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 5,503 as of February 2026. This represents an increase of 108 people, a 2.0% rise from the 2021 Census figure of 5,395. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,397 in June 2024 and the addition of 27 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 89 persons per square kilometer, indicating ample space for further development. Interstate migration contributed about 56.0% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate lower quartile growth outside capital cities. By 2041, Wingham's population is projected to increase by 128 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 0.4% over the 17 years.

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

Wingham has experienced approximately 12 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-2021 to FY-2025, 64 homes were approved, with an additional 6 approved in FY-2026 as of current data. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas, benefiting buyers with more affordable housing options, as new homes are constructed at an average expected cost of $271,000, below regional norms.

In the current financial year, there have been $4.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating the area's residential character. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wingham shows significantly reduced construction levels, with 55.0% fewer new properties per person, which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This level is also lower than national averages, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. All new constructions have been detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. The estimated population density of 571 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low-activity development environment.

By 2041, Wingham is projected to grow by 22 residents (based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers while potentially allowing growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Wingham has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Manning River Underbore, a 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 likely relevant.

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

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

Wingham has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, particularly in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate here is 5.3%. As of September 2025, 2,318 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is higher than Rest of NSW's at 3.8%, standing at 5.3%.

Workforce participation is lower at 55.3% compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census data, only 6.1% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Wingham has a high specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 3.6% versus the regional average of 7.5%. Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by the resident population compared to the working population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels remained stable while employment decreased by 1.2%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced a 0.5% employment decline and a 0.1% labour force decline, with an unemployment rate increase of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wingham's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localized population projections.

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

The median income among taxpayers in Wingham SA2 was $42,771 and average income stood at $49,523 according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year ended 30 June 2023. This compares with figures of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $46,561 (median) and $53,911 (average). Census data from 2021 shows income in Wingham falls between the 7th and 9th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The predominant earnings cohort spans 29.3% of locals (1,612 people) with incomes between $800 and $1,499, differing from the regional norm where the $1,500 to $2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability 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

Wingham's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.1% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 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, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Wingham was $306, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Wingham's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,371 versus Australia's 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 comprise 66.7% of all households, including 22.0% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 15.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.3%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 11.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common 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 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 are served by 24 routes, providing a total of 628 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 140 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, with cars being the dominant mode at 94%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 6.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 89 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, showing the 100 nearest stops to the location's 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 substantial health challenges, as per AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~2,531 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (11.3%) and mental health issues (11.3%). 57.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 26.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,449 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with its population comprising 91.7% citizens, 92.9% born in Australia, and 97.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Wingham, accounting for 56.7% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.9%), English (34.9%), and Scottish (7.8%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 5.3% in Wingham than regionally at 4.6%, while Maltese representation remained similar 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 the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 55-64 years make up a prominent 15.2% of the population, while those aged 25-34 years comprise a relatively smaller 9.3%. Between 2021 and now, the proportion of individuals aged 15-24 years has grown from 9.6% to 10.8%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 years has declined from 10.3% to 9.3%. By 2041, Wingham's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 14 people, reaching 646 from 569. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to experience population declines.