Wantirna South
Wantirna South reads as one of Knox's more settled family-house markets, with 77.7% separate houses, a $1,255,800 median house price and household income in the 71.5th percentile. Beside Wantirna and Knoxfield, its point of difference is scale: 20,754 residents across 14.16 sq km, plus large dwellings rather than apartment density. The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, while 47.2% born overseas and 51.0% university qualification rates sit well above national benchmarks.
Population
20,754
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,915/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
31
Median House
$1.3M
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers are mainly paying for land, school access and larger dwellings: 51.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 77.7% are separate houses, while apartments are only 4.7%. The $1,255,800 median house price is below the Jul-Sep 2023 peak of $1,443,000 after a 13.0% pullback, so buyers have more leverage than at the top of the cycle. Mortgage pressure is contained at 26.1% of income because household income is relatively high, but entry costs still favour families with established equity.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are mainly paying for land, school access and larger dwellings: 51.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 77.7% are separate houses, while apartments are only 4.7%. The $1,255,800 median house price is below the Jul-Sep 2023 peak of $1,443,000 after a 13.0% pullback, so buyers have more leverage than at the top of the cycle. Mortgage pressure is contained at 26.1% of income because household income is relatively high, but entry costs still favour families with established equity.
For Investors
The investor case is income-stable rather than high-turnover: only 22.8% of homes are rented, below the 39.1% owned outright and 38.2% mortgaged shares, so listings can be thinner than renter-heavy suburbs. Median rent is $441 a week and rent growth in the forecast shift is 33.0%, but the 5.9% vacancy rate means tenant selection and presentation matter. With 10 development applications in 12 months, supply pressure is present but not at a major redevelopment level.
Development Activity
Total DAs
41
Last 12 Months
31
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+675.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wantirna South iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Andrews Christian College
Prep-12 · 719 students
The Knox School
Prep-12 · 764 students
Waverley Christian College
Prep-12 · 2370 students
Knox Gardens Primary School
Prep-6 · 458 students
Holy Trinity School
Prep-6 · 210 students
Demographics
Wantirna South is older, highly educated and strongly migrant-shaped. The median age is 42, which is 2.0 years above the national benchmark, and 7.0% need assistance, consistent with an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents make up 47.2%, 25.6 percentage points above national, while university attainment of 51.0% is 20.9 points above national. Chinese ancestry leads at 5,952 people, followed by English at 4,593 and Indian at 1,324, with Mandarin spoken by 1,477 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.7%
Houses
17.6%
Townhouse
4.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is detached and asset-rich, with 77.7% separate houses, 17.6% semi-detached homes and only 4.7% apartments. Prices have risen from $579,000 in 2013 to a $1,255,800 median in Apr-Jun 2024, a 116.9% gain and 5.7% CAGR over 14 years, though the latest price is 13.0% below the $1,443,000 peak. Ownership depth is a stabiliser because 39.1% own outright and 38.2% have a mortgage, while the price-to-income ratio is about 12.6 times household income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$441
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$751
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
456
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.0%
Couples, no children
17,620
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce tilts above average in skills and income, reflected in IRSAD decile 8 and IEO decile 7. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.0% and 1,254 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 11.6%, Education at 11.1%, Retail at 8.2% and Construction at 7.7%. Professionals number 2,904, with Managers at 1,467, so household incomes are supported by higher-skill work. Unemployment is 5.1% and participation is 58.3%; the lower participation fits the 6,223 not in the labour force and older age profile.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
7,702
Unemployed
294
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.9%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
58.3%
Employed
9,666
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.0%
Postgraduate
15.1%
Born Overseas
47.2%
Dwellings
7,266
Transport to Work
Livability is built around schools, car access and established amenity, but not train-style commuting. Six local schools span an ICSEA range of 1074 to 1166, led by St Andrews Christian College at 1166, The Knox School at 1159 and Waverley Christian College at 1141, with Independent, Government and Catholic options. Car driving dominates at 89.3%, while public transport commuting is only 2.9% and walking or cycling is 1.7%. IRSAD decile 8 supports above average advantage, though crime sits at 79.7 per 1,000, led by 1,048 property and deception offences.
Drive
89.3%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.05%/yr
(+7 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is modest compared with faster fringe markets: the forecast trend is only 0.05% a year, equal to about 7 people annually. The medium population path moves from 14,578 in 2026 to 14,614 in 2031, so demand is more replacement and migration-led than expansion-led. Migration is the key offset, with overseas inflow averaging +240 people a year against internal outflow of -169. Gentrification is labelled Early signs with a score of 20, while the broader shift remains aging, with seniors up 6.8 percentage points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+240
Net Internal / yr
-169
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -169/yr, Strong overseas inflow +240/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,654
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
79.7
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 Wantirna South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wantirna South a good suburb to live in?
Yes, especially for households wanting larger homes and strong school choice. Separate houses make up 77.7% of stock, 6 schools operate locally and IRSAD decile 8 points to above average advantage.
What is the median house price in Wantirna South?
The median house price is $1,255,800 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 13.0% below the Jul-Sep 2023 peak of $1,443,000, but still 116.9% above the 2013 level of $579,000.
What schools are in Wantirna South?
There are 6 local schools. The highest ICSEA schools are St Andrews Christian College at 1166, The Knox School at 1159 and Waverley Christian College at 1141, alongside Government and Catholic primary options.
Is Wantirna South safe?
Recorded crime is 79.7 offences per 1,000 residents, with 1,654 total offences. Property and deception offences are the largest category at 1,048, so home security and street-by-street checks remain important.
Is Wantirna South good for property investment?
It suits investors seeking established family housing more than rapid rental churn. Renting is 22.8%, median rent is $441 a week and vacancy is 5.9%, so returns depend on buying well and managing vacancy.
How is Wantirna South's population changing?
Population growth is very slow, with the forecast trend at 0.05% a year or about 7 people annually. Overseas migration adds about +240 people a year, partly offset by internal outflow of -169.
What languages are spoken in Wantirna South?
English is joined by several major community languages. Mandarin is spoken by 1,477 residents, Cantonese by 718, Sinhala by 247, Hindi by 142 and Greek by 141, reflecting 47.2% born overseas.
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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