Wangaratta (Vic.)

Population growth drivers in Wangaratta are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The population of Wangaratta (Vic.) is estimated to be around 20,552 as of Feb 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,338 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 19,214. The growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 19,352 following examination of ABS data released in June 2024 and an additional 422 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 421 persons per square kilometer. Wangaratta's growth rate of 7.0% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (5.9%) and SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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 are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is expected to grow by 5,045 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 18.7% in total over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Wangaratta when compared nationally

Wangaratta has recorded approximately 125 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 629 homes. As of FY-26, 77 approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of 0.7 people moving to the area for each dwelling built annually between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction value of new homes is $456,000, indicating a focus on premium market properties.

In FY-26, $94.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Wangaratta maintains similar construction rates per person compared to the Rest of Vic., preserving market equilibrium. New building activity comprises 76.0% standalone homes and 24.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting the area's traditional low density character.

With around 193 people per approval, Wangaratta is considered a developing area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Wangaratta is expected to grow by 3,845 residents through to 2041. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Wangaratta has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

A total of 13 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include the Wangaratta Health Precinct Structure Plan, Wangaratta Landmark Retail Development Site, Wangaratta High School Upgrade, and Equine Village Estate. The following list details those likely to be 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 drivers in Wangaratta are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Wangaratta has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 6.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 8,883 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 3.0% above Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation in Wangaratta is somewhat lower at 58.5%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.5%. Census responses show that only 9.1% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Notably, health care & social assistance has employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 2.3% versus the regional average of 7.5%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.4%, employment declined by 5.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Vic. recorded an employment decline of 0.6%, labour force decline of 0.7%, with unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wangaratta's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Wangaratta had a median income among taxpayers of $47,260 and an average level of $56,184. Both figures are below the national averages of $50,954 (median) and $62,728 (average) for Regional Vic. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated median income in Wangaratta as of September 2025 would be approximately $51,159, with the average being around $60,819. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Wangaratta fall between the 14th and 28th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution data shows that 29.1% of Wangaratta's population (5,980 individuals) have incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, similar to the regional level where 30.3% fall within this range. After housing costs, 85.8% of income remains in Wangaratta, ranking at the 17th percentile nationally.

Wangaratta is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Wangaratta's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wangaratta stood at 38.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.5% and rented dwellings at 30.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Wangaratta was $260, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Wangaratta's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 62.2% of all households, including 22.3% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 12.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.8%, with lone person households at 35.2% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Regional Vic average of 2.4.

Wangaratta shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 19.5%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (27.3%). Educational participation is high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.9% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wangaratta has 122 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are serviced by 18 routes, facilitating 918 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 225 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 91%, followed by walking at 5% and cycling at 2%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 9.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 131 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Wangaratta is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Wangaratta faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 49% of Wangaratta's total population (~10,093 people) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.6%) and mental health issues (10.3%), while 59.1% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in Regional Vic. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 24.0% of residents aged 65 and over (4,932 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Wangaratta's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.5% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (89.6%), and speaking English only at home (93.6%). Christianity is the predominant religion in Wangaratta, comprising 52.6% of its population. Notably, Judaism is slightly overrepresented compared to Regional Vic., with 0.1% of Wangaratta's population identifying as such.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (31.6%), Australian (29.1%), and Irish (10.5%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences in representation: Italian is overrepresented at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 2.9%, Hungarian at 0.3% versus 0.2%, and Scottish at 8.5% versus 8.8%.

Wangaratta hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Wangaratta's median age of 44 years is similar to Regional Vic.'s 43 and well above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional Vic., Wangaratta has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (13.2%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (11.6%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the proportion of Wangaratta's population aged 25 to 34 increased from 11.6% to 13.2%, while the proportion of residents aged 5 to 14 decreased from 12.0% to 10.8%. By 2041, Wangaratta's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 25 to 34 is projected to grow by 40%, reaching 3,785 from 2,712, while the population aged 15 to 24 is expected to decline by 94 people.