Palmers Channel vs Wooloweyah

Wooloweyah is the younger of the two, with a median age of 49 against 52 in Palmers Channel. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Palmers Channel, most households are couple families. On these figures, Palmers Channel tends to suit people living alone, couples, and older residents.

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 6 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

First-home buyers

Wooloweyah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 33%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Palmers Channel has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $403/wk)
  • Wooloweyah leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Palmers Channel

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (423 min vs 435 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (647.3 km vs 652.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Palmers Channel

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 20%)

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

Investors

Wooloweyah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.2% vs -3.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
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.

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Walkability 0 / 0
Palmers Channel — Walkability: 0/100 Wooloweyah — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 83 / 82
Palmers Channel — Safety: 83/100 Wooloweyah — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 100 / 15
Palmers Channel — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wooloweyah — Low fire risk: 15/100

Demographics

Wooloweyah has more residents (419 vs 115); Wooloweyah has higher household incomes ($87,048 vs $62,348).

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Population 115 419
+264% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.4% +3.2%
Median age 52 49
Median household income $62,348/yr $87,048/yr
+40% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $403/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
0-4 — / 3.6%
Palmers Channel — 0-4: not among its largest Wooloweyah — 0-4: 3.6%
5-14 12.2% / 11.5%
Palmers Channel — 5-14: 12.2% Wooloweyah — 5-14: 11.5%
15-19 8.7% / 3.8%
Palmers Channel — 15-19: 8.7% Wooloweyah — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 — / 3.3%
Palmers Channel — 20-24: not among its largest Wooloweyah — 20-24: 3.3%
25-34 2.6% / 6.9%
Palmers Channel — 25-34: 2.6% Wooloweyah — 25-34: 6.9%
35-44 8.7% / 13.1%
Palmers Channel — 35-44: 8.7% Wooloweyah — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 19.1% / 14.1%
Palmers Channel — 45-54: 19.1% Wooloweyah — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 13.0% / 22.9%
Palmers Channel — 55-64: 13.0% Wooloweyah — 55-64: 22.9%
65-74 20.9% / 16.2%
Palmers Channel — 65-74: 20.9% Wooloweyah — 65-74: 16.2%
75-84 7.8% / 1.2%
Palmers Channel — 75-84: 7.8% Wooloweyah — 75-84: 1.2%
85+ 2.6% / 2.1%
Palmers Channel — 85+: 2.6% Wooloweyah — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Palmers Channel 55.2% couple families
Palmers Channel — Couple Families: 55.2% Palmers Channel — Lone Person: 44.8% Palmers Channel — One Parent Families: 0.0% Palmers Channel — Group Household: 0.0%
Wooloweyah 40.2% couple families
Wooloweyah — Couple Families: 40.2% Wooloweyah — Lone Person: 33.9% Wooloweyah — One Parent Families: 16.1% Wooloweyah — Group Household: 9.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Palmers Channel 6.0% renting
Palmers Channel — Owned Outright: 70.0% Palmers Channel — Mortgage: 24.0% Palmers Channel — Renting: 6.0%
Wooloweyah 13.3% renting
Wooloweyah — Owned Outright: 43.0% Wooloweyah — Mortgage: 43.7% Wooloweyah — Renting: 13.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
England 5.2% / 3.8%
Palmers Channel — England: 5.2% Wooloweyah — England: 3.8%
New Zealand — / 4.1%
Palmers Channel — New Zealand: not among its largest Wooloweyah — New Zealand: 4.1%
Germany 3.5% / —
Palmers Channel — Germany: 3.5% Wooloweyah — Germany: not among its largest
South Africa — / 1.0%
Palmers Channel — South Africa: not among its largest Wooloweyah — South Africa: 1.0%
Netherlands — / 0.7%
Palmers Channel — Netherlands: not among its largest Wooloweyah — Netherlands: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

Qualifications

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

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Certificate III & IV 22.6% / 18.9%
Palmers Channel — Certificate III & IV: 22.6% Wooloweyah — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 7.8% / 18.4%
Palmers Channel — Bachelor Degree: 7.8% Wooloweyah — Bachelor Degree: 18.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.2% / 10.5%
Palmers Channel — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.2% Wooloweyah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.5%
Postgraduate Degree — / 5.3%
Palmers Channel — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Wooloweyah — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 3.8%
Palmers Channel — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Wooloweyah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Palmers Channel 100.0% houses
Palmers Channel — Houses: 100.0% Palmers Channel — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Wooloweyah 94.4% houses
Wooloweyah — Houses: 94.4% Wooloweyah — Flats / Apartments: 5.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Median house price — $1,247,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Palmers Channel has more rural and farming land (76% vs 9%); Wooloweyah has more land zoned for conservation (90% vs 24%).

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Environmental 24% 90%
Rural and farming 76% 9%
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

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
New dwellings approved 246
across Clarence Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -80%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
House price — Higher than 65% of NSW
Income Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
Affordability — Higher than 37% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Wooloweyah carries more bushfire risk (85 vs 0).

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
85/100
Crime Low
17/100
 Low
18/100
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
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Parks & reserves 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Wooloweyah sits further from the CBD (652.8 km vs 647.3 km).

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 647.3 km 652.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 423 min 435 min
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 2463
 0.6%
postcode 2464
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 70
postcode 2463
 58
postcode 2464

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.

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Car (driver) 58.0% / 78.0%
Palmers Channel — Car (driver): 58.0% Wooloweyah — Car (driver): 78.0%
Worked from Home 34.0% / 15.2%
Palmers Channel — Worked from Home: 34.0% Wooloweyah — Worked from Home: 15.2%
Walked Only 8.0% / 2.1%
Palmers Channel — Walked Only: 8.0% Wooloweyah — Walked Only: 2.1%
Car (passenger) — / 3.1%
Palmers Channel — Car (passenger): not among its largest Wooloweyah — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Bicycle — / 1.6%
Palmers Channel — Bicycle: not among its largest Wooloweyah — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.0%).

Setting

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.5 km 4.3 km
4.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Connectivity score 30/100 89/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
52 premises
 45%
198 premises

Climate

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Annual rainfall 1,408 mm 1,557 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 27.4°C
Winter min (Jul) — 11.0°C

Council rates

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Average residential rate $1,380/yr
same for both
Council Clarence Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Palmers Channel Wooloweyah
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Palmers Channel

Retirees Rural

Wooloweyah

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Palmers Channel

Palmers Channel vs Gulmarrad Palmers Channel vs Palmers Island Palmers Channel vs Harwood Palmers Channel vs James Creek Palmers Channel vs Taloumbi

Other comparisons with Wooloweyah

Wooloweyah vs Yamba Wooloweyah vs Palmers Island Wooloweyah vs Angourie Wooloweyah vs Taloumbi
Full data on Palmers Channel Full data on Wooloweyah
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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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