Woolgoolga - Arrawarra

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

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra's population is 15,803 as of February 2026. This figure shows an increase of 1,340 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 14,463. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 15,048 in June 2024 and an additional 239 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 58 persons per square kilometer. Woolgoolga - Arrawarra's population grew by 9.3% between the 2021 Census and February 2026, surpassing both its SA3 area (5.5%) and Rest of NSW growth rates. Overseas migration contributed approximately 62.8% to this growth, though all factors including natural growth and interstate migration were positive.

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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future trends project an above median population growth for national non-metropolitan areas, with Woolgoolga - Arrawarra expected to increase by 3,280 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 16.0% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Woolgoolga - Arrawarra among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Woolgoolga-Arrawarra has seen approximately 72 dwellings approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 363 homes. As of FY2025/26, 32 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.7 new residents per year are associated with each home built between FY2020/21 and FY2024/25. This indicates high demand outstripping supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition.

The average construction cost of new properties is $236,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY2025/26, $32.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting robust local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Woolgoolga-Arrawarra has slightly higher development levels, with 23.0% more approvals per person over the five-year period.

This maintains reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand, although recent development activity has shown some moderation. New building activity comprises 85.0% standalone homes and 15.0% medium to high-density housing, preserving the area's low-density character and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 397 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. By 2041, Woolgoolga-Arrawarra is projected to grow by 2,525 residents, according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, but buyers may face increased competition as the population expands.

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 11 projects potentially influencing this region. Notable ones are Ingenia Lifestyle Extension Plantations, Woolgoolga North West and West Growth Plans, Woolgoolga Town Centre Masterplan, and the 34 Trafalgar Street Residential Flat Building. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Woolgoolga - Arrawarra has been broadly consistent with national averages

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate in the area was 3.5% as of September 2021. Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 2.5%.

As of September 2025, there are 6,648 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is 0.3% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Woolgoolga - Arrawarra is lower at 55.3%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 11.2% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction.

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra has a significant specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 2.8 times the regional level. However, manufacturing has limited presence, with only 2.3% of employment compared to the regional average of 5.8%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the Census working population count versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.5%, while the labour force increased by 3.3%, causing an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of NSW recorded a slight decline in employment (-0.5%) and labour force (-0.1%), with an unemployment rate increase of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Woolgoolga - Arrawarra's employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that Woolgoolga - Arrawarra SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $46,119 and an average of $55,750. These figures are lower than the national averages. In comparison, Rest of NSW had a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $50,205 (median) and $60,689 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Woolgoolga - Arrawarra fall between the 23rd and 23rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 30.7% of the population, comprising 4,851 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which is similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Woolgoolga - Arrawarra, with only 83.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 23rd percentile nationally.

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

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.0% houses and 10.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woolgoolga - Arrawarra stood at 43.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.6% and rented ones at 25.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent was $380, higher than Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Woolgoolga - Arrawarra's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $380 against the national figure of $375.

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 70.7% of all households, including 26.3% couples with children, 31.6% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 29.3%, with lone person households at 25.2% and group households comprising 4.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 20.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (27.7%). Educational participation is high, with 26.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including primary (10.2%), secondary (6.8%), and tertiary (2.6%) levels.

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra has 223 active public transport stops. These are served by 40 routes, offering 387 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 188 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 93%, with an average of 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 11.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 55 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately one weekly trip per individual stop. A map accompanies the data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health outcomes in Woolgoolga - Arrawarra are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra shows below-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are higher than average, particularly for common health conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~7,490 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.6%) and mental health issues (8.7%), with 65.1% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 24.8% (3,919 people), compared to 23.4% in Rest of NSW, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Woolgoolga - Arrawarra records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Woolgoolga-Arrawarra exhibited above-average cultural diversity, with 19.5% of its population born overseas and 15.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 40.7% of people in Woolgoolga-Arrawarra. The most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, which constituted 10.4% of the population, significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups were English (30.0%), Australian (26.6%), and Other (9.0%). Notably, Indian ethnicity was overrepresented at 3.5%, compared to the regional average of 0.6%. Additionally, Australian Aboriginal ethnicity stood at 4.0% (vs a regional average of 4.6%) and French ethnicity at 0.5% (vs 0.4%).

Woolgoolga - Arrawarra's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age of Woolgoolga - Arrawarra is 43, matching the Rest of NSW figure and exceeding the national average of 38. The age profile shows a prominent group aged 65-74 (14.4%) and a relatively smaller group aged 15-24 (9.9%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.4% to 7.9%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 12.0% to 13.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 13.5% to 11.6% and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 13.0% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Woolgoolga - Arrawarra's age structure, with the 75 to 84 group expected to grow by 43%, reaching 1,789 people from 1,253. Conversely, numbers in the 65 to 74 age range are projected to fall by 83%.