Paterson
NSW 2421 • New South Wales
About Paterson
Paterson is a historic small township in the lower Hunter Region of New South Wales, situated 16 kilometres north of Maitland on the banks of the Paterson River within Dungog Shire and the City of Maitland. Established in 1833 and one of the oldest European settlements in the Hunter Valley, Paterson has retained much of its colonial-era character, with heritage buildings including the historic Paterson Post Office at the corner of Duke and King Streets forming a well-preserved streetscape. The township covers 41.4 square kilometres and recorded a population of around 960 at the 2021 census. The surrounding agricultural land supports dairy farming and beef cattle on the fertile Paterson River flats.
Paterson offers a tranquil rural village lifestyle steeped in colonial history, popular with Hunter Valley weekenders and retirees drawn to its quiet charm, historic buildings, boutique accommodation and the scenic Paterson River. The town's heritage precinct, riverside park and local pub make it a popular day-trip destination from Newcastle and the Hunter Valley wine country. Maitland (16 km south) provides rail connections on the Hunter Line to Newcastle and Sydney, along with a full range of urban services. Dungog (25 km north) is another historic township servicing the upper Paterson Valley. The Hunter Valley's celebrated wine regions and the spectacular Barrington Tops National Park are within reasonable driving distance.
Paterson falls under postcode 2421 and is governed by the Dungog Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Lyne, while state elections fall under the Upper Hunter electorate.
Location
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Property Prices 2025
Median sale prices in Paterson for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.
Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.
Income
ATO taxable income Postcode 2421
Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 2421 for the 2023–24 financial year (2019–20 data not published for this postcode).
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 2421; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.
Transport & Commute
Nearest Train Stations
Bus Services
- Hunter Valley Bus Lines local routes — Maitland / Dungog ~25 min to Maitland
Commute to Sydney CBD
🛣️ Maitland (16 km south) provides the practical rail connection. Newcastle is approximately 40 km south-east. Paterson is a desirable rural-residential location for Newcastle/Hunter Valley commuters.
Paterson village centre is compact and walkable for its size, with a pub, post office and limited local shops accessible on foot. However, most services require a car trip to Maitland. Scenic riverside walks are a local highlight.
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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Paterson Public School ICSEA 10274938 5114 Webbers Creek Rd
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Vacy Public School ICSEA 9464938 8153 786 Gresford Rd
Demographics
Population Growth
Gender Distribution (Census 2021)
Crime Statistics LGA-wide
These are the latest 2025 rates for the Dungog Local Government Area, which contains Paterson. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.
Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)