Gilgandra

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

Gilgandra's population is estimated at around 2,973 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a decrease since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,983 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 2,951 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of 16 new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4.6 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed approximately 53.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Projections indicate a decline in overall population by 296 persons by 2041, but growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group projected to expand by 21 people.

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

Gilgandra has seen limited development activity with an average of one approval per year over five years (five approvals in total). This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is constrained by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics on an individual project basis.

Gilgandra has substantially lower development levels compared to the Rest of NSW, with its development pattern also well below national averages. Recent building activity has consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the rural nature of the area with a focus on space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1491 people, reflecting the quiet and low activity development environment in Gilgandra. With a stable or declining population expected, there should be reduced pressure on housing, potentially presenting opportunities for buyers.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Gilgandra should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating 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 has identified three projects that may impact the region. Key projects are Aero Park Residential Estate, Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan, Gilgandra Solar Farm, and Inland Rail - Narromine to Narrabri. 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 employment landscape in Gilgandra presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.7%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Gilgandra has a balanced workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.7% as of December 2025, which is 0.2% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Gilgandra was 51.9%, significantly lower than Regional NSW's 61.3%.

According to Census responses, only 8.1% of residents worked from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Gilgandra had a notable concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with employment levels at 2.2 times the regional average. However, manufacturing employed only 2.1% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.8%.

The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Gilgandra's labour force decreased by 5.3%, while employment declined by 4.1%, 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 unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gilgandra's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localised population projections.

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

Gilgandra's suburb income level is lower than average nationally, per latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Its median taxpayer income is $42,308 and average income stands at $48,099, compared to Regional NSW's $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates are approximately $46,056 (median) and $52,361 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, Gilgandra's household, family, and personal incomes all fall between the 6th and 12th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 29.8% of Gilgandra residents earn $800 - 1,499 (885 individuals), differing from surrounding regions where $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant at 29.9%. Housing costs are modest with 88.4% of income retained, but 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

Gilgandra's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.6% houses and 8.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gilgandra stood at 42.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.1% and rented ones at 31.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,062, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Gilgandra was $200, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Gilgandra's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,062 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 34.5%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households comprising 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 common 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: 12.6% in primary, 9.0% in secondary, and 0.7% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.8% of residents 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 reveals 97 active transport stops operating within Gilgandra. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. They are serviced by 17 individual routes, collectively providing 130 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 216 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 87%, with 8% walking.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 8.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 18 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 1 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 assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and prevalence of chronic conditions are high, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% (1,368 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 27.8% (826 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.9% of its population being Australian citizens, 95.9% born in Australia, and 97.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Gilgandra, comprising 69.1% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (33.9%), English (30.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (13.1%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 4.6%.

Notably, Maori representation in Gilgandra is overrepresented at 0.4% compared to the regional average of 0.3%, Lebanese at 0.2% (the same as regionally), and Irish 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 at 14.4%, while those aged 25-34 comprise a smaller proportion at 8.7% compared to Regional NSW. Between 2021 and now, the 0-4 age group has grown from 5.1% to 6.4% of the population, while the 65-74 cohort increased from 13.0% to 14.2%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 10.6% to 8.7%, and the 45-54 age group decreased from 12.4% to 11.1%. By 2041, Gilgandra's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 11 people, reaching 303 from 273. Those aged 65 and above will comprise all of the projected growth, while population declines are projected for those aged 85 and above and those aged 45-54.