Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Tongala has an estimated 1,954 residents. Density is about 17 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Tongala has an estimated population of around 1,954, according to AreaSearch analysis combining broader ABS population updates, the ABS June 2025 ERP data release, and 41 validated new addresses added since the Census. This total represents a reduction of 19 people (1.0%) compared to the 1,973 people recorded in the 2021 Census, though this 1.0% drop outperformed the broader SA3 area (-2.1%). Demographically, overseas migration has served as essentially the sole driver of population additions across recent periods. With a density ratio of 17.4 persons per square kilometer, the local community enjoys ample physical space per resident.
For long-term demographic modelling, AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline, alongside 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA projections adjusted via weighted LGA-to-SA2 aggregation where required, applying age-cohort growth rates across all locations for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Tongala is anticipated to achieve population growth exceeding the median for non-metropolitan areas in Australia. Specifically, demographic projections point to an expansion of 328 persons to 2041, representing a total gain of 16.8% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
24 new dwellings have been approved in Tongala over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 3.1 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 8, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential construction records compiled by AreaSearch from ABS building approvals indicate Tongala has maintained an average of around 4 new dwelling approvals per annum, yielding an estimated 24 homes across the past 5 financial years, with 8 approvals logged so far in FY-25. Amid recent population contraction, local residential supply has comfortably kept pace with demand, ensuring solid market balance and buyer options, with new homes carrying an average construction cost of $430,000. In addition, commercial approvals totalling $7.7 million have been recorded this financial year, highlighting that development remains predominantly focused on residential growth.
Per capita building activity in Tongala sits 19.0% below Rest of Vic. and occupies the 46th percentile nationwide, indicating a below-average pace nationally that reflects planning constraints, established urban maturity, and tighter purchaser selection that channels demand toward existing stock. The local development pipeline has consisted entirely of detached houses, preserving low-density neighbourhoods and roomy family residences. Furthermore, an estimated 325 people per dwelling approval underscores a subdued, low-volume planning climate. Urban growth outlooks from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate indicate Tongala will expand by 328 residents by 2041. If residential building continues at its current rate, future dwelling completions may fail to match population expansion, potentially tightening housing availability and placing upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Tongala
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 66 current infrastructure and development projects close to Tongala, worth an estimated $5.58 billion. 22 are already under construction and 22 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Capital works, strategic planning initiatives, and major developments play a critical role in shaping regional performance. Currently, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a direct impact on the area, though key broader regional initiatives include the Shepparton Line Upgrade, Regional Housing Fund, Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, and Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West), with relevant details outlined below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Echuca Regional Health Infrastructure Upgrade
Funded via the Victorian Government's Regional Health Infrastructure Fund and managed by the Victorian Health Building Authority, this $10.2 million project delivers major upgrades at Echuca Regional Health. The scope includes relocating and expanding the Central Sterile Services Department and the Oral Health Unit within the refurbished Lumeah building on Francis Street. Works are actively progressing to enhance surgical processing standards and dental clinical capacity.
McMahon's Place Estate
Master-planned residential community delivering over 1,000 homes across more than 100 hectares of former farmland in Echuca West. Lots range from 480 to 800 sqm. The estate features 6.9 hectares of open space including parks, wetlands, walking tracks, playgrounds, and a full-sized sports oval. Smart home features include fibre optic NBN. Civil works on Stages 1 and 2 commenced August 2025 with land titles expected late 2026. The project is expected to increase Echuca's housing stock by over 10% and inject $1.6 billion into the regional economy.
Echuca-Moama Bridge Project
The largest transport infrastructure project in northern Victoria completed in 2022. A second bridge crossing connecting Echuca and Moama via the Campaspe and Murray rivers with new 4.5km walking and cycling pathway.
Perricoota Parklands Estate
Moama's newest residential estate featuring 3 stages with lot sizes starting at 753sqm. Located between Lakeview, Perricoota Run, Dungala Rise and The Vines Estates. Developer discounts available on remaining Stage 1 allotments.
