Walcha vs Salisbury Plains

Walcha is the younger of the two, with a median age of 49 against 57 in Salisbury Plains. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Salisbury Plains tends to suit 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

Walcha

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But Salisbury Plains carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 57/100)

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

First-home buyers

Salisbury Plains

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (7% vs 20%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Salisbury Plains

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (2% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($42/wk vs $203/wk)

Weighs rent and rental stress.

Commuting to the city

Walcha

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (329 min vs 339 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (427.3 km vs 439.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Salisbury Plains

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 57/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (39% vs 30%)
  • But Walcha has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Walcha

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-3.1% vs -30.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Walcha Salisbury Plains
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.

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Walkability 0 / 0
Walcha — Walkability: 0/100 Salisbury Plains — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 43 / 74
Walcha — Safety: 43/100 Salisbury Plains — Safety: 74/100
Low fire risk 30 / 81
Walcha — Low fire risk: 30/100 Salisbury Plains — Low fire risk: 81/100

Demographics

Walcha has more residents (2,475 vs 61); Walcha rents higher ($203/wk vs $42/wk).

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Population 2,475
+98% vs other
 61
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.1% -30.7%
Median age 49 57
Median household income $63,440/yr $99,632/yr
+57% vs other
Median weekly rent $203/wk
+79% vs other
 $42/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Walcha Salisbury Plains
0-4 5.7% / —
Walcha — 0-4: 5.7% Salisbury Plains — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 11.4% / 13.1%
Walcha — 5-14: 11.4% Salisbury Plains — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 5.0% / 8.2%
Walcha — 15-19: 5.0% Salisbury Plains — 15-19: 8.2%
20-24 3.9% / —
Walcha — 20-24: 3.9% Salisbury Plains — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 9.0% / 8.2%
Walcha — 25-34: 9.0% Salisbury Plains — 25-34: 8.2%
35-44 8.7% / —
Walcha — 35-44: 8.7% Salisbury Plains — 35-44: not among its largest
45-54 11.3% / 11.5%
Walcha — 45-54: 11.3% Salisbury Plains — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 14.5% / 26.2%
Walcha — 55-64: 14.5% Salisbury Plains — 55-64: 26.2%
65-74 15.8% / 16.4%
Walcha — 65-74: 15.8% Salisbury Plains — 65-74: 16.4%
75-84 11.4% / 16.4%
Walcha — 75-84: 11.4% Salisbury Plains — 75-84: 16.4%
85+ 2.8% / 6.6%
Walcha — 85+: 2.8% Salisbury Plains — 85+: 6.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Walcha 49.8% lone person
Walcha — Lone Person: 49.8% Walcha — Couple Families: 36.9% Walcha — One Parent Families: 10.2% Walcha — Group Household: 1.9% Walcha — Other Families: 1.1%
Salisbury Plains 50.0% lone person
Salisbury Plains — Lone Person: 50.0% Salisbury Plains — Couple Families: 50.0% Salisbury Plains — One Parent Families: 0.0% Salisbury Plains — Group Household: 0.0% Salisbury Plains — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Walcha 23.4% renting
Walcha — Owned Outright: 53.0% Walcha — Mortgage: 23.6% Walcha — Renting: 23.4%
Salisbury Plains 0.0% renting
Salisbury Plains — Owned Outright: 58.8% Salisbury Plains — Mortgage: 41.2% Salisbury Plains — Renting: 0.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Walcha 94.5% houses
Walcha — Houses: 94.5% Walcha — Flats / Apartments: 5.5%
Salisbury Plains 100.0% houses
Salisbury Plains — Houses: 100.0% Salisbury Plains — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Qualifications

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

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Certificate III & IV 15.9% / 23.0%
Walcha — Certificate III & IV: 15.9% Salisbury Plains — Certificate III & IV: 23.0%
Bachelor Degree 8.2% / 18.0%
Walcha — Bachelor Degree: 8.2% Salisbury Plains — Bachelor Degree: 18.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 9.8%
Walcha — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% Salisbury Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 4.9%
Walcha — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Salisbury Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / —
Walcha — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Salisbury Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

Property market

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Median house price $435,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $175,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 103 days
from 21 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Salisbury Plains has more rural and farming land (100% vs 83%); Walcha has more land zoned for conservation (17% vs 0%).

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Rural and farming 83% 100%
Environmental 17% 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

Walcha Salisbury Plains
New dwellings approved 4
across Walcha
 17
across Uralla

Ranking within NSW

Walcha Salisbury Plains
House price Higher than 10% of NSW —
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 15% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 89% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW

Liveability

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Grade D —
Score 21/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Walcha carries more bushfire risk (70 vs 19); Walcha carries more crime risk (57 vs 26).

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Bushfire High
70/100
 Low
19/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 Low
26/100
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

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Walcha

  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Walcha Central School Government · Combined at peers

Schools in Salisbury Plains

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

Amenities in the suburb

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 2 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 413 13

Mobility

Salisbury Plains sits further from the CBD (439.6 km vs 427.3 km).

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 427.3 km 439.6 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 329 min 339 min
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 2354
 0.2%
postcode 2358
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 2354
 52
postcode 2358

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.

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Worked from Home 28.4% / 66.7%
Walcha — Worked from Home: 28.4% Salisbury Plains — Worked from Home: 66.7%
Car (driver) 58.6% / 25.0%
Walcha — Car (driver): 58.6% Salisbury Plains — Car (driver): 25.0%
Walked Only 7.7% / 8.3%
Walcha — Walked Only: 7.7% Salisbury Plains — Walked Only: 8.3%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / —
Walcha — Car (passenger): 4.8% Salisbury Plains — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 0.4% / —
Walcha — Bus: 0.4% Salisbury Plains — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.7%).

Setting

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Elevation 1,094 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 1,128 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Connectivity score 49/100 17/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
1,174 premises
 0%
24 premises

Climate

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Annual rainfall 784 mm 684 mm
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C —
Winter min (Jul) 0.1°C —

Council rates

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Average residential rate $772/yr $699/yr
Council Walcha Uralla

Federal electorate

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Division New England
same for both
Member Barnaby Joyce
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Walcha Salisbury Plains
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Walcha

Affordable Retirees Rural

Salisbury Plains

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Walcha

Walcha vs Woolbrook Walcha vs Hillgrove Walcha vs Yarrowitch Walcha vs Niangala Walcha vs Nowendoc Walcha vs Walcha Road

Other comparisons with Salisbury Plains

Salisbury Plains vs Uralla Salisbury Plains vs Kentucky Salisbury Plains vs Kentucky South
Full data on Walcha Full data on Salisbury Plains
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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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