Wagga Wagga

Wagga Wagga is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, AreaSearch estimates the population of Wagga Wagga to be around 7,187, a decrease of 11 people from the 2021 Census figure of 7,198. This decline is inferred from an estimated resident population of 7,003, based on AreaSearch's examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validation of 113 new addresses since the Census date. The population density stands at 814 persons per square kilometer, roughly inline with averages across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Wagga Wagga. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former data.

Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, demographic trends indicate that Wagga Wagga is expected to experience population growth just below the median of Australia's regional areas. By 2041, projections suggest an increase of 342 persons, reflecting a total increase of approximately 2.9% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Wagga Wagga according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Wagga Wagga has seen around 33 dwelling approvals per year based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 169 homes were approved, with a further 20 approved in FY-26 to date. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply is meeting demand, offering varied housing options for buyers.

The average construction cost of new properties is $451,000, indicating a focus on premium segment development. This financial year has seen $45.1 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high levels of local business activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Wagga Wagga's development levels per capita are similar, maintaining market balance with the broader area.

Detached houses make up 56.0% and attached dwellings 44.0% of new developments, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments catering to different price points. The area has approximately 211 people per dwelling approval, indicating low-density housing. By 2041, Wagga Wagga is projected to grow by 207 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond projections.

Wagga Wagga has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 19 projects likely affecting this region. Notable initiatives include Bunnings Wagga Wagga Relocation, Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Emergency Department Expansion, 7-Eleven Wagga Wagga Service Station, and Wagga Wagga Arts & Culture Quarter. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment drivers in Wagga Wagga are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Wagga Wagga's workforce is highly educated with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of September 2024, with an estimated employment growth of 3.2% over the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregated statistical area data. As of September 2025, 3656 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 5.4%, 1.6% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was 63.7%, slightly above Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Census data indicated that only 8.8% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Wagga Wagga showed strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 2.2% of local workers compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

The ratio of 0.9 workers per resident indicated substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.2% while the labour force grew by 4.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Wagga Wagga's employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Wagga Wagga had an average national income level according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ended June 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $55,303 and the average income stood at $67,459. These figures compared to Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $60,203 (median) and $73,436 (average) as of September 2025. Census data from 2021 showed personal income ranked at the 52nd percentile with a weekly income of $819, while household income sat at the 24th percentile. Distribution data indicated that 30.1% of residents earned between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (2,163 residents), consistent with broader metropolitan trends showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 83.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 24th percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

Wagga Wagga displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Wagga Wagga's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 53.9% houses and 46.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wagga Wagga was at 28.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 18.2% and rented ones at 53.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, lower than Non-Metro NSW's $1,733 average. Median weekly rent in Wagga Wagga was $295, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Wagga Wagga's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,517 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wagga Wagga features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 47.7% of all households, including 15.4% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 52.3%, with lone person households at 45.7% and group households comprising 6.5%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Wagga Wagga performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Wagga Wagga's residents aged 15 and above have a notably higher proportion with university qualifications (30.5%) compared to the broader SA4 region (18.7%) and SA3 area (20.4%). This indicates a significant educational advantage for the area, potentially opening doors to knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 32.6% of residents holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (23.1%).

Educational participation is notably high in Wagga Wagga, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.8% in tertiary education, 6.5% in primary education, and 5.0% pursuing secondary education.

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

Wagga Wagga has 84 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 92 routes providing 1,998 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent with residents typically located 193 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode at 81%, while 14% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 285 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 23 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wagga Wagga is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Wagga Wagga faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 10.8 and 9.2% of residents respectively. Approximately 54% of the population (~3,852 people) has private health cover, slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Around 62.8% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 20.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,437 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally in line with national rankings.

In terms of cultural diversity, Wagga Wagga records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Wagga Wagga's cultural diversity mirrors the wider region's average, with 82.5% of its population being citizens, 82.5% born in Australia, and 85.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Wagga Wagga, accounting for 56.5% of the population. The most significant overrepresentation is seen in the 'Other' category, comprising 3.4% compared to 0.8% across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups are English (29.0%), Australian (25.7%), and Irish (11.8%). Notably, Scottish (8.6%) and German (4.0%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Wagga Wagga compared to regional averages of 8.0% and 3.1%, respectively. Additionally, the representation of Australian Aboriginal is notably lower at 2.8%.

Wagga Wagga's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Wagga Wagga is 36 years, which is significantly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 22.6% of the population in Wagga Wagga, compared to 19.0% in the Rest of NSW and 14.4% nationally. However, the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 6.8%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the median age has dropped from 38 years to 36 years between 2016 and 2021. Specifically, the 25-34 age group grew from 19.0% to 22.6%, while the 0-4 cohort increased from 4.8% to 6.2%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 11.8% to 9.7%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 9.8% to 7.8%. By 2041, Wagga Wagga's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by 260 people (16%) from 1,624 to 1,885. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 75-84 cohorts.