Calala vs East Tamworth

Calala is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 40 in East Tamworth. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Calala, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Calala tends to suit families with children and couples, while East Tamworth suits people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Calala

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (66% vs 50%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 82%)
  • carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 73/100)
  • But East Tamworth has more childcare (8 vs 3)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

East Tamworth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($195,000 vs $240,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Calala

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (289 min vs 295 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (403.3 km vs 407.3 km)
  • But East Tamworth is more walkable (22/100 vs 13/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

East Tamworth

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (22/100 vs 13/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 14%)
  • But Calala carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 73/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Calala

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (16.6% vs 1.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Calala and East Tamworth drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Calala East Tamworth
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Calala East Tamworth
Walkability 13 / 22
Calala — Walkability: 13/100 East Tamworth — Walkability: 22/100
Safety 37 / 27
Calala — Safety: 37/100 East Tamworth — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 80 / 84
Calala — Low fire risk: 80/100 East Tamworth — Low fire risk: 84/100

Demographics

East Tamworth skews older (40 vs 33).

Calala East Tamworth
Population 4,577 5,417
+18% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.6% +1.4%
Median age 33 40
Median household income $96,876/yr
+8% vs other
 $88,972/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+7% vs other
 $325/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Calala East Tamworth
0-4 6.5% / 5.6%
Calala — 0-4: 6.5% East Tamworth — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 17.0% / 13.2%
Calala — 5-14: 17.0% East Tamworth — 5-14: 13.2%
15-19 9.0% / 5.9%
Calala — 15-19: 9.0% East Tamworth — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.0% / 4.8%
Calala — 20-24: 6.0% East Tamworth — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 14.4% / 14.0%
Calala — 25-34: 14.4% East Tamworth — 25-34: 14.0%
35-44 12.7% / 11.7%
Calala — 35-44: 12.7% East Tamworth — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 10.9% / 12.0%
Calala — 45-54: 10.9% East Tamworth — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 9.3% / 11.6%
Calala — 55-64: 9.3% East Tamworth — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 8.6% / 10.6%
Calala — 65-74: 8.6% East Tamworth — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 4.6% / 7.4%
Calala — 75-84: 4.6% East Tamworth — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 1.0% / 3.1%
Calala — 85+: 1.0% East Tamworth — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Calala 47.2% couple families
Calala — Couple Families: 47.2% Calala — Lone Person: 30.1% Calala — One Parent Families: 18.3% Calala — Group Household: 3.2% Calala — Other Families: 1.3%
East Tamworth 34.3% couple families
East Tamworth — Couple Families: 34.3% East Tamworth — Lone Person: 44.1% East Tamworth — One Parent Families: 16.0% East Tamworth — Group Household: 4.3% East Tamworth — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Calala 26.6% renting
Calala — Owned Outright: 30.5% Calala — Mortgage: 43.0% Calala — Renting: 26.6%
East Tamworth 35.7% renting
East Tamworth — Owned Outright: 36.4% East Tamworth — Mortgage: 27.8% East Tamworth — Renting: 35.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Calala East Tamworth
Certificate III & IV 18.4% / 13.3%
Calala — Certificate III & IV: 18.4% East Tamworth — Certificate III & IV: 13.3%
Bachelor Degree 9.6% / 16.3%
Calala — Bachelor Degree: 9.6% East Tamworth — Bachelor Degree: 16.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.9%
Calala — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% East Tamworth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 4.8%
Calala — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% East Tamworth — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.7%
Calala — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% East Tamworth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.4%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Calala East Tamworth
England 1.4% / 1.7%
Calala — England: 1.4% East Tamworth — England: 1.7%
India 0.4% / 2.0%
Calala — India: 0.4% East Tamworth — India: 2.0%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.5%
Calala — New Zealand: 0.8% East Tamworth — New Zealand: 0.5%
Philippines 0.5% / 0.4%
Calala — Philippines: 0.5% East Tamworth — Philippines: 0.4%
Nepal — / 0.8%
Calala — Nepal: not among its largest East Tamworth — Nepal: 0.8%
Vietnam — / 0.8%
Calala — Vietnam: not among its largest East Tamworth — Vietnam: 0.8%
South Africa 0.3% / 0.4%
Calala — South Africa: 0.3% East Tamworth — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Calala 96.2% houses
Calala — Houses: 96.2% Calala — Townhouses: 3.5% Calala — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
East Tamworth 81.5% houses
East Tamworth — Houses: 81.5% East Tamworth — Townhouses: 11.0% East Tamworth — Flats / Apartments: 7.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Calala East Tamworth
Median house price $705,000 $742,500
Median unit price — $355,000
Median land price $240,000 $195,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 92 days
from 10 sales
 58 days
from 11 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Calala East Tamworth
3 bed $630K / $696K
Calala — 3 bed: $630K (51 sales) East Tamworth — 3 bed: $696K (50 sales)