Yallarah Estate
Yallarah is a landmark 142-hectare masterplanned community in Echuca West by Wel.Co, designed to deliver over 2,000 homesites. Civil construction has officially commenced. It features lot sizes from 420sqm to 2,000sqm, a future early learning centre, a large display village, and extensive outdoor lifestyle amenities including walking and cycling paths near the Murray River.
Victoria Park Multipurpose Community and Emergency Relief Centre
Redevelopment of Victoria Park in Echuca into a multipurpose community and emergency relief centre. Features a 400-seat accessible grandstand, community facility with change rooms, function space (250 seated/400 standing), emergency relief centre with companion animal shelter, 99kW solar system, upgraded playground and sealed car parking. The entire facility, including the new community building and emergency relief centre, was officially opened on 29 November 2025.
Dungala Rise Estate
Premium residential development featuring wide tree-lined streets and large allotments averaging 1,100sqm. Located near Three Black Sheep Cafe with future planned parkland and cycle path to Rich River Golf Club.
Moama Shopping Complex Development
Proposed expansion of retail and commercial facilities in central Moama to serve the growing residential developments and tourist population.
919 residents of Tongala are employed, from a labour force of 958. Unemployment sits at 4.1%, with participation at 61.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,786, about 91% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
According to AreaSearch statistical aggregations, Tongala possesses a balanced workforce across blue- and white-collar occupations, anchored by prominent industrial and manufacturing roles. As of March 2026919 residents are employed following a 1.4% estimated annual employment expansion, while the local jobless rate stands at 4.1%, sitting 0.4% higher than the 3.7% recorded in Regional Vic.. Labour force participation matches the Regional Vic. mark of 61.1%, while Census returns show only 13.2% of workers operated from home, a figure potentially influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. The local workforce is primarily engaged across agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing.
Sectoral concentration is exceptionally pronounced in agriculture, forestry & fishing, which commands a workforce share 2.2 times that of the wider region. Conversely, construction accounts for only 6.5% of local employment relative to 10.4% across Regional Vic.. A comparison between Census working figures and the resident population suggests local job opportunities within the immediate area remain constrained. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM metrics shows that over the 12-month period, local employment expanded by 1.4% while the labour pool grew by 3.2%, pushing the unemployment rate up by 1.7 percentage points, whereas Regional Vic. saw employment contract by 0.1%, the workforce shrink by 0.3%, and unemployment decrease by 0.2 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts from Mar-26 project economy-wide employment gains of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. When mapped to Tongala's industry distribution as an illustrative weighted extrapolation without factoring local population shifts, projected growth equates to a 5.3% increase over five years and a 12.1% rise over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Tongala is $1,220 a week (about $63,000 a year), with median personal income at $656 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $44,139 a year against an average of $50,928. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Aggregated ATO postcode data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 recorded a taxpayer median income of $44,139 and an average of $50,928 in the suburb of Tongala, trailing Regional Vic. benchmarks of $50,954 and $62,728 as well as national figures. Factoring in 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated earnings as of March 2026 reach approximately $48,385 for the median and $55,827 on average. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household earnings all sat between the 14th and 20th percentiles across the country, with the $800 - 1,499 bracket leading locally at 30.4% (594 people) compared to the regional dominance of the $1,500 - 2,999 tier at 30.3%.
