Urban Centre · Area profile
Wauchope
24 km²
Daily life in Wauchope revolves around a large, growing population where detached houses and family living are common. The town has seen a huge 46% increase in residents since 2016 and is notable for having a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than most areas. It is a place with a distinct mix of young families and a significant number of seniors. This blend creates a community where many people provide unpaid care for others.
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The population is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 42 and nearly 25% of people aged 65 or over. Around 9.8% of residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure that has risen by 5.4 points since 2016.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the state average. Those with European roots mainly list Australian, English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry.
English is the dominant language, with 92.1% of people using it only. This is consistent with the low proportion of overseas births, and the number of people using another language at home has fallen since 2016.
About 40.7% of the community report no religion, which is well above the New South Wales figure. This feeling has grown significantly, rising 17 points since 2016.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 8.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree. The number of people who completed Year 12 has also fallen by 9.5 points since 2016.
Typical weekly household income is $1,175, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. High earners are rare here, as only 3.3% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are much more common here than in most areas, with 37.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is reflected in the 9.5% of residents who need help with daily activities.
Providing unpaid care is a common part of life, with 15.5% of people doing so, which is well above the national figure. However, the number of volunteers has fallen by 10 points since 2016.
One-parent families make up 22.7% of the community, a figure that is much higher than most areas and has risen by 7.8 points recently. Typical homes house 2.4 people.
Detached houses are very common, making up 87% of all homes. While 36.6% of homes are owned outright, the typical weekly rent of $360 is much higher than in most similar areas.
Most people rely on cars, with 70.6% driving to work and very few using public transport. Only 6.8% of the workforce works from home, far below the national average.
The area is experiencing significant movement, as 43.9% of residents have moved in the last five years. This is well above the national figure, though recent arrivals from overseas have fallen.
About 50.9% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure. The unemployment rate is 5.8%, having risen by 2.3 points since 2016.
Wauchope is considered somewhat walkable, though it has far fewer amenities within a 15-minute walk than the state average. Health services are the most accessible amenity, located within a short walk for 65% of homes.