51 vs 50 sales

4 bed $785K / $818K
Calala — 4 bed: $785K (76 sales) East Tamworth — 4 bed: $818K (30 sales)

76 vs 30 sales

5 bed $930K / $1M
Calala — 5 bed: $930K (9 sales) East Tamworth — 5 bed: $1M (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Calala has more rural and farming land (94% vs 24%); East Tamworth has more land zoned for conservation (16% vs 0%).

Calala East Tamworth
Rural and farming 94% 24%
Parks and recreation 0% 34%
Residential 5% 25%
Environmental 0% 16%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Calala East Tamworth
New dwellings approved 390
across Tamworth
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Calala East Tamworth
Houses 3.9%
$615/wk on $810K
 3.3%
$540/wk on $845K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Calala East Tamworth
House price Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Income Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 74% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW

Liveability

East Tamworth is more walkable (22 vs 13); East Tamworth scores higher overall (48 vs 39).

Calala East Tamworth
Grade C
same for both
Score 39/100 48/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

East Tamworth carries more crime risk (73 vs 63).

Calala East Tamworth
Bushfire Low
20/100
 Low
16/100
Crime Moderate
63/100
 High
73/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Calala East Tamworth
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Calala

  • Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Carinya Christian School Tamworth Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in East Tamworth

  • St Nicholas' Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Oxley High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Tamworth Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Calala East Tamworth
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 5 12
Childcare 3 8
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 18 20

Mobility

East Tamworth sits further from the CBD (407.3 km vs 403.3 km).

Calala East Tamworth
Walkability score 13/100 22/100
Distance to Sydney 403.3 km 407.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 289 min 295 min
Public transport score 70/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 62.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 79.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2340
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 2340
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Calala East Tamworth
Car (driver) 76.8% / 71.2%
Calala — Car (driver): 76.8% East Tamworth — Car (driver): 71.2%
Worked from Home 14.2% / 18.3%
Calala — Worked from Home: 14.2% East Tamworth — Worked from Home: 18.3%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 6.3%
Calala — Car (passenger): 6.1% East Tamworth — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Walked Only 2.1% / 3.6%
Calala — Walked Only: 2.1% East Tamworth — Walked Only: 3.6%
Bicycle 0.5% / 0.3%
Calala — Bicycle: 0.5% East Tamworth — Bicycle: 0.3%
Bus 0.2% / 0.3%
Calala — Bus: 0.2% East Tamworth — Bus: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.8%).

Setting

Calala East Tamworth
Elevation 422 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 552 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Calala East Tamworth
Connectivity score 75/100 54/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
2,033 premises
 17%
2,712 premises

Climate

Calala East Tamworth
Annual rainfall 784 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Calala East Tamworth
PM2.5 5.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.35 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Calala East Tamworth
Average residential rate $1,397/yr
same for both
Council Tamworth
same for both

Federal electorate

Calala East Tamworth
Division New England
same for both
Member Barnaby Joyce
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Calala East Tamworth
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Calala

Acreage Family

East Tamworth

Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Calala

Calala vs South Tamworth Calala vs Hillvue Calala vs Kingswood Calala vs Nemingha Calala vs Loomberah Calala vs Piallamore

Other comparisons with East Tamworth

East Tamworth vs South Tamworth East Tamworth vs North Tamworth East Tamworth vs Daruka East Tamworth vs Nemingha East Tamworth vs Tintinhull East Tamworth vs Tamworth
Full data on Calala Full data on East Tamworth
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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