Wauchope
Statistical Area - sa2

Wauchope lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Wauchope's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, was approximately 13,601 by August 2025. This figure represents a growth of 805 people, a 6.3% increase from the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 12,796. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,464 in June 2024 and an additional 342 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 69 persons per square kilometer. Wauchope's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (4.6%) and non-metro areas, indicating it as a leading growth area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 75.7% to overall population gains recently, with natural growth and overseas migration also being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, a significant population increase is forecasted for the top quartile of national regional areas, including Wauchope, with an expected growth of 3,975 persons, reflecting a total increase of 28.2% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Wauchope among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Wauchope has recorded approximately 134 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis. Between FY20 and FY25, there were 673 homes approved in total, with one approval so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling built attracts 2.9 new residents per year over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $396,000, aligning with regional trends. This financial year has seen $17.2 million in commercial approvals, showing moderate levels of commercial development compared to the rest of NSW. Wauchope has 14.0% less new development per person than the Rest of NSW and ranks at the 59th percentile nationally.

New development comprises 78.0% standalone homes and 22.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. There are approximately 259 people per dwelling approval in Wauchope, indicating potential for growth. Population forecasts project an increase of 3,838 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Wauchope has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Beechwood Road Upgrade Stage 6, including Steels Bridge Wauchope. Other key initiatives are The Sanctuary Port Macquarie, Sovereign Hills Masterplanned Community, and Thrumster Business Park. The following list provides details on those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Wauchope has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Wauchope's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. As of June 2025, its unemployment rate is 3.5%, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.7%.

Over the past year, employment has increased by 0.2% while the labour force grew by 0.9%, leading to a 0.7 percentage point rise in unemployment. Key industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade, with construction employing 1.3 times the regional average but agriculture, forestry & fishing at 2.4%, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. National forecasts project employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but localised projections are needed for precise estimates in Wauchope.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw employment increasing by 0.2% alongside labour force increasing by 0.9%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW, where employment contracted by 0.1%, the labour force grew by 0.3%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. To provide broader, more recent context, state-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, lagging the national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Wauchope. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Wauchope's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately increase by 6.6%% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Wauchope's median income among taxpayers was $43,832 and average income stood at $54,332 in the financial year 2022. This compares to Rest of NSW's figures of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $48,478 (median) and $60,091 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Wauchope all fall between the 20th and 24th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 30.7% of residents (4,175 people). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 24th percentile.

Wauchope is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Wauchope's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.3% houses and 8.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 75.9% houses and 24.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wauchope was at 41.4%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (34.9%) or rented (23.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $360, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $375. Nationally, Wauchope's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Wauchope has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 75.3% of all households, including 28.9% couples with children, 31.4% couples without children, and 14.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.7%, with lone person households making up 22.3% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3 people.

Educational outcomes in Wauchope fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 14.1%, significantly below the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 45.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 34.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.8% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education. As of 2021, Wauchope's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 1,504 students. Education provision is balanced with 3 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents (11.1) fall below the regional average (14.3), indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Wauchope has 121 active public transport stops, served by a mix of trains and buses. These stops are covered by 82 routes, offering a total of 795 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 315 meters to the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 113 trips per day, translating to about six weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wauchope is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Wauchope faces significant health challenges, as indicated by its health data. Both younger and older age groups have a notable prevalence of common health conditions.

Only approximately 47% (~6,419 people) of Wauchope's total population has private health cover, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 10.2 and 9.8% of residents respectively. However, 61.7% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 59.9% in the Rest of NSW. In Wauchope, 22.1% (3,001 people) of residents are aged 65 and over, lower than the 28.7% in the Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Wauchope present some challenges, with better performance compared to the general population in certain health metrics.

The latest Census data sees Wauchope placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Wauchope, as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data from June 2016, was found to have a low level of cultural diversity with 91.5% of its population born in Australia and 97.8% speaking English only at home. A majority, 93.1%, were citizens. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 57.3% of Wauchope's population, which is similar to the 57.5% regional average for Rest of NSW.

Ancestry-wise, Australian (34.3%), English (32.9%), and Irish (7.8%) were the top three groups in Wauchope. Notably, Australian Aboriginal (5.6%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 3.8%. Similarly, Maltese (0.5%) and Maori (0.4%) had higher representations than their respective regional averages of 0.4% and 0.3%.

Wauchope hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Wauchope has a median age of 43, which matches the Rest of NSW figure and is higher than the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 5-14 make up 13.5% of the population, while those aged 25-34 comprise 10.7%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 10.5% to 11.4%, whereas the 65 to 74 cohort has decreased from 12.4% to 11.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant changes in Wauchope's age structure, with the 25 to 34 group expected to grow by 42%, reaching a total of 2,078 people from the current figure of 1,460.