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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
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Wagin has an estimated 1,521 residents, up from 1,448 at the 2021 Census — a change of 73 people, or 5.0%. Growth has averaged 0.6% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 51.0% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch evaluations combining post-Census validated addresses with broader regional ABS updates, the suburb of Wagin has an estimated population of 1,521 as of Aug 2026. This marks a 5.0% gain of 73 people compared to the 1,448 people recorded in the 2021 Census. In deriving this figure, AreaSearch examined the ABS ERP release from June 2025 (indicating 1,520 residents) and incorporated 19 validated new addresses added after the Census. Given this total, the suburb of Wagin features a spacious density ratio of 6.0 persons per square kilometer. Over the preceding ten years, the suburb of Wagin exhibited stable growth with a -0.2% compound annual growth rate that exceeded the SA3 region.
While natural increase and interstate arrivals were both positive contributors, overseas migration served as the principal growth engine, supplying roughly 51.0% of recent population additions. SA2-level projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 using 2022 as a base year, form the foundation of AreaSearch's demographic modeling. To project post-2032 trends and cover any excluded SA2 areas, AreaSearch integrates age-cohort growth rates drawn from the latest Greater Capital Region projections (published by the ABS in 2023 from 2022 data). Looking ahead, population growth in the suburb of Wagin is expected to track slightly under the non-capital median, adding 60 persons by 2041 under aggregated SA2 forecasts to deliver an overall expansion of 3.9% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Wagin remains subdued, averaging 2 new dwellings approved annually and totalling 12 approvals over five years. Such modest levels of property development are standard in rural settings, where infrastructure capacity and local housing demand naturally constrain construction. Because of this small sample size, single building projects can create noticeable swings in yearly growth and relative construction metrics. Property development volumes in Wagin track substantially below both Rest of WA and nationwide benchmarks. New construction has consisted entirely of standalone homes, aligning with the rural locality's preference for spacious allotments.
The prevailing ratio of 434 people in the area per dwelling approval highlights an unhurried, low-volume development climate. According to the latest quarterly forecasts from AreaSearch, Wagin is slated to expand by 59 residents through to 2041. While residential construction currently tracks in step with expected demographic gains, future buyers might face heightened market competition as the local population grows.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Wagin
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 36 current infrastructure and development projects close to Wagin, worth an estimated $7.82 billion. 10 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, manufacturing and residential development. 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
Major infrastructure developments, planning schemes, and capital projects play a pivotal role in shaping local growth and economic performance. At present, no major projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having an active impact on the immediate locality. Broader regional initiatives of note include the Regional Road Infrastructure Upgrades, Ambrosia Wind Farm, South West Interconnected System Transformation, and Western Australia Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Narrogin Solar Farm & BESS
Approved 200 MW DC solar farm with a co-located 200 MW / 800 MWh four-hour battery energy storage system on private land south of Narrogin. The project will connect to the Narrogin South Substation and export electricity into Western Australia's Wholesale Electricity Market. The site is intended to retain agricultural use, including sheep grazing among the solar panels. Development approval was granted by the Regional Development Assessment Panel in June 2025; the project is awaiting critical project status approval from Western Power, with construction currently indicated by the Shire as about 18 months from February 2028.
Narrogin Biodiesel Plant
A proposed commercial-scale renewable diesel biorefinery in the Narrogin Renewable Energy Zone. The earlier EPA assessment for the initial site was terminated in March 2025 after the original site was no longer pursued, but FutureEnergy Australia has stated the WA Future Energy Park remains active, with a new site selection process and a potential 50 percent scale increase from about 17-19 million litres to about 25 million litres of renewable fuel per year. The project is expected to produce renewable diesel plus biochar and wood vinegar by-products and support regional jobs and biomass supply chains.
Narrogin Health Service Redevelopment
A $50 million major redevelopment of the Narrogin Health Service, officially opened in October 2019. The project delivered a new outpatient building, two new birthing rooms, an inpatient ward, theatre, and sterilising department. It also introduced new dental and chemotherapy services. The facility is notable for its chequerboard facade designed by Silver Thomas Hanley to represent stacked hay bales.
Piesse Lake Structure Plan and Residential Development
The Piesse Lake Structure Plan, approved by the WAPC, provides a framework for medium-density residential and aged persons accommodation. The 17.7 hectare site encompasses approximately 50 residential lots, an aged and dependent persons site, and nearly 11 hectares of public open space centered around the revitalised Piesse Park and Lake.
