Wagga Wagga - South

An assessment of population growth drivers in Wagga Wagga - South reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Wagga Wagga - South's population is approximately 23,461 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 939 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,522. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 23,196 in June 2024 and an additional 227 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 796 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Wagga Wagga - South exhibited resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%, outperforming its SA4 region. Natural growth contributed approximately 58.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, Wagga Wagga - South is expected to increase by approximately 1,685 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of around 6.0% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Wagga Wagga - South when compared nationally

Wagga Wagga - South averaged approximately 92 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 461 homes. As of FY-26, 22 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.9 people moved to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand creating stable market conditions. The average construction value of new properties was $280,000, aligning with broader regional development trends.

This financial year has seen $5.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wagga Wagga - South records 18.0% less building activity per person and ranks among the 50th percentile nationally. New developments consist of 51.0% detached houses and 49.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of housing types across various price ranges. This shift from the current 92.0% house dominance reflects reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

With around 329 people per dwelling approval, Wagga Wagga - South exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Future projections estimate an additional 1,420 residents by 2041 (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Wagga Wagga - South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified 35 projects that could impact the area significantly due to their potential influence on local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Among these key projects are Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct, Gissing Oval Amenities Upgrade, Lake Albert Water Sports and Event Precinct, and Glenfield Road Upgrades in Wagga Wagga. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment landscape in Wagga Wagga - South shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Wagga Wagga - South has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.6% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.4%. As of September 2025, 11,417 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 0.7% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is 65.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 7.5% of residents work from home. Key industries are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance has a high employment share at 1.2 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is lower at 1.8%.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 3.4% and labour force by 5.0%, leading to an unemployment rise of 1.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.5%, labour force decline by 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wagga Wagga - South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

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

The Wagga Wagga - South SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $57,731 and an average income of $69,984 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is slightly above national averages, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $62,846 (median) and $76,185 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Wagga Wagga - South rank modestly, between the 41st and 52nd percentiles. Income distribution shows that 34.4% of locals (8,070 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting broader area patterns where 29.9% occupy this range. After housing expenses, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Wagga Wagga - South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Wagga Wagga - South, as per the latest Census evaluation, 91.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 8.4% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differs from Non-Metro NSW's composition of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wagga Wagga - South stood at 29.1%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 37.0% and rented dwellings making up 33.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in the area was $300, compared to Non-Metro NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Wagga Wagga - South'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 - South has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 69.5% of all households, including 29.9% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.5%, with lone person households at 27.1% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Wagga Wagga - South fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 20.6%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are held by 37.9% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 28.4%. Educational participation is high, with 32.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.9% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Wagga Wagga - South indicates that there are 157 active transport stops operating. These include a mix of train and bus services. A total of 111 individual routes service these stops, collectively facilitating 2,893 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 254 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. The dominant mode of transportation remains car ownership at 96%.

On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 7.5% of residents work from home, which may be reflective of COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 413 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map illustrates the locations of the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Wagga Wagga - South is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Wagga Wagga - South faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age cohorts exhibit notable health condition prevalence.

The area has approximately 54% private health cover, slightly higher than the average SA2 area's 51.9%. Asthma and mental health issues are the most common conditions, affecting 10.3 and 9.5% of residents respectively. About 65.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age population health is particularly challenging due to high chronic condition rates. The area has 16.6% residents aged 65 and over (3,885 people), lower than Rest of NSW's 23.4%. Senior health outcomes align with national rankings.

Wagga Wagga - South ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Wagga Wagga - South had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 88.0% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (86.8%), and speaking English only at home (88.7%). Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 62.1% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprised 3.2%, compared to 0.8% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (29.1%), Australian (28.7%), and Irish (9.5%). There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal at 5.6% (vs regional 4.6%), German at 3.8% (vs 3.1%), and Samoan at 0.2% (vs 0.1%).

Wagga Wagga - South's population is younger than the national pattern

Wagga Wagga - South has a median age of 34, which is lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, the 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Wagga Wagga - South at 15.5%, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 9.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 14.1% to 15.5% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.7% to 10.2%, and the 5 to 14 year-old group dropped from 14.4% to 13.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that Wagga Wagga - South's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to expand by 659 people (18%), from 3,641 to 4,301. Conversely, both the 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.