Wandong

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

As of May 2026, the population of the suburb of Wandong is estimated at around 1,578. This reflects an increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 1,477 people, indicating a growth of 101 people (6.8%). The change was inferred from the resident population of 1,507 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 37 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 46 persons per square kilometer. Wandong's growth rate since census positions it within 2.5 percentage points of the state (9.3%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 71.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and overseas migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Moving forward with demographic trends, exceptional growth is predicted for Wandong over the period. The suburb is expected to expand by 1,296 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 77.6% in total over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Wandong when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Wandong shows approximately 8 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 41 homes. As of FY-26, 8 approvals have been recorded. Each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 has resulted in an average of 2.1 new residents per year.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $361,000. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Wandong has significantly lower building activity, with a 61.0% reduction per person. This limited new construction often reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes, though recent periods have seen increased development activity. All recent building activity consists of detached houses, maintaining Wandong's traditional low density character focused on family homes.

With around 126 people per dwelling approval, Wandong exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Wandong is projected to gain 1,225 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Wandong has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region. Notable projects include Wallan East Precinct Structure Plan (Part 1), Kilmore-Wallan Bypass, Beveridge North West Precinct Structure Plan, and Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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

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Employment performance in Wandong has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Wandong's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 4.6% as per AreaSearch data aggregation. As of December 2025703 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.8%, 0.1% below Greater Melbourne's rate.

Workforce participation in Wandong is 61.4%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 17.7% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries are construction, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. Construction shows strong specialization with an employment share 2.2 times the regional level.

Professional & technical services are under-represented at 3.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The area may have limited local employment opportunities, indicated by Census working population vs resident population counts. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Wandong's labour force decreased by 8.9% and employment declined by 9.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 1 percentage point. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wandong's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. Wandong's median income among taxpayers was $48,975 with an average of $56,621. Nationally, the median income is higher at $60,450 and the average is $83,115. In Greater Melbourne, the median is $57,688 and the average is $75,164. As of March 2026, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest Wandong's median income will be approximately $53,686 and the average will be around $62,068. Census data indicates household income ranks at the 71st percentile ($2,083 weekly) and personal income is at the 42nd percentile. Income distribution shows that 38.2% of Wandong residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 (602 individuals), similar to the broader area where this group represents 32.8%. After housing costs, residents retain 87.1% of their income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

In Wandong, as per the latest Census evaluation, 98.9% of dwellings were houses, with 1.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wandong stood at 34.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.6% and rented ones at 8.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent was $305, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Wandong's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 83.0% of all households, including 43.9% couples with children, 30.6% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 17.0%, with lone person households at 14.0% and group households making up 2.5%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Wandong exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 14.0%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 50.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (38.1%). Educational participation is high, with 35.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 13.5% in primary, 11.1% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 35.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.5% in primary education, 11.1% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wandong has four operational public transport stops, offering a mix of train services. These stops are served by four distinct routes, collectively facilitating 201 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited in the area, with residents typically residing 910 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential region, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 91% of residents, while train usage stands at 6%. On average, there are 2.4 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 17.7% of residents work from home, a figure which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 28 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 50 weekly trips per individual stop.

Wandong's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data shows Wandong residents have positive health outcomes, matching national benchmarks. Mortality rates and common health conditions are standard across age groups. Private health cover is lower than Melbourne's average at 49% (~777 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%.

Nationally, it's 55.7%. Common medical conditions include asthma (8.7%) and arthritis (7.3%), while 70.5% report no ailments, close to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age health outcomes are typical. Wandong has 15.3% residents aged 65+ (241 people), with senior health outcomes above average, aligning with national rankings.

Wandong is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Wandong's population showed limited cultural diversity, with 87.6% being citizens and 90.5% born in Australia. English was the language spoken at home by 93.9%. Christianity dominated religiously, practiced by 51.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 43.0%.

Ancestry-wise, Australians topped Wandong's list at 29.8%, higher than the regional average of 18.4%. English ancestry followed at 27.2% (regional average: 20.1%), with Irish at 10.2%. Notably, Maltese, Macedonian, and Italian groups were overrepresented in Wandong compared to regional averages: Maltese at 2.2% vs 1.1%, Macedonian at 1.5% vs 0.7%, and Italian at 6.3% vs 5.2%.

Wandong's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Wandong is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and very close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Wandong has a notably over-represented cohort of 55-64 year-olds at 14.3% locally, while the 25-34 year-old group is under-represented at 9.3%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 12.5% to 14.9%, and the 85+ cohort has increased from 0.9% to 2.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 16.0% to 13.8%. Population forecasts for Wandong indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. Leading this shift, the 45 to 54 year-old group is projected to grow by 95%, reaching 424 people from 217.