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, as of August 2025, is approximately 17,198. This figure represents a growth of 277 people, equivalent to a 1.6% increase since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 16,921. The increase was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 16,938 in June 2024 and an additional 200 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 318 persons per square kilometer. Wagga Wagga - East's growth rate places it within 1.7 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.3%), indicating competitive growth trends. Natural growth contributed approximately 54.8% to overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Projections indicate an overall population decline over this period, with a contraction of 1,123 persons expected by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 85 and over group are 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 approximately 53 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 265 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 17 recorded so far in FY-26. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with varied buyer choices. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $564,000, slightly higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

This financial year has seen $17.5 million in commercial development approvals, indicating steady investment activity in the area. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wagga Wagga - East records approximately 63% of building activity per person and ranks among the 55th percentile nationally, suggesting established character and potential planning limitations. New building activity consists of 88.0% standalone homes and 12.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character favoured by families seeking space. The location has an average of approximately 297 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Wagga Wagga - East may experience reduced pressure on housing supply, potentially presenting buying opportunities.

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 has identified 41 projects that may affect this area. Notable initiatives include the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RiFL) Hub, Lake Albert Pipeline and Precinct Renewal, Lake Albert Manors, and the Lake Albert Plan of Management from 2025 to 2035. The following list details those projects likely most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment positions Wagga Wagga - East ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

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

Over the past year, ending June 2025, employment grew by 7.6%. As of that date, 8,531 residents are employed with a workforce participation rate of 63.7%, higher than the regional average of 56.4%. Key industries 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.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 2.4%, compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 7.6% while unemployment rose by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% contraction in employment and a 0.4% rise in unemployment over the same period. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW's employment contracted by 0.41%, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Nationally, employment grew by 0.26% with an unemployment rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wagga Wagga - East's industry 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.

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

Wagga Wagga - East's median income among taxpayers was $54,167 and average income stood at $66,030 in financial year 2022, according to AreaSearch aggregated ATO data. This compares with Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. Based on a 10.6% growth in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for March 2025 would be approximately $59,909 (median) and $73,029 (average). Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Wagga Wagga - East cluster around the 53rd percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate 33.2% of residents fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 range, with surrounding regions having similar patterns at 29.9%. After housing costs, residents retain 87.7% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. 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

The dwelling structure in Wagga Wagga - East, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.0% houses and 12.0% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is comparable to Non-Metro NSW's structure of 88.4% houses and 11.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wagga Wagga - East was at 36.3%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's rate. Mortgaged properties accounted for 36.9%, while rented dwellings made up 26.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,517, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,430. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro NSW's average of $280. Nationally, Wagga Wagga - East's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below 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 making up 2.8%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is 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

Educational qualifications in Wagga Wagga - East trail regional benchmarks, with 22.9% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW as of the latest data point. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills also feature prominently, with 38.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (28.4%). Educational participation is high, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.3% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education. There are 10 schools operating within Wagga Wagga - East, educating approximately 4,300 students as of the latest count. The area functions as an education hub with 25.0 school places per 100 residents – significantly above the regional average of 15.3 – attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Wagga Wagga - East has 93 active public transport stops. These include train and bus services. There are 92 routes serving these stops, resulting in 877 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 273 meters to the nearest stop. The service frequency is 125 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 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 challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~9,011 people), leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 10.0 and 8.9% of residents respectively. 64.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.5% across Rest of NSW. The area has 20.7% of residents aged 65 and over (3,565 people), higher than the 19.6% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with 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 cultural diversity index below the average, with 91.1% of its population being Australian citizens, 89.6% born in Australia, and 92.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 64.0% of people in Wagga Wagga - East, similar to the regional average of 64.3%. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (30.5%), English (30.0%), and Irish (10.1%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 4.0%, compared to 4.5% regionally, while Scottish was 8.4%, slightly above the regional average of 8.0%. German ancestry was present at 3.8%, marginally lower than the regional average of 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 equivalent to the national norm also at 38 years old. The age group of 25-34 represents 13.2% of the population in Wagga Wagga - East, higher than the Rest of NSW percentage. Conversely, the 55-64 age cohort is less prevalent at 10.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 11.9% to 13.2%, while the 5-14 age group has declined from 14.8% to 13.3%. Similarly, the 55-64 age cohort has decreased from 11.6% to 10.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Wagga Wagga - East's age profile. Notably, the 85+ group is expected to grow by 92%, reaching 907 people from its current figure of 471. The aging population trend is evident with those aged 65 and above comprising 94% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 65-74 and 0-4 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.