Wauchope

Population growth drivers in Wauchope are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Wauchope is around 7,097, reflecting a 508 person increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,589. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,912 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 201 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 398 persons per square kilometer. Wauchope's growth rate of 7.7% exceeded both Rest of NSW (5.9%) and its SA4 region, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 76.0% to overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is projected to increase its population by 2,137 persons, reflecting a total gain of 27.9% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Wauchope when compared nationally

Wauchope recorded approximately 46 residential properties granted approval annually, with around 230 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25. In FY-26 up to June, 12 homes have been approved. This translates to an average of 2.9 people moving to the area per new home constructed over these five years.

The average construction value for new homes is $396,000. Commercial approvals totalled $11.2 million in FY-26. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wauchope has 12.0% lower construction activity per person but ranks at the 49th percentile nationally.

Recent construction comprises 79.0% detached houses and 21.0% attached dwellings. There are around 329 people per dwelling approval in Wauchope, indicating a developing market. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Wauchope's population will grow by 1,983 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Wauchope has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project expected to affect this region. Notable projects include Beechwood Road Upgrade Stage 6 including Steels Bridge Wauchope, Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane, Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, Corridor Preservation For East Coast High Speed Rail. 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.

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

Wauchope has a balanced workforce consisting of both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well represented in the area. The unemployment rate is 5.1%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, there are 3,025 residents employed while the unemployment rate stands at 1.2% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Wauchope is somewhat lower at 56.8%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Census responses indicate that only 7.0% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Wauchope shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.7% of Wauchope's workforce compared to 5.3% 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. During the year to September 2025, the labour force increased by 0.5%, while employment declined by 0.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Wauchope's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Wauchope suburb had median income among taxpayers at $39,267 and average income at $48,674. These figures are lower than national averages, which stood at $52,390 and $65,215 respectively for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from June 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income in Wauchope would be approximately $42,746 and average income at $52,987 by the latter date. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Wauchope all fall between 8th and 10th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 29.9% of locals (2,122 people) earn within the $800 - 1,499 range, unlike regional trends where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Wauchope, with only 80.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 7th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Wauchope, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.3% houses and 14.7% 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 Wauchope was at 37.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (29.3%) or rented (33.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and Australia's national figure of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Wauchope was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330 and the national average of $375.

Wauchope features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 67.3% of all households, including 21.4% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 16.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.7%, with lone person households at 29.9% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.4 people, matching the Rest of NSW average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 9.8%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 7.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 45.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 9.9% and certificates at 35.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wauchope has 50 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 68 individual routes, collectively facilitating 666 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically situated 219 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily due to Wauchope's residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 94%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.3, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 95 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Wauchope faces significant health challenges, as identified by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A variety of health conditions impact both younger and older age groups. The rate of private health cover is extremely low, at approximately 46% of the total population (~3,283 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.9% of residents) and mental health issues (10.8%), while 57.0% claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (24.7%, or 1,752 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 23.4%. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, with national rankings generally aligning with the overall population.

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

Wauchope's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 92.1% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (92.4%), and speaking English only at home (97.6%). Christianity is the predominant religion in Wauchope, comprising 56.0%, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (34.0%), English (32.1%), and Irish (8.0%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 7.2% in Wauchope than regionally at 4.6%. Maori representation is also higher at 0.6% compared to the regional average of 0.3%, while French representation is slightly higher at 0.5% versus 0.4%.

Wauchope hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Wauchope has a median age of 43, matching Rest of NSW's figure and exceeding Australia's national average of 38 years. The age profile indicates that those aged 85+ comprise 4.0%, while the 35-44 group constitutes 10.4%. Compared to the 2021 Census, Wauchope's population has seen an increase in the 15-24 age group from 11.4% to 12.3%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has decreased from 12.4% to 11.6%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant shifts in Wauchope's age structure: notably, the 25-34 group is expected to grow by 38%, adding 321 people to reach a total of 1,173 from 851. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 8%, with an increase of 67 people.