Wagga Wagga Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

Wagga Wagga Surrounds lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Wagga Wagga Surrounds' population is approximately 19,224 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,436 people (8.1%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 17,788. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,576 in June 2024 and an additional 593 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2.1 persons per square kilometer. Wagga Wagga Surrounds' growth of 8.1% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.3%) and SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 55.7% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including interstate migration and overseas migration being positive factors.

AreaSearch's projections for each SA2 area are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is forecasted to increase by 6,261 persons based on the latest population numbers, recording a total gain of 29.2% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Wagga Wagga Surrounds was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Wagga Wagga Surrounds received around 181 dwelling approvals each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25908 homes were approved, with a further 31 approved in FY-26 so far. Each new dwelling attracted an average of 2.2 new residents annually over these years.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $451,000. This year, commercial approvals totalled $35.4 million, indicating strong local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Wagga Wagga Surrounds had 109.0% more building activity per capita as of recent years. The housing mix was 83.0% detached houses and 17.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character.

With around 144 people per dwelling approval, Wagga Wagga Surrounds is considered a growth area. Population forecasts project an increase of 5,613 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Wagga Wagga Surrounds has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 71 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are Riverina Water Security Project - Pipeline Extension, Inland Rail - Albury to Illabo, Glenfield Road Corridor Upgrade, and Tolland Renewal Project. The following list provides details on those projects deemed 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 exceptional employment performance in Wagga Wagga Surrounds places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Wagga Wagga Surrounds has a skilled workforce with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.0% as of the past year.

Employment growth in the area was estimated at 8.0% over the same period. As of June 2025, there are 9,801 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7%, lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation is high at 65.7%. Leading industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, public administration & safety, and health care & social assistance.

The area shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 3.4 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance has lower representation at 13.4% compared to the regional average of 16.9%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 8.0%, labour force grew by 8.8%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.8 percentage points. In 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 suggest potential future demand within Wagga Wagga Surrounds. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Wagga Wagga Surrounds' employment mix indicates local growth of approximately 5.6% over five years and 12.2% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2022 indicates that median income in Wagga Wagga Surrounds was $52,494 with an average income of $61,741. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where the median income was $49,459 and the average income was $62,998. Based on a 12.61% increase in wages since financial year ended June 2022, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $59,113 (median) and $69,527 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, Wagga Wagga Surrounds' household, family, and personal incomes cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 35.9% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (6,901 individuals), similar to metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 29.9%. After housing costs, residents retain 88.7% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Wagga Wagga Surrounds is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Wagga Wagga Surrounds, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.7% houses and 3.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Non-Metro NSW's 88.4% houses and 11.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wagga Wagga Surrounds stood at 38.9%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (41.3%) or rented (19.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,490, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average but lower than the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $280, matching Non-Metro NSW's figure but substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 75.7% of all households, including 34.7% couples with children, 31.2% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.3%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 20.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.1% and certificates at 31.0%. Educational participation is high, with 32.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 12.2% in primary, 8.4% in secondary, and 3.9% in tertiary education.

Sixteen schools serve 1,170 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 956) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 13 primary and 3 K-12 schools. Local school capacity is limited at 6.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.3, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Wagga Wagga Surrounds has 681 active public transport stops. These include both train and bus services. There are 120 individual routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes provide 1,238 passenger trips collectively. The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located 251 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 176 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Wagga Wagga Surrounds are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Wagga Wagga Surrounds has below-average health indicators compared to other areas.

Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 51% of the total population (~9,727 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low. The most common medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 9.6 and 8.4% of residents respectively. About 68.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.5% across Rest of NSW. The area has 16.3% of residents aged 65 and over (3,131 people), which is lower 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 Surrounds is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Wagga Wagga Surrounds had low cultural diversity, with 90.3% of residents being citizens, 92.6% born in Australia, and 95.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 65.3%, compared to 64.3% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.8%), English (30.3%), and Irish (9.9%).

Notably, Scottish representation was higher than average at 8.8%, while German was 4.3% and Australian Aboriginal was 3.6%.

Wagga Wagga Surrounds's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Wagga Wagga Surrounds is 36 years, which is significantly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 5-14 age group comprises 14.8% of the population, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 75-84 cohort makes up 4.9%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 12.5% to 13.8%, and the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 11.7% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 cohort has declined from 14.3% to 13.1%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Wagga Wagga Surrounds, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to grow by 48%, reaching 3,918 people from 2,647.