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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Echuca has an estimated 15,395 residents, down from 15,636 at the 2021 Census — a change of 241 people, or 1.5%. 187 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Density is about 84 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to the analysis by AreaSearch, Echuca has a population of approximately 15,395 as of May 2026. This represents a reduction of 241 residents (1.5%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 15,636 people. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 15,359 alongside 187 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The population density stands at 83 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and capacity for future growth. Although the population decreased by 1.5% since the 2021 census, this was a stronger result than the SA3 region, which fell by -2.1%.
Overseas migration was the primary contributor to population increases, serving as the sole source of growth in recent times. AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 population projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, which use 2022 as a baseline. For SA2 regions lacking this data, projections are derived from the 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA dataset, using weighted aggregation to transition growth figures from LGA to SA2 levels. These combined datasets are also used to project age cohort growth rates from 2032 to 2041. Based on recent annual ERP statistics, the area is projected to experience substantial population growth, placing it in the top quartile of non-metropolitan regions in Australia, with an estimated addition of 3,529 people by 2041, representing a total increase of 22.7% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
389 new dwellings have been approved in Echuca over the past five years, an average of 77 a year. That is 5.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 45 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 89% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 144, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Approvals for new dwellings in Echuca have averaged 77 per year, with 389 residential approvals granted over the last 5 financial years (FY-21 to FY-25) and 132 recorded in FY-26 so far. Because the local population has decreased, the creation of new housing has likely satisfied demand and provided buyers with sufficient options, with new builds averaging a construction cost of $286,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $23.2 million this financial year, pointing to steady commercial construction levels. Echuca shows slightly higher building activity than Rest of Vic., registering 34.0% above the regional per capita average over the 5 year timeframe, which helps maintain availability for buyers while supporting existing home values, even though construction has slowed down recently.
The new housing mix consists of 89.0% detached houses and 11.0% medium and high-density options, maintaining the low-density profile of the area through a focus on standalone homes for buyers seeking space. A ratio of approximately 290 people for every dwelling approval further reflects the low-density profile of Echuca. Looking ahead, the population of Echuca is projected to expand by 3,491 residents by 2041, according to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If the current pace of construction continues, the supply of housing may not keep up with this population increase, which could intensify competition among buyers and put upward pressure on prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Echuca
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 8 current infrastructure and development projects inside Echuca, worth an estimated $1.33 billion. A further 80 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $7.46 billion. 28 are already under construction and 30 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and sports & recreation. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development initiatives are major factors in regional performance. AreaSearch has tracked 14 projects that are expected to influence the local area. The most significant developments include McMahon's Place Estate, the Echuca Regional Health Infrastructure Upgrade, Yallarah Estate, and the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project, with details of the most relevant initiatives listed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
McMahon's Place Estate
Master-planned residential community delivering over 1,000 homes across more than 100 hectares of former farmland in Echuca West. Lots range from 480 to 800 sqm. The estate features 6.9 hectares of open space including parks, wetlands, walking tracks, playgrounds, and a full-sized sports oval. Smart home features include fibre optic NBN. Civil works on Stages 1 and 2 commenced August 2025 with land titles expected late 2026. The project is expected to increase Echuca's housing stock by over 10% and inject $1.6 billion into the regional economy.
Echuca Regional Health Infrastructure Upgrade
Major upgrade to Echuca Regional Health facilities including new emergency department, expanded surgical facilities, and improved patient accommodation.
Rich River Lakes Estate
Lakeside residential estate adjacent to Rich River Golf Club featuring premium lots with golf course and lake views, recreational facilities including swimming pool, tennis court, and community amenities.
Yallarah Estate
Yallarah is a landmark 142-hectare masterplanned community in Echuca West by Wel.Co, designed to deliver over 2,000 homesites. Civil construction has officially commenced. It features lot sizes from 420sqm to 2,000sqm, a future early learning centre, a large display village, and extensive outdoor lifestyle amenities including walking and cycling paths near the Murray River.
Victoria Park Multipurpose Community and Emergency Relief Centre
Redevelopment of Victoria Park in Echuca into a multipurpose community and emergency relief centre. Features a 400-seat accessible grandstand, community facility with change rooms, function space (250 seated/400 standing), emergency relief centre with companion animal shelter, 99kW solar system, upgraded playground and sealed car parking. The entire facility, including the new community building and emergency relief centre, was officially opened on 29 November 2025.
AFL Breaking New Ground - St Joseph's College Echuca
MCG-sized oval facility at St Joseph's College Kildare Campus with 100 lux lighting, primarily for Australian rules football. Partnership between AFL Victoria and Echuca Junior Football Club.
Kilkerrin Lakes Estate
Completed residential estate featuring established homes around constructed lakes with recreational facilities and landscaped parklands.
Echuca-Moama Bridge Project
The largest transport infrastructure project in northern Victoria completed in 2022. A second bridge crossing connecting Echuca and Moama via the Campaspe and Murray rivers with new 4.5km walking and cycling pathway.
