New South Wales · Postcode 2421
Paterson postcode and suburb data
New South Wales · Phone area code 02 · 147 km from Sydney
Suburb snapshot
Paterson at a glance vs NSW
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against NSW
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Detailed comparison table
Paterson vs the NSW average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Paterson | NSW avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,907 ≈NSW | $1,931 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $300 -NSW | $445 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $2,000 -NSW | $2,247 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 41 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 8/10 +NSW | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 2.6% -NSW | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the NSW average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Paterson is a locality 147 km from Sydney in New South Wales, classified as inner regional by the ABS. The postcode is 2421. It falls within the Hunter Valley exc Newcastle region. The local government area is Dungog.
According to the 2021 Census, Paterson has a population of 960 with a median age of 41. The median weekly household income is $1,907, close to the NSW average. The unemployment rate is 2.6%, lower than the NSW average. The Indigenous population is 28 (2.9% of residents).
Housing in Paterson includes a median weekly rent of $300, median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,000, with 340 total dwellings. Housing costs in the area sit below the NSW average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 86.6% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Paterson scores in decile 8 out of 10, which is above the national average.
Paterson is served by Paterson Public School.
Paterson is part of the Maitland statistical area in New South Wales.
Paterson details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2421 |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 960 |
| Median Age | 41 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,907/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $837/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $300 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $2,000 |
| Average Household Size | 2.7 persons |
| Area | 41.4 km² |
| Population Density | 23/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 340 |
| Australian Citizens | 93.9% |
| Indigenous Population | 28 (2.9%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 8/10 (above average) |
| Latitude | -32.583333 |
| Longitude | 151.6 |
| Distance from Sydney | 147 km |
| Region (SA4) | Hunter Valley exc Newcastle |
| Area (SA3) | Maitland |
| Local Government | Dungog |
| Federal Electorate | Lyne |
| State Electorate | Upper Hunter |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 194 (20.2%) |
| 15–24 years | 88 (9.2%) |
| 25–44 years | 228 (23.8%) |
| 45–64 years | 265 (27.6%) |
| 65+ years | 175 (18.2%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Asthma | 95 (9.9%) |
| Arthritis | 89 (9.3%) |
| Heart Disease | 47 (4.9%) |
| Diabetes | 39 (4.1%) |
| Cancer | 31 (3.2%) |
| Lung Condition | 16 (1.7%) |
| Dementia | 6 (0.6%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 4 (1.2%) |
| 1 vehicle | 64 (19.5%) |
| 2 vehicles | 143 (43.6%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 117 (35.7%) |
Schools in Paterson
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Paterson. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Paterson
Same Postcode (2421)
More Paterson Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.