West Wodonga
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in West Wodonga reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of Aug 2025, West Wodonga's population is approximately 15,683, showing an increase of 287 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 1.9% rise from the previous population of 15,396. The change was inferred from ABS estimates and additional validated new addresses post-Census. The current population density is around 101 persons per square kilometer. West Wodonga's growth rate since the Census is 1.9%, which is within 1.7 percentage points of its SA3 area's growth rate of 3.6%. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 54.6% of total population gains during 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, they utilise Victorian State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Nationally, non-metropolitan areas are projected to have above median population growth. By 2041, West Wodonga is expected to grow by approximately 3,318 persons, representing a total gain of about 20.9% over the 17-year period.

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

West Wodonga has received approximately 72 dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, West Wodonga totalled 364 dwelling approvals. As of FY-26, there have been 7 recorded approvals.

Over the past five financial years, an average of 0.9 new residents arrived per new home built. This matches or exceeds demand, providing buyers with more options and contributing to population growth that may exceed current expectations. The average construction value for new dwellings is $398,000, aligning with regional trends.

In FY-26, $12.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of Victoria, West Wodonga shows approximately 68% of construction activity per person and ranks among the 48th percentile nationally, suggesting limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established dwellings. New building activity comprises 91.0% detached dwellings and 9.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature by attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 350 people, reflecting its quiet development environment. By 2041, West Wodonga is projected to grow by 3,285 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

West Wodonga has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones are Wodonga Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion, Hydrogen Park Murray Valley Facility, Mars Wodonga Solar Thermal Plant, and Belvoir Village Motel Expansion - Additional 20 Motel Units. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment drivers in West Wodonga are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

West Wodonga has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, well-represented essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 5.6% as of June 2025. There are 7,689 residents employed, which is 1.8% higher than the Rest of Vic.'s unemployment rate of 3.8%.

The workforce participation rate is similar to the state average at 60.9%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing particularly stands out with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has a lower representation at 1.3% compared to the regional average of 7.5%.

The area may have limited local job opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. In the past year, labour force increased by 1.4%, while employment declined by 0.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Vic., where employment contracted by 0.9% and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Wodonga's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.1%% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

West Wodonga's median income among taxpayers was $51,396 in financial year 2022, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $58,580 during the same period. Comparing these figures with those of Rest of Vic., West Wodonga's median income was lower ($48,741) and its average income was slightly higher ($60,693). Based on a 10.11% growth in wages as indicated by the Wage Price Index from financial year 2022 to March 2025, estimated current incomes would be approximately $56,592 (median) and $64,502 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in West Wodonga rank modestly, between the 34th and 41st percentiles. Income distribution reveals that 34.2% of individuals earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 band (5,363 individuals), which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 30.3% in the same category. After accounting for housing costs, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses.

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

West Wodonga's dwelling structures in its latest Census comprised 88.7% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 91.6% houses and 8.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Wodonga was at 30.5%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (36.3%) or rented (33.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,387, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,473 and significantly lower than Australia's national figure of $1,863. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure in West Wodonga was recorded at $290, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $280 and substantially below the national figure of $375.

West Wodonga has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 69.2% of all households, including 27.3% couples with children, 27.1% couples without children, and 13.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.8%, with lone person households at 28.4% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the average for the Rest of Vic.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 15.9%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.0%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (30.3%). Educational participation is high at 29.7%, comprising 10.8% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.

West Wodonga has a network of 7 schools educating approximately 2,614 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 983) and balanced educational opportunities. The schools include 1 primary, 2 secondary, and 4 K-12 institutions. Note: for schools marked '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

The public transport analysis shows 68 active transport stops operating within West Wodonga as of 2021. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling 20 individual routes that provide 396 weekly passenger trips combined. The accessibility of transport in the area is rated good, with residents typically located 226 meters from their nearest transport stop.

On average, service frequency across all routes is 56 trips per day, which equates to approximately 5 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in West Wodonga, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 49% of the total population (~7,700 people) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 11.4% and 9.9% of residents respectively. A total of 61.4% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.1% in the rest of Victoria. West Wodonga has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.1% (2,989 people), compared to 20.7% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly consistent with those of the general population.

West Wodonga is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

West Wodonga had a low level of cultural diversity, with 91.3% of its population being citizens, 89.8% born in Australia, and 94.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 50.1% of West Wodonga's population, compared to 48.2% across the rest of Victoria. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (31.6%), English (30.3%), and Irish (8.4%).

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 5.3%, compared to 4.8% regionally, Dutch at 1.5% (vs 1.6%), and Hungarian at 0.3% (vs 0.2%).

West Wodonga's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in West Wodonga is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Vic., West Wodonga has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (13.5%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (6.1%). According to the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group increased from 12.5% to 13.5%, while the 5-14 cohort decreased from 13.9% to 12.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in West Wodonga's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 group is expected to grow by 59%, reaching 2,990 people from 1,878. Conversely, the 15-24 and 55-64 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.