Wantirna South

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

Wantirna South's population is approximately 18,453 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 511 people, a 2.8% rise from the 2021 Census count of 17,942. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 18,389 in June 2024 and validated new addresses since then. This results in a population density of 1,381 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wantirna South's growth rate of 2.8% since the census is close to the SA4 region's rate of 4.0%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

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 SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and the latest annual ERP population numbers, Wantirna South is expected to grow by approximately 1,440 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of around 7.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Wantirna South has seen approximately 82 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 410 homes were approved, with another 39 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline, the new supply appears to meet demand, offering varied housing options for buyers.

The average construction cost of new properties is $424,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels, suggesting quality construction emphasis. This year has seen $48.7 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Wantirna South maintains similar development levels per capita, preserving market balance with surrounding areas. The new building activity comprises 38.0% detached houses and 62.0% medium-high density housing, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This shift from the existing 77.0% houses reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles.

With around 337 people per dwelling approval, Wantirna South exhibits low-density characteristics. By 2041, population is projected to increase by 1,375 residents. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating further population growth beyond projections.

Wantirna South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 34 projects likely impacting the region. Notable ones are Heart of Knox Project, Waverley One Estate, Mirvac Wantirna South (Boral Quarry Development), and Knox Off the Plan Developments. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Wantirna South maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Wantirna South has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 3.6% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8% over the past year.

In September 2025, 9,549 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 1.1% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Wantirna South was 60.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Wholesale trade shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level, while transport, postal & warehousing has lower representation at 3.3% compared to the regional average of 5.2%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 0.8%, labour force increased by 0.9%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% over the same period. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wantirna South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming constant population growth for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Wantirna South SA2 has median income of $50,029 and average income of $64,255. This is similar to national averages but lower than Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. As of September 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $56,113 (median) and $72,068 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022. According to Census 2021 income data, Wantirna South SA2 has household income at the 54th percentile ($1,821 weekly) and personal income at the 32nd percentile. Income brackets indicate that 30.7% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually (5,665 individuals), which is similar to metropolitan regions at 32.8%. After housing costs, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Wantirna South, as per the latest Census, consisted of 77.3% houses and 22.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 83.4% houses and 16.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wantirna South stood at 42.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.4% and rented ones at 22.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Wantirna South was $426, compared to Melbourne metro's $400. Nationally, Wantirna South's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Wantirna South has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 76.4% of all households, including 39.2% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.6%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

Wantirna South shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 37.5% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA3 area rate of 30.7%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.2% and certificates for 15.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.1% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 6.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wantirna South has 128 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 32 different routes that collectively facilitate 7,987 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 180 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 1,141 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 62 weekly trips per individual stop.

Wantirna South's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Wantirna South's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks.

Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts at a fairly standard level. Private health cover is held by approximately 52% of the total population (~9,577 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.7 and 7.0% of residents respectively. A majority, 69.7%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.4% across Greater Melbourne. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 25.4% (4,677 people) of the population, higher than Greater Melbourne's 19.5%. Health outcomes among seniors in Wantirna South are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

Wantirna South is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Wantirna South has a high level of cultural diversity, with 43.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 45.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Wantirna South, comprising 49.1% of people. Buddhism makes up 5.9% of the population, which is higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (21.7%), English (19.0%), and Australian (16.4%). There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Sri Lankan at 1.5% compared to the regional average of 1.4%, Korean at 0.8% versus 0.5%, and Indian at 4.7% compared to 3.3%.

Wantirna South hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Wantirna South has a median age of 44, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and the national norm of 38. The age group of 65-74 shows strong representation at 13.2% compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 9.8%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.0% to 8.3%, and the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 12.4% to 13.7%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 13.9% to 12.2%, and the 25 to 34 group has dropped from 11.2% to 9.8%. Demographic modeling suggests that Wantirna South's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 75 to 84 group projected to grow by 51%, reaching 2,322 people from 1,537. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 75% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to experience population declines.