Wauchope

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

Wauchope's population is estimated at approximately 7,097 as of Feb 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 508 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,589. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 6,912 residents following examination of ABS data released in June 2024 and validation of 201 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 398 persons per square kilometer. Wauchope's population growth of 7.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW's 5.9%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 76.0% of overall gains.

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. By 2041, the suburb of Wauchope is forecasted to increase its population by 2,140 persons, reflecting a gain of 27.6% in total over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis indicates Wauchope recorded approximately 47 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 236 homes were approved, with an additional 13 approved in FY26 so far. On average, about 2.8 people moved to the area per new home constructed during this period, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $396,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, indicating quality-focused development. This financial year has seen $11.2 million in commercial approvals registered, suggesting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Wauchope shows 11.0% lower construction activity per person but ranks among the 53rd percentile nationally when assessed against other areas.

Recent construction comprises 78.0% detached houses and 22.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. With around 307 people per dwelling approval, Wauchope indicates a developing market. Looking ahead, AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Wauchope's population to grow by 1,955 residents through to 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

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 likely affecting the region. Key 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 performance in Wauchope has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

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 4.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of December 2025, there are 2,986 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is 1.0% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Wauchope stands at 55.7%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. 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 are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Wauchope has a particularly strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.7% of Wauchope's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, aggregated from broader statistical areas, during the year to December 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.1% while employment declined by 2.0%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.9 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. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Wauchope. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest that national employment is forecast 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 that 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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data shows that in Wauchope, median taxpayer income was $39,267 and average income was $48,674 in financial year 2023. Nationally, the averages were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively for Regional NSW. Based on an 8.86% growth since FY2023, estimated median and average incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $42,746 and $52,987 respectively. Census data indicates that Wauchope's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 8th and 10th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 29.9% of locals (2,122 people) earn between $800 - $1,499, unlike Regional NSW where 29.9% earn between $1,500 - $2,999. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Wauchope, with only 80.3% of income remaining, 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

In Wauchope, as per the latest Census, 85.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 14.7% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is similar to Regional NSW's dwelling structure, which was 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wauchope stood at 37.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.3% and rented ones at 33.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,517, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Wauchope was $350, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Wauchope's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure 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 account for 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, which matches the Regional 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 the most common at 7.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 45.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (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 routes providing a total of 666 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 219 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 94%. The average vehicle ownership is 1.3 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 95 trips per day across all routes, resulting in 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 per AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions that affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% of the total population (~3,283 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (10.9%) and mental health issues (10.8%). However, 57.0% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.9%, with 1,767 people, compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but generally align with national rankings for the general 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 citizens, 92.4% born in Australia, and 97.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Wauchope, comprising 56.0% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional 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 0.3%, and French representation is slightly higher at 0.5%.

Wauchope hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Wauchope has a median age of 43, matching Regional NSW's figure and exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile indicates that those aged 85 and above constitute 4.1%, while the 55-64 group comprises 11.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 9.5% to 10.6%, while the 65 to 74 cohort has decreased from 12.4% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Wauchope's age structure. Notably, the 25 to 34 group is expected to grow by 38%, adding 323 people and reaching a total of 1,168 from 844. Conversely, the 15 to 24 cohort is projected to grow minimally by just 8%, with an increase of 72 people.