Wantirna

Wantirna is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Wantirna's population is estimated at around 14,774, reflecting an increase of 537 people since the 2021 Census. The ABS ERP estimate for surrounding areas applied to Wantirna by AreaSearch in June 2024 was 14,327. This increase is attributed to 276 new addresses validated since the Census date. Wantirna's population density stands at 1,803 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 3.8% since the Census is comparable to its SA4 region's growth of 4.0%. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted to SA2 levels for areas not covered by the first data set. By 2041, Wantirna is projected to expand by 589 persons, reflecting an increase of 0.7% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Wantirna among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data shows Wantirna averaged around 128 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 641 homes. So far in FY-26, 17 approvals have been recorded. The population decline in recent years has resulted in adequate housing supply relative to demand, creating a balanced market with good buyer choice. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $568,000.

This year, $63.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Wantirna records 100% more new home approvals per person, offering greater choice for buyers. Recent construction comprises 18% standalone homes and 82% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift towards compact living that attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a significant change from the current housing mix of 90% houses, likely due to reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands. The location has approximately 62 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Wantirna is expected to grow by 106 residents through to 2041.

With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 27 potential impact projects. Key ones are Wantirna Health Precinct West, Deakin University Burwood Campus Expansion, Oak Place by Stockland, and Suburban Rail Loop East - Burwood Station. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Wantirna maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Wantirna has a highly educated workforce with professional services being well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.3% as of an unspecified past year, with estimated employment growth at 0.6%.

As of June 2025, there were 7,246 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 1.3% lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation in Wantirna was 60.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Professional & technical services employ only 8.4% of local workers, lower than Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 0.6%, labour force by 0.7%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a rise in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in Sep-22, project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wantirna's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming constant industry-specific growth rates.

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

Wantirna's median income among taxpayers was $50,102 and average income stood at $64,185 in financial year 2022, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's of $54,892 (median) and $73,761 (average). Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Wantirna would be approximately $56,194 (median) and $71,990 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows household income ranks at the 58th percentile ($1,886 weekly), while personal income sits at the 41st percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates Wantirna with 33.2% of residents (4,904 people), aligning with regional levels where this cohort represents 32.8%. After housing, 85.0% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Wantirna's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 90.2% houses and 9.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 83.4% houses and 16.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wantirna was at 40.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.0% and rented ones at 20.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent was $428, compared to Melbourne metro's $400. Nationally, Wantirna's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375 at $428.

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

Family households constitute 81.1% of all households, including 41.5% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 18.9%, with lone person households at 17.1% and group households at 2.0%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.7.

Wantirna shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 35.5% of residents aged 15+, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and that of the SA3 area (30.7%). Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 17.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education. Six schools operate within Wantirna, educating approximately 2,971 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1073). Education provision is balanced with four primary and two secondary schools serving distinct age groups. Wantirna functions as an education hub with 20.1 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 12.0, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 45 active transport stops operating within Wantirna. These are a mix of buses serving 22 individual routes, collectively providing 5,433 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 253 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 776 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 120 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Wantirna is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Wantirna shows above-average health outcomes with both young and elderly cohorts having low prevalence of common health conditions.

Its private health cover rate is approximately 52%, leading that of the average SA2 area (~7,716 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.4% each of residents. About 70.8% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 69.4% in Greater Melbourne. Wantirna has 22.1% of residents aged 65 and over (3,265 people), higher than the 19.5% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, outperforming those of the general population in health metrics.

Wantirna is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Wantirna's cultural diversity is notable, with 41.0% of its population born overseas and 40.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Wantirna, comprising 43.8% of people, while Buddhism is overrepresented at 6.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 4.6%. The top three ancestry groups are English (19.3%), Chinese (18.7%), and Australian (17.8%).

Notably, Sri Lankan (1.4%), Hungarian (0.5%), and Indian (4.5%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Wantirna compared to regional averages of 1.4%, 0.4%, and 3.3% respectively.

Wantirna hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Wantirna's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and slightly older than Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Wantirna has a notably higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (11.5%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (9.1%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 75 to 84 increased from 5.8% to 7.8%, while those aged 15 to 24 rose from 10.7% to 12.3%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 decreased from 10.7% to 9.1%, and the 55 to 64 age group fell from 12.1% to 11.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Wantirna's age profile. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 39%, adding 451 residents to reach a total of 1,604. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 72% of the population growth. However, population declines are anticipated for the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 age cohorts.