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 Nov 2025, the population of the Wandong statistical area (Lv2) is estimated at around 1,644, reflecting an increase of 167 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 1,477. This growth rate of 11.3% exceeds the national average of 9.7%. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,518 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 33 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 48 persons per square kilometer. The primary driver for this growth was interstate migration, contributing approximately 71.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year for each SA2 area.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, the Wandong (SA2) is predicted to experience exceptional growth over the period, expanding by 3,385 persons to 2041 and recording a gain of 218.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Wandong among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis shows Wandong had approximately 8 dwelling approvals annually over the past 5 financial years, totalling around 40 homes. In FY26 so far, there have been 3 approvals. Each year, an average of 13.2 people moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25.

Wandong's development activity is significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's regional average (65.0% below), with all recent building activity consisting of detached houses. The area is projected to gain 3,598 residents by 2041, but current housing supply may not keep pace with population growth if development rates continue as they are now.

Population forecasts indicate Wandong will gain 3,598 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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 expected to affect 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 most relevant:.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Wandong has been broadly consistent with national averages

Wandong has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent in Wandong, contributing significantly to its low unemployment rate of 3.5%.

Over the past year, ending September 2025, employment growth was estimated at 1.1%. Wandong's unemployment rate of 1.2% is lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%, and workforce participation matches Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries for residents include construction, healthcare & social assistance, and manufacturing. Notably, construction employment share is 2.2 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical jobs are under-represented at 3.1% compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data comparison of working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Wandong experienced a 1.1% increase in employment levels and a 0.9% rise in labour force, keeping the unemployment rate stable. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a slight increase in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. State-wide, Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year to November 25, adding 41,950 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Nationally, employment growth was 0.14%, and the unemployment rate was 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wandong's employment mix suggests local employment could grow by 5.9% in five years and 12.2% in ten years, though these are simple extrapolations 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 taxpayer income was $48,975 and average was $56,621. Nationally, median income is higher at $57,688 with an average of $75,164. In Greater Melbourne, median is $57,688 and average is $75,164. Based on 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Wandong as of September 2025 are approximately $53,015 (median) and $61,292 (average). Census data shows household income ranks at the 71st percentile ($2,083 weekly), personal income at the 42nd percentile. Distribution data indicates that 38.2% of Wandong residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 per week (628 individuals). This aligns with broader area trends where this cohort also represents 32.8%. After housing costs, residents retain 87.1% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. 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

The latest Census evaluated dwelling structures in Wandong as 98.9% houses and 1.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 87.2% houses and 12.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wandong stood at 34.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.6% and rented dwellings at 8.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, lower than Melbourne metro's $1,900, while the median weekly rent figure was $305, compared to Melbourne metro's $371. 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 constitute 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 comprise the remaining 17.0%, with lone person households at 14.0% and group households making up 2.5% of the total. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

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%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 7.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, 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, comprising 13.5% in primary, 11.1% in secondary, and 3.3% in 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 combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by four unique routes that collectively facilitate 201 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility is deemed limited, with residents residing an average of 910 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 28 daily trips across all routes, translating to roughly 50 weekly trips per individual stop.

Wandong's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Wandong residents show positive health outcomes, with low prevalence rates for common conditions across younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering around 810 people, compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (8.7%) and arthritis (7.3%), while 70.5% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 74.0%. Wandong has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 14.8%, or approximately 243 people, compared to Greater Melbourne's 13.2%. Health outcomes among seniors in Wandong align with the general population's health profile, indicating above-average results.

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

Wandong, surveyed in 2016, had low cultural diversity: 87.6% were citizens, 90.5% born in Australia, and 93.9% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 51.3%, compared to Melbourne's 49.8%. Ancestry showed high Australian (29.8%), English (27.2%) and Irish (10.2%) representation, exceeding regional averages of 17.3%, 15.5% and 4.3% respectively.

Notably, Maltese (2.2%), Macedonian (1.5%) and Italian (6.3%) groups diverged from regional figures of 1.5%, 4.6% and 9.6%.

Wandong's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Wandong has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, Wandong has a notably higher proportion of individuals aged 55-64 (15.6%) and a lower proportion of those aged 25-34 (9.0%). Between 2021 and the present, the population aged 35-44 has increased from 12.5% to 14.5%, while the 45-54 age group has decreased from 16.0% to 14.3%. The 15-24 age group has also declined, from 13.0% to 11.6%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes in Wandong's age profile by 2041, with the 45-54 age cohort projected to increase dramatically, adding 653 people (a 278% rise) from 235 to 889.