Calala
With a median age of 33, Calala runs 7 years younger than the national figure, and 55.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, both signals of a suburb built around growing families. At 4,577 residents spread across 64 square kilometres, the density is just 71 people per km2, far below most regional centres. Household income sits at the 67th percentile nationally, comfortably above average. The overwhelming majority of homes are separate houses at 96.1%, and 63% of households are either paying down a mortgage or own their property outright, reflecting stable long-term occupancy in a family-oriented area on the edge of Tamworth.
Population
4,577
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,863/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
68
Median House
$650K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $650,000, based on 2024-2025 PSI-derived data, and prices moved from $645,000 in 2024 to $667,000 in 2025, a 3.4% gain. At a monthly mortgage repayment of around $1,600, the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 19.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making ownership here genuinely accessible compared to most NSW markets. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 96.1%, so buyers are unlikely to encounter apartment competition. A full 55.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, which is unusual even by regional standards, because the suburb attracts families who prioritise space over proximity to the CBD. Semi-detached homes make up 3.5% and apartments just 0.4%, leaving the market firmly in the detached-house tier.
For Buyers
The median house price is $650,000, based on 2024-2025 PSI-derived data, and prices moved from $645,000 in 2024 to $667,000 in 2025, a 3.4% gain. At a monthly mortgage repayment of around $1,600, the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 19.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making ownership here genuinely accessible compared to most NSW markets. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 96.1%, so buyers are unlikely to encounter apartment competition. A full 55.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, which is unusual even by regional standards, because the suburb attracts families who prioritise space over proximity to the CBD. Semi-detached homes make up 3.5% and apartments just 0.4%, leaving the market firmly in the detached-house tier.
For Investors
The renter share stands at 26.6%, with weekly rent at $350 and a vacancy rate of 4.3%. Against the $650,000 median that implies a gross yield of around 2.8%, which is modest but more sustainable than in higher-priced NSW markets. The vacancy rate of 4.3% is elevated relative to a tight-rental-market benchmark, suggesting supply is adequate and landlords may face some competition. Development activity is steady at 63 applications in the past 12 months, mostly residential construction and complying development certificates, indicating steady local demand for new dwellings. The 3.4% price growth recorded from 2024 to 2025 supports a hold thesis, though Calala's investment case relies on rental yield rather than capital acceleration, because the suburb is already at its current price position relative to Tamworth's regional anchor.
Development Activity
Total DAs
368
Last 12 Months
68
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+19.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Calala iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
7-12 · 606 students
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, pointing to a suburb with a younger-than-average population. Overseas-born residents make up just 6.8%, which is 14.8 percentage points below the national rate, making Calala one of the more Anglo-Celtic communities in regional NSW. English ancestry leads at 1,865 people, followed by Scottish (505) and Irish (450). University qualifications reach 25.3%, which is 4.8 points below the national average, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trade and service roles rather than knowledge industries. Average household size is 2.7, slightly above the national figure. Family formation dominates: couples with children account for 1,585 households, compared to 896 couples without children, and the 33-year median age reflects a community mostly in its child-rearing years.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.1%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits show 30.5% owning outright, 43.0% with a mortgage and 26.6% renting. The 43% mortgage belt proportion, combined with a median age of 33, confirms a suburb where many residents are in the active accumulation phase rather than late in their ownership cycle. Separate houses dominate at 96.1%, with semi-detached homes at 3.5% and apartments at just 0.4%, giving the suburb one of the most house-dominant profiles compared to metropolitan NSW. Large homes are the norm: 55.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 39.9% have 3, meaning smaller 2-bedroom properties account for only 4.5% of stock. The price-to-income ratio at $650,000 median against a $1,863 weekly household income is roughly 6.7x, lower than Sydney's typical 10-12x, reflecting the relative affordability of regional ownership.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$878
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.3%
Unoccupied
69
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.5%
Couples, no children
3,514
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 20.3% of workers (311 people), followed closely by Education at 18.2% (279 people). Together these two sectors account for nearly 40% of local employment, which is high compared to typical regional benchmarks and explains why Professionals (465) are the top occupation group. Construction employs 9.1% (140 workers) and Public Administration 8.6% (132), with Retail at 6.8% (104). The unemployment rate is 2.8%, well below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 69.1%. Labour force participation is 62.1%, with 1,058 residents not in the labour force, a figure that reflects the suburb's share of school-age children and stay-at-home parents in what is a strongly family-oriented community.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.1%
Part-time
28.1%
Participation
62.1%
Employed
2,114
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.3%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
6.8%
Dwellings
1,528
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 89.6% of residents commuting as car drivers, compared to a national average closer to 70%. Public transport use is just 0.2%, reflecting the suburb's 64 square kilometre footprint and limited bus frequency typical of outer Tamworth. Walking and cycling account for 3.1% of commutes. Housing stress is low across both measures: rent-to-income sits at 18.8% and mortgage-to-income at 19.8%, both comfortably below the 30% threshold. Volunteering rates are healthy at 18.4%, above the national average, and 5.7% of residents (246 people) require daily assistance, a modest level consistent with the young demographic profile. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families would rely on nearby Tamworth institutions for schooling.
Drive
89.6%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Calala compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calala a good suburb to live in?
Calala suits families well, with a median age of 33 and 55.2% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 67th percentile nationally. Housing costs are manageable: the mortgage-to-income ratio is 19.8% and rent-to-income is 18.8%, both well below stress thresholds. The main trade-off is high car dependence at 89.6%, with minimal public transport.
What is the median house price in Calala?
The median house price is $650,000, based on 2024-2025 data. Prices rose 3.4% from $645,000 in 2024 to $667,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8%, lower than most NSW suburban markets.
What schools are in Calala?
No schools are recorded inside the Calala boundary in this dataset. Residents are located near Tamworth, so families would access schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local workforce has a 25.3% university qualification rate, which is 4.8 percentage points below the national average.
Is Calala safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Calala in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low (mortgage-to-income 19.8%, rent-to-income 18.8%), unemployment is just 2.8% well below national levels, and volunteering reaches 18.4%, all of which typically correlate with lower community stress and crime rates.
Is Calala good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $350 against a $650,000 median gives a gross yield of around 2.8%, modest but real. Vacancy sits at 4.3%, indicating some supply competition. The 3.4% price growth from 2024 to 2025 is positive, and 63 development applications in 12 months shows active local demand. Returns depend on yield rather than rapid capital growth.
How is Calala's population changing?
Calala's median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, indicating a young resident base growing through family formation. The mobility data shows 74.5% of residents stayed at the same address, a low-turnover profile. With couples-with-children households at 1,585 and a family-oriented demographic, natural population growth is the primary driver.
How much development is happening in Calala?
There were 63 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including new dwelling house constructions, swimming pools and modifications. This level of activity is consistent with a growing family suburb where demand for larger homes is steady. Recent applications include complying development certificates for new residential structures.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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