Waratah West, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Waratah West NSW is 3,142 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Waratah West is $686 per week ($35,672 per year). Median rent in Waratah West is $390 per week ($1,690 per month). Waratah West has a median age of 31 years, younger than the national median of 38. Waratah West has a population density of 2,003 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Waratah West is England. The most common religion is No religion (45.2% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Waratah West is $1,853.

There were 54 recorded offences in Waratah West in 2025-26, a rate of 17 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (27 offences).

Population
3,142
Census 2021
Median income
$686/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$390/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
31years
Census 2021

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

Waratah West vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Waratah West is $686 a week, 10% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,423rd of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $390 a week, $5 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 25.7% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 31, 12 years younger 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.
MeasureWaratah WestTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$686/wk$765/wk −10%$766/wk
Household income$1,518/wk$1,704/wk −11%$1,637/wk
Rent$390/wk$385/wk +1%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,853/mo$1,965/mo −6%$1,733/mo
Median age3143 −12 yrs42
Rent share of household income25.7%22.6% +3.1 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 Waratah West, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Waratah West Population

3,142 residents at the 2021 Census.

Waratah West Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$686/wk
$35,672 per year
Ranked 5,737 of 14,663
Median Rent
$390/wk
$1,690 per month
Ranked 2,258 of 14,663
Median Age
31years
7 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,853/mo
Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Waratah West Rent Prices & Affordability

26% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,518/wk
Median rent $390/wk
Rent to income 25.7%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Waratah West against your income

About $6,578 a month
Median rent $390/wk
Left after rent $1,128/wk
Rent share 25.7%

Waratah West Schools

29
schools nearby
18
government
1011
avg ICSEA score
10,664
total students
Merewether High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,080 students
1206
ICSEA
St Philip's Christian College - Waratah Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,466 students
1138
ICSEA
New Lambton Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 538 students
1108
ICSEA
St Therese's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 543 students
1100
ICSEA
Hunter School of Performing Arts Government
Combined · K-12 · 1,094 students
1085
ICSEA
Corpus Christi Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 169 students
1085
ICSEA
St John's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 200 students
1083
ICSEA
Lambton Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 339 students
1065
ICSEA
Hunter Christian School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 337 students
1061
ICSEA
Lambton High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,176 students
1057
ICSEA
Mayfield West Public School Government
Primary · P-6 · 342 students
1033
ICSEA
Hamilton North Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 123 students
1030
ICSEA
Our Lady of Victories Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 130 students
1025
ICSEA
St Philip's Christian College Dynamic Learning Independent
Combined · U · 223 students
1022
ICSEA
Waratah Public School Government
Primary · P-6 · 351 students
1019
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 29 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Waratah West, with a map

Waratah West Map

Waratah West, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Waratah West, New South Wales: 32.9014°S, 151.7114°E

Waratah West Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (29)

People in Waratah West

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.4% (1,612) Female 48.6% (1,525)

Population Density

2,003
people per km²
3,142 people · 1.6 km²

Households

2.4
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,938
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
1.9%
China
1.4%
Vietnam
1.1%
India
0.9%
Pakistan
0.9%
Malaysia
0.8%
Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.5%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
1.5%
Vietnamese
1.4%
Urdu
1.0%
Spanish
0.6%
Arabic
0.5%
Cantonese
0.5%
Punjabi
0.5%

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

Ancestry

English
38.6%
Australian
36.1%
Irish
10.3%
Scottish
10.1%
Australian Aboriginal
7.2%
German
4.5%
Chinese
3.0%
Italian
2.7%
Dutch
1.7%
Polish
1.3%
Indian
1.3%

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

No religion
45.2%
Catholic
16.6%
Anglican
10.8%
Not stated
6.7%
Islam
3.8%
Christian (other)
2.5%
Uniting Church
2.1%
Baptist
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

7.4%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
30.1% 819
Separated
3.1% 83
Divorced
7.2% 196
Widowed
5.9% 160
Never married
53.7% 1,461

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
35.7%
Couple: no children
33.1%
Couple: no children under 15
12.1%
One parent: children under 15
11.0%
One parent: no children under 15
8.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
27.9%
2 persons
35.8%
3 persons
16.4%
4 persons
12.2%
5 persons
4.6%
6+ persons
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Waratah West

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,193 occupied private dwellings in Waratah West at the 2021 Census, 44.1% were rented, 24.8% owned outright and 28.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.0% 12 dwellings
Owned outright
24.8% 296 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
28.1% 335 dwellings
Rented
44.1% 526 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.8% 21 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
90.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
8.2%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
5.3%
2 bedrooms
20.5%
3 bedrooms
52.7%
4 bedrooms
14.3%
5 bedrooms
4.2%
6+ bedrooms
3.1%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.8%
$300-$449/mo
1.0%
$450-$599/mo
1.0%
$800-$999/mo
4.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
13.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
18.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
37.5%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
11.5%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
7.3%
1 vehicle
38.0%
2 vehicles
36.5%
3 vehicles
12.9%
4+ vehicles
5.3%

