Wallalong
Household income in the 92.8th percentile nationally tells most of Wallalong's story. This small Hunter Valley locality of 1,049 residents is almost entirely detached houses, with 77.8% having four or more bedrooms, placing it well above the national average for large-family accommodation. Owner-occupancy dominates at 95.5% of households, leaving just 4.4% renting, compared to renting rates closer to 30% in most Australian suburbs. The median age of 39 is one year younger than the national figure, and the average household size of 3.2 exceeds national norms by 0.7 persons, pointing to a suburb built around established families with space to grow.
Population
1,049
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,547/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price sits at $1,215,000 based on recent sales data, though the price history shows volatility: the 2024 median was $1,365,000 before falling to $1,170,000 in 2025, a 14.3% decline that has created a softer entry point than a year ago. Every dwelling is a separate house, and 77.8% have four or more bedrooms, so buyers are purchasing genuine family homes rather than compact stock. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which reflects the high household income at the 92.8nd income percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,184, lower than comparable premium rural NSW locations.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $1,215,000 based on recent sales data, though the price history shows volatility: the 2024 median was $1,365,000 before falling to $1,170,000 in 2025, a 14.3% decline that has created a softer entry point than a year ago. Every dwelling is a separate house, and 77.8% have four or more bedrooms, so buyers are purchasing genuine family homes rather than compact stock. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which reflects the high household income at the 92.8nd income percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,184, lower than comparable premium rural NSW locations.
For Investors
At 4.4% renter share, Wallalong has one of the thinnest rental markets in the region, meaning rental demand is structurally weak compared to typical investment suburbs. Weekly rent of $375 against a $1,215,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.7%, low even for rural NSW. The vacancy rate of 4.8% adds further caution, sitting above the 3% threshold commonly used as a rental market tightness indicator. Development activity is modest at 16 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations to existing dwellings rather than new supply. The 86.8% resident retention rate signals stability rather than turnover-driven demand. Investors seeking capital growth must weigh the recent 14.3% price correction against the suburb's high-income demographic.
Development Activity
Total DAs
93
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+45.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The overseas-born share of 6.9% is 14.7 percentage points below the national figure, one of the more Anglo-settled profiles in NSW. Ancestry is dominated by English (481 residents), Scottish (128) and Irish (98), consistent with the suburb's identity signals. University qualifications stand at 23.3%, which is 6.8 points lower than the national rate, while professionals and managers still make up the two largest occupation groups. Average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above national, driven by the high proportion of couples with children: 479 families in that category versus 163 couples without children. Volunteering runs at 15.0% of residents, above most comparable small suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Wallalong is entirely detached housing, the only suburb in this dataset where the separate house figure reaches 100%. Large homes dominate: 77.8% have four or more bedrooms and 19.7% have three bedrooms, leaving very little smaller stock. Tenure skews heavily toward ownership, with 37.3% owning outright and 58.2% on a mortgage, compared to a national renting average closer to 30%. The price history shows a peak median of $1,365,000 in 2024 declining to $1,170,000 in 2025, a 14.3% correction over one year. Mortgage-to-income at 19.8% remains well below stress levels, and rent-to-income of 14.7% is even more comfortable for the small pool of tenants, reflecting the suburb's high-income base.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,184
Rent / wk
$375
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$922
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.8%
Unoccupied
16
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.2%
Couples, no children
949
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 17.8% of workers (69 people), followed by Construction at 15.7% (61) and Education at 13.7% (53). Manufacturing accounts for 8.0% and Public Administration 6.7%, giving the workforce a broader mix than a pure residential enclave. By occupation, Professionals (106) and Managers (82) are the two largest groups, consistent with the suburb's position in the 92.8th household income percentile nationally. The unemployment rate of 3.1% is low and the full-time employment rate of 65.2% is solid. Labour force participation sits at 67.8%, with 201 residents not in the labour force, partly reflecting the family-formation life stage rather than economic inactivity.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.2%
Part-time
31.7%
Participation
67.8%
Employed
535
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.3%
Postgraduate
5.9%
Born Overseas
6.9%
Dwellings
316
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-absolute: 94.0% of residents commute by car and only 1.7% walk or cycle, which is expected for a semi-rural suburb 14.41 square kilometres in size. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in the broader Hunter Valley area. Crime data is not available for Wallalong in the current dataset, though the low-disadvantage income profile at the 92.8nd percentile nationally is a positive indirect indicator. Housing stress metrics are low: mortgage-to-income at 19.8% and rent-to-income at 14.7% both sit well below standard stress thresholds. The average household size of 3.2 and 95.5% owner-occupancy rate point to a settled, family-oriented community with low financial pressure.
Drive
94.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wallalong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wallalong a good suburb to live in?
Wallalong suits families seeking large homes with space, recording an average household size of 3.2 and 77.8% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms. Household income sits in the 92.8th percentile nationally and housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 19.8%. The trade-off is full car dependency, with 94% of residents driving, and no schools recorded within the suburb.
What is the median house price in Wallalong?
The median house price is approximately $1,215,000 based on recent sales data. The 2024 median peaked at $1,365,000 before declining to $1,170,000 in 2025, a 14.3% fall. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,184, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8% remains below stress levels given the suburb's high-income profile.
What schools are in Wallalong?
No schools are recorded within the Wallalong suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Hunter Valley towns. Despite this, 23.3% of residents hold university qualifications, and the suburb's family profile, with 479 couples with children, means school access in nearby areas is a key consideration for buyers.
Is Wallalong safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wallalong in the current dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income ranks in the 92.8th percentile nationally, and housing stress metrics are well below standard thresholds, with mortgage-to-income at 19.8% and rent-to-income at 14.7%, both consistent with a low-financial-pressure environment.
Is Wallalong good for property investment?
The investment case is challenging. The renting population is only 4.4%, far below the national average, limiting rental demand. Weekly rent of $375 against a $1,215,000 median produces a low gross yield, and the vacancy rate of 4.8% exceeds the 3% tightness threshold. The 14.3% price decline from 2024 to 2025 also signals recent softening, though the high-income demographic provides a floor.
How is Wallalong's population changing?
Wallalong has a small population of 1,049 residents across 14.41 square kilometres. Resident stability is high, with 86.8% staying year to year and a turnover rate of just 13.2%. The family-formation profile, with an average household size of 3.2 that is 0.7 above the national figure, suggests organic stability rather than rapid growth or decline.
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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