Gilgandra

Gilgandra has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of May 2026, Gilgandra's population is estimated at around 2,960, reflecting a decrease of 23 people since the 2021 Census. This decrease represents a 0.8% change from the previous population count of 2,983. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025. This level of population results in a density ratio of 4.6 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed approximately 53.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia (released in 2024 with a base year of 2022) for SA2 areas covered by this data, and NSW State Government's projections (released in 2022 with a base year of 2021) for areas not covered. Applying growth rates from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041 indicates an overall population decline of 303 persons by 2041, while the 75 to 84 age group is projected to expand by 31 people over this period.

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

Gilgandra experienced limited development activity between 2015 and 2020, with an average of one approval per year. This resulted in a total of five approved developments over this period. Such low levels are typical in rural areas due to modest housing needs and constraints on construction activity by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It is important to note that the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics. Gilgandra's development levels were substantially lower than those in the Rest of NSW during this period, and they were also below national averages. Recent building activity consisted solely of detached houses, maintaining the rural nature of the area with an emphasis on space. The estimated population per dwelling approval was 1479 people between 2015 and 2020, reflecting the quiet development environment in Gilgandra.

With a stable or declining population expected in the future, housing pressure is likely to remain low, potentially presenting opportunities for buyers.

Gilgandra has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified three projects likely impacting the area. Key projects are Aero Park Residential Estate, Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan, Gilgandra Solar Farm, and Inland Rail - Narromine to Narrabri. The following 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 employment landscape in Gilgandra presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.8%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Gilgandra has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs well represented, particularly in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.8%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,204 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.1% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Gilgandra is lower at 51.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, only 8.1% of residents work from home. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Gilgandra has a notable concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with employment levels at 2.2 times the regional average.

Manufacturing employs just 2.1% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.8%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between December 2024 and November 2025, Gilgandra's labour force decreased by 5.4%, while employment declined by 4.3%, causing unemployment to fall by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Gilgandra's employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Gilgandra's employment mix.

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

The suburb of Gilgandra's income level is lower than average on a national basis according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Gilgandra is $42,308 and the average income stands at $48,099. These figures compare to 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, current estimates for Gilgandra would be approximately $46,674 (median) and $53,063 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census figures, incomes in Gilgandra fall between the 6th and 12th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The income bracket of $800 - 1,499 captures 29.8% of Gilgandra's community (882 individuals), differing from surrounding regions where the $1,500 - 2,999 band dominates with 29.9%. Housing costs are modest in Gilgandra, with 88.4% of income retained. However, total disposable income ranks at just the 11th percentile nationally.

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

In Gilgandra, as per the latest Census evaluation, 91.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 8.4% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This differs from Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gilgandra stood at 42.8%, compared to Regional NSW's figure. The majority of non-owned dwellings were either mortgaged (26.1%) or rented (31.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Gilgandra was $1,062, lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Gilgandra averaged $200, below the Regional NSW figure of $330 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Gilgandra's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households constitute 65.5% of all households, including 19.0% couples with children, 28.9% couples without children, and 15.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.5%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households making up 2.0%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 9.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Vocational credentials are held by 39.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 7.5% and certificates at 31.7%. Educational participation is high, with 28.8% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.6% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 0.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 97 active transport stops in Gilgandra. These include both train and bus services. There are 17 individual routes operating collectively providing 130 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good with residents typically located 216 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward by car which remains the dominant mode at 87%. Eight percent walk to their destinations.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 8.1% of residents work from home, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 18 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Gilgandra faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Various health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% (~1,362 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.0%) and asthma (8.8%), while 59.3% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Gilgandra has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.5% (813 people), compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

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

Gilgandra was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 87.9% of its population being Australian citizens, 95.9% born in Australia, and 97.9% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Gilgandra is Christianity, comprising 69.1% of the population, which is higher than the Regional NSW average of 55.9%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (33.9%), English (30.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (13.1%), the latter being substantially higher than the regional average of 4.6%.

Notably, Maori representation is overrepresented in Gilgandra at 0.4% compared to the regional average of 0.3%, while Lebanese representation is similar at 0.2%. Irish ancestry, however, is lower at 8.0% compared to the regional average of 8.8%.

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

Gilgandra'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 are particularly prominent, making up 14.6% of the population, while those aged 25-34 comprise a smaller proportion at 8.7%. Between 2021 and the present, the 0-4 age group has grown from 5.1% to 6.4%, and the 65-74 cohort has increased from 13.0% to 14.1%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 10.6% to 8.7%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 12.4% to 10.9%. By 2041, Gilgandra's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 13 people, reaching 307 from 272, and the proportion of those aged 65 and above will comprise all of the population growth. Conversely, declines are projected for the 45-54 and 25-34 age cohorts.