Wattle Range
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Wattle Range's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 3,687 people. This figure represents a growth of 217 individuals, marking a 6.3% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,470 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,644 in June 2024 and an additional 48 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1.6 persons per square kilometer. Wattle Range's growth exceeded the SA3 area's 5.4%, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 46.2% to overall population gains, with all drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, adjusted employing weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Projected demographic shifts indicate lower quartile growth for non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Wattle Range expected to grow by 101 persons to 2041, recording a total gain of 1.4% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Wattle Range recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Wattle Range has seen approximately 16 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 81 homes were approved, with an additional 5 approved so far in FY26. On average, 2.5 people moved to the area per new home constructed over these years, indicating healthy demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $271,000. This financial year has seen $2.3 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the rest of South Australia, Wattle Range has similar development levels per person, contributing to market stability aligned with regional patterns.

All new construction consists of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With approximately 295 people per dwelling approval, there is room for growth. Population forecasts indicate Wattle Range will gain 50 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Wattle Range has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

Five projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. These include Stringy Bark Drive Residential Subdivision, Wattle Range Council General Code Amendment, Limestone Coast Hydrogen Hub (LCH2), and Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan.

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Employment conditions in Wattle Range demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Wattle Range has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 1.7% as of June 2025. There are 1,875 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 2.9% lower than Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%.

Workforce participation is at 57.5%, slightly higher than the Rest of SA average of 54.1%. Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing dominate with an employment share 2.2 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 11.5% compared to Rest of SA's 13.9%.

Employment opportunities appear limited locally, as Census data shows fewer working residents than expected based on population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.3%, employment declined by 2.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of SA saw an employment decline of 1.2% with unemployment rising by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wattle Range's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 4.8% over five years and 11.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Wattle Range has lower income compared to national averages. The median income is $46,420 and the average is $57,285. This contrasts with Rest of SA's figures: median income of $46,889 and average income of $56,582. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $52,376 (median) and $64,635 (average). Census data reveals that household, family, and personal incomes all rank modestly in Wattle Range, between the 24th and 26th percentiles. The data shows that 31.1% of the population (1,146 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to metropolitan regions where 27.5% occupy this range. Housing costs are manageable with 92.2% retained, but disposable income sits below average at the 35th percentile.

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

In Wattle Range, as per the latest Census evaluation, 99.2% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 0.8% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro SA's figures of 87.6% houses and 12.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wattle Range stood at 51.8%, with mortgaged dwellings making up 36.8% and rented ones 11.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,006, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,083. Weekly rent median in Wattle Range was $177, compared to Non-Metro SA's $205. Nationally, Wattle Range's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,006 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wattle Range has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.2% of all households, including 26.8% couples with children, 37.8% couples without children, and 7.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for 27.8%, comprising 26.4% lone person households and 1.2% group households. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of South Africa average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.6%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.6% and certificates at 31.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.2% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 1.4% in tertiary education. The area has five schools with a combined enrollment of 269 students, demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 992) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes four primary and one K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited at 7.3 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.9, leading many families to travel for schooling.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Wattle Range faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,780 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 10.8 and 8.0% of residents respectively. 65.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 65.5% across Rest of SA. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.7% (984 people), compared to 23.3% in Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

The latest Census data sees Wattle Range placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Wattle Range's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.6% of its population being citizens, 91.7% born in Australia, and 97.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Wattle Range, comprising 40.1% of people. Islam's representation was notably overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to 1.1% across Rest of SA.

The top three represented ancestry groups were English (33.9%), Australian (33.2%), and Scottish (9.5%). Notably, German and Dutch ethnicities were also overrepresented in Wattle Range at 6.5% and 2.0%, respectively, compared to regional averages of 6.4% and 1.7%.

Wattle Range hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Wattle Range has a median age of 49, which is higher than the Rest of SA figure of 47 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to Rest of SA, Wattle Range has a higher concentration of residents aged 55-64 (18.0%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.4%). This 55-64 concentration is well above the national figure of 11.2%. Between the 2021 Census and the current time, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 8.8% to 10.6%, while the population aged 75 to 84 increased from 6.4% to 7.6%. Conversely, the population aged 45 to 54 has declined from 13.7% to 11.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Wattle Range's age structure. Notably, the 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 46%, reaching 410 people from 280. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 96% of projected growth. Conversely, both the 45 to 54 age group and the 15 to 24 age group are projected to see reduced numbers.