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 per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 3,679 as of August 2025. This figure represents a growth of 209 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,470. The increase is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 3,641 in June 2024 and an additional 46 validated new addresses after the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1.6 persons per square kilometer. Wattle Range's growth rate of 6.0% since the 2021 census exceeds that of the SA3 area at 5.4%, indicating it as a region with significant growth. Interstate migration contributed approximately 46.2% to this growth 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 and years after 2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to grow by 101 persons by 2041, marking a total growth of 1.6% over the 17-year period.

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. Development approval data from the ABS is on a financial year basis: 81 homes over the past five years, from FY21 to FY25, with two approvals so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling built has gained 2.5 new residents per year over these five years, indicating strong demand which supports property values. New homes are constructed at an average cost of $291,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year, $2.3 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Rest of SA, Wattle Range has similar development levels per person, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns. All new construction consists of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space.

With approximately 295 people per dwelling approval, there is room for growth. Population forecasts indicate Wattle Range will gain 58 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling population growth to exceed current forecasts.

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

Five projects are identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area, notable among them being Stringy Bark Drive Residential Subdivision, Wattle Range Council General Code Amendment, Limestone Coast Hydrogen Hub (LCH2), and Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan.

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

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

Wattle Range has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, diverse sector representation, and an unemployment rate of 1.7%. As of June 2025, 1,875 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.9% lower than Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%, and workforce participation is similar at 57.5%.

Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 2.2 times the regional level, but health care & social assistance is under-represented at 11.5% compared to Rest of SA's 13.9%. Local employment opportunities may be limited as indicated by Census data. From June 2024 to June 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.3% and employment declined by 2.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.4 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of SA had an employment decline of 1.2%, labour force growth of 0.1%, with unemployment rising 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment 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, based on simple weighting 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 income in Wattle Range is lower than average nationally. The median income is $46,420 and the average is $57,285. In contrast, Rest of SA has a median income of $46,889 and an average of $56,582. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $51,447 (median) and $63,489 (average). Census data reveals that household, family, and personal incomes in Wattle Range rank modestly, between the 24th and 26th percentiles. The data shows that 31.1% of the population (1,144 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 is below average at the 35th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure in Wattle Range, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 99.2% houses and 0.8% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings, compared to Non-Metro SA's 87.6% houses and 12.5% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Wattle Range was 51.8%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (36.8%) or rented (11.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,006, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $177. Nationally, Wattle Range's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents 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%, composed of 26.4% lone person households and 1.2% group households. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is greater than the Rest of SA 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 significantly lower than the Australian average at 13.6% compared to 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (31.1%). Educational participation is high at 26.5%, comprising primary education (12.2%), secondary education (7.7%), and tertiary education (1.4%).

The five schools in Wattle Range have a combined enrollment of 269 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions with an ICSEA score of 992. The educational mix includes four primary schools and one K-12 school. School capacity is limited locally at 7.3 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.9, resulting in many families traveling 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 (~1,776 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 10.8 and 8.0% of residents respectively, while 65.6% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 65.5% across Rest of SA. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 26.7% (981 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 showed cultural diversity below average levels. Its population was predominantly citizens at 89.6%, born in Australia at 91.7%, and speaking English only at home at 97.3%. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 40.1% of Wattle Range's population.

Islam, however, was overrepresented at 0.3% compared to the regional average of 1.1%. In terms of ancestry, English comprised 33.9%, Australian 33.2%, and Scottish 9.5% of the population. Notably, German ethnicity was overrepresented at 6.5% (regional: 6.4%) and Dutch at 2.0% (regional: 1.7%).

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

Wattle Range's median age is 49, higher than Rest of SA's figure of 47 and substantially exceeding 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 now, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 8.8% to 10.6%, while those aged 75 to 84 have increased from 6.4% to 7.6%. Conversely, the population aged 45 to 54 has declined from 13.7% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Wattle Range's age structure. The 75 to 84 group is expected to grow by 46%, reaching 410 people from the current 280. Those aged 65 and above will comprise 96% of this projected growth. Conversely, both the 45 to 54 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to decrease in number.