Wilcannia, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Wilcannia NSW is 735 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Wilcannia is $524 per week ($27,248 per year). Median rent in Wilcannia is $155 per week ($672 per month). Wilcannia has a median age of 32 years, younger than the national median of 38. Wilcannia has a population density of 0.0 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Wilcannia is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (31.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Australian Indigenous Languages. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Wilcannia is $1,350.

There were 81 recorded offences in Wilcannia in 2025-26, a rate of 110 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (31 offences).

Population
735
Census 2021
Median income
$524/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$155/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
32years
Census 2021

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

Wilcannia vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Wilcannia is $524 a week, 32% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,978th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $155 a week, $230 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 12.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 32, 11 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.
MeasureWilcanniaTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$524/wk$765/wk −32%$766/wk
Household income$1,211/wk$1,704/wk −29%$1,637/wk
Rent$155/wk$385/wk −60%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,350/mo$1,965/mo −31%$1,733/mo
Median age3243 −11 yrs42
Rent share of household income12.8%22.6% −9.8 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 Wilcannia, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Wilcannia Population

735 residents at the 2021 Census.

Wilcannia Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$524/wk
$27,248 per year
Ranked 7,978 of 14,663
Median Rent
$155/wk
$672 per month
Ranked 8,183 of 14,663
Median Age
32years
6 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,350/mo
Avg household size: 2.8 · 0.9 per bedroom

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

Wilcannia Rent Prices & Affordability

13% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,211/wk
Median rent $155/wk
Rent to income 12.8%

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

Median rent in Wilcannia against your income

About $5,248 a month
Median rent $155/wk
Left after rent $1,056/wk
Rent share 12.8%

Wilcannia Map

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

People in Wilcannia

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.0% (370) Female 50.0% (370)

Population Density

0.0
people per km²
735 people · 19840.8 km²

Households

2.8
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$1,072
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
0.8%
India
0.4%
Afghanistan
0.0%
Bangladesh
0.0%
Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.0%
Brazil
0.0%
Cambodia
0.0%

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
1.0%
Afrikaans
0.0%
Arabic
0.0%
Cantonese
0.0%
Mandarin
0.0%
Other Chinese languages
0.0%
Croatian
0.0%

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

Ancestry

Australian Aboriginal
48.8%
Australian
15.4%
English
13.7%
Irish
5.0%
Scottish
3.7%
German
2.4%
Italian
0.7%
Chinese
0.5%
Maori
0.5%

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
31.6%
Catholic
27.9%
Not stated
25.2%
Anglican
8.6%
Uniting Church
1.2%
Pentecostal
1.0%
Buddhism
0.7%
Other religions
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

51.4%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
22.0% 126
Separated
3.1% 18
Divorced
9.4% 54
Widowed
4.0% 23
Never married
61.5% 353

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

One parent: children under 15
32.3%
Couple: children under 15
26.2%
Couple: no children
20.5%
One parent: no children under 15
13.8%
Couple: no children under 15
7.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
33.0%
2 persons
23.4%
3 persons
13.7%
4 persons
13.7%
5 persons
5.6%
6+ persons
10.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Wilcannia

Housing Tenure

Of the 189 occupied private dwellings in Wilcannia at the 2021 Census, 52.4% were rented, 28.0% owned outright and 6.3% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
10.1% 19 dwellings
Owned outright
28.0% 53 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
6.3% 12 dwellings
Rented
52.4% 99 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
6.9% 13 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
93.1%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
6.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
9.7%
2 bedrooms
17.7%
3 bedrooms
47.4%
4 bedrooms
18.3%
5 bedrooms
5.1%
6+ bedrooms
1.7%

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

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
26.5%
1 vehicle
42.0%
2 vehicles
17.1%
3 vehicles
6.1%
4+ vehicles
8.3%

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

Work, income and education in Wilcannia

Employment

Employed full-time
32.4% 133 people
Employed part-time
8.0% 33 people
Unemployed
2.2% 9 people
Not in labour force
57.4% 236 people

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

Occupation

Managers
28.3%
Professionals
23.6%
Labourers
17.9%
Community & Personal Service
17.0%
Clerical & Administrative
10.4%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.8%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.8%
$150-$299/wk
4.2%
$300-$399/wk
1.8%
$400-$499/wk
4.8%
$500-$649/wk
7.1%
$650-$799/wk
5.4%
$800-$999/wk
10.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
15.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
14.3%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
2.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.0%
$4,000+/wk
7.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.9%
$1-$149/wk
3.5%
$150-$299/wk
15.8%
$300-$399/wk
7.9%
$400-$499/wk
8.2%
$500-$649/wk
8.9%
$650-$799/wk
7.0%
$800-$999/wk
5.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.3%
$3,500+/wk
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
57.7%
Walked only
22.8%
Car (passenger)
9.8%
Did not go to work
9.8%

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

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
33.8%
Year 12 or equivalent
31.0%
Year 9 or equivalent
24.7%
Year 11 or equivalent
10.5%

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
43.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
21.6%
Bachelor Degree
20.9%
Postgraduate Degree
7.9%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.5%

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

Field of Study

Education
19.1%
Health
15.5%
Agriculture & Environment
14.5%
Society & Culture
13.6%
Management & Commerce
10.0%
Engineering
9.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.3%
Architecture & Building
4.5%
Creative Arts
3.6%
Information Technology
2.7%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
32.3%
Secondary: Government
22.9%
Pre-school
17.7%
Primary: Catholic
11.5%
Vocational Education
10.4%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.2%

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
74.4%
Has need for assistance
2.2%
Need for assistance not stated
23.8%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
35
Asthma
23
Diabetes
20
Arthritis
15
Heart disease
14
Lung condition
6
Stroke
6
Kidney disease
3
Cancer
3

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
7.6% 32
Did not provide
92.4% 388

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
11.8% 50
Not a volunteer
88.2% 373

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
1.2% 5
Never served
98.8% 421

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
38.0%
1 child
12.8%
2 children
13.9%
3 children
17.1%
4 children
12.8%
5+ children
5.3%

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

When Migrants Arrived

1961: 1970
5
1981: 1990
5

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

Population Mobility

14.8%
moved in the last year
27.1%
moved in the last 5 years
6.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
34.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
473
Moved: same area (SA2)
35
Moved from NSW
34
Moved from SA
5
Moved from QLD
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.2%
5: 14 hours
18.0%
15: 29 hours
8.5%
30+ hours
6.9%
Did not do domestic work
48.5%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
85.7%
Blended family: no other children
14.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Wilcannia Crime Statistics

81 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
31
Assault
19
Other Against Person
12
Theft
8
Property Damage
8
Drug 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

Frequently Asked Questions About Wilcannia

What is the population of Wilcannia NSW?

The population of Wilcannia NSW is 735 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 0.0 people per km². Wilcannia is ranked #4,420 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Wilcannia?

The median personal income in Wilcannia NSW is $524 per week, or $27,248 per year. The median household income is $1,211 per week. Family income is $1,072 per week. Wilcannia is ranked #7,978 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Wilcannia?

Median rent in Wilcannia NSW is $155 per week ($672 per month). Rent represents 12.8% of household income, which is considered affordable. Wilcannia ranks #8,183 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Wilcannia?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Wilcannia NSW is $1,350. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Wilcannia?

The median age in Wilcannia NSW is 32 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Wilcannia a good suburb to live in?

Wilcannia is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 735. The median income is $524/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (12.8% 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: 14307. All dollar figures in AUD.