Wagga Wagga, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Wagga Wagga NSW is 7,198 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Wagga Wagga is $819 per week ($42,588 per year). Median rent in Wagga Wagga is $295 per week ($1,278 per month). Wagga Wagga has a median age of 38 years, equal to the national median. Wagga Wagga has a population density of 813 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Wagga Wagga is India. The most common religion is No religion (31.5% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Wagga Wagga is $1,517.

There were 705 recorded offences in Wagga Wagga in 2025-26, a rate of 98 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (279 offences).

Population
7,198
Census 2021
Median income
$819/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$295/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
38years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Wagga Wagga vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Wagga Wagga is $819 a week, 7% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 869th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $295 a week, $90 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 21.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 38, 5 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureWagga WaggaTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$819/wk$765/wk +7%$766/wk
Household income$1,355/wk$1,704/wk −20%$1,637/wk
Rent$295/wk$385/wk −23%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,517/mo$1,965/mo −23%$1,733/mo
Median age3843 −5 yrs42
Rent share of household income21.8%22.6% −0.8 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Wagga Wagga, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Wagga Wagga Population

7,198 residents at the 2021 Census.

Wagga Wagga Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$819/wk
$42,588 per year
Ranked 3,271 of 14,663
Median Rent
$295/wk
$1,278 per month
Ranked 5,069 of 14,663
Median Age
38years
Same as the national median
Mortgage
$1,517/mo
Avg household size: 1.9 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Wagga Wagga Rent Prices & Affordability

22% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,355/wk
Median rent $295/wk
Rent to income 21.8%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Wagga Wagga against your income

About $5,872 a month
Median rent $295/wk
Left after rent $1,060/wk
Rent share 21.8%

Wagga Wagga Schools

19
schools nearby
11
government
961
avg ICSEA score
5,702
total students
Saint Mary MacKillop Colleges Limited Independent
Combined · K-12 · 198 students
1078
ICSEA
St Joseph's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 166 students
1050
ICSEA
Wagga Wagga Christian College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 563 students
1033
ICSEA
Henschke Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 603 students
1029
ICSEA
Kildare Catholic College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 972 students
1028
ICSEA
South Wagga Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 266 students
1027
ICSEA
Wagga Wagga Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 440 students
1008
ICSEA
North Wagga Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 181 students
999
ICSEA
Sturt Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 306 students
966
ICSEA
Wagga Wagga High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 818 students
960
ICSEA
Turvey Park Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 283 students
944
ICSEA
Holy Trinity West Wagga Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 242 students
938
ICSEA
Willans Hill School Government
Combined · U · 71 students
929
ICSEA
The Bidgee School Government
Combined · U · 48 students
896
ICSEA
Shepherds Park School Government
Secondary · U · 17 students
870
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 19 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Wagga Wagga, with a map

Wagga Wagga Map

Wagga Wagga, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Wagga Wagga, New South Wales: 35.1071°S, 147.3606°E

Wagga Wagga Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (19)

People in Wagga Wagga

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.7% (3,430) Female 52.3% (3,765)

Population Density

813
people per km²
7,198 people · 8.8 km²

Households

1.9
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,932
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

India
2.3%
Iraq
1.9%
England
1.5%
Nepal
0.8%
China
0.7%
New Zealand
0.6%
Philippines
0.5%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Punjabi
0.9%
Nepali
0.8%
Mandarin
0.8%
Arabic
0.6%
Malayalam
0.6%
Vietnamese
0.5%
Urdu
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
39.1%
Australian
34.6%
Irish
15.9%
Scottish
11.6%
German
5.4%
Australian Aboriginal
3.8%
Indian
2.4%
Italian
2.1%
Chinese
1.8%
Dutch
1.0%
Filipino
0.8%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
31.5%
Catholic
26.9%
Anglican
13.6%
Not stated
7.2%
Presbyterian and Reformed
3.7%
Other religions
3.2%
Uniting Church
2.8%
Other religious groups
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
35.6% 2,246
Separated
3.7% 231
Divorced
9.7% 611
Widowed
7.8% 491
Never married
43.3% 2,735

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
37.6%
Couple: children under 15
36.2%
Couple: no children under 15
10.8%
One parent: no children under 15
8.0%
One parent: children under 15
7.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
45.8%
2 persons
32.1%
3 persons
10.5%
4 persons
7.2%
5 persons
2.9%
6+ persons
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Wagga Wagga

Housing Tenure

Of the 3,297 occupied private dwellings in Wagga Wagga at the 2021 Census, 50.5% were rented, 27.4% owned outright and 17.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
3.4% 111 dwellings
Owned outright
27.4% 902 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
17.4% 573 dwellings
Rented
50.5% 1,666 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.5% 48 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
72.4%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
19.7%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
7.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
7.6%
2 bedrooms
40.5%
3 bedrooms
36.4%
4 bedrooms
12.4%
5 bedrooms
2.4%
6+ bedrooms
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.0%
$300-$449/mo
1.9%
$450-$599/mo
2.3%
$600-$799/mo
4.0%
$800-$999/mo
8.1%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
22.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
22.1%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
19.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
6.2%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
13.6%
1 vehicle
48.5%
2 vehicles
27.4%
3 vehicles
7.3%
4+ vehicles
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Wagga Wagga

