Wodonga
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Wodonga's population is around 15,015 as of Nov 2025. This reflects a decrease of 67 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,082 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,897 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 84 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 495 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 58.3% 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 with adjustments made 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, the area is forecast to expand by 3,720 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, with an increase of 23.9% in total over these 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Wodonga, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Wodonga averaged approximately 38 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 191 homes. As of FY26, 27 approvals have been recorded. The area has experienced population decline, suggesting that new supply may be meeting demand and offering good choice to buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $441,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

This financial year, $4.5 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of Vic., Wodonga has significantly less development activity, 64.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity may strengthen demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, development activity is also lower, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity shows 62.0% detached dwellings and 38.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating an expanding range of medium-density options across various price brackets. This reflects a considerable change from the current housing mix of 83.0% houses, addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 607 people, reflecting Wodonga's quiet development environment. By 2041, Wodonga is projected to grow by 3,586 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Wodonga has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 26 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include The Quarter - Mixed Use Development, Brockley Street Bridge Replacement, Mann Central Shopping Complex Stage 2, and Junction Place Urban Renewal Precinct. The following list details those considered 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.

Employment conditions in Wodonga face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Wodonga has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services well represented. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 9.2%.

There are 6,835 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 5.4% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation is on par with Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing shows strong specialization, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.2% of Wodonga's workforce compared to 7.5% in Rest of Vic.. The ratio of 0.8 workers for each resident indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force increased by 1.5%, while employment declined by 1.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 2.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. experienced an employment decline of 0.9% and a labour force decline of 0.4%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Wodonga's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.1%% over five years and 13.1% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022, Wodonga's median income among taxpayers is $51,163. The average income in Wodonga for the same period was $58,293. These figures are lower than the national averages. In comparison, Rest of Vic.'s median income was $48,741 and average income was $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% between financial year 2022 and September 2025, current estimates for median income in Wodonga would be approximately $57,384 and average income would be around $65,381. Census data indicates that personal income ranks at the 32nd percentile ($717 weekly), while household income sits at the 14th percentile. Distribution data shows that 28.9% of Wodonga's community (4,339 individuals) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band, which is similar to the broader area where this cohort also represents 30.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Wodonga, with only 84.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 16th percentile.

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

The latest Census in Wodonga showed that 82.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 17.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro Vic., where 91.6% of dwellings were houses and 8.5% were other types. Home ownership in Wodonga stood at 31.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.0% and rented ones at 41.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,473. Median weekly rent in Wodonga was $260, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $280. Nationally, Wodonga's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wodonga features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 60.5% of all households, including 20.0% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 14.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 39.5%, with lone person households at 36.3% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Wodonga fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 16.9%, significantly below the Victorian average of 33.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 11.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (30.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education. A network of nine schools operates within Wodonga, educating approximately 5,817 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 974) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes four primary, two secondary, and three K-12 schools. The area functions as an education hub, with 38.8 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 17.6, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show '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

Wodonga has 123 active public transport stops. These include both train and bus services. There are 46 different routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes provide a combined 1022 passenger trips. Residents have excellent access to transport, with an average distance of 195 meters to the nearest stop. On average, there are 146 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wodonga is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Critical health challenges are evident in Wodonga, with various health conditions impacting both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 49% (~7,342 people) of the total population has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 12.2 and 9.8% of residents respectively. Around 59.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 64.1% in the rest of Victoria. The area has 20.7% (3,103 people) of residents aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

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

Wodonga, as per the census conducted on Tuesday 9 June 2016, was below average in cultural diversity. It had 88.6% of its population being Australian citizens, with 86.3% born in Australia and 91.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 48.6% of Wodonga's population.

However, Hinduism showed an overrepresentation, making up 1.5% compared to 0.8% across the rest of Victoria. In terms of ancestry, Australian was the top group with 30.1%, followed by English at 29.5% and Irish at 8.9%. Notable divergences included German being overrepresented at 5.3% (regional average: 4.8%), Serbian at 0.4% (regional average: 0.2%) and Croatian at 0.6% (regional average: 0.4%).

Wodonga's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Wodonga is 40 years, which is slightly below the Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. Compared to the Rest of Vic., the 25-34 cohort makes up 15.5% of Wodonga's population, a notable increase from 13.5% in the 2021 Census. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 11.9% to 10.6%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are projected for Wodonga. The 25-34 age cohort is expected to grow by 1,350 people (58%), reaching 3,675 residents, while the 15-24 group will increase by only 27 residents at a growth rate of 1%.