Walcha · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
More than 70% of similar areas have lower overall advantage scores than Walcha. This is a well-resourced community where residents typically have higher education and job skills than most of the country.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Walcha — higher than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area scores a 7 out of 10 for overall advantage, which is higher than about 70% of other areas. This is supported by a strong education and skills score of 8, which outperforms about 80% of similar places.
7
Higher than 64% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the 10% most advantaged. IRSAD summarises both advantage and disadvantage, so a high score reflects relatively many high-income, well-educated households and few low-income, low-skill ones.
7
Higher than 64% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the least disadvantaged. IRSD focuses on disadvantage alone (low income, low education, unemployment, unskilled occupations), so a higher decile means relatively less disadvantage.
7
Higher than 64% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Economic Resources, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for economic resources in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IER reflects the income, housing costs, dwelling size and assets of households, so a higher decile means relatively greater economic resources.
8
Higher than 71% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Education and Occupation, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for education and occupation in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IEO reflects residents' qualifications and the skill level of their jobs, so a higher decile means a more highly educated and skilled workforce.
970
Higher than 63% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a raw index score (standardised so the Australian average is about 1000). Higher scores indicate relatively greater advantage; lower scores greater disadvantage.
Annual population estimates and change since the census.
Growth has been slow, with the population falling by 1.0% since 2021. This decline is well below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.
2,989
Lower than 76% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-1.0%
Lower than 91% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 646 businesses in the area, though this is smaller than about 65% of similar places. Activity is low in the building sector, with only 3 new dwellings approved.
646
Lower than 65% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
3
Lower than 84% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Walcha [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17850/walcha/topic/economy-advantage
