Wantirna South

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of Wantirna South is around 21,548. This reflects an increase of 794 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,754. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 21,226 residents following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and an additional 323 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,523 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Wantirna South has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

For projections until 2041, AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for SA2 areas covered, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation method for areas not covered. Based on these projections, the suburb is expected to grow by 1,837 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 7.0% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Wantirna South recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Wantirna South has seen approximately 99 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Around 495 homes were approved between FY21-FY25, with 60 approved so far in FY26. Despite population decline, new supply appears to have kept pace with demand, offering varied choices for buyers.

The average construction value of new properties is $613,000, indicating a focus on the premium market. This year has seen $63.8 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Wantirna South's development levels per person are similar, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. New building activity comprises 38.0% detached houses and 62.0% medium-high density housing, reflecting a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 78.0% houses. With around 257 people per dwelling approval, Wantirna South exhibits low-density characteristics.

Population forecasts indicate an increase of 1,515 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 33 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Heart of Knox Project, Waverley One Estate, Knox Off the Plan Developments, and Knoxfield Residential Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Wantirna South has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 3.7% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.3% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. There were 11,204 residents employed by December 2025, with an unemployment rate of 1.0% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

The workforce participation rate was 64.3%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. Census responses indicated that 33.2% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Leading employment industries included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. The area showed strong specialization in wholesale trade with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level but lower representation in transport, postal & warehousing at 3.2% compared to the regional average of 5.2%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 1.3%, while labour force grew by 1.6%, resulting in a unemployment rise of 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with a similar unemployment increase of 0.3 percentage points. 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, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Wantirna South's employment mix indicates that local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Wantirna South is below the national average. The median income is $51,536 and the average income is $65,609. In comparison, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $55,788 (median) and $71,022 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household income ranks at the 60th percentile ($1,915 weekly), while personal income is at the 38th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 31.5% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (6,787 individuals). This aligns with the metropolitan region where this cohort also represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 15.2% of income. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 61st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Wantirna South's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 77.7% houses and 22.3% other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wantirna South stood at 39.1%, with mortgaged properties at 38.2% and rented ones at 22.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Weekly rent in Wantirna South was recorded at $441, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Wantirna South's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 77.8 percent of all households, including 41.3 percent couples with children, 25.2 percent couples without children, and 10.3 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.2 percent, with lone person households at 20.0 percent and group households comprising 2.1 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Wantirna South 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 of 39.4% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA3 area average of 30.7%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.8%) and graduate diplomas (3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 25.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (14.7%).

Educational participation is high at 27.4%, including 8.4% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wantirna South has 132 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 29 different routes that together facilitate 6,992 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 185 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 90% of residents. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

Notably, 33.2% of residents work from home, as recorded in the 2021 Census, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 998 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 52 weekly trips per stop on average. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Wantirna South's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population and nearer the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance across Wantirna South. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be low among the general population, nearing national averages even among older, at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 53% of the total population (~11,373 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.0 and 6.8% of residents respectively, with 71.4% reporting no medical ailments compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. Wantirna South has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.2% (5,214 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Wantirna South 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 South has a high level of cultural diversity, with 45.1% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 47.2% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Wantirna South, comprising 48.0% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 6.6% compared to the regional average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (23.4%), English (18.0%), and Australian (15.7%). Some other ethnic groups also show notable divergences: Sri Lankan at 1.9%, Korean at 0.8%, and Indian at 5.2% compared to their respective regional averages of 0.8%, 0.3%, and 4.2%.

Wantirna South's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Wantirna South is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. The 65-74 age group makes up 12.5% of the population in Wantirna South compared to Greater Melbourne. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort represents only 10.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has increased from 6.4% to 8.0%, while the 15-24 cohort has risen from 12.2% to 13.7%. However, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 11.8% to 10.1%, and the 55-64 group has fallen from 13.1% to 11.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Wantirna South, with the 75-84 age group expected to grow by 41% (699 people), reaching a total of 2,423 from 1,723 previously. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 65% of total population growth, reflecting Wantirna South's aging demographic trend. In contrast, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.