Wagin (WA)

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Based on demographic evaluations from official updates for the surrounding region, combined with fresh locations confirmed by Districts after the Census, the suburb of Wagin has an estimated population of 1,531 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 83 people (5.7%) compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 1,448 people. This calculation is derived from a resident count of 1,531, calculated by Districts using the ABS June 2025 release of estimated resident population figures alongside an extra 31 validated new addresses identified after the Census date. This population level translates to a density of 6.1 persons per square kilometer, offering significant space per resident. The 5.7% growth rate for the suburb of Wagin since the 2021 census was higher than the SA3 area (5.6%), making it a leading growth locality in the region. Growth was mostly supported by arrivals from abroad, which represented roughly 51.0% of total population increases recently, though other contributors like arrivals from other states and natural increases also remained positive.

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The labor force comprises a balanced mix of professional and manual roles across diverse industries, with an unemployment rate of 6.4% based on aggregated figures. There are 677 residents employed as of March 2026, while the unemployment rate is 2.9% higher than the Regional WA benchmark of 3.5%, and the participation rate is notably lower at 55.3% compared to 65.6% for Regional WA. Census records indicate that a minor 6.4% of employees worked from home, although the influence of pandemic restrictions should be kept in mind.

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According to tax data from financial year 2023, taxpayers in this area earn less than the national average. The median income for taxpayers is $42,923, while the average income is $53,191, compared to Regional WA figures of $59,973 and $74,392. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of approximately $47,614 for the median and $59,005 for the average as of March 2026. Census findings place household, family, and individual incomes between the 6th and 14th percentiles across Australia. Income brackets show 29.6% of taxpayers (453 individuals) earning between $400 - 799, whereas the dominant bracket in the wider region is $1,500 - 2,999 at . Even though residents retain of their income after housing costs, overall disposable income sits at the th percentile nationally.

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Census data shows that standalone houses make up 92.8% of the housing stock, while other housing types (including apartments, semi-detached, and alternative dwellings) account for 7.2%, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings across Regional WA. Home ownership is high at 44.8%, while mortgaged properties represent 30.9% and rental properties make up 24.3%. The median monthly mortgage payment is $932 and the median weekly rent is $195, compared to Regional WA averages of $1,560 and $265. Locally, mortgage costs are much lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the national median of $375.

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Families make up 60.2% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 15.6%, couples without children at 32.4%, and single-parent households at 10.5%. Non-family households represent the remaining 39.8%, with single-person households at 37.7% and group housing at 2.9%. The median household occupancy is 2.1 people, which is below the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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Academic attainment levels present some difficulties, with university graduation rates (13.1%) falling well below the national figure of 30.4%. Among these, bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.4%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.4% and postgraduate degrees at 1.3%. Conversely, vocational and practical training is common, with 33.5% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 6.1% and certificates at 27.4%.

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There is 1 public transport stop in operation locally, offering bus services. This stop is serviced by 3 routes, which together provide 18 passenger trips per week. Transit access is modest, with residents living an average of 929 meters from the closest stop. Given the residential nature of the area, most workers commute out of the area, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel at 89%, while 7% of residents walk. The average number of motor vehicles per household is 1.5. A small share of 6.4% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic measures.

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Based on chronic illness trends and mortality data, health challenges are prominent in the community across various age groups, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is low at roughly 48% (~739 people). This compares to a coverage rate of 56.4% in Regional WA and a national average of 55.7%.

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The local population has lower levels of cultural diversity compared to average benchmarks, with citizens representing 80.4% of residents, Australian-born individuals representing 80.3%, and monolingual English speakers representing 94.9%. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, claimed by 46.4% of the population. The most distinct variance is in the Other category, which accounts for 1.0% of residents compared to 0.7% across Regional WA.

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The median age of 50 years is much higher than the Regional WA median of 40 and the national median of 38. The age distribution shows a high proportion of people aged 65 - 74 (17.7%), while the 45 - 54 bracket is small at 8.8% compared to Regional WA. The concentration of 65 - 74 year-olds is higher than the national share of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age bracket rose from 9.9% to 11.3% of the population, and the 65 to 74 bracket rose from 16.5% to 17.7%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group declined from to , and the to group dropped from to . By demographic shifts are expected, led by a expansion ( people) in the to age bracket, growing from to residents. Meanwhile, the to and to brackets are projected to contract.

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Wagin currently has an estimated 90 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 52 children aged 0-2 and 35 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 29% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 29% by 2041 (to approximately 116 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 144. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 10.5 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.