Wangaratta Surrounds

Wangaratta Surrounds has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Wangaratta Surrounds' population is around 10,092 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 167 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,925. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,070 in June 2025 and an additional 98 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2.8 persons per square kilometer. Wangaratta Surrounds' 1.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's 1.1%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 61.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, Wangaratta Surrounds is expected to grow by 2,181 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 21.4% in total over the 16 years.

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

Wangaratta Surrounds approved around 34 residential properties annually over the past five financial years, totalling 173 homes. In FY26 so far, 23 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.6 new residents per year arrived for each new home between FY21 and FY25, suggesting balanced supply and demand with stable market dynamics. The average dwelling development value was $398,000, higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

This financial year, $4.7 million in commercial development approvals were recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of Vic., Wangaratta Surrounds had about 56% of building activity per person and ranked at the 47th percentile nationally, indicating relatively constrained buyer choice favouring existing homes. New construction consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character appealing to families seeking space. With an estimated 351 people per dwelling approval, population forecasts suggest Wangaratta Surrounds will gain 2,159 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Wangaratta Surrounds has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Moyhu Township Development Plan, South Wangaratta Residential Growth Area, Mason Street Residential Development, and Wangaratta Landmark Retail Development Site. Below is a list of 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 Wangaratta Surrounds ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Wangaratta Surrounds has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.7%. As of December 2025, there are 5,461 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 1.0% below Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation stands at 67.8%, exceeding Regional Vic.'s 61.0%. Census responses reveal that 21.4% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. The area shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level.

Retail trade has limited presence at 7.6%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 9.9%. Over the year ending December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.5% and employment fell by 4.3%, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Vic. saw an employment decline of 0.6% and a labour force decline of 0.7%, with unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that national employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wangaratta Surrounds' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 12.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Wangaratta Surrounds SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $47,781 and an average of $60,280 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This was lower than the national average, contrasting with Regional Vic.'s median income of $50,954 and average income of $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $52,378 (median) and $66,079 (average). The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes ranked modestly in Wangaratta Surrounds, between the 35th and 41st percentiles. Income brackets indicated that 32.5% of the population fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, reflecting patterns seen in surrounding regions where 30.3% similarly occupied this range. Housing costs were manageable with 89.6% retained, but disposable income was below average at the 41st percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Wangaratta Surrounds, as per the latest Census, consisted of 98.9% houses and 1.2% other dwellings (including semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wangaratta Surrounds stood at 51.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.6% and rented dwellings at 10.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, higher than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Wangaratta Surrounds was $250, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Wangaratta Surrounds' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,500 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $250 compared to the national figure of $375.

Wangaratta Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.4% of all households, including 30.4% couples with children, 37.2% couples without children, and 6.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.6%, with lone person households at 22.8% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Wangaratta Surrounds aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 21.8%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (3.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (3.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them. Advanced diplomas account for 13.0% and certificates for 29.4%.

Educational participation is high at 27.0%, including 10.3% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 2.1% in tertiary education.

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

Wangaratta Surrounds has 21 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train services. These are covered by seven distinct routes, collectively facilitating 96 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is limited, with residents located an average of 2910 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most commuters travel outward, relying mainly on cars (92%), with walking accounting for 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 2.2 per dwelling, exceeding regional norms. According to the 2021 Census, 21.4% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 13 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly four weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Wangaratta Surrounds is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Wangaratta Surrounds shows better-than-average health outcomes according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups have low incidence of common health conditions.

Private health insurance coverage is quite low at approximately 49% (~4,934 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.4%) and asthma (8.6%). About 65.6% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Regional Vic's 63.4%. Working-age residents have a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. There are 24.6% seniors aged 65 and over (2,485 people). Health outcomes among seniors rank even better than the general population nationally.

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

Wangaratta Surrounds had a low cultural diversity, with 91.1% of its population being Australian citizens and 96.2% speaking English only at home. Most residents were born in Australia, at 91.9%. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 51.3% of people, compared to 47.3% across Regional Vic.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.6%), Australian (31.0%), and Irish (10.7%). Notably, Scottish ancestry was higher than average at 9.7%, while Italian was 4.7% and Dutch was 1.4%.

Wangaratta Surrounds hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Wangaratta Surrounds has a median age of 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Regional Vic. average of 43 and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 15.5% of the population, while those aged 25-34 comprise only 7.3%, which is comparatively smaller than in Regional Vic.. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.7% to 8.3% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.1% to 10.2%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 14.8% to 12.6%, and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 16.7% to 15.5%. By 2041, Wangaratta Surrounds is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 35 to 44 group will grow by 36%, reaching 1,628 people from the current 1,194, while the 15 to 24 group will display more modest growth of 0%, adding only 4 residents.