Estella
A 34-year median age, 71.9 household-income percentile and 82.5% separate-house share give Estella a younger, higher-income and family-oriented profile than the national pattern. Its 2,541 residents are concentrated across only 1.99 sq km, producing density of 1,278.6 people per sq km. Compared with nearby Boorooma, the suburb's appeal is its compact detached-house setting and four-plus-bedroom share of 45.7%, while car dependence is clear at 82.1% driving to work. The trade-off is limited public transport use at 0.8%, so household location and vehicle access matter more than they would in a transit-led suburb.
Local council: Wagga Wagga
Population
2,541
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,920/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
43
Estella suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment living. Separate houses account for 82.5%, compared with 4.9% apartments and 12.6% semi-detached homes; 45.7% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, above the 35.1% with three bedrooms. The reported mortgage cost is $1,667 per month, while weekly rent is $380, and mortgage payments equal 20.1% of household income, close to the 19.8% rent-to-income measure. A 25.4% outright-ownership share is lower than the 34.7% mortgaged share, indicating a substantial group of households still paying down loans. Because larger homes dominate, buyers should compare land, age and maintenance as carefully as the number of bedrooms.
For Buyers
Estella suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment living. Separate houses account for 82.5%, compared with 4.9% apartments and 12.6% semi-detached homes; 45.7% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, above the 35.1% with three bedrooms. The reported mortgage cost is $1,667 per month, while weekly rent is $380, and mortgage payments equal 20.1% of household income, close to the 19.8% rent-to-income measure. A 25.4% outright-ownership share is lower than the 34.7% mortgaged share, indicating a substantial group of households still paying down loans. Because larger homes dominate, buyers should compare land, age and maintenance as carefully as the number of bedrooms.
For Investors
Estella's investor case rests on a sizeable rental base and ongoing building activity rather than a high-density apartment profile. Renters represent 30.5% of households, while the weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 8.0%. The renter share is lower than the 34.7% mortgaged-owner share, which points to a mixed-tenure market rather than a predominantly investor-held one. Forty-one development applications were recorded over 12 months, including a two-dwelling attached dual occupancy, so supply additions may be higher than in a fully established pocket. Because 82.5% of homes are separate houses, maintenance and land-related costs should be compared with achievable rent before buying. Car dependence at 82.1% also makes tenant demand sensitive to parking and road access.
Development Activity
Total DAs
113
Last 12 Months
43
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+168.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Estella is younger and more university-educated than the national profile: median age is 34, six years below national, while university attainment is 34.8%, 4.7 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 15.4%, 6.2 points below national, consistent with an Anglo-leaning rather than migrant-majority profile. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 1,001, 313 and 288. Average household size is 2.6, 0.1 above national, and couples with children make up 47.4% of families, compared with 36.4% couples without children. That mix supports demand for larger dwellings and practical family services.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.5%
Houses
12.6%
Townhouse
4.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Estella's housing stock is weighted toward conventional family homes: 82.5% are separate houses, 12.6% semi-detached and 4.9% apartments. Four-plus-bedroom dwellings account for 45.7%, higher than the 35.1% three-bedroom share, while two-bedroom homes represent 13.8%. Tenure is mixed, with 34.7% mortgaged, 30.5% rented and 25.4% owned outright; the mortgage group is higher than the outright-owner group. Housing stress indicators are moderate, with mortgage costs at 20.1% of household income and rent at 19.8%. The result is more family-space capacity than an apartment-led market, but buyers should compare land, age and maintenance differences rather than rely on dwelling type alone.
Mortgage / mo
$1,667
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $380.
$530
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $550 · units $420
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$916
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
78
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.4%
Couples with children
36.4%
Couples, no children
14.6%
Single parent
623
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment in Estella is anchored by essential and institutional sectors. Healthcare accounts for 25.7% of industry employment, followed by Education at 17.9%, Public Administration at 9.0%, Construction at 8.2% and Retail at 6.6%. This concentration is higher in care and education than in construction or retail, helping explain the suburb's professional and service-worker profile. Professionals number 319, Community and Personal Service workers 208, Trades 186, Labourers 140 and Clerical/Admin workers 123. The labour-force participation rate is 64.9%, unemployment is 3.0% and full-time employment is 62.7%; household income sits at the 71.9th percentile, above the national midpoint. These indicators support spending power, but also tie demand to public, health and education employment.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
1,324
Unemployed
40
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.7%
Part-time
32.3%
Participation
64.9%
Employed
1,284
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.8%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
15.4%
Dwellings
880
Transport to Work
Estella is practical for drivers but less suited to households seeking transit-led routines. Car drivers account for 82.1% of commuters, compared with only 0.8% using public transport and 1.2% walking or cycling; 9.2% work from home. The 1.99 sq km area and density of 1,278.6 people per sq km mean destinations may be relatively close, but the travel pattern still depends heavily on cars, likely because daily employment and services are distributed beyond the immediate pocket. A 34 median age and 47.4% family-with-children share reinforce demand for reliable shopping, recreation and everyday access. Safety decisions should use current NSW Police information and inspections at different times, as no suburb-level crime rate or SEIFA decile supports a simple ranking.
Drive
82.1%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
9.2%
Growth Outlook
Estella has a clear current expansion signal through residential activity rather than a large land footprint. Forty-one development applications were recorded in 12 months, including a one-dwelling house and a two-dwelling attached dual occupancy. With 2,541 residents across 1.99 sq km, Estella is already denser than a low-density fringe setting, so further change is more likely to come through infill and household turnover than broad undeveloped expansion. The 33.4% turnover rate is below the 66.6% share who stayed at the same address, indicating a settled base alongside ongoing movement. Compared with a fully mature suburb, that combination points to gradual change, but buyers should inspect each project for traffic, privacy and construction impacts.
Population trend: Wagga Wagga council area
Estella sits in the Wagga Wagga council area. These are the council area's residents, not Estella's.
Residents 2025
69,108
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Estella compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Estella a good suburb to live in?
Estella suits households seeking detached homes, larger floorplans and a younger residential setting. The median age is 34, 82.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 45.7% have four or more bedrooms. The main trade-off is car dependence, with 82.1% driving to work compared with 0.8% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Estella?
Estella's median house price should be checked against current comparable sales for the exact dwelling type. The suburb is 82.5% separate houses and 45.7% four-plus-bedroom homes, so a headline figure can conceal differences between two-bedroom stock, family homes and newer or renovated properties.
What schools are in Estella?
Families should verify the assigned school and enrolment zone for each address, because boundaries can differ across the northern Wagga Wagga area. Estella has a median age of 34 and 47.4% of families are couples with children, making practical access to education services an important part of the housing search.
Is Estella safe?
Use current NSW Police incident information and inspect the street during daytime and evening before deciding. Estella has 2,541 residents and a 33.4% turnover rate, so address-level checks remain sensible for any buyer or renter rather than relying on a suburb-wide assumption.
Is Estella good for property investment?
Estella may suit a long-term investor seeking detached housing and established tenant demand. Renters account for 30.5% of households, weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 8.0%. However, 41 development applications in 12 months could add supply, so investors should compare purchase costs, maintenance and achievable rent carefully.
How is Estella's population changing?
Current indicators suggest ongoing but not entirely transient change. Estella has 2,541 residents, a 33.4% turnover rate and 66.6% of residents staying at the same address. Forty-one development applications in 12 months, including one house and a two-dwelling dual occupancy, point to incremental housing activity rather than one large project.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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