# Wangaratta - Benalla

Sub-region (SA3) · Area profile

Located in: Victoria › Rest of Vic.

Area: 6,546 km²

Spanning over 6,500 square kilometres of the Victorian countryside, Wangaratta - Benalla is a spacious regional community with a notably older population. The area is defined by a slower pace of life, where the typical resident is 47 and a quarter of all people are seniors. It is a place of stability and home ownership, with very few recent arrivals and a strong connection to the land. This creates a quiet, established character where most people live in detached family homes.

## Demographics & Identity

The community is far older than the national figure, with 25.9% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 6.1 points since 2011. Children under 15 make up 16.4% of the population, which is lower than most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 48,454 | +9.5% since 2011 |
| Median age | 47 yrs | +6.8% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 1.9% | +79.9% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 25.9% | +30.6% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 16.4% | -11.2% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 11.8% | +34.5% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 27.3%, Seniors (65+) 25.9%, Young adults (25–44) 20.4%, Children (0–14) 16.4%, Youth (15–24) 9.9%

**Marital status** — Married 47.3%, Never married 31.0%, Divorced 10.7%, Widowed 7.2%, Separated 3.7%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

This is a predominantly Australian-born community, with 84% born here and only 8.9% born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 8.9% | +13.9% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 84.0%, England 2.1%, New Zealand 0.7%, Italy 0.7%, India 0.6%, Philippines 0.5%, South Africa 0.2%, Nepal 0.2%, China 0.1%, Vietnam 0.1%

**Ancestry** — English 42.9%, Australian 40.2%, Irish 14.4%, Scottish 12.4%, Italian 5.2%, German 4.9%, Dutch 1.7%, Chinese 0.7%, Indian 0.6%, Filipino 0.5%, Greek 0.4%, Vietnamese 0.1%

## Language

English is the primary language for 89.1% of the population. Only 4.5% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the national average of 22.3%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 4.5% | +16.5% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.5% | +0.3% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 89.1%, Italian 0.9%, Punjabi 0.2%, Mandarin 0.2%, Tagalog 0.1%, Greek 0.1%, Arabic 0.1%, Hindi 0.1%, Vietnamese 0.1%, Cantonese 0.1%

## Religion

About 42.3% of residents have no religion, a figure that rose 19 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 47.6%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 42.3% | +81.6% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 47.6%, No religion 42.3%, Not stated 8.2%, Buddhism 0.7%, Hinduism 0.6%, Other religions 0.4%, Islam 0.3%, Judaism 0.0%

## Education & Qualifications

Educational attainment is lower than most areas, with 42.5% of people completing Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%. However, the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose 4.4 points since 2011 to 16.1%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 42.5% | +20.8% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 16.1% | +37.6% since 2011 |
| Schools | 34 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 4.28 | — |
| School enrolments | 7,640 | — |
| Average school size | 225 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 1,012 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 42.5%, Year 10 19.5%, Year 11 16.6%, Year 9 or below 13.2%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 34.8%, Bachelor degree 18.1%, Advanced diploma / diploma 16.2%, Graduate diploma / certificate 4.5%, Postgraduate degree 4.4%, Certificate I / II 2.2%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 13.9%, Health 13.3%, Management & commerce 12.1%, Society & culture 11.1%, Education 9.9%, Architecture & building 6.3%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.7%, Agriculture & environment 4.9%, Creative arts 2.1%, Natural & physical sciences 2.0%, Information technology 1.1%

## Income

Typical weekly household income is $1,284, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 12.3% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this has risen since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $705 | +43.9% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,284 | +44.3% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,707 | +48.8% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 6.7% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 12.3% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 32.4%, $1,500–$2,999 27.1%, Under $650 20.4%, $3,000–$3,999 7.0%, $4,000 or more 5.3%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 42.7%, $650–$1,499 33.6%, $1,500–$2,999 13.2%, $3,000 or more 2.1%

## Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions are common here, with 36% of people reporting one, which is well above the national figure. This is reflected in the 7.5% of people who need help with daily activities.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 36.0% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 10.8% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 7.5% | +32.1% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 12.5%, Asthma 11.0%, Mental health 10.8%, Other condition 8.7%, Heart disease 5.8%, Diabetes 5.6%, Cancer 3.9%, Lung condition 2.9%, Stroke 1.5%, Dementia 0.9%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 55.0%, One condition 22.9%, Two conditions 8.4%, Three or more 4.7%

## Community Participation

The area has a high rate of volunteering at 18.8%, well above the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid care is also common, with 15% of people providing help to others.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 18.8% | -27.2% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 15.0% | +14.3% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 24.0% | -10.6% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.4% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 24.1% | -9.7% since 2011 |

## First Nations

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 1.9% of the population. The First Nations unemployment rate is 8.6%, which is well below the national figure of 12.3%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 930 | — |
| First Nations median age | 22 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 34.0% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 8.6% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $535 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,384 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 4.0% | — |

## Family & Households

Living alone is much more common here than in most areas, accounting for 31.4% of households. Family sizes are smaller than usual, with only 2.3 people per home.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.3 | +0.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 14.8% | +2.1% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 31.4% | +5.6% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 49.4%, Couples without children 34.9%, One-parent families 14.8%, Other families 0.9%

