Traralgon - West
Statistical Area - sa2

Traralgon - West lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Traralgon - West's population is 17,476 as of Aug 2025. This shows an increase of 654 people from the 2021 Census figure of 16,822. The population estimate of 17,227 in June 2024 and validated new addresses since then account for this growth. The population density is 422 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Traralgon - West's population grew at a compound annual rate of 1.1%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 56.3% of recent 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, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas until 2041. Future trends indicate significant population increase in top quartile regional areas. By 2041, Traralgon - West is forecast to grow by 4,046 persons, a total gain of 21.7% over 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Traralgon - West recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Traralgon - West has seen approximately 81 new homes approved each year. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 407 homes approved over the past five financial years between FY21 and FY25, and six approvals so far in FY26. On average, 1.8 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were recorded over these five financial years. This suggests that supply and demand are well-matched, fostering stable market dynamics.

The average construction cost value of new properties is $613,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. In FY26, commercial approvals valued at $1 million have been registered, indicating the area's residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Traralgon - West has similar development levels per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

New development consists predominantly of detached dwellings (98%) and a small percentage of townhouses or apartments (2%). This maintains the area's traditional low density character, focusing on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population count per dwelling approval is 522 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate that Traralgon - West will gain approximately 3,794 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Traralgon - West has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 16 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Traralgon Youth Prevention and Recovery Care Centre, Franklin North Estate, Stockdale Fields Estate, and Traralgon North Development Plan. Below is a list detailing those considered most relevant.

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

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.5%, Traralgon - West has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Traralgon - West has an unemployment rate of 3.5% as of June 2025, with 8,908 residents employed. The area's unemployment rate is 0.3% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Traralgon - West is 62.6%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and public administration & safety. The area has a high employment share in electricity, gas, water & waste services, at 4.1 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 1.5% compared to the regional average of 7.5%.

Over the past year, labour force decreased by 0.6%, and employment decreased by 1.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic. had an employment decline of 0.9% and an unemployment rate increase of 0.4 percentage points. State-wide, Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year as of Sep-25, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Traralgon - West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Traralgon - West has a high national income level according to AreaSearch aggregated ATO data for financial year 2022. The median income among taxpayers is $57,097 and the average income is $72,107. These figures compare to Rest of Vic.'s median of $48,741 and average of $60,693. Based on a 10.11% growth in wages since financial year 2022, current estimates for Traralgon - West are approximately $62,870 (median) and $79,397 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Traralgon - West rank modestly, between the 44th and 53rd percentiles. The largest income bracket comprises 32.8% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (5,732 residents), similar to the broader area where this cohort represents 30.3%. Housing costs are manageable with 88.0% retained. However, disposable income is below average at the 49th percentile and the SEIFA income ranking places Traralgon - West in the 5th decile.

Traralgon - West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Traralgon - West, as per the latest Census evaluation, 87.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 12.2% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is compared to Non-Metro Vic., which had 88.1% houses and 11.9% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Traralgon - West was 35.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.4% and rented ones at 23.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,326, exceeding Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,213. The median weekly rent figure was recorded as $300, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $237. Nationally, Traralgon - West's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Traralgon - West has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 67.8% of all households, including 28.0% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.2%, with lone person households at 29.2% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.3.

Educational attainment in Traralgon - West aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate in 2016 was 20.9%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 14.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials were held by 39.7% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 28.9%. Educational participation was high, with 28.8% of residents enrolled in formal education as of 2016.

This included 10.5% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education. Seven schools operated within Traralgon - West in 2016, educating approximately 3,472 students. The area served as an educational center for the broader region, with school capacity exceeding typical residential needs (19.9 places per 100 residents vs 13.7 regionally). The educational mix included three primary schools, three secondary schools, and one K-12 school. Traralgon - West demonstrated typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 994) with balanced educational opportunities.

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

Transport analysis in Traralgon - West shows 67 active transport stops operating, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 14 different routes, together providing 1,096 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents located an average of 227 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 156 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Traralgon - West is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Traralgon-West faces significant health challenges with a notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 55% (~9,664 people) of the total population has private health cover, compared to 50.2% in the rest of Victoria.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.3% and 9.3% of residents respectively, while 64.4% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 60.1% in the rest of Victoria. The area has 19.2% (3,355 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 21.2% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Traralgon-West showed cultural diversity below average, with 89.2% citizens, 86.4% born in Australia, and 92.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominated as the main religion, at 46.4%. Judaism was slightly overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to Rest of Vic's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups were English (30.0%), Australian (29.2%), and Scottish (8.7%). Dutch (2.9%) showed notable overrepresentation versus regional figures, along with Maltese (1.1%) and Italian (4.0%).

Traralgon - West's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Traralgon - West is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Vic., Traralgon - West has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (14.8%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (10.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 grew from 11.1% to 12.1%, while the 55-64 age group declined from 12.2% to 10.8%. The 5-14 age group also decreased from 13.0% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Traralgon - West's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 54%, adding 1,385 people and reaching a total of 3,972 from 2,586. Meanwhile, the 55-64 age cohort is expected to grow by a modest 3%, increasing by 48 people.