Walcha, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Walcha NSW is 2,475 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Walcha is $701 per week ($36,452 per year). Median rent in Walcha is $203 per week ($880 per month). Walcha has a median age of 49 years, older than the national median of 38. Walcha has a population density of 0.8 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Walcha is England. The most common religion is Anglican (31.5% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Australian Indigenous Languages. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Walcha is $1,083.

There were 30 recorded offences in Walcha in 2025-26, a rate of 12 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (8 offences).

Population
2,475
Census 2021
Median income
$701/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$203/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
49years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Walcha vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Walcha is $701 a week, 8% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,368th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $203 a week, $182 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 16.6% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 49, 6 years older than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureWalchaTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$701/wk$765/wk −8%$766/wk
Household income$1,220/wk$1,704/wk −28%$1,637/wk
Rent$203/wk$385/wk −47%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,083/mo$1,965/mo −45%$1,733/mo
Median age4943 +6 yrs42
Rent share of household income16.6%22.6% −5.9 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Walcha, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Walcha Population

2,475 residents at the 2021 Census.

Walcha Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$701/wk
$36,452 per year
Ranked 5,469 of 14,663
Median Rent
$203/wk
$880 per month
Ranked 7,357 of 14,663
Median Age
49years
11 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,083/mo
Avg household size: 2.2 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Walcha Rent Prices & Affordability

17% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,220/wk
Median rent $203/wk
Rent to income 16.6%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Walcha against your income

About $5,287 a month
Median rent $203/wk
Left after rent $1,017/wk
Rent share 16.6%

Walcha Map

Walcha, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Walcha

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.7% (1,233) Female 50.3% (1,246)

Population Density

0.8
people per km²
2,475 people · 3239.1 km²

Households

2.2
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,628
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
1.8%
New Zealand
0.8%
Netherlands
0.3%
Germany
0.2%
United States of America
0.2%
Zimbabwe
0.2%
Malaysia
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Australian Indigenous Languages
0.5%
German
0.2%
Mandarin
0.2%
Punjabi
0.1%
Afrikaans
0.0%
Arabic
0.0%
Cantonese
0.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
44.2%
English
41.6%
Scottish
12.6%
Irish
11.6%
Australian Aboriginal
5.7%
German
4.0%
Italian
1.5%
Dutch
0.9%
New Zealander
0.9%
Welsh
0.8%
Russian
0.3%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

Anglican
31.5%
No religion
26.9%
Catholic
18.2%
Not stated
9.7%
Presbyterian and Reformed
9.2%
Christian (other)
1.4%
Uniting Church
0.9%
Christinty Jehvahs Witnses
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

6.1%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
54.4% 1,113
Separated
2.8% 58
Divorced
8.0% 164
Widowed
7.7% 158
Never married
27.0% 553

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
41.7%
Couple: children under 15
38.9%
Couple: no children under 15
10.7%
One parent: children under 15
6.0%
One parent: no children under 15
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
31.5%
2 persons
41.1%
3 persons
10.8%
4 persons
9.2%
5 persons
5.5%
6+ persons
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Walcha

Housing Tenure

Of the 980 occupied private dwellings in Walcha at the 2021 Census, 21.4% were rented, 48.5% owned outright and 21.6% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
6.4% 63 dwellings
Owned outright
48.5% 475 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
21.6% 212 dwellings
Rented
21.4% 210 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.9% 19 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
99.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
4.2%
2 bedrooms
17.0%
3 bedrooms
45.6%
4 bedrooms
25.4%
5 bedrooms
6.0%
6+ bedrooms
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
13.9%
$300-$449/mo
4.8%
$450-$599/mo
5.3%
$600-$799/mo
10.7%
$800-$999/mo
15.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
18.7%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
12.8%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
11.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
3.7%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.3%
1 vehicle
31.0%
2 vehicles
38.9%
3 vehicles
15.0%
4+ vehicles
10.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Walcha