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

Work, income and education in Waratah West

Employment

Employed full-time
32.7% 808 people
Employed part-time
27.2% 673 people
Unemployed
4.2% 103 people
Not in labour force
35.9% 888 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
34.8%
Community & Personal Service
15.5%
Technicians & Trade Workers
13.9%
Clerical & Administrative
12.2%
Managers
8.4%
Sales Workers
5.6%
Labourers
5.6%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.0%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.0%
$1-$149/wk
0.7%
$150-$299/wk
2.5%
$300-$399/wk
2.3%
$400-$499/wk
7.5%
$500-$649/wk
4.3%
$650-$799/wk
6.4%
$800-$999/wk
7.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
4.7%
$4,000+/wk
5.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.7%
$1-$149/wk
3.6%
$150-$299/wk
8.5%
$300-$399/wk
6.1%
$400-$499/wk
7.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.9%
$650-$799/wk
9.8%
$800-$999/wk
12.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.4%
$3,500+/wk
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
67.1%
Did not go to work
20.4%
Car (passenger)
3.9%
Walked only
2.5%
Bus
2.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.4%
Bicycle
0.8%
Truck
0.6%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.5%
Other
0.5%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
63.1%
Year 10 or equivalent
23.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
7.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
5.7%

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
34.0%
Bachelor Degree
33.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.5%
Postgraduate Degree
11.7%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.1%
Certificate I/II
2.0%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
18.8%
Engineering
16.0%
Health
15.9%
Society & Culture
14.8%
Education
9.1%
Architecture & Building
7.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.1%
Creative Arts
4.3%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.9%
Information Technology
3.2%
Agriculture & Environment
1.6%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
26.0%
Secondary: Government
24.1%
Vocational Education
22.9%
Pre-school
9.6%
Primary: Catholic
6.5%
Secondary: Catholic
4.8%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.4%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.7%

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
86.5%
Has need for assistance
9.2%
Need for assistance not stated
4.4%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
429
Asthma
145
Arthritis
95
Diabetes
68
Heart disease
64
Lung condition
55
Cancer
41
Kidney disease
34
Stroke
26
Dementia
6

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
10.7% 275
Did not provide
89.3% 2,297

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
12.2% 315
Not a volunteer
87.8% 2,259

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.7% 17
Current ADF: Reserves
0.5% 13
Previously served
2.9% 75
Never served
95.9% 2,475

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
47.2%
1 child
11.0%
2 children
21.9%
3 children
12.3%
4 children
5.3%
5+ children
2.3%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
27
1951: 1960
18
1961: 1970
38
1971: 1980
21
1981: 1990
40
1991: 2000
44
2001: 2010
78
2011: 2015
95
2016
30
2017
40
2018
58
2019
56
2020
14
2021
3

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

Population Mobility

22.8%
moved in the last year
52.4%
moved in the last 5 years
5.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
63.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,281
Moved from NSW
543
Moved: same area (SA2)
71
Moved from overseas
12
Moved from QLD
11
Moved from VIC
8
Moved from ACT
5

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
23.3%
5: 14 hours
28.3%
15: 29 hours
9.7%
30+ hours
6.4%
Did not do domestic work
32.3%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
82.0%
Step family: no other children
11.6%
Blended family: no other children
6.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Waratah West Crime Statistics

54 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
27
Property Damage
8
Assault
5
Drug Offences
4
Other Against Property
4
Other Against Person
3
Sexual Offences
2
Weapons
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Blackett
Income: $560/wk Rent: $310/wk $80/wk less rent
Jesmond
Income: $574/wk Rent: $350/wk $40/wk less rent
Harris Park
Income: $802/wk Rent: $360/wk $30/wk less rent
Shalvey
Income: $550/wk Rent: $300/wk $90/wk less rent
Emerton
Income: $562/wk Rent: $320/wk $70/wk less rent
Werrington
Income: $806/wk Rent: $360/wk $30/wk less rent
Singleton Heights
Income: $796/wk Rent: $320/wk $70/wk less rent
Hebersham
Income: $574/wk Rent: $335/wk $55/wk less rent

Suburbs near Waratah West

The closest suburb to Waratah West is North Lambton, 0.6 km away.

North Lambton
0.6 km away · income $762/wk · rent $400/wk
Waratah (NSW)
1.3 km away · income $785/wk · rent $350/wk
Callaghan
1.3 km away · income $302/wk
Lambton
1.5 km away · income $846/wk · rent $380/wk
Jesmond
1.9 km away · income $574/wk · rent $350/wk
Warabrook
1.9 km away · income $747/wk · rent $375/wk

Compare Waratah West

Frequently Asked Questions About Waratah West

What is the population of Waratah West NSW?

The population of Waratah West NSW is 3,142 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2,003 people per km². Waratah West is ranked #2,328 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Waratah West?

The median personal income in Waratah West NSW is $686 per week, or $35,672 per year. The median household income is $1,518 per week. Family income is $1,938 per week. Waratah West is ranked #5,737 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Waratah West?

Median rent in Waratah West NSW is $390 per week ($1,690 per month). Rent represents 25.7% of household income, which is considered moderate. Waratah West ranks #2,258 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Waratah West?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Waratah West NSW is $1,853. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Waratah West?

The median age in Waratah West NSW is 31 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Waratah West a good suburb to live in?

Waratah West is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,142. The median income is $686/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (25.7% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 14160. All dollar figures in AUD.