Wauchope
An aging, detached-house community of 6,589 people, Wauchope combines a median age of 43 with 85.3% separate houses and household income at the 18.1st percentile nationally. Its age is 3 years above the national comparison, while the overseas-born share of 7.6% is 14 percentage points below national levels, giving the town an Anglo-leaning profile. Internal migration supports a 1.66% annual growth trend because Wauchope remains an established regional service centre, even as senior share rises 3.1 points. Wider-area population change is 25.3% over 10 years. Port Macquarie provides a nearby coastal alternative, while Wauchope suits buyers prioritising space, car access and established services.
Population
6,589
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,114/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
74
Homebuyers get a strongly detached format, with 85.3% separate houses, 12.4% semi-detached homes and 1.5% apartments. Three-bedroom properties account for 53.7% of homes and four or more bedrooms for 23.6%, which suits families and downsizers seeking usable space. The trade-off is financial pressure: the $1,517 monthly mortgage measure equals 31.4% of household income, while $350 weekly rent also reaches 31.4% of income. Compared with national household conditions, income at the 18.1st percentile calls for conservative budgeting. Car access matters because 83.2% drive to work and only 0.4% use public transport. Port Macquarie is a nearby alternative for coastal access, while Wauchope favours traditional house layouts.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a strongly detached format, with 85.3% separate houses, 12.4% semi-detached homes and 1.5% apartments. Three-bedroom properties account for 53.7% of homes and four or more bedrooms for 23.6%, which suits families and downsizers seeking usable space. The trade-off is financial pressure: the $1,517 monthly mortgage measure equals 31.4% of household income, while $350 weekly rent also reaches 31.4% of income. Compared with national household conditions, income at the 18.1st percentile calls for conservative budgeting. Car access matters because 83.2% drive to work and only 0.4% use public transport. Port Macquarie is a nearby alternative for coastal access, while Wauchope favours traditional house layouts.
For Investors
Wauchope has 32.6% renters, a weekly rent measure of $350 and a 6.1% vacancy rate. Renting is lower than outright ownership at 32.6% versus 36.6%, while the vacancy level provides more leasing buffer than a highly constrained market. Rent growth of 50.0% signals rising tenant costs over time, but the 31.4% rent-to-income ratio may limit how far increases can continue. Development activity is notable at 73 applications in 12 months, although the total includes alterations, carports and general industry as well as housing. Healthcare employs 26.3% of workers, followed by construction at 11.1% and education at 9.6%, so demand is linked to local services and trades. Compared with tighter rental markets, investors should test yield against vacancy, stress and the 1.66% annual growth trend.
Development Activity
Total DAs
432
Last 12 Months
74
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+19.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wauchope
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Wauchope's median age is 43, which is 3 years above the national comparison. The aging trajectory is visible in a 3.1-point rise in senior share and a 1.8-point fall in young share, while average household size is 2.4 people, 0.1 below national levels. Couples without children represent 41.7% of families and one-parent families 25.2%. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,847, 708 and 603. Christianity is recorded for 3,399 residents and no religion for 2,599. University participation is 12.6%, 17.5 percentage points below national levels, which aligns with employment in community services, trades and labouring. Compared with nearby Port Macquarie, Wauchope has a more settled profile, with 76.5% staying and turnover at 23.5%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.3%
Houses
12.4%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached homes dominate Wauchope, with 85.3% separate houses compared with 12.4% semi-detached homes and 1.5% apartments. The most common format is three bedrooms at 53.7%, followed by four or more bedrooms at 23.6%, supporting family living and space for older residents as the median age reaches 43. Tenure is split between 36.6% owned outright, 28.5% mortgaged and 32.6% rented, so renting is lower than outright ownership but close to the mortgage share. Affordability is labelled Stable, moving from 54.7 in 2011 to 55.1 in 2021, yet mortgage and rent stress both sit at 31.4%. Compared with apartment-oriented parts of Port Macquarie, Wauchope's low apartment share makes land, maintenance and car access more important to housing decisions.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $350.