Although residents retain 87.8% of their income after modest housing outlays, overall disposable funds place at only the 19th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Tongala had 744 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 90% detached houses and 0% apartments. 39% are owned with a mortgage, 23% rented and 38% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $200 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,127 a month. Rent absorbs 16.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census housing data indicates that Tongala's residential stock consists of 89.8% standalone houses and 10.1% alternative dwelling structures (including apartments, semi-detached, and 'other' dwellings), closely tracking the 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings seen across Regional Vic.. Outright home ownership stands at 37.5%, slightly behind regional rates, while 39.4% of homes carry a mortgage and 23.1% are rented. Local housing costs remain exceptionally affordable: the median monthly mortgage payment is $1,127 compared to $1,430 in Regional Vic. and $1,863 nationally, while weekly median rent is $200 versus $285 regionally and $375 for Australia as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Tongala counted 744 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 27% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 32% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Household composition is primarily family-oriented, representing 66.7% of all residences, divided among couples without children (28.0%), couples with children (26.5%), and single parent families (11.1%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 33.3%, consisting largely of single-person households at 32.1% alongside group households at 1.9%. The area records a median household size of 2.4 people, perfectly aligning with the Regional Vic. figure.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.5% of adults in Tongala hold a university qualification, including 8.2% with a bachelor degree and 1.3% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 33.0% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 228 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 981 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Attainment levels show distinct patterns across the local population, where tertiary degree completion stands at 10.5%, lagging well behind the VIC benchmark of 33.4%. Higher education qualifications are led by bachelor degrees at 8.2%, postgraduate degrees at 1.3%, and graduate diplomas at 1.0%. In contrast, vocational and technical training is widespread, with 43.2% of individuals aged 15+ possessing trade credentials, encompassing certificates (33.0%) and advanced diplomas (10.2%). Student engagement is strong throughout the community, as 28.0% of residents are actively undertaking formal study. Among those enrolled, 11.8% attend primary school, 8.2% are in secondary schooling, and 1.1% are enrolled in tertiary education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Tongala means driving: households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Commuter network assessments show 2 operational public transit stops within Tongala, accommodating 2 distinct routes that provide a combined 27 passenger trips per week. Transit access is categorized as limited, with the average distance from homes to the closest stop measuring 603 meters. Commuting is heavily outbound-oriented and car-reliant, with private motor vehicles used by 92% of commuters and walking accounting for 6%, supported by an average vehicle ownership of 1.6 per dwelling. In addition, 13.2% of working locals reported working from home in the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 restrictions at that time.
Transit scheduling across the local network provides an average frequency of 3 trips per day across all routes, which corresponds to approximately 13 services each week at each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.6% of residents in Tongala report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 80% of areas nationally. 8.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Mortality metrics and chronic illness patterns evaluated by AreaSearch highlight notable health vulnerabilities in Tongala spanning both younger and older demographics. Private health insurance uptake is particularly subdued, held by approximately 47% of residents (~919 people), trailing both the Regional Vic. level of 50.5% and the national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions represent the most prevalent diagnosed ailments locally, reported by 10.9 and 8.5% of residents respectively, whereas 62.6% of the population reported no long-term medical conditions, closely mirroring 63.4% in Regional Vic.. Chronic health concerns are elevated among working-age individuals, while seniors aged 65 and over constitute 24.5% of the community (478 people), exhibiting wellness measures that generally reflect national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Tongala is largely Australian-born, at 91.8% of residents, with 3.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (37.6%) and English (31.2%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Demographic measures indicate relatively low cultural diversity across Tongala, where 91.8% of residents were born in Australia, 91.5% hold Australian citizenship, and 96.6% use English exclusively at home. Christianity forms the largest religious affiliation at 46.2% of the local population, while Islam represents 0.8% of residents, compared to 1.0% in Regional Vic.. Looking at parental birthplace ancestry, Australian heritage leads in Tongala at 37.6% of the population, considerably above the 29.6% recorded across the region, followed by English at 31.2% and Scottish at 8.7%. Distinct variations also appear across other cultural backgrounds, with higher local shares observed for Dutch ancestry at 1.8% (vs 1.7% regionally), Filipino at 1.5% (vs 0.6%), and Lebanese at 0.3% (vs 0.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Tongala is 41. 22.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Demographic estimates for the suburb of Tongala updated to August 2026 show a youthful profile relative to Regional Vic., with children and young adults (0 - 24) making up 31.9% of the population compared to 28.5% regionally, while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) comprise 20.4% versus 23.1% regionally. As at August 2026, the median age stands at an estimated 41, holding steady from the 2021 Census and remaining 2 years younger than the Regional Vic. level of 43 recorded at that Census. Residents aged 45 - 64 have decreased from 24.6% at the Census to an estimated 22.5%.
Long-term forecasts suggest young to middle aged adults will experience the greatest increase by 2041, growing by 149 (37%) to reach 548.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Tongala
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 41 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,973 at the 2021 Census → 1,954 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL22528). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.