**Household size** — 2 people 38.0%, 1 person 31.4%, 3 people 12.2%, 4 people 11.1%, 5 people 5.3%, 6 or more 2.0%

## Housing & Dwellings

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 89.8% of dwellings. A high 42.3% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%, and typical weekly rents are much lower than usual at $250.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $250 | +43.7% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,300 | +0.0% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.70 | -36.4% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 21.7% | -5.7% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 42.3% | +4.8% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 89.8% | +1.0% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 78.3% | +1.5% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 42.3%, Owned with a mortgage 31.3%, Rented 21.7%, Not stated 2.9%, Other tenure 1.9%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 89.8%, Townhouse / semi-detached 9.3%, Other dwelling 0.6%, Flat or apartment 0.1%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 47.3%, 4 bedrooms 26.8%, 2 bedrooms 15.8%, 5 or more 4.1%, 1 bedroom 2.9%, Studio / none 0.3%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 52.6%, Under $200 23.5%, $350–$549 17.3%, $550–$749 0.6%, $750 or more 0.2%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 42.9%, Under $1,000 26.9%, $1,800–$2,999 17.9%, $3,000 or more 6.3%

## Transport & Vehicles

Cars are essential here, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. This dependency is clear as 63.5% of workers drive to work.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 5.0% | -27.4% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 12.5% | +68.0% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.2% | -67.8% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 213 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 4.40 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 334.9 | — |
| Public transport routes | 42 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 63.5%, Worked at home 12.5%, Car (passenger) 4.7%, Walked 3.7%, Bicycle 1.0%, Bus 0.2%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 38.0%, 1 vehicle 33.0%, 3 vehicles 14.6%, 4 or more 9.4%, No vehicle 5.0%

## Migration & Movement

The population is relatively stable, with 33.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 33.2% | +1.5% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 12.5% | +39.6% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

The unemployment rate is 3.1%, which is among the lowest for similar areas. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, as well as manufacturing and construction.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | -34.2% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 56.6% | -4.6% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 56.4% | -3.9% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 17.2%, Manufacturing 10.0%, Construction 9.6%, Retail trade 9.0%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 8.3%, Education & training 8.1%, Accommodation & food 6.8%, Public administration & safety 6.1%, Transport & warehousing 3.7%, Other services 3.6%, Professional & technical 3.5%, Administrative & support 3.2%, Wholesale trade 1.9%, Finance & insurance 1.2%, Arts & recreation 1.1%, Rental & real estate 0.8%, Electricity, gas & water 0.7%, Media & telecommunications 0.6%, Mining 0.4%

**Occupations people work in** — Professionals 17.3%, Managers 15.3%, Technicians & trades 14.4%, Labourers 13.1%, Community & personal service 12.8%, Clerical & administrative 10.1%, Sales workers 8.3%, Machinery operators & drivers 6.9%

## Economy & Advantage

Population growth since 2021 has been 1.2%, which is well below the state figure of 8.0%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Population estimate | 48,879 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 1.2% | — |

## Environment & Climate

The area receives an average annual rainfall of 792mm, which is well above the state average of 510mm.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 792 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 22.0 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 8.0 | — |

## Walkability

Walkability is low, with only 50% of homes within a 15-minute-city walkshed, far below the state figure of 74.3%. Most residents are far less likely to be within a 15-minute walk of health services than those in the rest of Victoria.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 4.5 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 4.3 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 50.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 56.3% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 64.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 59.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 74.7% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 32.6% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 21.6 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 1 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 3.7% | — |

## Schools serving Wangaratta - Benalla

34 schools, 7,640 students, average ICSEA 1,012.

By sector: Government 23, Catholic 8, Independent 3

By type: Primary 24, Combined 5, Secondary 5

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cathedral College Wangaratta | Independent | Combined | — | 1,075 |
| Galen Catholic College | Catholic | Secondary | — | 973 |
| Benalla P-12 College | Government | Combined | — | 700 |
| Wangaratta High School | Government | Secondary | — | 595 |
| Wangaratta West Primary School | Government | Primary | — | 486 |
| Australian Christian College - Benalla | Independent | Combined | — | 465 |
| FCJ College | Catholic | Secondary | — | 451 |
| St Joseph's School | Catholic | Primary | — | 391 |
| St Bernard's School | Catholic | Primary | — | 356 |
| Rutherglen High School | Government | Secondary | — | 306 |

## Areas within Wangaratta - Benalla

[Benalla](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/204021063/benalla) · [Benalla Surrounds](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/204021064/benalla-surrounds) · [Rutherglen](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/204021065/rutherglen) · [Wangaratta](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/204021066/wangaratta) · [Wangaratta Surrounds](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/204021067/wangaratta-surrounds)

## Nearby areas

[Wodonga - Alpine](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/20403/wodonga-alpine) · [Shepparton](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/21603/shepparton) · [Upper Goulburn Valley](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/20401/upper-goulburn-valley) · [Moira](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/21602/moira) · [Albury](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/10901/albury) · [Yarra Ranges](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/21105/yarra-ranges) · [Campaspe](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/21601/campaspe) · [Baw Baw](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/20501/baw-baw)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/20402/wangaratta-benalla