North Tamworth
Healthcare accounts for 32.9% of local employment, making North Tamworth more closely tied to essential services than to a single broad industrial base. The suburb has 6,273 residents across 18.15 square kilometres, with a density of 345.6 people per square kilometre. Its housing profile is more house-oriented than central Tamworth areas, with 69.9% separate houses and 27.3% semi-detached dwellings. Renting is significant at 41.1%, while the median age of 38 is 2 years below the national comparison and overseas-born residents account for 15.5%, 6.1 percentage points below the national figure. East Tamworth is a useful nearby comparison for buyers assessing access, housing form and street-level amenity.
Population
6,273
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,463/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
152
North Tamworth suits buyers who want conventional housing with some attached-dwelling choice. Separate houses represent 69.9% of homes, while semi-detached dwellings account for 27.3% and apartments only 2.8%, giving the suburb a more house-led profile than apartment-focused locations. Larger homes are common, with 33.2% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 33.9% containing 3 bedrooms. The reported mortgage commitment is $1,625 per month, equal to 25.7% of household income, while rent represents 21.2%, so mortgage costs are higher than rent costs but not flagged as mortgage stress. Buyers should compare streets carefully with East Tamworth because access, lot size and dwelling condition can vary.
For Buyers
North Tamworth suits buyers who want conventional housing with some attached-dwelling choice. Separate houses represent 69.9% of homes, while semi-detached dwellings account for 27.3% and apartments only 2.8%, giving the suburb a more house-led profile than apartment-focused locations. Larger homes are common, with 33.2% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 33.9% containing 3 bedrooms. The reported mortgage commitment is $1,625 per month, equal to 25.7% of household income, while rent represents 21.2%, so mortgage costs are higher than rent costs but not flagged as mortgage stress. Buyers should compare streets carefully with East Tamworth because access, lot size and dwelling condition can vary.
For Investors
North Tamworth has a substantial tenant base, with 41.1% of households renting compared with 24.9% owning outright and 28.6% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $310 and vacancy is 6.2%, giving investors a workable affordability profile but also a reason to test leasing demand at the individual property level. Development activity is high at 150 applications over 12 months, including a dual-occupancy proposal for 2 dwellings. That pipeline can support local renewal, although additional supply may create more competition between landlords. Healthcare employs 32.9% of workers, which may help underpin rental demand because hospitals and care services create recurring employment rather than purely cyclical jobs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
655
Last 12 Months
152
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+24.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Tamworth
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
North Tamworth has a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national comparison, while its average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below the national figure. Couples with children make up 42.7% of families and couples without children account for 39.3%, indicating demand from both family households and smaller adult households. English ancestry is recorded for 2,245 residents, followed by Irish at 647 and Scottish at 621. Christianity is the largest listed religion at 3,537 residents, while 1,721 report no religion. University attainment is 30.1%, with a national comparison gap of 0.0 percentage points, and the overseas-born share of 15.5% is 6.1 points below national levels. Nepali, Punjabi, Mandarin and Malayalam are among the other languages spoken locally.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.9%
Houses
27.3%
Townhouse
2.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix is more diverse than a purely detached-house market, but separate homes still lead at 69.9%. Semi-detached dwellings represent 27.3%, compared with only 2.8% apartments, while 7.7% of homes have 0 or 1 bedroom, 25.2% have 2 bedrooms, 33.9% have 3 bedrooms and 33.2% have 4 or more. Renting at 41.1% is higher than outright ownership at 24.9% and also above the 28.6% mortgage tenure share, creating a meaningful investor and renter presence. The mortgage-to-income figure is 25.7%, higher than the rent-to-income figure of 21.2%, and neither tenure is flagged for stress. Compared with more central Tamworth and East Tamworth addresses, buyers should focus on the exact dwelling type, parking and maintenance burden rather than assuming all streets have the same appeal.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $310.
$500
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $530 · units $383
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$820
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
163
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.7%
Couples with children
39.3%
Couples, no children
16.0%
Single parent
1,449
Total families
Economy & Employment
North Tamworth's employment base is led by healthcare, which accounts for 32.9% of workers and 648 people, well above education at 13.0% and 256 workers. Public administration contributes 7.6%, construction 7.1% and manufacturing 6.7%, providing a wider base across public services, trades and production. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 727 people, followed by community and personal service workers at 383 and trades workers at 359. The labour force includes 2,891 people, with a 3.5% unemployment rate, 56.4% participation rate and 66.1% full-time employment rate. Household income is $1,463 per week and sits at the 44.9th percentile, below the midpoint, so local spending power is more moderate than the suburb's strong healthcare concentration might suggest.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
2,891
Unemployed
102
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.1%
Part-time
29.2%
Participation
56.4%
Employed
2,789
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.1%
Postgraduate
7.2%
Born Overseas
15.5%
Dwellings
2,425
Transport to Work
North Tamworth covers 18.15 square kilometres at a density of 345.6 people per square kilometre, giving it a suburban scale that is generally easier to navigate by car than by public transport. Car driving is the dominant commute mode at 75.8%, far higher than public transport use at 0.2% and walking or cycling at 4.5%; working from home accounts for 13.1%. This pattern makes parking, road access and travel time important daily considerations. One local secondary school is Oxley High School, a government school, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address and consider the wider Tamworth school network. For safety, compare current incident information and street-level conditions before deciding, rather than relying on a suburb-wide label.
Drive
75.8%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
13.1%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Tamworth compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Tamworth a good suburb to live in?
North Tamworth can suit households seeking a practical, house-oriented setting with access to Tamworth services. It has 6,273 residents, 69.9% separate houses and 75.8% car-based commuting. The median age is 38, which is 2 years below the national comparison, while renters make up 41.1% of households.
What is the median house price in North Tamworth?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales because values can move quickly between streets and dwelling types. Useful affordability markers are weekly rent of $310, a reported monthly mortgage of $1,625 and a 69.9% separate-house share. Compare like-for-like 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom sales before making an offer.
What schools are in North Tamworth?
Oxley High School is the listed local school, providing government secondary education. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address and compare nearby options across the wider Tamworth area. North Tamworth has 6,273 residents, so school access and transport demand can vary between different parts of the suburb.
Is North Tamworth safe?
Safety should be assessed using current incident maps, council information and an inspection of the exact street rather than a broad suburb label. North Tamworth has 6,273 residents and a 31.2% turnover rate, so local perceptions may differ between established streets and areas experiencing development. Compare recent conditions around the property, school routes and evening access.
Is North Tamworth good for property investment?
North Tamworth has several investment positives: 41.1% of households rent, weekly rent is $310, vacancy is 6.2% and 150 development applications were recorded over 12 months. The renter share is higher than the 24.9% outright-owner share. Investors should allow for competition from new supply and assess tenant demand near employment and transport links.
How is North Tamworth's population changing?
North Tamworth currently has 6,273 residents. The area shows both stability and movement, with 68.8% of residents staying at the same address compared with a 31.2% turnover rate. Development activity is substantial at 150 applications over 12 months, including a 2-dwelling dual occupancy, so change is likely to come through infill and household turnover rather than one defined project.
What development is occurring in North Tamworth?
Development activity includes 150 applications over 12 months, covering dual occupancy, new dwelling work, subdivision, earthworks, alterations and changes of use. One sample proposal includes 2 dwellings. Buyers and neighbours should check the approval status, construction timing and final plans because application numbers can be higher than completed projects.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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