Wandana Heights

Population growth drivers in Wandana Heights are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The population of Wandana Heights is estimated at 2,173 as of February 2026, a decrease of 22 people since the 2021 Census. The resident population was estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 835 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors. For Wandana Heights, AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for SA2 areas.

Looking at population projections moving forward, the suburb is expected to increase by 669 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 30.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

Wandana Heights has seen minimal construction activity, with an average of two new dwelling approvals per year between 2016 and 2020, totaling eleven dwellings. This low development level reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. It is important to note that due to the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Compared to Rest of Vic and national patterns, Wandana Heights has much lower development activity. All new construction in the area during this period consisted of detached dwellings, reflecting its rural character where larger properties are typical. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 918 people, indicating a quiet and low-activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Wandana Heights is projected to add 658 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep up with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Wandana Heights has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects likely affecting this region. Notable projects include Highton Urban Design Framework, Scenic Road Walking & Cycling Path, Levande Highton Retirement Village, and Waurn Ponds Sporting Complex. The following details those most relevant:.

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

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Employment conditions in Wandana Heights rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Wandana Heights has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate stands at 1.4%, as aggregated by AreaSearch from statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,331 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3% below Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is high at 76.1%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.5%. A significant proportion, 27.9%, work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area specialises in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.3% of local workers, below Regional Vic.'s 7.5%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the difference between working population and resident population counts. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, labour force decreased by 1.0% and employment declined by 0.8%, leading to a fall of 0.2 percentage points in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts project growth rates varying between industry sectors over five and ten-year periods. Applying these projections to Wandana Heights' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Wandana Heights has an income level significantly higher than the national average, according to data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Wandana Heights is $57,748, while the average income stands at $75,058. These figures compare to those of Regional Vic., which are $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $62,512 and the average income around $81,250 by September 2025. According to data from the 2021 Census, household incomes in Wandana Heights rank at the 91st percentile, with a weekly income of $2,549. Income distribution shows that 30.6% of individuals (664 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region at 30.3%. Notably, 40.0% of residents earn above $3,000 weekly, indicating prosperity that contributes to robust local economic activity. After accounting for housing costs, residents retain 90.1% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Wandana Heights' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 96.8% houses and 3.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wandana Heights stood at 44.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (45.0%) or rented (10.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Regional Vic.'s average and the national figure of $1,863. The median weekly rent was $410, lower than Regional Vic.'s $285 but still exceeding the national average of $375.

Wandana Heights features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 86.1% of all households, including 46.0% couples with children, 32.7% couples without children, and 5.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 13.9%, with lone person households at 12.8% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

Wandana Heights demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Wandana Heights is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. 38.9% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 27.3% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.7% and graduate diplomas at 4.5%. Trade and technical skills are also prominent, with 29.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 12.4% and certificates at 16.6%. Educational participation is notably high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.4% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wandana Heights has two operational public transport stops. One route serves these stops, offering a total of 120 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is moderate, with residents usually located 486 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, primarily by car (96%). The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 2.0, higher than the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 27.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 17 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 60 weekly trips per individual stop.

Wandana Heights's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Wandana Heights shows excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 56% of the total population (around 1,226 people), compared to 50.5% in Regional Vic. The most common conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.0 and 7.3% respectively. Around 72.8% report no medical ailments, higher than Regional Vic.'s 63.4%. Under-65 residents have better-than-average health outcomes. The area has 14.4% of residents aged 65 and over (312 people), lower than Regional Vic.'s 23.9%. Senior health outcomes align with national rankings.

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

Wandana Heights, surveyed in 2016, had a low cultural diversity with 82.8% of its residents born in Australia, 92.8% being citizens, and 91.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 54.9% of the population compared to 47.3% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (30.3%), Australian (24.7%), and Scottish (10.2%).

Notably, Croatian (1.2%) and Hungarian (0.4%) groups were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively, while Dutch representation was slightly higher at 1.9%.

Wandana Heights's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Wandana Heights is 40 years, which is slightly below Regional Vic.'s average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. The proportion of individuals aged 15-24 in Wandana Heights is notably higher at 17.0% compared to the regional average, while those aged 75-84 are under-represented at 3.1%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Wandana Heights has seen a decrease in median age from 41 to 40 years. The 15-24 age group grew from 14.4% to 17.0%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 10.8% to 13.4%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 15.1% to 12.4% and the 45-54 group dropped from 14.1% to 12.7%. Population forecasts for Wandana Heights in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 203 people (70%) from 291 to 495, while the 75-84 cohort shows minimal growth of just 5% (3 people).