West Wodonga

An assessment of population growth drivers in West Wodonga reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The population of West Wodonga is estimated at around 15,056 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 262 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,794 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 15,009 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 69 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 341 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for West Wodonga was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 55% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 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. Anticipating future population dynamics, West Wodonga is projected to have an above median population growth with an expected increase of 3,205 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 21% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in West Wodonga according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis shows West Wodonga recorded approximately 55 residential properties approved annually. Between FY21-FY25, around 277 homes were approved, with another 30 in FY26 so far. Over these years, an average of 1.2 people moved to the area per dwelling built, indicating a balanced supply and demand market supporting stable conditions.

The average construction value was $398,000, higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. Commercial approvals this year totalled $12.9 million, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Rest of Vic., West Wodonga has about half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 41st percentile nationally, offering limited buyer options but strengthening demand for established homes.

Recent construction consists of 92% detached dwellings and 8% medium-high density housing, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With an estimated 400 people per dwelling approval, West Wodonga has a quiet development environment. Population forecasts indicate it will gain 3,158 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

AreaSearch has identified ten projects that could significantly impact a specific area's performance. These projects include the expansion of the Wodonga Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Mars Wodonga Solar Thermal Plant, the Belvoir Village Motel Expansion for an additional 20 units, and the Hydrogen Park Murray Valley (HyP Murray Valley). The following list provides more details about these key projects.

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 West Wodonga are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

West Wodonga has a balanced workforce with representation from both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented in the area. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 6.6%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

In December 2025, 7,212 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.9% higher than Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in West Wodonga is similar to Regional Vic.'s rate of 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 9.4% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing.

Manufacturing employment levels are particularly high at 1.4 times the regional average. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing employment is low at 0.9% compared to Regional Vic.'s 7.5%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population counts. Over the year ending December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.5% while employment declined by 6.0%, causing unemployment to rise by 2.5 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Vic.'s employment contracted by 0.6%, the labour force fell by 0.7%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 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. Applying these projections to West Wodonga's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on June 30th, 2023, West Wodonga had a median income among taxpayers of $50,991 and an average income of $58,119. These figures are lower than the national averages of $50,954 for median income and $62,728 for average income in Regional Vic. As of September 2025, estimates suggest West Wodonga's median income would be approximately $55,198 and its average income around $62,914, based on a 8.25% growth since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in West Wodonga rank modestly, between the 32nd and 40th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 34.2% of locals (5,149 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket, similar to the surrounding region where 30.3% occupy this category. After housing expenses, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses.

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

In West Wodonga, as per the latest Census evaluation, 88.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 11.6% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. This compares to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Wodonga stood at 30.1%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 35.9% and rented dwellings making up 34.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,365, lower than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in West Wodonga was recorded at $290, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, West Wodonga's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

West Wodonga has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 68.4% of all households, including 26.7% couples with children, 26.8% couples without children, and 14.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.6%, with lone person households at 29.1% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which corresponds to the Regional Vic. average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.6%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them. Advanced diplomas account for 11.2% and certificates for 30.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

West Wodonga has 59 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 20 different routes that together facilitate 382 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is considered good, with residents living an average of 226 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from West Wodonga, primarily using cars (96% of trips). On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in the area. According to the 2021 Census, only 9.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 54 trips per day, resulting in approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

West Wodonga faces significant health challenges, as per AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Notably, both younger and older age groups have high prevalence of common health conditions.

Approximately 50% (~7,506 people) of West Wodonga's total population has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.5 and 9.9% of residents respectively. Conversely, 61.1% of residents claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Regional Victoria. The working-age population faces substantial health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. West Wodonga has 19.5% (2,935 people) of its residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 23.9% in Regional Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly inline with the general population.

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

West Wodonga was found to have a lower level of cultural diversity compared to the average, with 89.6% of its population born in Australia, 91.3% being citizens, and 94.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in West Wodonga, comprising 49.6% of the population. However, Judaism appears to be slightly overrepresented, with 0.1% of West Wodonga's population identifying as such, compared to 0.1% across Regional Vic..

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in West Wodonga are Australian (31.7%), English (30.2%), and Irish (8.3%). Notably, certain ethnic groups have different representations: German is overrepresented at 5.3%, Hungarian at 0.3%, and Dutch at 1.5%.

West Wodonga's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in West Wodonga is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Regional Victoria's average of 43 years but closely aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional Victoria, West Wodonga has a higher percentage of residents aged 15-24 (13.7%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (6.3%). According to the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group increased from 12.6% to 13.7%, while the 5-14 cohort decreased from 13.6% to 11.7% and the 45-54 group fell from 12.8% to 11.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in West Wodonga's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 53%, reaching 2,932 people from 1,912. Conversely, the 15-24 and 55-64 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.