Swan Hill
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Swan Hill's population was approximately 11,253 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 67 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,186. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates showing an estimated resident population of 10,867 as of June 2024 and an additional 222 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 88 persons per square kilometer. Swan Hill's 0.6% growth rate since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area at -0.3%, though overall growth remains modest. Overseas migration contributed approximately 71.3% of total population gains during recent periods, driving primary population growth in the area.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to reach SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Projecting forward, the area's population is expected to decrease by 783 persons by 2041, with an anticipated expansion of the 75 to 84 age cohort by 85 people.

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

Swan Hill has received around 45 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 226 homes. As of FY-26, 35 approvals have been recorded. The average construction cost value for new properties is $303,000. Commercial development in FY-26 has amounted to $20.7 million.

Compared to the Rest of Vic., Swan Hill has had slightly more development, with 25.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. Recent construction comprises 71.0% standalone homes and 29.0% townhouses or apartments. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 427 people.

Population is expected to remain stable or decline in the future, potentially reducing pressure on housing.

Swan Hill has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 11 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Swan Hill Tourism and Cultural Hub, Heirloom Estate, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery Redevelopment, and Transforming the Heart of Swan Hill Precinct. The following list details those most relevant.

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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Swan Hill ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Swan Hill's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs with a low unemployment rate of 2.3%. As of June 2025, 5,504 residents are employed, which is 1.5% below the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation stands at 59.8%, slightly higher than the regional average of 57.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Public administration & safety has a limited presence at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 6.5%.

Many residents commute outside Swan Hill for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 4.1% and employment by 3.4%, leading to a 0.7 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In comparison, Rest of Vic.'s employment declined by 0.9% while labour force fell by 0.4%, resulting in an increase of 0.4 percentage points in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Swan Hill's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Swan Hill's median income among taxpayers is $47,926. The average income in Swan Hill is $57,197. Both figures are below the national average. In comparison, Rest of Vic.'s median income is $48,741 and average income is $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Swan Hill would be approximately $53,754 (median) and $64,152 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census ranks household, family and personal incomes in Swan Hill modestly, between the 28th and 39th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 32.9% of locals (3,702 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 30.3% occupy this range. Housing costs are manageable with 87.8% retained, but disposable income sits below average at the 33rd percentile.

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

In Swan Hill, as per the latest Census evaluation, 83.1% of dwellings were houses while 16.9% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 90.7% houses and 9.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Swan Hill stood at 36.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.1% and rented ones at 32.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,083. The median weekly rent in Swan Hill was $235, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $200. Nationally, Swan Hill's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,300 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Swan Hill features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 66.0% of all households, including 25.0% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.0%, with lone person households at 30.6% and group households comprising 3.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which matches the average for the Rest of Vic.

Educational outcomes in Swan Hill fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has university qualification rates of 16.4%, significantly lower than the Victorian average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 36.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (26.5%). Educational participation is high at 27.5%, with 10.7% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.

There are 10 schools operating within Swan Hill, educating approximately 2,710 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 969) and balanced educational opportunities. The schools include 4 primary, 4 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. Swan Hill functions as an education hub with 24.8 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 14.7, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Swan Hill has 56 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 26 individual routes, providing a total of 423 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 233 meters, indicating good transport accessibility.

On average, there are 60 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Swan Hill is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Swan Hill faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population, which is around 5,435 people.

This is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.7 and 9.7% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 65.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.1% across Rest of Vic.. The area has 20.6% of residents aged 65 and over, which is around 2,319 people. This percentage is lower than the 24.0% in Rest of Vic..

Swan Hill ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Swan Hill's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 85.1% of its population being citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. The majority religion in Swan Hill is Christianity, accounting for 50.6% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 1.9% of Swan Hill's population compared to 0.8% across Victoria.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (30.2%), English (29.2%), and Irish (9.3%). There are also notable differences in representation for certain ethnic groups: Italian is overrepresented at 4.7%, Vietnamese at 1.0%, and Australian Aboriginal at 2.9%.

Swan Hill's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Swan Hill is 38 years, which is lower than Victoria's overall figure of 43 but matches Australia's national norm of 38 years. The age group of 25-34 years has a strong representation at 15.8%, compared to the rest of Victoria. Conversely, the 65-74 age group is less prevalent at 9.7%. According to the 2021 Census, Swan Hill's population aged 25-34 grew from 14.7% to 15.8%, while the 45-54 age group declined from 10.1% to 9.2%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Swan Hill's age profile. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 8%, reaching 879 people from the current figure of 816. This growth will be led by those aged 65 and above, who are projected to comprise 70% of total population growth. Meanwhile, the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.