Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Walcha
3,239 km²
Spanning over 3,200 square kilometres of the New South Wales tablelands, Walcha is a large rural centre with an older population. The typical resident is 49, making the community far older than the national figure. It is a place where agriculture and management dominate the workforce, and a strong tradition of volunteering is evident. With nearly 30% of residents aged 65 or over, it is a town where many people have settled for the long term.
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The typical resident is 49, which is far older than the national figure of 38. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 29.9% of the population, a figure much higher than most similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia (84.8%), and the proportion of people born overseas is far below the state and national figures. English, Scottish, and Irish ancestries are common here.
English is the primary language for 89% of residents. Only 2.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Christianity is common here, with 63.1% of residents identifying as such. The proportion of people with no religion is far below the national figure.
Education levels are lower than the national average, with only 39.6% of residents completing Year 12. Qualifications in agriculture, environment, and management are most frequent.
Typical incomes are well below the state and national figures, with a typical weekly household income of $1,220. Only 10.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 33.5% of residents. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 13.8%.
Volunteering is very high in Walcha, with 26% of people volunteering, which is far above the national figure of 14.1%.
First Nations people make up 6.1% of the population, which is much higher than most areas. Many maintain a strong connection to culture, with 10.6% speaking a First Nations language.
Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.2 people per home. A high number of people live alone (31.3%), which is well above the national figure.
The area is dominated by separate houses (94.5%), and nearly half (48.5%) are owned outright. Typical rents and mortgage payments are far below state and national figures.
Most people rely on cars for work, though 24.9% work from home. Only 0.4% of the population commutes using public transport.
The community is relatively stable, with only 28.6% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also far below the national average.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 34.8% of the workforce. Full-time employment is higher here than the national average.
The area is somewhat walkable with a score of 4.3, though it is far below the state average. Many homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, but few are near public transport.