Towong
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Towong's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 6,225 people. This figure represents an increase of 29 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,196. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates: 6,208 residents in June 2024 and 25 new addresses validated after the Census date. This results in a population density of 0.90 persons per square kilometer. Recent growth was largely driven by overseas migration, contributing around 59.5% of total population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used, adjusted via weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Towong's population is projected to decrease by 646 persons. However, specific age cohorts like the 25-34 group are expected to grow by 72 individuals.

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

Towong has averaged approximately 23 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 119 dwellings approved over the past five financial years, from FY-2021 to FY-2025, and no recorded approvals so far in FY-2026. On average, 0.8 people have moved to the area annually for each dwelling built during these five years. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more buying options and enabling population growth that could surpass current projections.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $537,000, which is higher than typical regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. In FY-2026, $5.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential growth. When compared to the Rest of Vic., Towong shows approximately 56% of the construction activity per person, placing it among the 46th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

This suggests more limited choices for buyers and supports demand for existing properties in the area. New building activity consists of 94.0% detached houses and 6.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Towong's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 394 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low-activity development environment. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Towong may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Towong has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Hilltops by Birchmore Residential Development, Thurgoona Link Road Project, Thurgoona Neighbourhood Shopping Centre, and Elizabeth Mitchell Drive Extension (Thurgoona Link Road). Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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

Towong has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Towong has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 3.5% as of June 2025. This rate is 0.3% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Towong is similar to Rest of Vic.'s rate of 57.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has a particularly high representation with an employment share of 3.3 times the regional level. Retail trade, however, is under-represented at 6.6% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 9.9%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 0.4% while labour force increased by 1.5%, leading to an unemployment rise of 1.1 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic.'s employment fell by 0.9%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Towong's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.6%% over five years and 12.2% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022, Towong had a median income among taxpayers of $47,827. The average income stood at $57,395. This was lower than the national average and compared to levels of $48,741 and $60,693 across Rest of Vic. respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $52,662 for median income and $63,198 for average income as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Towong all fall between the 19th and 26th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 28.3% of the community (1,761 individuals), aligning with regional levels where this cohort likewise represents 30.3%. While housing costs are modest with 90.6% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 27th percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

The latest Census data shows that in Towong, 97.2% of dwellings are houses, with the remaining 2.8% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is compared to Non-Metro Vic., where 91.6% of dwellings are houses and 8.5% are other types. Home ownership in Towong stands at 52.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.7% and rented ones at 15.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area is $1,200, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,473. The median weekly rent figure for Towong is $210, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $280. Nationally, Towong's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Towong has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 68.5% of all households, including 23.3% couples with children, 38.1% couples without children, and 6.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.5%, with lone person households at 29.7% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of Vic average of 2.4.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 17.6%, significantly lower than the Victorian average of 33.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.7%, followed by graduate diplomas at 3.2% and postgraduate qualifications at 2.7%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 11.5% and certificates at 32.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.1% in primary, 8.3% in secondary, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education. A network of 10 schools operates within Towong, educating approximately 902 students, and demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 981) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 8 primary, 1 secondary, and 1 K-12 school.

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

The analysis indicates that ten active public transport stops are currently operating within the Towong area. These stops offer a mix of bus services, which are operated by four individual routes in total. Collectively, these routes provide thirty-two weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of public transport is rated as limited, with residents typically located 3943 meters away from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages four trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately three weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Towong faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 48%, covering around 3,006 people, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical issues are arthritis (11.7% of residents) and mental health concerns (9.0%). Notably, 62.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 64.1% in the rest of Victoria. As of August 2021, 29.4% of Towong's population is aged 65 and over (1,832 people), higher than the state average of 20.7%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are above average and better than those in the general population.

The latest Census data sees Towong placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Towong's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.9% of its population being citizens, 90.6% born in Australia, and 96.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Towong, making up 54.8% of people, compared to 48.2% across Rest of Vic. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (32.3%), English (32.2%), and Irish (10.3%).

Notably, Scottish representation is higher at 9.0% in Towong versus 8.3% regionally, while German stands at 4.6% (vs 4.8%) and Dutch at 1.5% (vs 1.6%).

Towong ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Towong is 52 years, significantly higher than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 and also above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Towong at 16.7%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 7.6%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 24 has grown from 7.8% to 9.4%, while those aged 55 to 64 have declined from 17.9% to 16.0%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 12.3% to 11.3%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Towong, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 cohort, expected to increase by 14%, adding 65 residents to reach a total of 540. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 35 to 44 and individuals under the age of 4.