Wagga Wagga - East
Statistical Area - sa2

Wagga Wagga - East is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Wagga Wagga - East's population is around 17,198 as of August 2025. This reflects an increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 16,921 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,938 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 200 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 318 persons per square kilometer. Wagga Wagga - East's growth rate of 1.6% since census positions it within 1.7 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.3%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 54.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, over this period, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to contract by 1,123 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, which is projected to grow by 476 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Wagga Wagga - East according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Wagga Wagga - East has averaged around 38 new dwelling approvals each year. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 190 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 17 dwellings have been recorded so far. Despite population decline in recent periods, development activity has been adequate relative to demand.

This has resulted in a well-balanced housing market with good buyer choice, as new properties are constructed at an average value of $564,000. Commercial development approvals totaling $17.5 million have been recorded this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Wagga Wagga - East shows approximately 61% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 55th percentile nationally. Recent construction comprises 88.0% detached houses and 12.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes.

There are approximately 297 people per dwelling approval in the location, indicating a low density market. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Wagga Wagga - East may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Wagga Wagga - East has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 39 projects likely influencing the area. Notable projects include Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RiFL) Hub, Lake Albert Pipeline and Precinct Renewal, Lake Albert Manors, and Lake Albert Plan of Management from 2025 to 2035. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment performance in Wagga Wagga - East exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Wagga Wagga - East has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.4%, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.7%.

Over the past year, employment growth was estimated at 7.6%. As of June 2025, 8,531 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.1% and workforce participation of 63.7%, higher than the Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area specializes in education & training, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 2.4% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

Despite local job opportunities, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment in Wagga Wagga - East increased by 7.6%, while the labour force grew by 9.0%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced a 0.1% employment decline and a 0.3% labour force growth, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data as of Sep-25 shows NSW's employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.5%, and employment growth is 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment expansion at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wagga Wagga - East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Wagga Wagga - East has a median taxpayer income of $54,167 and an average of $66,030 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is slightly above the national average, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $59,909 (median) and $73,029 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Wagga Wagga - East cluster around the 53rd percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that the largest segment comprises 33.2% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (5,709 residents), which is similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% fall within this range. After housing costs, residents retain 87.7% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Wagga Wagga - East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

As of the latest Census, within Wagga Wagga - East, 88.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 12.0% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types of dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 88.4% houses and 11.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wagga Wagga - East stood at 36.3%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's figure. The area saw 36.9% of dwellings mortgaged and 26.8% rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Wagga Wagga - East was $300, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $280. Nationally, Wagga Wagga - East's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $300 compared to the national figure of $375.

Wagga Wagga - East has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.1% of all households, including 30.7% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.9%, with lone person households at 25.2% and group households at 2.8%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Wagga Wagga - East aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Wagga Wagga - East has 22.9% of residents aged 15+ with university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.7% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (28.4%). Educational participation is high at 30.3%, with 11.3% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

The area has a robust network of 10 schools educating approximately 4,300 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1016). It includes 7 primary, 2 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. Wagga Wagga - East functions as an education hub with 25.1 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 15.4, attracting students from surrounding communities.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis found 93 active public transport stops in Wagga Wagga - East, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 92 different routes, which together offer 877 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents usually located 273 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 125 trips per day across all routes, resulting in about 9 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wagga Wagga - East is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Wagga Wagga - East has significant health issues, with common conditions prevalent across younger and older age groups.

Its private health cover rate is approximately 52%, covering around 9011 people. Asthma and mental health problems are most common, affecting 10% and 8.9% of residents respectively. Around 64.8% report no medical ailments, compared to 64.5% in Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65+, at 20.7% (3565 people), than the Rest of NSW's 19.6%. Senior health outcomes face challenges broadly similar to the general population's health profile.

Wagga Wagga - East is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Wagga Wagga - East had a low cultural diversity, with 91.1% of its population being citizens, 89.6% born in Australia, and 92.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 64.0% of people, compared to 64.3% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (30.5%), English (30.0%), and Irish (10.1%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal (4.0%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 4.5%, as were Scottish (8.4% vs 8.0%) and German (3.8% vs 3.9%).

Wagga Wagga - East's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Wagga Wagga - East has a median age of 38, which is lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 but equal to the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 13.2% of the population in Wagga Wagga - East, higher than the Rest of NSW figure, while the 55-64 cohort comprises 10.5%, lower than the Rest of NSW figure. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 11.9% to 13.2% since the previous census. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 14.8% to 13.3%, and the 55-64 age group has dropped from 11.6% to 10.5%. Demographic modeling indicates that by 2041, Wagga Wagga - East's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 92%, reaching 907 people from 471. This growth is led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above contributing to 94% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 65-74 and 0-4 age groups are expected to experience population declines.