Wagga Wagga - South
Statistical Area - sa2

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, as of November 2025, is approximately 23,436. This figure represents a growth of 914 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 22,522. The increase was inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 23,196 in June 2024 and an additional 220 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 796 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wagga Wagga - South's growth rate of 4.1% since the Census exceeded the SA3 area average of 3.5%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth accounted for approximately 58.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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. Based on current demographic trends and latest population numbers, Wagga Wagga - South is expected to increase by approximately 1,685 persons by 2041, recording a total growth of around 6.2% over the 17-year period.

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

Wagga Wagga - South has averaged approximately 92 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. This totals 461 homes. In FY-26 so far, 16 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.9 people have moved to the area per year for each dwelling built during this period.

The supply and demand of housing appear well-balanced, maintaining stable market conditions. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $280,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. This financial year has seen $5.9 million in commercial approvals, indicating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wagga Wagga - South records 18.0% less building activity per person but ranks among the 50th percentile nationally when assessed against other areas.

New development consists of approximately 51.0% detached houses and 49.0% attached dwellings, offering a range of housing types to cater to different price ranges and lifestyle demands. This is a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (92.0%). The area shows characteristics of low density development, with around 329 people per dwelling approval. Future projections indicate that Wagga Wagga - South will add approximately 1,445 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Wagga Wagga - South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 40thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects likely to affect the region. Notable projects include Lake Albert Water Sports and Event Precinct, Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct, Gissing Oval Amenities Upgrade, and Glenfield Road Upgrades in Wagga Wagga. The following list details those 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. The unemployment rate was 4.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 6.8%.

As of June 2025, there are 11,479 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.3% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation is at 64.1%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area has a specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 1.8% versus the regional average of 5.3%.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. In the 12-month period ending in June 2025, employment increased by 6.8%, labour force grew by 9.0%, and unemployment rose by 1.9 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with industry-specific projections suggesting local growth in Wagga Wagga - South of approximately 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

Wagga Wagga - South has a median taxpayer income of $55,236 and an average income of $67,377 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is higher than the national average, contrasting with Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $62,201 (median) and $75,873 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Wagga Wagga - South rank modestly, between the 42nd and 52nd percentiles. Distribution data shows that 34.4% of locals (8,061 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, reflecting a pattern seen in the broader area where 29.9% occupy this range. After housing costs, 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

Wagga Wagga - South's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.6% houses and 8.4% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 88.4% houses and 11.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wagga Wagga - South stood at 29.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.0% and rented ones at 33.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in the area was $300, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $280. Nationally, Wagga Wagga - South had significantly lower mortgage repayments at $1,517 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and substantially lower rents at $300 compared to the national figure of $375.

Wagga Wagga - South has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 69.5% of all households, including 29.9% that are couples with children, 25.2% that are couples without children, and 13.4% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up 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 matches the average for the Rest of NSW.

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 prevalent, with 37.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - 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. Twelve schools serve a total of 4,115 students in the area, which has varied educational conditions across Wagga Wagga - South. The educational mix comprises four primary, four secondary, and four K-12 schools.

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

Wagga Wagga - South has 122 active public transport stops. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 111 individual routes operating in total.

They collectively provide 2,266 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 256 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 323 trips per day across all routes. This equates to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wagga Wagga - South is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a slightly higher degree among older age cohorts

Wagga Wagga's south faces notable health challenges with common conditions prevalent across age groups, particularly among older cohorts. Approximately 53% (~12,514 people) have private health cover, higher than Rest of NSW at 51.4%.

The most frequent medical conditions are asthma (10.3%) and mental health issues (9.5%). About 65.1% report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of NSW's 64.5%. Around 16.4% (~3,831 people) are aged 65 and over, lower than Rest of NSW's 19.6%. Health outcomes for seniors require more attention due to presenting challenges.

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, comprising 62.1% of the population in Wagga Wagga - South. The most significant overrepresentation was seen in the 'Other' category, which constituted 3.2% of the population compared to 1.5% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (29.1%), Australian (28.7%), and Irish (9.5%). Notable divergences included overrepresentation of Australian Aboriginal at 5.6%, Samoan at 0.2%, and German at 3.8%.

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

Wagga Wagga - South's median age is 35 years, which is significantly below the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and somewhat younger than the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, the 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented at 15.1% locally, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 9.1%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 14.1% to 15.1% of the population, whereas the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.7% to 10.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that Wagga Wagga - South's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 21%, adding 752 residents to reach 4,301. Conversely, both the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 age groups will see reduced numbers.