Wagin

Wagin has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on demographic evaluations from official updates for the surrounding region, combined with fresh locations confirmed by AreaSearch after the Census, the suburb of Wagin has an estimated population of 1,531 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 83 people (5.7%) compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 1,448 people. This calculation is derived from a resident count of 1,531, calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 release of estimated resident population figures alongside an extra 31 validated new addresses identified after the Census date. This population level translates to a density of 6.1 persons per square kilometer, offering significant space per resident. The 5.7% growth rate for the suburb of Wagin since the 2021 census was higher than the SA3 area (5.6%), making it a leading growth locality in the region. Growth was mostly supported by arrivals from abroad, which represented roughly 51.0% of total population increases recently, though other contributors like arrivals from other states and natural increases also remained positive.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized for each SA2 region. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and to calculate growth in the years following 2032, growth rates across age cohorts from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 data) are applied. Future outlooks indicate a population expansion rate trailing slightly behind the median for regional Australia, with projections at the SA2 level suggesting the suburb of Wagin will add 75 residents by 2041, representing a total expansion of 4.9% across the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Wagin, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Property development in the suburb of Wagin is quiet, with an average of 3 new dwellings approved each year, representing 16 approvals over a five-year timeframe. These modest building volumes align with the rural setting, where residential construction is generally prompted by specific local housing requirements rather than broader market demand. The small count of approvals means that single construction projects can significantly alter annual growth measures and relative comparisons.

Residential building volumes in the suburb of Wagin are substantially lower than those observed across the Rest of WA. This level of building is also below typical national trends. Additionally, recent construction consists solely of standalone houses, reinforcing the rural setting characterized by expansive properties and open space. The ratio of 1520 people for every single dwelling approval highlights this quiet, low-development setting.

Looking forward, the population of the suburb of Wagin is projected to rise by 75 residents by 2041 according to the latest quarterly estimate. Current construction volumes seem to align well with projected demand, supporting stable real estate conditions without upward pressure on prices.

Wagin has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major works, and urban planning decisions represent key influences on regional performance. In total, no developments have been highlighted as having an impact on the immediate area. Key regional projects include Regional Road Infrastructure Upgrades, Ambrosia Wind Farm, South West Interconnected System Transformation, and Western Australia Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements, with the list below detailing those of highest local relevance.

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

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Employment conditions in Wagin face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

The labor force comprises a balanced mix of professional and manual roles across diverse industries, with an unemployment rate of 6.4% based on aggregated figures. There are 677 residents employed as of March 2026, while the unemployment rate is 2.9% higher than the Regional WA benchmark of 3.5%, and the participation rate is notably lower at 55.3% compared to 65.6% for Regional WA. Census records indicate that a minor 6.4% of employees worked from home, although the influence of pandemic restrictions should be kept in mind.

The primary sectors employing residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. There is a particularly high concentration of workers in agriculture, forestry & fishing, representing 1.8 times the regional average. Conversely, mining is underrepresented, employing 3.2% of workers compared to the regional average of 11.7%. The relationship between the census working population and resident population suggests that local employment opportunities are somewhat limited.

According to labor market data, the labor force shrank by 5.6% and the number of employed residents fell by 8.8% over the 12-month period, which led to a 3.2 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional WA saw a minor employment reduction of 0.1%, labor force expansion of 0.3%, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National forecasts from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context on potential demand. These five and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with local industries to project employment trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry mix suggests employment among residents could rise by 5.5% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to tax data from financial year 2023, taxpayers in this area earn less than the national average. The median income for taxpayers is $42,923, while the average income is $53,191, compared to Regional WA figures of $59,973 and $74,392. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of approximately $47,614 for the median and $59,005 for the average as of March 2026. Census findings place household, family, and individual incomes between the 6th and 14th percentiles across Australia. Income brackets show 29.6% of taxpayers (453 individuals) earning between $400 - 799, whereas the dominant bracket in the wider region is $1,500 - 2,999 at 31.1%. Even though residents retain 89.4% of their income after housing costs, overall disposable income sits at the 11th percentile nationally.

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

Census data shows that standalone houses make up 92.8% of the housing stock, while other housing types (including apartments, semi-detached, and alternative dwellings) account for 7.2%, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings across Regional WA. Home ownership is high at 44.8%, while mortgaged properties represent 30.9% and rental properties make up 24.3%. The median monthly mortgage payment is $932 and the median weekly rent is $195, compared to Regional WA averages of $1,560 and $265. Locally, mortgage costs are much lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the national median of $375.

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

Families make up 60.2% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 15.6%, couples without children at 32.4%, and single-parent households at 10.5%. Non-family households represent the remaining 39.8%, with single-person households at 37.7% and group housing at 2.9%. The median household occupancy is 2.1 people, which is below the Regional WA average of 2.5.

Wagin faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Academic attainment levels present some difficulties, with university graduation rates (13.1%) falling well below the national figure of 30.4%. Among these, bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.4%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.4% and postgraduate degrees at 1.3%. Conversely, vocational and practical training is common, with 33.5% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 6.1% and certificates at 27.4%.

A significant proportion of the population is engaged in study, with 25.2% of residents currently enrolled in an educational institution. This group includes 10.4% in primary schools, 8.7% in secondary schools, and 0.7% attending higher education.

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

There is 1 public transport stop in operation locally, offering bus services. This stop is serviced by 3 routes, which together provide 18 passenger trips per week. Transit access is modest, with residents living an average of 929 meters from the closest stop. Given the residential nature of the area, most workers commute out of the area, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel at 89%, while 7% of residents walk. The average number of motor vehicles per household is 1.5. A small share of 6.4% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic measures.

Service frequency is estimated at 2 daily trips across the available routes, which translates to approximately 18 weekly departures at each stop location.

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

Based on chronic illness trends and mortality data, health challenges are prominent in the community across various age groups, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is low at roughly 48% (~739 people). This compares to a coverage rate of 56.4% in Regional WA and a national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and mental health concerns are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 12.6% and 8.2% of the population, while 59.0% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. Health issues are elevated among working-age residents. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 31.1% of the population (476 people), exceeding the Regional WA proportion of 19.2%. Seniors face particular health difficulties, ranking higher in health needs than the general population.

Wagin ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The local population has lower levels of cultural diversity compared to average benchmarks, with citizens representing 80.4% of residents, Australian-born individuals representing 80.3%, and monolingual English speakers representing 94.9%. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, claimed by 46.4% of the population. The most distinct variance is in the Other category, which accounts for 1.0% of residents compared to 0.7% across Regional WA.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the most common heritages are English at 35.4%, Australian at 31.9%, and Scottish at 6.8%. There are also distinct representations for certain backgrounds compared to regional figures, including Maori ancestry at 2.3% (compared to 1.0% regionally), New Zealand heritage at 1.6% (compared to 0.9%), and Dutch ancestry at 1.8% (compared to 1.5%).

Wagin ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 50 years is much higher than the Regional WA median of 40 and the national median of 38. The age distribution shows a high proportion of people aged 65 - 74 (17.7%), while the 45 - 54 bracket is small at 8.8% compared to Regional WA. The concentration of 65 - 74 year-olds is higher than the national share of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age bracket rose from 9.9% to 11.3% of the population, and the 65 to 74 bracket rose from 16.5% to 17.7%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group declined from 17.2% to 14.7%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 10.7% to 8.8%. By 2041, demographic shifts are expected, led by a 31% expansion (53 people) in the 25 to 34 age bracket, growing from 173 to 227 residents. Meanwhile, the 75 to 84 and 65 to 74 brackets are projected to contract.