Upper Main Arm vs Upper Wilsons Creek

Upper Main Arm is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 48 in Upper Wilsons Creek. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Upper Main Arm, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Upper Wilsons Creek: a median of $1.1 million, against $900,000 in Upper Main Arm, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Upper Main Arm tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Upper Wilsons Creek suits share households 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

They split

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

  • Upper Main Arm has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • Upper Wilsons Creek carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 88/100)

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

  • Upper Main Arm has cheaper houses ($900,000 vs $1,100,000)
  • Upper Wilsons Creek leaves households under less mortgage stress (40% vs 51%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Upper Main Arm

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($390/wk vs $490/wk)
  • But Upper Wilsons Creek leaves renters under less rental stress (31% vs 46%)

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

Commuting to the city

Upper Main Arm

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (12/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (511 min vs 526 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (778.2 km vs 782.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Upper Wilsons Creek

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 16%)
  • carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 88/100)
  • But Upper Main Arm is more walkable (12/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Upper Main Arm

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (25.8% vs 9.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Upper Main Arm and Upper Wilsons Creek drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
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.

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Walkability 12 / 0
Upper Main Arm — Walkability: 12/100 Upper Wilsons Creek — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 12 / 51
Upper Main Arm — Safety: 12/100 Upper Wilsons Creek — Safety: 51/100
Low fire risk 53 / 20
Upper Main Arm — Low fire risk: 53/100 Upper Wilsons Creek — Low fire risk: 20/100

Demographics

Upper Main Arm has more residents (283 vs 79); Upper Wilsons Creek has higher household incomes ($81,224 vs $44,200).

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Population 283
+72% vs other
 79
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +25.8% +9.7%
Median age 44 48
Median household income $44,200/yr $81,224/yr
+84% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk $490/wk
+26% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
0-4 6.0% / 7.6%
Upper Main Arm — 0-4: 6.0% Upper Wilsons Creek — 0-4: 7.6%
5-14 9.5% / 7.6%
Upper Main Arm — 5-14: 9.5% Upper Wilsons Creek — 5-14: 7.6%
15-19 2.8% / 3.8%
Upper Main Arm — 15-19: 2.8% Upper Wilsons Creek — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 7.1% / —
Upper Main Arm — 20-24: 7.1% Upper Wilsons Creek — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 14.8% / 12.7%
Upper Main Arm — 25-34: 14.8% Upper Wilsons Creek — 25-34: 12.7%
35-44 9.2% / 20.3%
Upper Main Arm — 35-44: 9.2% Upper Wilsons Creek — 35-44: 20.3%
45-54 18.7% / 11.4%
Upper Main Arm — 45-54: 18.7% Upper Wilsons Creek — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 14.1% / 19.0%
Upper Main Arm — 55-64: 14.1% Upper Wilsons Creek — 55-64: 19.0%
65-74 11.3% / 22.8%
Upper Main Arm — 65-74: 11.3% Upper Wilsons Creek — 65-74: 22.8%
75-84 3.9% / 8.9%
Upper Main Arm — 75-84: 3.9% Upper Wilsons Creek — 75-84: 8.9%
85+ 1.1% / —
Upper Main Arm — 85+: 1.1% Upper Wilsons Creek — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Upper Main Arm 53.2% lone person
Upper Main Arm — Lone Person: 53.2% Upper Main Arm — Couple Families: 22.3% Upper Main Arm — Group Household: 7.4% Upper Main Arm — One Parent Families: 13.8% Upper Main Arm — Other Families: 3.2%
Upper Wilsons Creek 36.8% lone person
Upper Wilsons Creek — Lone Person: 36.8% Upper Wilsons Creek — Couple Families: 42.1% Upper Wilsons Creek — Group Household: 21.1% Upper Wilsons Creek — One Parent Families: 0.0% Upper Wilsons Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Upper Main Arm 32.1% renting
Upper Main Arm — Owned Outright: 42.9% Upper Main Arm — Mortgage: 25.0% Upper Main Arm — Renting: 32.1%
Upper Wilsons Creek 14.8% renting
Upper Wilsons Creek — Owned Outright: 37.0% Upper Wilsons Creek — Mortgage: 48.1% Upper Wilsons Creek — Renting: 14.8%
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.

