Walcha vs Woolbrook

Woolbrook is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 49 in Walcha. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Walcha, about half of households are people living alone. In Woolbrook, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Woolbrook: a median of $492,000, against $435,000 in Walcha, though rent is higher in Walcha. On these figures, Walcha tends to suit 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

  • Walcha has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)
  • Woolbrook is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 47%)

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

  • Walcha has cheaper houses ($435,000 vs $492,500)
  • Woolbrook leaves households under less mortgage stress (13% vs 20%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Woolbrook

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($170/wk vs $203/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Walcha

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (329 min vs 343 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (427.3 km vs 439.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Walcha

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (30% vs 17%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Walcha and Woolbrook 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 Woolbrook
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 Woolbrook
Walkability 0 / 0
Walcha — Walkability: 0/100 Woolbrook — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 43 / 36
Walcha — Safety: 43/100 Woolbrook — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 30 / 86
Walcha — Low fire risk: 30/100 Woolbrook — Low fire risk: 86/100

Demographics

Walcha has more residents (2,475 vs 183); Walcha rents higher ($203/wk vs $170/wk).

Walcha Woolbrook
Population 2,475
+93% vs other
 183
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.1% -1.1%
Median age 49 44
Median household income $63,440/yr $66,248/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $203/wk
+16% vs other
 $170/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Walcha Woolbrook
0-4 5.7% / 4.9%
Walcha — 0-4: 5.7% Woolbrook — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 11.4% / 10.9%
Walcha — 5-14: 11.4% Woolbrook — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 5.0% / 7.7%
Walcha — 15-19: 5.0% Woolbrook — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 3.9% / 7.7%
Walcha — 20-24: 3.9% Woolbrook — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 9.0% / 13.7%
Walcha — 25-34: 9.0% Woolbrook — 25-34: 13.7%
35-44 8.7% / 8.7%
Walcha — 35-44: 8.7% Woolbrook — 35-44: 8.7%
45-54 11.3% / 13.7%
Walcha — 45-54: 11.3% Woolbrook — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 14.5% / 18.0%
Walcha — 55-64: 14.5% Woolbrook — 55-64: 18.0%
65-74 15.8% / 9.8%
Walcha — 65-74: 15.8% Woolbrook — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 11.4% / 6.0%
Walcha — 75-84: 11.4% Woolbrook — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 2.8% / 1.6%
Walcha — 85+: 2.8% Woolbrook — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

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%
Woolbrook 42.5% lone person
Woolbrook — Lone Person: 42.5% Woolbrook — Couple Families: 45.0% Woolbrook — One Parent Families: 12.5% Woolbrook — Group Household: 0.0% Woolbrook — 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%
Woolbrook 27.1% renting
Woolbrook — Owned Outright: 54.2% Woolbrook — Mortgage: 18.8% Woolbrook — Renting: 27.1%
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.

Walcha Woolbrook
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.6%
Walcha — New Zealand: 0.8% Woolbrook — New Zealand: 1.6%
England 1.8% / —
Walcha — England: 1.8% Woolbrook — England: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.3% / —
Walcha — Netherlands: 0.3% Woolbrook — Netherlands: not among its largest
Germany 0.2% / —
Walcha — Germany: 0.2% Woolbrook — Germany: not among its largest
Zimbabwe 0.2% / —
Walcha — Zimbabwe: 0.2% Woolbrook — Zimbabwe: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

Qualifications

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

Walcha Woolbrook
Certificate III & IV 15.9% / 12.6%
Walcha — Certificate III & IV: 15.9% Woolbrook — Certificate III & IV: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 8.2%
Walcha — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% Woolbrook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Bachelor Degree 8.2% / 4.9%
Walcha — Bachelor Degree: 8.2% Woolbrook — Bachelor Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.6%
Walcha — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Woolbrook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / —
Walcha — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Woolbrook — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Walcha 94.5% houses
Walcha — Houses: 94.5% Walcha — Flats / Apartments: 5.5%
Woolbrook 98.3% houses
Woolbrook — Houses: 98.3% Woolbrook — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Walcha Woolbrook
Median house price $435,000 $492,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $175,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 103 days
from 21 sales
 —

Zoning mix

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

Walcha Woolbrook
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 Woolbrook
New dwellings approved 4
across Walcha
 390
across Tamworth
Approvals change year on year — -35%

Ranking within NSW

Walcha Woolbrook
House price Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 15% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 6% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW

Liveability

Walcha Woolbrook
Grade D —
Score 21/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Walcha carries more bushfire risk (70 vs 14).

Walcha Woolbrook
Bushfire High
70/100
 Low
14/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
64/100
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 Woolbrook
Inside the suburb 2 1
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 Woolbrook

  • Woolbrook Public School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Walcha Woolbrook
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 11

Mobility

Woolbrook sits further from the CBD (439.8 km vs 427.3 km).

Walcha Woolbrook
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 427.3 km 439.8 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 329 min 343 min
Public transport score 61/100
Bus
 21/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 35.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 2354
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 2354
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.

Walcha Woolbrook
Car (driver) 58.6% / 52.5%
Walcha — Car (driver): 58.6% Woolbrook — Car (driver): 52.5%
Worked from Home 28.4% / 42.4%
Walcha — Worked from Home: 28.4% Woolbrook — Worked from Home: 42.4%
Walked Only 7.7% / 5.1%
Walcha — Walked Only: 7.7% Woolbrook — Walked Only: 5.1%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / —
Walcha — Car (passenger): 4.8% Woolbrook — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 0.4% / —
Walcha — Bus: 0.4% Woolbrook — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.6%).

Setting

Walcha Woolbrook
Elevation 1,094 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 1,012 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Walcha Woolbrook
Connectivity score 49/100 19/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
1,174 premises
 0%
37 premises

Climate

Walcha Woolbrook
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

Council rates

Walcha Woolbrook
Average residential rate $772/yr $1,397/yr
Council Walcha Tamworth

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Walcha Woolbrook
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

Woolbrook

Affordable Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Walcha

Walcha vs Hillgrove Walcha vs Yarrowitch Walcha vs Niangala Walcha vs Nowendoc Walcha vs Walcha Road Walcha vs Salisbury Plains

Other comparisons with Woolbrook

Woolbrook vs Bendemeer Woolbrook vs Kentucky Woolbrook vs Limbri Woolbrook vs Walcha Road
Full data on Walcha Full data on Woolbrook
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or