7,721 residents of Echuca are employed, from a labour force of 7,973. Unemployment sits at 3.2%, with participation at 62.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local economy is supported by a diverse workforce of white-collar and blue-collar workers, with a strong presence in essential services, an unemployment rate of just 3.2%, and an estimated job growth rate of 2.2% over the last year. In March 2026, there were 7,721 employed residents, with the unemployment rate tracking 0.5% lower than the Regional Vic. average of 3.7%, and workforce participation levels matching the 61.1% seen in Regional Vic. Census data indicates that a low 9.8% of the workforce worked from home, though this data may have been affected by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The accommodation & food sector is highly concentrated in the area, with an employment share that is 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is less represented, accounting for 3.3% of local employment compared to the regional average of 7.5%. Although there are local jobs available, the ratio of Census workers to the local population indicates that a significant number of residents travel to other areas for work. An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that during the year ending March 2026, employment grew by 2.2% and the labor force expanded by 3.6%, leading to a 1.3 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. This differed from Regional Vic., where employment fell by 0.1%, the labor force declined by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate dropped by 0.2 percentage points. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide context for future local demand. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local industry mix to project employment trends. Nationally, employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by sector. Applying these trends to the local workforce structure indicates that employment in Echuca could grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, representing a basic weighting extrapolation that does not account for local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Echuca is $1,347 a week (about $70,000 a year), with median personal income at $713 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $50,918 a year against an average of $61,198. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to ATO data for the 2023 financial year analyzed by AreaSearch, tax returns show that income levels in the Echuca SA2 are below the national average. The median taxpayer income is $50,918 and the average income is $61,198, compared to Regional Vic. averages of $50,954 and $62,728. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since the 2023 financial year, current estimated values would be approximately $55,816 for median income and $67,085 for average income as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and individual incomes are modest, falling between the 23rd and 30th percentiles.
The figures show that 30.5% of the population (4,695 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, which is similar to the metropolitan average of 30.3% for the same bracket. Residents retain 85.9% of their income after housing costs, placing the area in the 26th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Echuca had 6,149 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 86% detached houses and 0% apartments. 32% are owned with a mortgage, 29% rented and 40% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $285 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,483 a month. Rent absorbs 21.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing stock in Echuca consisted of 86.4% separate houses and 13.6% other housing styles (such as townhouses, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to Regional Vic. where separate houses made up 90.1% and other styles accounted for 9.9%. Home ownership stood at 39.6%, matching the rate in Regional Vic., with the remaining households split between properties with a mortgage (31.9%) and rented properties (28.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,483, which is higher than the Regional Vic. average of $1,430, while the median weekly rent was $285, matching the Regional Vic.
average of $285. In comparison to national figures, mortgage payments in Echuca are well below the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are also much lower than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Echuca counted 6,149 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 24% are couples with children, against 31% couples without children. 30% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 67.4%, which includes 24.2% couples with children, 30.5% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 32.6%, consisting of lone-person households at 29.9% and group households at 2.7%. The median household size is 2.3 persons, which is slightly below the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
16.8% of adults in Echuca hold a university qualification, including 12.2% with a bachelor degree and 2.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 77% of areas nationally. A further 28.7% hold a vocational qualification. 9 schools serve the area, with 3,533 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 954 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The local population has low rates of university qualifications, with 16.8% of residents holding a degree compared to the VIC state average of 33.4%, indicating an opportunity for targeted educational development. Among these qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.3% and graduate diplomas at 2.3%. Vocational and technical qualifications are common, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding credentials, including advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (28.7%). Enrolment rates are high in the area, with 26.8% of the population participating in formal study.
This cohort is made up of 9.9% in primary school, 8.3% in high school, and 2.3% in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Echuca reaches 76 stops on 30 routes, timetabled for about 1,200 services a week. The typical home sits about 360 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
An analysis of public transport shows 76 stops in Echuca, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 30 routes, which provide 1,152 passenger journeys each week. Accessibility is good, with residents living an average of 358 meters from the nearest stop. The town is mostly residential, meaning many workers travel outside the area; private vehicles are the main mode of travel at 93%, while 4% of residents walk to work. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles. According to the 2021 Census, a low 9.8% of residents worked from home, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 rules.
Services average 164 runs per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 15 weekly services for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.9% of residents in Echuca report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 82% of areas nationally. 7.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 49.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
An evaluation of mortality statistics and chronic disease data by AreaSearch highlights significant health difficulties in Echuca, with many health issues affecting both younger and older cohorts, and a low level of private health insurance coverage at approximately 49% of the population (~7,574 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnoses, affecting 10.4% and 8.9% of residents. Meanwhile, 62.9% of the population reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic. The working-age cohort faces notable challenges with high levels of chronic illness.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 25.1% of the population (3,861 individuals), which exceeds the Regional Vic. figure of 23.9%. Health outcomes for local seniors are challenging, with national rankings for this group showing higher vulnerability than the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Echuca is largely Australian-born, at 91.2% of residents, with 4.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.6%) and Australian (32.5%). 3.0% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The community has lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens representing 90.2% of the population, 91.2% of residents born in Australia, and 95.2% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 52.0% of the local population, compared to 47.3% across Regional Vic. The primary ancestries recorded in the area are English at 32.6%, Australian at 32.5%, and Irish at 9.1%. Some differences in ethnic representation include Scottish ancestry at 8.5% (compared to 8.8% regionally), Australian Aboriginal ancestry at 3.0% (compared to 1.4% regionally), and Maltese ancestry at 0.4% (compared to 0.5% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Echuca is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 23.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of 45 years in Echuca is slightly higher than the Regional Vic. median of 43 years, and notably older than the national median of 38 years. Compared to Regional Vic., the area has a high proportion of residents aged 85 and over (3.6%) and a lower proportion of children aged 5 to 14 (10.6%). Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 10.3% to 11.3% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.6% to 11.0%, and the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 11.6% to 10.6%.
Future modeling suggests the age distribution will shift by 2041, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to grow by 965 people (53%) from 1,827 to 2,793, while the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Echuca
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jun 2026 2 months ago all 8 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jun 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 187 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (15,636 at the 2021 Census → 15,395 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (216011406). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.