: Catholic
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
79.0%
Has need for assistance
13.7%
Need for assistance not stated
7.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
389
Arthritis
174
Heart disease
121
Lung condition
117
Diabetes
105
Asthma
100
Stroke
80
Kidney disease
64
Cancer
63
Dementia
27

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.8% 322
Did not provide
85.2% 1,853

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.8% 370
Not a volunteer
83.2% 1,830

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
3.9% 86
Never served
96.1% 2,134

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
23.9%
1 child
13.9%
2 children
29.3%
3 children
22.1%
4 children
8.6%
5+ children
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
12
1951: 1960
23
1961: 1970
46
1971: 1980
35
1981: 1990
33
1991: 2000
16
2001: 2010
41
2011: 2015
34
2016
7
2017
12
2018
7
2019
5
2021
7

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

16.8%
moved in the last year
44.8%
moved in the last 5 years
7.3%
unemployment rate (Census)
39.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,109
Moved: same area (SA2)
200
Moved from NSW
140
Moved from QLD
39
Moved from VIC
20
Moved from overseas
5
Moved from WA
3
Moved from TAS
3
Moved from NT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
17.3%
5: 14 hours
28.5%
15: 29 hours
15.3%
30+ hours
9.9%
Did not do domestic work
29.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
76.2%
Step family: no other children
9.4%
Blended family: no other children
8.8%
Intact family: other children present
3.3%
Other couple: children only
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Maclean Crime Statistics

70 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
21
Assault
13
Other Against Person
10
Theft
10
Property Damage
7
Drug Offences
5
Sexual Offences
4

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Daceyville
Income: $450/wk Rent: $130/wk $200/wk less rent
Wentworth (NSW)
Income: $496/wk Rent: $200/wk $130/wk less rent
Dorrigo
Income: $560/wk Rent: $300/wk $30/wk less rent
Berrigan
Income: $586/wk Rent: $173/wk $157/wk less rent
Tenterfield
Income: $517/wk Rent: $250/wk $80/wk less rent
Gloucester
Income: $553/wk Rent: $275/wk $55/wk less rent
Barham
Income: $571/wk Rent: $185/wk $145/wk less rent
Barraba
Income: $470/wk Rent: $195/wk $135/wk less rent

Suburbs near Maclean

The closest suburb to Maclean is Gulmarrad, 5.5 km away.

Gulmarrad
5.5 km away · income $569/wk · rent $450/wk
Yamba (NSW)
12.2 km away · income $602/wk · rent $400/wk
Lawrence (NSW)
12.9 km away · income $506/wk · rent $330/wk
Iluka (NSW)
14.8 km away · income $487/wk · rent $300/wk
Cowper
18.9 km away · income $677/wk · rent $300/wk

Compare Maclean

Frequently Asked Questions About Maclean

What is the population of Maclean NSW?

The population of Maclean NSW is 2,778 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 285 people per km². Maclean is ranked #2,546 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Maclean?

The median personal income in Maclean NSW is $525 per week, or $27,300 per year. The median household income is $965 per week. Family income is $1,269 per week. Maclean is ranked #7,967 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Maclean?

Median rent in Maclean NSW is $330 per week ($1,430 per month). Rent represents 34.2% of household income, which is considered moderate. Maclean ranks #3,803 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Maclean?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Maclean NSW is $1,387. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Maclean?

The median age in Maclean NSW is 56 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Maclean a good suburb to live in?

Maclean is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 2,778. The median income is $525/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (34.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12440. All dollar figures in AUD.