Wingham

Wingham is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Wingham's population is approximately 5,443 as of May 2026. Between the 2021 Census and this date, the population increased by 48 people, an increase of 0.9%. This growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures: 5,437 in June 2025 and an additional 28 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 88 persons per square kilometer. Wingham's growth rate of 0.9% since the census is within 2.7 percentage points of the SA3 area's rate of 3.6%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 38.8% to overall population gains recently, with all migration drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate that the area is expected to increase by 96 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 1.6% over the 16-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Wingham is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Wingham has received approximately 12 dwelling approvals annually. Between the financial years FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 64 homes were approved, with an additional 8 approved in FY-26 so far. Despite population decline, development activity has been relatively adequate.

The average expected construction cost for new homes is $271,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options. This financial year has seen $4.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wingham shows significantly reduced construction levels, with 55.0% fewer approvals per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, new construction is also lower than average, suggesting market maturity and potential development constraints.

All new constructions in the area have been detached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 571 people, reflecting a quiet, low-activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Wingham is expected to grow by 90 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Wingham has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 9 projects likely impacting the region. Notable ones are Manning River Underbore - New Water Supply Pipeline to Wingham, Wingham Residential Development, Wingham Central Park Master Plan, and Pacific Highway - Harrington Road Interchange. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The labour market performance in Wingham lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Wingham's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.2% as of December 2025. In this month, 2,288 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.3% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Wingham lagged at 53.9%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, only 6.1% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. The area specializes in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, public administration & safety has lower representation at 3.6%, compared to the regional average of 7.5%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over the year ending December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.3% alongside a 2.2% drop in employment, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW had a 1.2% employment decline and 0.8% labour force decline, with a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide further insight into potential future demand within Wingham. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Wingham's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Wingham SA2's median income among taxpayers was $42,771 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $49,523 during the same period. These figures are below Regional NSW's median and average incomes of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By March 2026, estimated median and average incomes in Wingham SA2 would be approximately $47,185 and $54,634 based on a 10.32% growth since financial year 2023. Census 2021 data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Wingham fall between the 7th and 9th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 29.3% of locals (1,594 people) predominantly earn between $800 - 1,499, unlike the regional trend where the $1,500 - 2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Income pressures are severe in Wingham, with only 84.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Wingham is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Wingham, as per the latest Census, dwelling structures consisted of 92.1% houses and 8.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wingham stood at 44.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.0% and rented ones at 23.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,371, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Wingham was $306, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Wingham's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wingham features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 66.7 percent of all households, including 22.0 percent couples with children, 27.7 percent couples without children, and 15.5 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.3 percent, with lone person households at 30.8 percent and group households making up 2.6 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Wingham faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 11.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 8.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.7%) and certificates (33.7%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wingham has 238 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 24 individual routes, providing a total of 628 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 140 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Wingham's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant transport mode at 94%, with an average vehicle ownership of 1.4 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 6.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 89 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Wingham faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~2,503 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.3%) and mental health issues (11.3%), while 57.6% claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents face notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.5% (1,494 people), compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Wingham had a cultural diversity index below average, with 91.7% citizens, 92.9% born in Australia, and 97.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 56.7%, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.9%), English (34.9%), and Scottish (7.8%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher in Wingham at 5.3% compared to the regional average of 4.6%, while Maltese remained consistent at 0.4%.

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

Wingham's median age is 47 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 years are particularly prominent, making up 15.1% of the population, while the 35-44 age group is comparatively smaller at 9.7%. Between 2021 and now, the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.6% to 10.7% of the population. Conversely, the 25-34 age cohort has declined from 10.3% to 9.1%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 11.3% to 10.3%. By 2041, Wingham's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 15%, adding 82 people and reaching a total of 641 from the previous 558. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 65-74 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.