Urban Area · Area profile
Wangaratta
58 km²
Typical weekly household incomes in Wangaratta are well below the national figure, but the area offers much more affordable housing. It is a noticeably older community where nearly a quarter of residents are seniors, and the typical age has climbed to 44. This shift toward an older population is reflected in the high number of people needing help with daily activities. While the population shrank by half since 2011, the town remains a walkable regional centre with a strong volunteer spirit.
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The community is aging quickly, with the typical resident now 44 and the proportion of people aged 65 and over rising to 24.7%. This is well above the national figure and represents a 9 point increase since 2011.
Ancestry is predominantly English, Australian, and Irish, with only 9.8% of people born overseas. This is far below the national figure and has fallen since 2011.
English is the main language for 88.5% of the population. Only 6% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national average.
About 41.3% of residents report having no religion, a figure that has risen 16 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 49.1%.
Qualifications are rising, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher growing to 16.7%. However, this remains well below the national figure.
Typical weekly household incomes of $1,242 are well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 11.6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas; 37.2% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 8.7% of residents need help with daily tasks.
Volunteering is more common than in most areas, with 16.2% of people pitching in. Unpaid care is also high, with 14.7% of people providing support to others.
Homes are smaller than usual, with just 2.2 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, who make up 34.5% of the population.
Housing is affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $260, which is well below the national figure. Detached houses dominate the landscape, and 37.3% of homes are owned outright.
Cars are the primary way to get around, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. This is among the lowest rates for its level.
The population is relatively stable, as fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to most other areas. Recent overseas arrivals make up 14.3% of the community.
The unemployment rate is a low 3.4%, which is a little below the national figure. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, the most common industry at 21.5%.
The town is very walkable, with 79.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. While public transport and parks are easy to reach, health services are far less accessible by foot than in other parts of the state.