Katanning to Kojonup Pipeline Replacement
Replacement of 2.2 kilometres of a 60-year-old pipeline section between Katanning and Kojonup to enhance water supply security and reliability for over 530 homes and businesses in Kojonup and farmland in the Great Southern region. The project was jointly funded by the Federal and WA Governments through the National Water Grid Fund and delivered by Water Corporation and Benang Energy.
Katanning Energy Project
Community-led renewable energy initiative by Katanning Energy Pty Ltd providing tailored solar energy and battery solutions for local residents and businesses. The project aims to establish a localised micro-grid with intra-community trading and transition all 1,465 sites within the town boundary.
Katanning Supertown Heritage Centre Project
A comprehensive community development initiative in Katanning, WA, aimed at fostering growth and amenity. The project includes the Master Plan, the Welcome Precinct (All Ages Playground and Changing Places facility), Town Centre revitalisation (Cultural Precinct/Austral Terrace), Piesse Lake Residential Sub-Division, and Piesse Lake Park. Components like the Welcome Precinct, the KAARL Yarning Place, and the Shire Administration/Civic Building are completed.
Katanning Industrial Expansion Structure Plan (SPN/2029)
The Katanning Industrial Expansion Structure Plan (SPN/2029) is an approved structure plan that provides the statutory framework for staged industrial development east of the Katanning townsite. The precinct is intended to support industrial expansion associated with the Katanning Regional Sheep Saleyards and existing rural service industries. The structure plan remains operative and available through the Shire of Katanning and WA Government planning portals, with development expected to occur progressively as demand and subdivision proposals arise.
683 residents of Wagin are employed, from a labour force of 727. Unemployment sits at 6.1%, with participation at 55.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,197, about 79% 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
The local labour market in Wagin features a diverse workforce balanced between blue and white collar roles, alongside an unemployment rate of 6.1% based on statistical area figures aggregated by AreaSearch. In March 2026683 residents were employed, though the unemployment rate sat 2.5% higher than the 3.5% recorded across Regional WA. Concurrently, labour force participation of 55.6% falls well behind the 65.4% found in Regional WA. Census data indicated that only 6.4% of workers operated from home, though the context of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions should be noted. Employment among local residents is primarily concentrated within agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing represents a distinct workforce specialization, capturing a local employment share 1.8 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, mining constitutes an under-represented sector locally, employing 3.2% of Wagin workers compared to 11.7% in Regional WA. Comparing the resident population with Census counts of the locally working population suggests that immediate local job opportunities remain limited. AreaSearch's analysis of aggregated ABS and SALM data shows that over the 12-month period, the local labour force contracted by 5.6% while employment dropped by 8.4%, pushing the unemployment rate up by 2.9 percentage points. Across Regional WA over the same timeframe, employment dipped by 0.1%, the labour pool grew by 0.3%, and unemployment edged up 0.4 percentage points. Forward-looking national projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future employment demand in Wagin. These five- and ten-year national outlooks anticipate employment growth of 6.6% and 13.7% respectively, with performance varying widely across sectors. Applying these industry trajectories to Wagin's current sectoral profile suggests local employment could expand by 5.5% over five years and 12.0% over ten years (calculated as an illustrative weighted extrapolation that excludes localized population changes).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Wagin is $1,073 a week (about $56,000 a year), with median personal income at $621 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $42,923 a year against an average of $53,191. 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
Taxpayer data from the ATO for financial year 2023, compiled by AreaSearch, indicates that income levels in the suburb of Wagin sit below the Australian average. The median taxable income in the suburb of Wagin is $42,923 with an average of $53,191, trailing the corresponding Regional WA benchmarks of $59,973 and $74,392. Adjusting for a 10.93% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of roughly $47,614 (median) and $59,005 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household earnings across Wagin placed within the 6th to 14th percentiles nationally.
Income distribution shows the largest single bracket comprises 29.6% of residents (450 people) earning between $400 - 799, in contrast to the wider region where 31.1% fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 band. Even though local households retain 89.4% of their earnings due to modest housing expenses, overall disposable income sits at the 11th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Wagin had 580 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 93% detached houses and 0% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 24% rented and 45% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $195 a week and the median mortgage repayment $932 a month. Rent absorbs 18.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.0%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, the residential landscape in Wagin was dominated by separate houses at 92.8%, with 7.2% consisting of other accommodation types like semi-detached units and apartments, compared against Regional WA's 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Outright property ownership in Wagin reached 44.8%, substantially exceeding regional levels, while mortgaged properties accounted for 30.9% and rental homes comprised 24.3%. Typical housing expenses were notably affordable: the median monthly mortgage payment of $932 and weekly rent of $195 sat far below the Regional WA benchmarks of $1,560 and $265.
