Walgett

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

Based on ABS population updates and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of the suburb of Walgett is around 1,929 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 105 people (5.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,824 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 1,921 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional one validated new address since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 0.30 persons per square kilometer. Walgett's growth of 5.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (2.6%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 70.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Projections indicate a decline in overall population over this period, with the area's population expected to reduce by 535 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, projected to grow by 12 people.

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

Walgett has had minimal residential development activity, with 1 dwelling approval annually on average over the five-year period from January 2015 to December 2019. This equates to a total of 6 dwellings approved during this time. The low development levels reflect Walgett's rural nature, where housing needs are typically specific and locally driven rather than influenced by broader market demand.

It is important to note that the small sample size can lead to significant variations in annual growth and relativity statistics due to individual development projects. Walgett has substantially lower development levels compared to Rest of NSW and also falls below national averages. Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, aligning with rural living preferences for space and privacy. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1276 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment in the area.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, Walgett may experience less housing pressure, presenting favourable conditions for buyers.

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

No factors influence an area's performance more than changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Inland Rail - Narromine to Narrabri, Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium Water Resource Plan, Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan, and Newell Highway Upgrade, with details of those most relevant below.

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

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Employment drivers in Walgett are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Walgett has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 5.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 863 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 2.1% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Walgett is on par with Rest of NSW at 61.5%. Census responses show that only 11.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, public administration & safety, and education & training. Walgett has a particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 4.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction is under-represented at 4.0% of Walgett's workforce compared to 9.7% in Rest of NSW. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force decreased by 3.2% alongside a 4.4% employment decline, causing unemployment to rise by 1.2 percentage points in Walgett. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.5%, the labour force fell by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Walgett's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not consider localized population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Walgett suburb's income level exceeds national average, per latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ended 30 June 2023. Median income among taxpayers is $61,884, average income stands at $74,191, compared to Rest of NSW's figures of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended 30 June 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $67,367 (median) and $80,764 (average). Census data indicates household, family and personal incomes rank modestly in Walgett, between 38th and 53rd percentiles. Income analysis shows 31.2% of population (601 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to broader area's 29.9%. Housing costs are manageable with 91.4% retained, but disposable income is below average at 47th percentile. Walgett's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Walgett is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Walgett's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.1% houses and 7.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Walgett was at 29.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.7% and rented ones at 47.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $970, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Walgett was $175, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Walgett's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Walgett has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 69.1% of all households, including 20.9% couples with children, 29.1% couples without children, and 15.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up 30.9%, with lone person households at 28.1% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Walgett fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Walgett's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks; 23.3% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to NSW's 32.2%. The most common qualification is bachelor degrees at 18.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 46.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them; advanced diplomas account for 14.6% and certificates for 31.7%. Educational participation is high at 50.4%, with 22.2% in primary education, 13.0% in secondary education, and 6.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 50.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 22.2% in primary education, 13.0% in secondary education, and 6.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Walgett has 71 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 10 routes providing 114 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 169 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car is the dominant mode of transport at 81%, with 17% walking. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 11.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 16 trips per day across all routes, translating to roughly one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Walgett is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Walgett faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population, which is around 1,084 people. This compares to 51.9% across Rest of NSW. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and diabetes, impacting 8.3 and 6.5% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 71.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 15.4% of residents aged 65 and over, which is around 297 people, lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Walgett is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Walgett had a cultural diversity profile as follows: 61.0% citizens, 93.5% born in Australia, and 93.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion at 60.6%, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. Ancestry-wise, Australian (28.0%), Australian Aboriginal (26.0%) were top groups, with notable differences in Welsh (0.7% vs regional 0.5%), French (0.4% vs 0.4%), and Irish (7.9% vs 8.8%).

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Walgett are Australian, comprising 28.0% of the population, Australian Aboriginal, comprising 26.0% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 4.6%, and English, comprising 21.1% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 30.5%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Welsh is notably overrepresented at 0.7% of Walgett (vs 0.5% regionally), French at 0.4% (vs 0.4%) and Irish at 7.9% (vs 8.8%).

Walgett's population is younger than the national pattern

Walgett's median age is 35 years, which is significantly lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and somewhat younger than the Australian median of 38. The 25-34 age cohort is notably over-represented in Walgett at 15.3%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 4.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 0-4 age group has increased from 7.8% to 9.1% of Walgett's population, while the 75-84 cohort has grown from 3.3% to 4.5%. Conversely, the 45-54 age cohort has declined from 12.2% to 10.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that Walgett's age profile will significantly evolve by 2041. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 51%, adding 10 residents to reach 32. Residents aged 65 and older represent 100% of the anticipated growth, while population declines are projected for the 75-84 and 0-4 age cohorts.