$555
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $580 · units $480
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$585
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
167
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.3%
Couples with children
41.7%
Couples, no children
25.2%
Single parent
1,763
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Wauchope's anchor industry at 26.3% of jobs, followed by construction at 11.1%, education at 9.6%, retail at 9.3% and other services at 7.0%. That mix supports community-facing work, trades and local spending, reflected in occupation counts of 435 community and personal workers, 426 trades workers and 310 labourers. Participation is 49.4%, unemployment is 6.3% and full-time employment is 55.5%, while household income sits at the 18.1st percentile nationally. SEIFA shows an uneven position: education and occupation is decile 2, economic resources decile 5, disadvantage decile 3 and advantage decile 3. The gap between decile 2 and decile 5 suggests resource capacity is stronger than education and occupational outcomes alone. Compared with higher-income regional centres, lower household resources may limit discretionary spending, even as healthcare and education provide stable service demand. Volunteering reaches 15.5%.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
2,636
Unemployed
165
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.5%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
49.4%
Employed
2,471
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.6%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
7.6%
Dwellings
2,546
Transport to Work
Livability is practical and car-oriented. A total of 83.2% drive to work, compared with 0.4% using public transport and 3.4% walking or cycling, so daily convenience depends more on road access than transit. Four nearby government schools span 3 primary settings and 1 secondary setting, giving families access to both stages locally. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can differ between streets. Wauchope's density is 370.3 people per square kilometre across 17.8 square kilometres, supporting a town-scale environment rather than high-density living. Social need is material, with 10.7% requiring assistance, while volunteering is 15.5%. Compared with a larger coastal centre such as Port Macquarie, residents may trade some transport choice for a more compact local service pattern. Use current NSW Police information and an address-level visit for safety checks because no suburb-level crime rate is available. IRSAD is decile 3, below the national midpoint.
Drive
83.2%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
7.3%
Population Forecast
+1.66%/yr
(+229 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is positive but shaped by ageing. The forecast trend is 1.66% annually, with internal migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 25.3% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 3.1 points and young share down 1.8 points, so service demand may grow faster than the younger family market. Gentrification is rated Active, with a score of 47, while another shift measure records an Active score of 56, pointing to gradual change rather than a complete reset. Real income growth of 20.9% and rent growth of 50.0% pull in opposite directions. Affordability remains Stable, moving from 54.7 in 2011 to 55.1 in 2021. Compared with stagnant regional markets, Wauchope has stronger momentum, but its aging pattern means growth will depend on internal migration and practical services.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+28
Net Internal / yr
+172
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +31% since 2011, Net internal migration +172/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wauchope compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wauchope a good suburb to live in?
Yes, if you value detached housing, local schools and a car-oriented town setting. Wauchope has 6,589 residents, a median age of 43 and 85.3% separate houses. Household income is at the 18.1st percentile nationally, below higher-income areas, so affordability and service access should be weighed carefully.
What is the median house price in Wauchope?
A current median house price should be checked against recent sales because there is no reliable figure to quote. Useful affordability markers are $350 weekly rent, a $1,517 monthly mortgage measure and 31.4% mortgage-to-income stress. Compare current listings with household income at the 18.1st national percentile before buying.
What schools are in Wauchope?
Four nearby government schools cover 3 primary settings and 1 secondary school, including Wauchope Public School and Wauchope High School. Check the exact enrolment zone before buying or renting because access can differ by address. The mix is narrower than a major-city catchment, so compare transport and out-of-area options.
Is Wauchope safe?
Safety should be checked with current NSW Police information, council updates and a visit at different times because a suburb-level crime rate is not available. Wauchope's 6,589 residents and 83.2% car-driver share describe scale and travel habits, not safety. Compare recent incidents by street with nearby suburbs before deciding.
Is Wauchope good for property investment?
Wauchope may suit investors seeking established demand from healthcare, education, construction and retail. Renting is 32.6%, weekly rent is $350 and vacancy is 6.1%, while 73 development applications in 12 months signal ongoing activity. Compared with a tighter rental market, vacancy is a factor to test carefully, along with 31.4% rent stress.
How is Wauchope's population changing?
Population change is positive but increasingly older in profile. The forecast trend is 1.66% a year, driven primarily by internal migration, while wider-area population change is 25.3% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 3.1 points and young share down 1.8 points compared with a younger growth pattern.
What development is happening in Wauchope?
There were 73 development applications in 12 months, including a dwelling house, carport works and general industry. The total indicates active local change, but it is broader than new housing alone, so buyers should check each approval rather than treating 73 as dwelling additions. Compared with a quiet market, application activity is notable.
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.
Explore Wauchope on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map