Wagin

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

Wagin's population is 5,119 as of May 2026, an increase of 260 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,859. This change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures of 5,119 in June 2025 and 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 0.50 persons per square kilometer. Wagin's growth rate of 5.4% since the census is within 0.2 percentage points of its SA3 area's growth rate of 5.6%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 46.2% of overall population gains recently, with other factors like natural growth and interstate migration also positive. 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 utilises ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median for locations outside capital cities, expecting Wagin's population to rise by 279 persons to 5,418 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 5.5% over 16 years.

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

Wagin has experienced approximately 13 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 66 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved in FY26 so far. On average, 2.2 people have moved to the area annually for each new home constructed during these years, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $253,000, aligning with regional trends. This year has seen $9.1 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the Rest of WA, Wagin's new home approvals per capita are similar, suggesting market stability in line with regional patterns. However, this activity is below the national average, implying an established area potentially constrained by planning limitations.

Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking space for families. As of now, there are estimated to be 555 people per dwelling approval in the area, reflecting its quiet development environment. Population forecasts indicate Wagin will gain 279 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Wagin has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Area infrastructure performance is significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 29 such projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Darkan Swimming Pool Upgrade, Darkan Railway Reserve Upgrade, Regional Road Infrastructure Upgrades, and Narrogin BESS Project, with the following list detailing those of most relevance.

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

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Employment conditions in Wagin demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Wagin has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, diverse sector representation, and an unemployment rate of 1.8% as of December 2025. This rate is below Regional WA's rate of 3.5%. Workforce participation in Wagin is broadly similar to Regional WA's 66.0%.

According to Census responses, 19.0% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Wagin shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 4.3 times the regional level. Mining has limited presence, with 3.8% employment compared to Regional WA's 11.7%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Wagin's labour force decreased by 5.5%, while employment declined by 5.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Regional WA recorded employment growth of 1.0% and labour force growth of 1.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that over five years, national employment is expected to expand by 6.6%. Over ten years, this expansion is projected to be 13.7%. Applying these projections to Wagin's employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 4.6% over five years and 10.7% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The median income of taxpayers in Wagin SA2 is $52,140 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for the financial year 2023. The average income stands at $66,830. In comparison, Regional WA's median and average incomes are $59,973 and $74,392 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, estimated median income as of March 2026 is approximately $57,839, with average income estimated at $74,135. Census data shows personal income ranks at the 44th percentile ($779 weekly), while household income sits at the 24th percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 30.3% of Wagin SA2's community (1,551 individuals). Housing costs allow for retention of 92.1%, but disposable income ranks below average at the 35th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

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

In Wagin, as per the latest Census, 96.1% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 3.9% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Regional WA's 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wagin stood at 52.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.3% and rented ones at 20.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, below Regional WA's average of $1,560. The median weekly rent in Wagin was $190, compared to Regional WA's $265. Nationally, Wagin's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,083 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wagin has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 67.8% of all households, including 23.2% couples with children, 36.6% couples without children, and 7.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.2%, with lone person households at 29.6% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

Wagin faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 15.6%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 12.3%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.8%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.5%). Vocational credentials are common, with 36.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 27.6%. Educational participation is high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.9% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows ten active transport stops operating within Wagin. These comprise a mix of buses served by three individual routes, collectively offering 33 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 5370 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the dominant mode at 86%, with 9% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, some 19.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages four trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately three weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wagin is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Wagin faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~2,666 people), slightly lagging behind the average SA2 area at 56.4%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 10.9 and 7.2% of residents respectively. 66.1% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.3% across Regional WA. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 25.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,292 people), which is higher than the 19.2% in Regional WA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Wagin had a cultural diversity level below average, with 83.5% of its population being citizens, 85.6% born in Australia, and 97.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Wagin, making up 48.1% of people, compared to 44.6% across Regional WA. The top three ancestry groups were English (37.1%, higher than regional average of 31.3%), Australian (33.0%), and Scottish (8.0%).

Notably, Maori (1.0% vs regional 1.0%), New Zealand (0.8% vs 0.9%), and South Australian (0.5% vs 0.6%) groups had different representations compared to the regional averages.

Wagin hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Wagin's median age of 48 years exceeds Regional WA's average of 40 years, which is also older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to Regional WA, Wagin has a notably higher proportion of people aged 65-74 (15.7% locally vs. regional average), while those aged 35-44 are under-represented (11.5%). This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 9.1% to 10.4%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 14.5% to 15.7%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 16.8% to 14.9%, and the 45 to 54 age group dropped from 13.3% to 11.6%. Demographic modeling indicates that Wagin's age profile will significantly evolve by 2041. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to expand by 155 people (29%), increasing from 534 to 690. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 cohorts.