Wallan
Growth, not size, defines Wallan: the population is 15,004 within 69.61 sq km, yet the forecast points to 3.7% annual growth and 1,124 extra residents a year. The median age is 33, 7 years below the national benchmark, so services lean toward families and commuters rather than retirees. Housing is overwhelmingly detached at 92.7%, higher than inner Melbourne norms, and the $652,500 median house price keeps it below many established metro edges. Compared with Beveridge and Kilmore, Wallan reads as the larger service hub with more schools and a train-linked commuter role, but its 105.4 crimes per 1,000 residents is a watchpoint.
Population
15,004
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,914/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$652K
Apr-Jun 2024
For homebuyers, Wallan suits buyers wanting land and 4 bedroom stock more than apartment choice: 92.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 57.5% have 4 or more bedrooms and apartments are only 0.1%. The $652,500 median house price in Apr-Jun 2024 sits at the latest peak, after a 91.1% rise from 2013 and a 4.7% CAGR over 14 years. Mortgage pressure is moderate because repayments are 20.9% of household income, below common stress thresholds, while household income sits in the 71.5 percentile nationally. The trade-off is car dependence, with 90.9% driving to work.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Wallan suits buyers wanting land and 4 bedroom stock more than apartment choice: 92.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 57.5% have 4 or more bedrooms and apartments are only 0.1%. The $652,500 median house price in Apr-Jun 2024 sits at the latest peak, after a 91.1% rise from 2013 and a 4.7% CAGR over 14 years. Mortgage pressure is moderate because repayments are 20.9% of household income, below common stress thresholds, while household income sits in the 71.5 percentile nationally. The trade-off is car dependence, with 90.9% driving to work.
For Investors
Investors get a growth corridor market rather than a high-yield renter enclave. Renting is 21.8%, lower than many inner-suburban markets, and weekly rent is $360, but vacancy is elevated at 5.2%, so tenant selection and holding costs matter. Demand is supported by internal migration averaging 1,331 people a year, well above overseas migration at 110, because families are moving along the northern corridor. Development pressure is visible but not excessive, with 13 applications in 12 months, while rent growth of 20.3% in the shift period shows pricing has moved faster than local wages in parts of the market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
45
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-41.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wallan iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 698 students
Wallan Secondary College
7-12 · 948 students
Wallan Primary School
Prep-6 · 753 students
Demographics
Wallan is younger and more family weighted than Australia overall. The median age is 33, which is 7.0 years below the national benchmark, and the average household size is 3.0, 0.5 higher than the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 20.4%, only 1.2 percentage points below national, so the suburb is more Anglo-leaning than migrant-majority. English ancestry leads with 4,917 people, followed by Irish at 1,414 and Italian at 1,106, while Punjabi is the largest non-English language at 365 speakers. University attainment is 23.5%, 6.6 points below national, matching a trades, services and commuter workforce.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.7%
Houses
7.2%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Wallan is heavily tilted toward owner-occupiers with mortgages, which shapes street life and price sensitivity. Mortgaged households are 59.0%, far higher than outright owners at 19.3% and renters at 21.8%, so interest-rate changes matter more than in older suburbs. The house median moved from $341,500 in 2013 to $652,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 91.1% gain, and the latest price equals the peak, not a post-peak discount. Compared with Kilmore, Wallan has a newer mortgage-belt feel, with 57.5% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and only 4.6% having 2 bedrooms.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (Apr-Jun 2024)
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$360
Census 2021
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$844
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
267
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.2%
Couples, no children
13,025
Total families
Economy & Employment
Wallan's labour market is broad but still middle-income by SEIFA. Household income is in the 71.5 percentile, yet the education and occupation index is decile 4, lower than its economic resources decile 9, because many residents earn through trades, care, transport and admin rather than degree-heavy professional work. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.0%, followed by construction at 15.4%, education at 10.4%, manufacturing at 8.5% and public admin at 8.2%. Full-time work is strong at 67.3% of employed people, with unemployment at 5.1% and participation at 63.1%. The IRSAD decile 5 and IRSD decile 6 point to average social advantage nationally, not affluence across every street.
Unemployment
5.3%
Labour Force
16,227
Unemployed
866
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.3%
Part-time
27.6%
Participation
63.1%
Employed
6,783
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.5%
Postgraduate
6.1%
Born Overseas
20.4%
Dwellings
4,868
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for families who accept driving as the daily default. Only 1.7% use public transport for work, compared with 90.9% driving, so access to the station helps but does not remove car reliance. The school base is practical rather than elite: 3 local schools span Catholic and Government sectors, with ICSEA scores from 954 to 1039. Our Lady of the Way Catholic Primary is the highest ICSEA option at 1039 with 698 students, while Wallan Secondary College adds a local secondary pathway with 948 enrolments. Safety is the main caution, with 1,582 offences and 105.4 crimes per 1,000 residents, while IRSAD decile 5 is average nationally.
Drive
90.9%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.7%/yr
(+1,124 people/yr)
EstablishedWallan is in a high-growth phase, but the pattern is more new-household expansion than inner-suburb gentrification. The forecast trend is 3.7% annual growth, equal to about 1,124 extra residents a year, and the medium path reaches 35,100 people by 2031. Migration is led by internal movement at 1,331 net arrivals a year, well above 110 from overseas, because buyers are trading distance for larger homes and lower prices. The shift indicators are mixed: population changed 88.1% over 10 years, real income rose 12.0%, affordability improved from 47.9 to 41.9, and gentrification is labelled New development with a score of 0.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+110
Net Internal / yr
+1,331
Gentrification Signal
New development
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,582
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
105.4
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wallan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wallan a good suburb to live in?
Wallan can be a good fit if you want larger homes and a family-age profile: 57.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and the median age is 33. It is less suited to car-free living because 90.9% drive to work, higher than walk, cycle and public transport use combined.
What is the median house price in Wallan?
The median house price in Wallan is $652,500 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is also the recorded peak, after prices rose 91.1% from $341,500 in 2013, so buyers are paying more than earlier cycles rather than buying at a discount.
What schools are in Wallan?
Wallan has 3 local schools: Our Lady of the Way Catholic Primary School, Wallan Secondary College and Wallan Primary School. The ICSEA range is 954 to 1039, with both Government and Catholic options available.
Is Wallan safe?
Wallan recorded 1,582 offences, equal to 105.4 crimes per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 673, so safety should be assessed street by street rather than assumed from the family housing profile.
Is Wallan good for property investment?
Wallan can work for property investment if you prioritise growth over tight vacancy. Rents are $360 a week and renting is 21.8%, but vacancy is 5.2%, higher than a tight market. Internal migration of 1,331 people a year supports long-run demand.
How is Wallan's population changing?
Wallan is growing quickly, with a forecast trend of 3.7% a year, or about 1,124 extra residents annually. The medium path reaches 35,100 people by 2031, and growth is led more by internal migration at 1,331 net arrivals a year than overseas migration at 110.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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