Wantirna South

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

The population of Wantirna South is estimated at around 21,784 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,030 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,754. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 21,773 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 349 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,540 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wantirna South's 5.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (3.1%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting 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. Moving forward, demographic trends suggest a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected in Wantirna South, with an estimated growth of 1,931 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an 8.8% gain in total over the 16 years.

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

Wantirna South saw approximately 99 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Around 495 homes were approved between FY21 and FY25, with an additional 70 approved in FY26 to date. On average, 0.6 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years.

The average construction value of new properties was $613,000, indicating a focus on the premium market. This financial year has seen $63.8 million in commercial approvals registered, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Wantirna South has similar development levels per capita, maintaining market balance with surrounding areas. New building activity comprised 38.0% detached houses and 62.0% medium and high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift contrasts with the current 78.0% houses in the area.

With around 257 people per dwelling approval, Wantirna South exhibits low-density characteristics. Population forecasts estimate a gain of 1,920 residents by 2041, which current development patterns should readily meet, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects that may impact the region. Notable ones include Heart of Knox Project, Waverley One Estate, Knox Off the Plan Developments, and Knoxfield Residential Development. 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 South maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Wantirna South has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 3.7%, lower than the national average. Over the past year, employment grew by an estimated 2.2%.

As of December 2025, 11,642 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation in Wantirna South is 64.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 33.2% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

The area shows strong specialization in wholesale trade (1.6 times the regional level) but lower representation in transport, postal & warehousing (3.2% vs regional average of 5.2%). Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 2.2%, labour force by 2.4%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wantirna South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation 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 Wantirna South has a median income of $51,536 and an average income of $65,609. This is below Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Wantirna South are approximately $56,494 (median) and $71,921 (average) as of March 2026. According to Census 2021 income data, household income ranks at the 60th percentile ($1,915 weekly), while personal income is at the 38th percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 31.5% of Wantirna South's community (6,861 individuals), similar to Melbourne's metropolitan region where this cohort represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 15.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income 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

In Wantirna South, as per the latest Census evaluation, 77.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 22.3% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This differs from Melbourne metro's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wantirna South stood at 39.1%, with mortgaged dwellings 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. The median weekly rent in Wantirna South was $441, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Wantirna South's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and 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 constitute 77.8% of all households, including 41.3% that are couples with children, 25.2% that are couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 22.2%, with lone person households at 20.0% and group households making up 2.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is 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 at 39.4% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA3 area rate of 30.7%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.2% and certificates for 14.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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 considered excellent, with residents typically residing just 185 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature, and cars remain the primary mode of transport at 90%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling in Wantirna South, which exceeds the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 33.2%, work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 998 trips per day, equating to approximately 52 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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 shows strong performance throughout Wantirna South. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were assessed by AreaSearch to be low among the general population, nearing the nation's average for older, at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover rate is approximately 53% of the total population (~11,497 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 7.0 and 6.8% of residents respectively, while 71.4% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Wantirna South has 23.4% of residents aged 65 and over (5,097 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. 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's cultural diversity is notable, with 45.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 47.2% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion, comprising 48.0%. Buddhism is overrepresented at 6.6%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

Top ancestry groups are Chinese (23.4%), English (18.0%), and Australian (15.7%). Sri Lankan, Korean, and Indian ethnicities are also notably divergent in representation compared to regional averages.

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 average of 38 years. The 65-74 age group makes up 12.1% of the population in Wantirna South, compared to a lower prevalence of the 25-34 cohort at 11.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 12.2% to 14.1%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 6.4% to 7.7%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 13.1% to 11.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Wantirna South. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 43%, reaching 2,401 people from 1,677. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 59% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.