Wallsend - Elermore Vale

Wallsend - Elermore Vale has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Wallsend-Elermore Vale's population was 20,958 as of May 2021. By May 2026, this figure increased to around 22,036, a rise of 1,078 people (5.1%). This growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 21,955 in June 2025 and an additional 274 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio was 1,024 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wallsend-Elermore Vale's growth exceeded Rest of NSW's 4.9%, making it a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 60% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Wallsend-Elermore Vale is projected to grow by 2,698 persons, reflecting an increase of 11.9% in total over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Wallsend - Elermore Vale among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Wallsend-Elermore Vale has seen approximately 91 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY2021 to FY2025456 homes were approved, with an additional 55 approved in FY2026 as of now. Each year, around 2.2 new residents are gained per dwelling built over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are constructed at an average cost of $225,000, below the regional average, offering more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY2026, commercial approvals totaled $10.4 million, reflecting moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wallsend-Elermore Vale has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 55th percentile nationally when assessed areas are considered. The current new development composition is 30% detached dwellings and 70% attached dwellings, a shift from the existing housing mix of 80% houses. This change reflects reduced development site availability and addresses evolving lifestyle demands and affordability needs.

With around 337 people per dwelling approval, Wallsend-Elermore Vale exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. By 2041, Wallsend-Elermore Vale is projected to grow by approximately 2617 residents, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Wallsend - Elermore Vale has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 39 projects likely affecting the region. Key initiatives include Western Corridor Road Upgrades - Longworth Avenue and Minmi Road, 6-10 Council Street Apartments, Duncan Close Residential Development, and Infinite Early Learning Elermore Vale. Relevant projects are detailed below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market performance in Wallsend - Elermore Vale lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Wallsend-Elermore Vale has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.8%. By December 2025, there are 10,879 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.7% (1.8% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%).

Workforce participation stands at 62.6%, slightly higher than Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 22.7% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Health care & social assistance has a notable concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.5%, compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force increased by 1.5% while employment decreased by 0.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.9 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wallsend-Elermore Vale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The Wallsend-Elermore Vale SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $56,533 and an average of $66,010 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is slightly lower than the national average, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $62,367 (median) and $72,822 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Wallsend-Elermore Vale rank modestly, between the 31st and 34th percentiles. Distribution data shows that 31.5% of locals (6,941 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 31st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Wallsend - Elermore Vale is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Wallsend-Elermore Vale as per the latest Census, 79.6% of dwellings were houses with 20.4% being semi-detached, apartments or other types. This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wallsend-Elermore Vale was 33.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.8% and rented ones at 33.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,777, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Wallsend-Elermore Vale was $380, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents higher at $375.

Wallsend - Elermore Vale features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 66.3% of all households, including 26.5% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 12.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.7%, with lone person households at 28.9% and group households comprising 4.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

Educational outcomes in Wallsend - Elermore Vale fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational qualifications in Wallsend indicate that 23.8% of residents aged 15 and over hold university degrees, compared to the state average of 32.2%. This suggests room for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 5.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.9%. Trade and technical skills are also prevalent, with 36.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 26.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.3% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Wallsend - Elermore Vale has 239 active public transport stops offering bus services. These stops are served by 104 routes, facilitating 2,584 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 136 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most residents commute outward, primarily using cars (94%). Average vehicle ownership is 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 22.7% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 369 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 10 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Wallsend - Elermore Vale is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

AreaSearch's assessment shows critical health challenges across Wallsend - Elermore Vale.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence indicate a range of health conditions impacting both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of the total population (~11,436 people), slightly lagging the average SA2 area. Mental health issues affect 11.5% of residents, while arthritis impacts 10.1%. Conversely, 59.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 19.6% of residents aged 65 and over (4,316 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

Wallsend - Elermore Vale ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Wallsend-Elermore Vale, as per the 2016 Census, had a cultural diversity index of below average. 84.6% of its population were born in Australia, with 89.6% being Australian citizens and 87.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 51.8% of the population.

However, Islam was overrepresented compared to Regional NSW, making up 2.5% versus 0.8%. The top three ancestral groups were English (29.0%), Australian (28.4%), and Scottish (8.3%). Notably, Macedonian (1.2%) Polish (1.1%), and Welsh (0.8%) ethnicities showed higher representation compared to Regional NSW averages of 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.5% respectively.

Wallsend - Elermore Vale's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Wallsend - Elermore Vale is 39 years, which is significantly below Regional NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Wallsend - Elermore Vale has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (17.5%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.3%). According to the 2021 Census, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 increased from 14.7% to 17.5%, while those aged 35-44 rose from 12.2% to 13.2%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 decreased from 10.7% to 9.3%, and those aged 55-64 dropped from 11.2% to 10.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Wallsend - Elermore Vale's age structure. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 25%, reaching 4,800 people from the current 3,851. Conversely, the 65-74 and 55-64 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.