Employment

Employed full-time
40.5% 2,312 people
Employed part-time
19.8% 1,133 people
Unemployed
3.4% 193 people
Not in labour force
36.3% 2,076 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
37.4%
Technicians & Trade Workers
14.1%
Managers
13.2%
Community & Personal Service
11.7%
Clerical & Administrative
9.6%
Labourers
6.3%
Sales Workers
5.3%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.4%
$1-$149/wk
0.5%
$150-$299/wk
2.1%
$300-$399/wk
3.5%
$400-$499/wk
8.1%
$500-$649/wk
6.5%
$650-$799/wk
6.7%
$800-$999/wk
8.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.4%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.4%
$4,000+/wk
7.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
6.3%
$1-$149/wk
3.5%
$150-$299/wk
6.7%
$300-$399/wk
3.8%
$400-$499/wk
4.2%
$500-$649/wk
3.8%
$650-$799/wk
10.8%
$800-$999/wk
11.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.4%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
8.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.7%
$3,500+/wk
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
67.0%
Walked only
13.0%
Did not go to work
10.2%
Car (passenger)
6.0%
Bus
1.1%
Bicycle
1.1%
Other
0.5%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.4%
Truck
0.4%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
61.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
25.2%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.0%
Year 9 or equivalent
6.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
32.9%
Certificate III/IV
32.3%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.4%
Postgraduate Degree
12.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.7%
Certificate I/II
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Health
20.0%
Management & Commerce
19.6%
Society & Culture
12.9%
Engineering
11.8%
Education
9.3%
Architecture & Building
6.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.1%
Creative Arts
4.4%
Agriculture & Environment
4.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.2%
Information Technology
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
25.3%
Vocational Education
24.5%
Secondary: Government
14.0%
Pre-school
10.7%
Primary: Catholic
8.8%
Secondary: Catholic
8.3%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.6%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
86.5%
Has need for assistance
7.7%
Need for assistance not stated
5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
908
Asthma
318
Arthritis
261
Lung condition
210
Heart disease
193
Diabetes
183
Cancer
123
Kidney disease
104
Stroke
88
Dementia
31

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.3% 721
Did not provide
87.7% 5,143

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
18.0% 1,059
Not a volunteer
82.0% 4,840

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
1.2% 71
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 14
Previously served
2.8% 166
Never served
95.8% 5,663

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
45.1%
1 child
11.1%
2 children
20.6%
3 children
15.1%
4 children
6.2%
5+ children
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
13
1951: 1960
46
1961: 1970
52
1971: 1980
53
1981: 1990
52
1991: 2000
76
2001: 2010
179
2011: 2015
179
2016
65
2017
98
2018
108
2019
145
2020
60
2021
40

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

23.9%
moved in the last year
55.5%
moved in the last 5 years
5.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
60.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
5,049
Moved from NSW
963
Moved: same area (SA2)
312
Moved from VIC
97
Moved from overseas
84
Moved from QLD
57
Moved from ACT
21
Moved from SA
10
Moved from NT
6
Moved from WA
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
23.7%
5: 14 hours
30.0%
15: 29 hours
10.2%
30+ hours
6.1%
Did not do domestic work
29.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
87.8%
Step family: no other children
9.6%
Blended family: no other children
1.8%
Intact family: other children present
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Wagga Wagga Crime Statistics

705 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
279
Theft
194
Assault
76
Other Against Person
50
Drug Offences
37
Property Damage
31
Sexual Offences
18
Weapons
17
Traffic
2
Robbery
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Wee Waa
Income: $689/wk Rent: $200/wk $95/wk less rent
Buronga
Income: $772/wk Rent: $203/wk $92/wk less rent
Moree
Income: $851/wk Rent: $230/wk $65/wk less rent
North Albury
Income: $673/wk Rent: $240/wk $55/wk less rent
Leeton
Income: $763/wk Rent: $250/wk $45/wk less rent
Blayney
Income: $696/wk Rent: $265/wk $30/wk less rent
Condobolin
Income: $668/wk Rent: $200/wk $95/wk less rent
Narromine
Income: $710/wk Rent: $250/wk $45/wk less rent

Suburbs near Wagga Wagga

The closest suburb to Wagga Wagga is Turvey Park, 2.3 km away.

Turvey Park
2.3 km away · income $912/wk · rent $338/wk
Ashmont
3.3 km away · income $577/wk · rent $220/wk
Mount Austin
3.4 km away · income $612/wk · rent $250/wk
Estella
3.6 km away · income $916/wk · rent $380/wk
Kooringal (NSW)
3.6 km away · income $777/wk · rent $270/wk
Boorooma
3.9 km away · income $1,060/wk · rent $415/wk

Compare Wagga Wagga

Frequently Asked Questions About Wagga Wagga

What is the population of Wagga Wagga NSW?

The population of Wagga Wagga NSW is 7,198 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 813 people per km². Wagga Wagga is ranked #1,016 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Wagga Wagga?

The median personal income in Wagga Wagga NSW is $819 per week, or $42,588 per year. The median household income is $1,355 per week. Family income is $1,932 per week. Wagga Wagga is ranked #3,271 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Wagga Wagga?

Median rent in Wagga Wagga NSW is $295 per week ($1,278 per month). Rent represents 21.8% of household income, which is considered affordable. Wagga Wagga ranks #5,069 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Wagga Wagga?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Wagga Wagga NSW is $1,517. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Wagga Wagga?

The median age in Wagga Wagga NSW is 38 years. This is equal to the national median age of 38 years.

Is Wagga Wagga a good suburb to live in?

Wagga Wagga is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 7,198. The median income is $819/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (21.8% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 14101. All dollar figures in AUD.