Woolgoolga

Woolgoolga lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Woolgoolga's population is estimated at 6,741 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 590 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,151 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 6,388 in June 2024 and an additional 195 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 123 persons per square kilometer. Woolgoolga's 9.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (5.5%) and the Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 63.0%.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth for locations outside capital cities, with Woolgoolga expected to expand by 1,471 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 16.6% over the 17 years.

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

Woolgoolga recorded approximately 27 residential properties granted approval per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 138 homes were approved, with a further 19 approved in FY-26. On average, each home built over these years accommodated about 4.4 new residents annually.

This demand outpaces supply, potentially driving up prices and increasing buyer competition. The average construction cost value of new homes was approximately $695,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled around $10.1 million.

Woolgoolga's construction rates per person are similar to the rest of NSW, suggesting market stability in line with regional patterns. Most new building activity involved detached dwellings (85%), maintaining the area's low-density character and appealing to families seeking space. With approximately 266 people per approval, Woolgoolga reflects a transitioning market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Woolgoolga is projected to grow by around 1,118 residents by 2041. Development appears to be keeping pace with this projected growth, although increasing competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified ten projects potentially affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Plantations by Ingenia Lifestyle Extension, Woolgoolga North West and West Growth Plans, Woolgoolga Town Centre Masterplan, and 34 Trafalgar Street Residential Flat Building. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Woolgoolga demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Woolgoolga's workforce is skilled and diverse. The unemployment rate was 3.4% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.3% over the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. In December 2025, 2783 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.5% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was lower at 53.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. Only 9.4% of residents worked from home, as per Census responses. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. Woolgoolga has a high specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 4.2 times the regional level.

Manufacturing is under-represented at 1.7%, compared to Regional NSW's 5.8%. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 3.3% and labour force by 2.8%, reducing unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline of 1.2% and labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Woolgoolga's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Woolgoolga's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $40,892. The average income stood at $50,308 during the same period. These figures are below Regional NSW's median and average incomes of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.86%, estimated median and average incomes for Woolgoolga as of September 2025 would be approximately $44,515 and $54,765. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Woolgoolga fall between the 12th and 16th percentiles nationally. In this suburb, 27.5% of individuals earn within the $400 - $799 income range, compared to the regional leading bracket of $1,500 - $2,999 at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Woolgoolga, with only 83.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.

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

Woolgoolga's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 82.8% houses and 17.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is similar to Regional NSW's composition of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woolgoolga stood at 46.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.3% and rented ones at 30.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Regional NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $360, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Woolgoolga's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Woolgoolga features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 65.0% of all households, including 24.2% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.0%, with lone person households at 29.9% and group households comprising 5.0%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

Woolgoolga shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 19.9%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.4% and graduate diplomas at 2.3%. Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 36.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (24.7%). Overall, 24.8% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, with 9.0% in primary, 6.4% in secondary, and 2.6% in tertiary education.

A substantial 24.8% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 6.4% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Woolgoolga has 92 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 36 different routes that together facilitate 352 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 188 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of transport for 93% of residents, while walking accounts for 5%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 9.4% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 50 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately three weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Woolgoolga 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 low at approximately 47% of the total population (~3,161 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.6% and 8.6% of residents respectively. 63.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 28.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,927 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Woolgoolga was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Woolgoolga's population showed higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 25.5% born overseas and 23.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 40.1%. Notably, the 'Other' category comprised 19.1%, significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (29.2%), Australian (23.4%), and Other (12.6%). The latter two figures differed from regional averages: Australian was lower (23.4% vs 30.0%) and Other was higher (12.6% vs 4.8%). Additionally, certain ethnic groups showed notable variations: Indian (6.9% vs 0.6%), Australian Aboriginal (3.4% vs 4.6%), and French (0.5% vs 0.4%).

Woolgoolga hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Woolgoolga's median age of 45 years is modestly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43, and considerably older than the national norm of 38. The 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented in Woolgoolga at 15.4%, compared to the regional average, while those aged 5-14 are under-represented at 9.6%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 7.9% to 9.5%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 11.4% to 12.9%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 13.2% to 11.4%, and the 25-34 group dropped from 13.6% to 12.5%. Demographic modeling suggests Woolgoolga's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 85+ age cohort projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 283 people (114%) from 249 to 533. Conversely, numbers in the 65-74 age range are expected to fall by 45.