Employment

Employed full-time
38.4% 690 people
Employed part-time
19.8% 355 people
Unemployed
1.8% 33 people
Not in labour force
39.9% 717 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Managers
29.9%
Professionals
16.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
11.6%
Clerical & Administrative
10.6%
Community & Personal Service
10.4%
Labourers
10.4%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.5%
Sales Workers
4.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.7%
$150-$299/wk
2.9%
$300-$399/wk
3.3%
$400-$499/wk
11.0%
$500-$649/wk
5.8%
$650-$799/wk
8.4%
$800-$999/wk
8.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.7%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.1%
$4,000+/wk
7.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.4%
$1-$149/wk
4.2%
$150-$299/wk
8.5%
$300-$399/wk
5.4%
$400-$499/wk
4.9%
$500-$649/wk
3.6%
$650-$799/wk
11.5%
$800-$999/wk
11.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.5%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.5%
$3,500+/wk
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
69.9%
Did not go to work
11.3%
Walked only
9.2%
Car (passenger)
5.8%
Truck
1.8%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Bus
0.5%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.5%
Other
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
47.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
36.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
9.6%
Year 11 or equivalent
6.5%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
45.2%
Bachelor Degree
23.3%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.1%
Certificate I/II
5.4%
Postgraduate Degree
4.4%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Agriculture & Environment
20.3%
Management & Commerce
18.6%
Engineering
17.9%
Health
11.7%
Education
10.8%
Society & Culture
9.0%
Architecture & Building
4.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
3.8%
Creative Arts
2.0%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.2%
Information Technology
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
27.7%
Secondary: Government
21.1%
Primary: Catholic
16.5%
Pre-school
15.3%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
9.2%
Vocational Education
6.9%
Secondary: Catholic
2.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
86.2%
Has need for assistance
5.1%
Need for assistance not stated
8.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
176
Arthritis
152
Asthma
106
Heart disease
98
Diabetes
76
Lung condition
67
Cancer
63
Stroke
35
Kidney disease
32
Dementia
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.2% 224
Did not provide
87.8% 1,612

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
28.8% 532
Not a volunteer
71.2% 1,313

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
2.8% 51
Never served
97.2% 1,802

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
20.8%
1 child
9.7%
2 children
32.7%
3 children
25.2%
4 children
8.4%
5+ children
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
6
1951: 1960
23
1961: 1970
20
1971: 1980
22
1981: 1990
18
1991: 2000
18
2001: 2010
18
2016
3
2020
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

10.4%
moved in the last year
32.0%
moved in the last 5 years
3.1%
unemployment rate (Census)
55.9%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,980
Moved: same area (SA2)
125
Moved from NSW
82
Moved from QLD
9
Moved from overseas
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.2%
5: 14 hours
28.3%
15: 29 hours
14.5%
30+ hours
12.4%
Did not do domestic work
24.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
81.9%
Step family: no other children
11.9%
Blended family: no other children
4.8%
Other couple: children only
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Walcha Crime Statistics

30 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
8
Sexual Offences
6
Other Against Person
5
Assault
4
Theft
4
Property Damage
1
Drug Offences
1
Weapons
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Frequently Asked Questions About Walcha

What is the population of Walcha NSW?

The population of Walcha NSW is 2,475 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 0.8 people per km². Walcha is ranked #2,738 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Walcha?

The median personal income in Walcha NSW is $701 per week, or $36,452 per year. The median household income is $1,220 per week. Family income is $1,628 per week. Walcha is ranked #5,469 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Walcha?

Median rent in Walcha NSW is $203 per week ($880 per month). Rent represents 16.6% of household income, which is considered affordable. Walcha ranks #7,357 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Walcha?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Walcha NSW is $1,083. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Walcha?

The median age in Walcha NSW is 49 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Walcha a good suburb to live in?

Walcha is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 2,475. The median income is $701/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (16.6% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 14111. All dollar figures in AUD.