Relative to nationwide figures, Wagin's mortgage obligations remain significantly lower than the $1,863 Australian average, and local rents are well under the national standard of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Wagin counted 580 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 16% are couples with children, fewer than in 94% of areas nationally, against 32% couples without children. 38% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the majority of local living arrangements at 60.2%, consisting of couples without children (32.4%), couples with children (15.6%), and single parent families (10.5%). The remaining 39.8% of residences are non-family households, with single-person dwellings accounting for 37.7% and group households making up 2.9%. At 2.1 people, the median household size tracks below the Regional WA norm of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
13.1% of adults in Wagin hold a university qualification, including 10.4% with a bachelor degree and 1.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 94% of areas nationally. A further 27.4% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 205 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 936 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
Educational profiles in the locality reflect clear challenges, with 13.1% of residents possessing university qualifications compared to the national rate of 30.4%, creating a distinct opening for targeted learning programs. Bachelor degrees form the primary higher education credential at 10.4%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.4% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.3%. Technical and vocational training is widely held, with 33.5% of people aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including 27.4% with certificates and 6.1% with advanced diplomas. Participation in study is strong across the community, with 25.2% of the population enrolled in formal education.
Primary school students account for 10.4% of residents, secondary education encompasses 8.7%, and 0.7% are engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Wagin means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 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
Public transport infrastructure within Wagin comprises 1 active transport stop offering bus connections. This facility is linked by 3 individual routes that deliver a combined 18 weekly passenger trips. Overall transport connectivity is constrained, with residents living an average of 929 meters from the closest stop. Given the area's residential profile, outward commuting is standard; private vehicles account for 89% of journey-to-work travel, 7% commute on foot, and vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. A modest 6.4% of residents worked from home at the 2021 Census, which may reflect the influence of COVID-19 conditions.
Transit services operate at an average rate of 2 trips per day across all available routes, providing roughly 18 weekly trips at the individual stop level.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
59.0% of residents in Wagin report no long-term health condition. 6.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators compiled by AreaSearch regarding mortality and illness point to notable local challenges, with common medical conditions widely observed across both younger and older cohorts, alongside a low private health insurance uptake of around 48% (~734 people). By comparison, private coverage sits at 56.4% across Regional WA and 55.7% across Australia. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent reported illnesses, affecting 12.6 and 8.2% of the local population respectively, whereas 59.0% of residents reported no chronic medical ailments compared with 69.3% in Regional WA. Elevated rates of chronic illness present clear issues for working-age adults.
Seniors aged 65 and over make up 32.0% of the community (486 people), noticeably higher than the 19.1% share seen across Regional WA, with senior health outcomes reflecting challenges that rank higher than national figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Wagin is largely Australian-born, at 80.3% of residents, with 5.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (35.4%) and Australian (31.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Wagin ranks below broader averages, with Australian-born residents accounting for 80.3% of the community, Australian citizens making up 80.4%, and 94.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, encompassing 46.4% of the population. The most prominent comparative overrepresentation appears in the Other religious category, which stands at 1.0% locally versus 0.7% across Regional WA. Looking at parental country of birth, the three leading ancestries in Wagin are English at 35.4%, Australian at 31.9%, and Scottish at 6.8%. Other cultural backgrounds also demonstrate notable variation relative to regional levels, including Maori at 2.3% (against 1.0% regionally), Dutch at 1.8% (against 1.5%), and New Zealand at 1.6% (against 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Wagin is 50, older than 93% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 20.8% 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 statistics clearly establish Wagin as an established retirement and lifestyle destination. Seniors and retirees aged 65+ comprise 32.0% of the population as at August 2026, compared to 19.1% across Regional WA, while young to middle aged adults aged 25 - 44 account for 20.2% locally versus 26.6% regionally. The estimated median age stood at 50 as at August 2026, down slightly from 51 at the 2021 Census but remaining 10 years above the Regional WA median of 40 at that Census, and well above the nationwide Census median of 38.
In terms of age brackets, residents aged 45 - 64 reduced their share from 27.9% at the Census to an estimated 23.6%, largely driven by the 55 to 64 group shifting from 17.2% down to an estimated 14.9%, while the 65 to 74 group grew from 16.5% to 18.0% as existing residents aged. Through to 2041, the largest population increase is projected among young to middle aged adults, expanding by 74 residents (24%) to 381, whereas elderly cohorts, children, and young adults are forecast to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Wagin
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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 last month 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 last month 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 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 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 6 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) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 19 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,448 at the 2021 Census → 1,521 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 (SAL51501). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.