Calala vs South Tamworth

Calala is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 37 in South Tamworth. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Calala, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In South Tamworth, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Calala: a median of $705,000, against $510,000 in South Tamworth, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Calala tends to suit couples, while South Tamworth suits renters, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Calala carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 96/100)
  • South Tamworth has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Calala leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 26%)
  • South Tamworth has cheaper houses ($510,000 vs $705,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Tamworth

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($260/wk vs $350/wk)
  • But Calala leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 25%)

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

Commuting to the city

South Tamworth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 13/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

South Tamworth

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 13/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (22% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Calala carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 96/100)

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

Investors

Calala

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.6% vs 0.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Calala and South 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 South 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 South Tamworth
Walkability 13 / 80
Calala — Walkability: 13/100 South Tamworth — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 37 / 4
Calala — Safety: 37/100 South Tamworth — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 80 / 100
Calala — Low fire risk: 80/100 South Tamworth — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Calala has higher household incomes ($96,876 vs $53,508); South Tamworth has more residents (6,621 vs 4,577).

Calala South Tamworth
Population 4,577 6,621
+45% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.6% +0.9%
Median age 33 37
Median household income $96,876/yr
+45% vs other
 $53,508/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+26% vs other
 $260/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Calala South Tamworth
0-4 6.5% / 6.6%
Calala — 0-4: 6.5% South Tamworth — 0-4: 6.6%
5-14 17.0% / 13.0%
Calala — 5-14: 17.0% South Tamworth — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 9.0% / 6.0%
Calala — 15-19: 9.0% South Tamworth — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 6.0% / 6.5%
Calala — 20-24: 6.0% South Tamworth — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 14.4% / 14.8%
Calala — 25-34: 14.4% South Tamworth — 25-34: 14.8%
35-44 12.7% / 11.2%
Calala — 35-44: 12.7% South Tamworth — 35-44: 11.2%
45-54 10.9% / 10.5%
Calala — 45-54: 10.9% South Tamworth — 45-54: 10.5%
55-64 9.3% / 11.7%
Calala — 55-64: 9.3% South Tamworth — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 8.6% / 10.2%
Calala — 65-74: 8.6% South Tamworth — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 4.6% / 6.8%
Calala — 75-84: 4.6% South Tamworth — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 1.0% / 2.8%
Calala — 85+: 1.0% South Tamworth — 85+: 2.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Calala 30.1% lone person
Calala — Lone Person: 30.1% Calala — Couple Families: 47.2% Calala — One Parent Families: 18.3% Calala — Group Household: 3.2% Calala — Other Families: 1.3%
South Tamworth 48.6% lone person
South Tamworth — Lone Person: 48.6% South Tamworth — Couple Families: 21.6% South Tamworth — One Parent Families: 21.7% South Tamworth — Group Household: 5.9% South Tamworth — Other Families: 2.3%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
South Tamworth 50.5% renting
South Tamworth — Owned Outright: 28.1% South Tamworth — Mortgage: 21.5% South Tamworth — Renting: 50.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Calala South Tamworth
Certificate III & IV 18.4% / 16.8%
Calala — Certificate III & IV: 18.4% South Tamworth — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Bachelor Degree 9.6% / 4.5%
Calala — Bachelor Degree: 9.6% South Tamworth — Bachelor Degree: 4.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 4.2%
Calala — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% South Tamworth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 0.9%
Calala — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% South Tamworth — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 0.5%
Calala — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% South Tamworth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5%

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 South Tamworth
England 1.4% / 0.8%
Calala — England: 1.4% South Tamworth — England: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.6%
Calala — New Zealand: 0.8% South Tamworth — New Zealand: 0.6%
Philippines 0.5% / 0.9%
Calala — Philippines: 0.5% South Tamworth — Philippines: 0.9%
India 0.4% / 0.6%
Calala — India: 0.4% South Tamworth — India: 0.6%
Vietnam — / 1.0%
Calala — Vietnam: not among its largest South Tamworth — Vietnam: 1.0%
China 0.2% / 0.7%
Calala — China: 0.2% South Tamworth — China: 0.7%
South Africa 0.3% / —
Calala — South Africa: 0.3% South Tamworth — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.4%).

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%
South Tamworth 78.2% houses
South Tamworth — Houses: 78.2% South Tamworth — Townhouses: 17.4% South Tamworth — Flats / Apartments: 4.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Calala South Tamworth
Median house price $705,000 $510,000
Median unit price — $341,250
Median land price $240,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 92 days
from 10 sales
 41 days
from 19 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 South Tamworth
3 bed $630K / $498K
Calala — 3 bed: $630K (51 sales) South Tamworth — 3 bed: $498K (44 sales)

51 vs 44 sales

4 bed $785K / $535K
Calala — 4 bed: $785K (76 sales) South Tamworth — 4 bed: $535K (12 sales)

76 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Calala has more rural and farming land (94% vs 5%).

Calala South Tamworth
Rural and farming 94% 5%
Residential 5% 88%
Parks and recreation 0% 5%
Industrial 0% 2%
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 South 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 South Tamworth
Houses 3.9%
$615/wk on $810K
 3.9%
$490/wk on $660K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Calala South Tamworth
House price Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Income Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 39% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW

Liveability

South Tamworth is more walkable (80 vs 13); Calala scores higher overall (39 vs 34).

Calala South Tamworth
Grade C
same for both
Score 39/100 34/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Calala carries more bushfire risk (20 vs 0); South Tamworth carries more crime risk (96 vs 63).

Calala South Tamworth
Bushfire Low
20/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
63/100
 High
96/100
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
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Calala South Tamworth
Inside the suburb 2 6
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 South Tamworth

  • St Edward's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Tamworth High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Tamworth South Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Edward's Primary School, Robert Street campus Catholic · Primary
  • Bullimbal School Government · Combined · Special school
  • Parry School Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Calala South Tamworth
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 5 14
Childcare 3 9
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 4
Waterways 18 2

Mobility

Calala South Tamworth
Walkability score 13/100 80/100
Distance to Sydney 403.3 km 403.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 289 min
same for both
Public transport score 70/100
Bus
 73/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 62.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 112.8
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 South Tamworth
Car (driver) 76.8% / 79.6%
Calala — Car (driver): 76.8% South Tamworth — Car (driver): 79.6%
Worked from Home 14.2% / 6.9%
Calala — Worked from Home: 14.2% South Tamworth — Worked from Home: 6.9%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 9.6%
Calala — Car (passenger): 6.1% South Tamworth — Car (passenger): 9.6%
Walked Only 2.1% / 2.4%
Calala — Walked Only: 2.1% South Tamworth — Walked Only: 2.4%
Bicycle 0.5% / 0.7%
Calala — Bicycle: 0.5% South Tamworth — Bicycle: 0.7%
Bus 0.2% / 0.8%
Calala — Bus: 0.2% South Tamworth — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.6%).

Setting

Calala South Tamworth
Elevation 422 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 394 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Calala South Tamworth
Connectivity score 75/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
2,033 premises
 30%
3,432 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Calala South 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

South Tamworth

Affordable Parks

More comparisons

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

Other comparisons with South Tamworth

South Tamworth vs Hillvue South Tamworth vs West Tamworth South Tamworth vs East Tamworth South Tamworth vs Tamworth
Full data on Calala Full data on South 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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