Whalan, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Whalan NSW is 5,929 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Whalan is $506 per week ($26,312 per year). Median rent in Whalan is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Whalan has a median age of 34 years, younger than the national median of 38. Whalan has a population density of 2,441 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Whalan is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (27.0% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Samoan. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Whalan is $1,733.

There were 153 recorded offences in Whalan in 2025-26, a rate of 26 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (35 offences).

Population
5,929
Census 2021
Median income
$506/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$300/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
34years
Census 2021

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

Whalan vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Whalan is $506 a week, 34% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 2,011th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $300 a week, $85 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 25.9% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 34, 9 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.
MeasureWhalanTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$506/wk$765/wk −34%$766/wk
Household income$1,160/wk$1,704/wk −32%$1,637/wk
Rent$300/wk$385/wk −22%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,733/mo$1,965/mo −12%$1,733/mo
Median age3443 −9 yrs42
Rent share of household income25.9%22.6% +3.3 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 Whalan, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Whalan Population

5,929 residents at the 2021 Census.

Whalan Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$506/wk
$26,312 per year
Ranked 8,141 of 14,663
Median Rent
$300/wk
$1,300 per month
Ranked 4,529 of 14,663
Median Age
34years
4 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg household size: 2.8 · 0.9 per bedroom

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

Whalan Rent Prices & Affordability

26% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,160/wk
Median rent $300/wk
Rent to income 25.9%

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

Median rent in Whalan against your income

About $5,027 a month
Median rent $300/wk
Left after rent $860/wk
Rent share 25.9%

Whalan Schools

37
schools nearby
27
government
902
avg ICSEA score
14,412
total students
Australian Islamic College of Sydney Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,289 students
1077
ICSEA
Ropes Crossing Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 789 students
1019
ICSEA
CathWest Innovation College Catholic
Secondary · 10-12 · 385 students
1013
ICSEA
Colyton Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 714 students
1007
ICSEA
Sacred Heart Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 251 students
999
ICSEA
Bethel Christian School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 264 students
977
ICSEA
St Bishoy Coptic Orthodox College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 279 students
966
ICSEA
Mount Druitt Public School Government
Primary · P-6 · 565 students
961
ICSEA
Halinda School Government
Combined · U · 114 students
955
ICSEA
Oxley Park Public School Government
Primary · P-6 · 601 students
953
ICSEA
Holy Family Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 201 students
945
ICSEA
St Marys South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 319 students
945
ICSEA
Colyton High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 765 students
922
ICSEA
Bennett Road Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 646 students
912
ICSEA
Hebersham Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 515 students
904
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 37 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 Whalan, with a map

Whalan Map

Whalan, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Whalan, New South Wales: 33.7557°S, 150.8036°E

Whalan Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (37)

People in Whalan

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.5% (2,871) Female 51.5% (3,053)

Population Density

2,441
people per km²
5,929 people · 2.4 km²

Households

2.8
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$1,354
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

New Zealand
3.7%
Philippines
3.5%
Samoa
2.4%
Fiji
1.8%
England
1.1%
India
1.1%
Iraq
1.1%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Samoan
4.1%
Arabic
3.7%
Tagalog
2.1%
Hindi
1.9%
Urdu
1.3%
Bengali
1.3%
Filipino
1.0%

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

Ancestry

Australian
26.6%
English
22.7%
Australian Aboriginal
10.2%
Samoan
6.4%
Filipino
4.9%
Scottish
4.8%
Irish
4.5%
Maori
2.3%
Indian
2.1%
Chinese
2.0%
German
2.0%

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
27.0%
Catholic
21.4%
Not stated
12.4%
Anglican
10.5%
Islam
8.1%
Christian (other)
3.8%
Hinduism
2.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

11.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
33.4% 1,497
Separated
5.7% 258
Divorced
9.0% 406
Widowed
6.3% 283
Never married
45.5% 2,043

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
35.9%
One parent: children under 15
22.0%
Couple: no children under 15
15.4%
Couple: no children
14.8%
One parent: no children under 15
11.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
26.6%
2 persons
26.4%
3 persons
16.9%
4 persons
12.8%
5 persons
9.0%
6+ persons
8.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Whalan

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,878 occupied private dwellings in Whalan at the 2021 Census, 52.6% were rented, 22.0% owned outright and 22.2% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.0% 18 dwellings
Owned outright
22.0% 413 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
22.2% 417 dwellings
Rented
52.6% 988 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.6% 49 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
94.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
4.6%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
4.9%
2 bedrooms
6.3%
3 bedrooms
62.2%
4 bedrooms
22.4%
5 bedrooms
2.7%
6+ bedrooms
1.6%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.2%
$300-$449/mo
3.2%
$450-$599/mo
2.1%
$600-$799/mo
3.2%
$800-$999/mo
6.1%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
17.7%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
28.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
7.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
7.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
15.9%
1 vehicle
42.2%
2 vehicles
27.8%
3 vehicles
8.9%
4+ vehicles
5.3%

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

Work, income and education in Whalan

Employment

Employed full-time
23.5% 877 people
Employed part-time
12.1% 451 people
Unemployed
4.6% 173 people
Not in labour force
59.8% 2,233 people