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
England 2.5% / 6.3%
Upper Main Arm — England: 2.5% Upper Wilsons Creek — England: 6.3%
Germany 3.9% / —
Upper Main Arm — Germany: 3.9% Upper Wilsons Creek — Germany: not among its largest
France — / 3.8%
Upper Main Arm — France: not among its largest Upper Wilsons Creek — France: 3.8%
New Zealand 1.1% / —
Upper Main Arm — New Zealand: 1.1% Upper Wilsons Creek — New Zealand: not among its largest
Canada 1.1% / —
Upper Main Arm — Canada: 1.1% Upper Wilsons Creek — Canada: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

Qualifications

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

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Certificate III & IV 17.7% / 20.3%
Upper Main Arm — Certificate III & IV: 17.7% Upper Wilsons Creek — Certificate III & IV: 20.3%
Bachelor Degree 15.2% / 15.2%
Upper Main Arm — Bachelor Degree: 15.2% Upper Wilsons Creek — Bachelor Degree: 15.2%
Postgraduate Degree 4.6% / 6.3%
Upper Main Arm — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6% Upper Wilsons Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.6% / 6.3%
Upper Main Arm — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.6% Upper Wilsons Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / —
Upper Main Arm — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Upper Wilsons Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Upper Main Arm 91.2% houses
Upper Main Arm — Houses: 91.2% Upper Main Arm — Flats / Apartments: 8.8%
Upper Wilsons Creek 100.0% houses
Upper Wilsons Creek — Houses: 100.0% Upper Wilsons Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Median house price $900,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Upper Wilsons Creek has more land zoned for conservation (81% vs 62%); Upper Main Arm has more rural and farming land (33% vs 19%).

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Environmental 62% 81%
Rural and farming 33% 19%
Other and special use 5% 0%
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

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
New dwellings approved 129
across Byron
same for both
Approvals change year on year -65%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
House price Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Income Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW

Liveability

Upper Main Arm is more walkable (12 vs 0).

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Upper Main Arm carries more crime risk (88 vs 49); Upper Wilsons Creek carries more bushfire risk (80 vs 47).

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Bushfire Moderate
47/100
 High
80/100
Crime High
88/100
 Moderate
49/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Upper Main Arm

  • Main Arm Upper Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Upper Wilsons Creek

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Waterways 2
same for both

Mobility

Upper Wilsons Creek sits further from the CBD (782.5 km vs 778.2 km).

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Walkability score 12/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 778.2 km 782.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 511 min 526 min
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2482
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 89
postcode 2482
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.

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Car (driver) 77.6% / 57.1%
Upper Main Arm — Car (driver): 77.6% Upper Wilsons Creek — Car (driver): 57.1%
Worked from Home 18.4% / 32.1%
Upper Main Arm — Worked from Home: 18.4% Upper Wilsons Creek — Worked from Home: 32.1%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 10.7%
Upper Main Arm — Car (passenger): 3.9% Upper Wilsons Creek — Car (passenger): 10.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.6%).

Setting

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Elevation 99 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 320 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.4 km 16.6 km

NBN connectivity

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Connectivity score 22/100 15/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster)
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
90 premises
 0%
19 premises

Climate

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Annual rainfall 1,569 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Byron
same for both

Federal electorate

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Upper Main Arm Upper Wilsons Creek
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Upper Main Arm

Rural

Upper Wilsons Creek

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Upper Main Arm

Upper Main Arm vs Main Arm Upper Main Arm vs Rowlands Creek Upper Main Arm vs Palmwoods Upper Main Arm vs Chowan Creek

Other comparisons with Upper Wilsons Creek

Upper Wilsons Creek vs Wilsons Creek Upper Wilsons Creek vs Huonbrook Upper Wilsons Creek vs Rowlands Creek Upper Wilsons Creek vs Palmwoods
Full data on Upper Main Arm Full data on Upper Wilsons Creek
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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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