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

Occupation

Clerical & Administrative
17.3%
Community & Personal Service
16.0%
Professionals
15.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
15.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
13.3%
Labourers
8.2%
Managers
7.8%
Sales Workers
6.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.7%
$1-$149/wk
0.5%
$150-$299/wk
2.2%
$300-$399/wk
4.7%
$400-$499/wk
10.7%
$500-$649/wk
5.9%
$650-$799/wk
9.0%
$800-$999/wk
8.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
9.7%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.1%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.5%
$4,000+/wk
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
17.6%
$1-$149/wk
3.3%
$150-$299/wk
9.3%
$300-$399/wk
7.8%
$400-$499/wk
5.4%
$500-$649/wk
4.0%
$650-$799/wk
10.3%
$800-$999/wk
13.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
2.5%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
2.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.4%
$3,500+/wk
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
64.5%
Did not go to work
18.5%
Car (passenger)
8.3%
Train
3.0%
Truck
1.5%
Bus
1.4%
Walked only
1.0%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.7%
Other
0.5%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.4%
Bicycle
0.3%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
49.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
30.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
12.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.1%

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
47.8%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.7%
Bachelor Degree
19.1%
Postgraduate Degree
6.8%
Certificate I/II
4.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
1.8%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
25.3%
Society & Culture
18.9%
Engineering
16.0%
Health
8.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.2%
Education
6.0%
Information Technology
5.7%
Architecture & Building
5.6%
Creative Arts
2.8%
Agriculture & Environment
2.1%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.1%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
34.1%
Secondary: Government
24.9%
Vocational Education
12.8%
Pre-school
7.3%
Secondary: Catholic
6.4%
Primary: Catholic
5.1%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.8%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
4.5%

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
78.6%
Has need for assistance
10.0%
Need for assistance not stated
11.3%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
577
Asthma
256
Diabetes
235
Arthritis
225
Lung condition
192
Heart disease
171
Kidney disease
93
Cancer
78
Stroke
78
Dementia
19

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.9% 552
Did not provide
86.1% 3,417

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
7.1% 283
Not a volunteer
92.9% 3,721

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 3
Previously served
2.0% 79
Never served
98.0% 3,948

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
32.2%
1 child
12.8%
2 children
20.9%
3 children
18.1%
4 children
10.4%
5+ children
5.6%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
5
1951: 1960
47
1961: 1970
123
1971: 1980
82
1981: 1990
242
1991: 2000
324
2001: 2010
316
2011: 2015
256
2016
40
2017
30
2018
42
2019
39
2020
29
2021
3

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

Population Mobility

10.3%
moved in the last year
31.3%
moved in the last 5 years
9.7%
unemployment rate (Census)
40.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,654
Moved from NSW
373
Moved: same area (SA2)
111
Moved from overseas
18
Moved from QLD
11
Moved from SA
6
Moved from VIC
5
Moved from ACT
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
14.7%
5: 14 hours
18.4%
15: 29 hours
8.5%
30+ hours
11.1%
Did not do domestic work
47.2%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
83.6%
Step family: no other children
6.4%
Blended family: no other children
5.6%
Intact family: other children present
3.4%
Other couple: children only
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Whalan Crime Statistics

153 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
35
Assault
32
Other Against Person
26
Theft
18
Drug Offences
12
Property Damage
10
Sexual Offences
9
Weapons
9
Traffic
2

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Villawood
Income: $435/wk Rent: $210/wk $90/wk less rent
Miller
Income: $435/wk Rent: $201/wk $99/wk less rent
Cartwright
Income: $426/wk Rent: $225/wk $75/wk less rent
Sadleir
Income: $446/wk Rent: $250/wk $50/wk less rent
Boggabilla
Income: $486/wk Rent: $155/wk $145/wk less rent
Ashmont
Income: $577/wk Rent: $220/wk $80/wk less rent
South Granville
Income: $441/wk Rent: $263/wk $37/wk less rent
Willmot
Income: $475/wk Rent: $290/wk $10/wk less rent

Suburbs near Whalan

The closest suburb to Whalan is Dharruk, 1.2 km away.

Dharruk
1.2 km away · income $556/wk · rent $350/wk
Emerton
1.4 km away · income $562/wk · rent $320/wk
Tregear
1.5 km away · income $518/wk · rent $300/wk
North St Marys
1.6 km away · income $597/wk · rent $340/wk
Mount Druitt
1.6 km away · income $608/wk · rent $355/wk
Oxley Park
1.8 km away · income $802/wk · rent $400/wk

Compare Whalan

Frequently Asked Questions About Whalan

What is the population of Whalan NSW?

The population of Whalan NSW is 5,929 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2,441 people per km². Whalan is ranked #1,318 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Whalan?

The median personal income in Whalan NSW is $506 per week, or $26,312 per year. The median household income is $1,160 per week. Family income is $1,354 per week. Whalan is ranked #8,141 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Whalan?

Median rent in Whalan NSW is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Rent represents 25.9% of household income, which is considered moderate. Whalan ranks #4,529 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Whalan?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Whalan NSW is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Whalan?

The median age in Whalan NSW is 34 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Whalan a good suburb to live in?

Whalan is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 5,929. The median income is $506/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (25.9% 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: 14283. All dollar figures in AUD.