Wantirna
Nearly half of Wantirna's homes have 4 or more bedrooms (49.5%), and 90.2% are separate houses, making the physical profile strongly family-oriented. Its 14,237 residents have a median age of 41, which is 1.0 year above national, while 41.0% were born overseas, 19.4 percentage points above national. Compared with nearby Knoxfield and Wantirna South, Wantirna reads as a more settled, detached-home market, with university qualifications at 44.8% and annual growth of only 0.05%.
Population
14,237
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,886/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
51
Median House
$1.1M
October to December 2025
Wantirna suits buyers who prioritise land, storage and established family layouts because 90.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 49.5% have 4 or more bedrooms. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,167 represents 26.5% of household income, with mortgage stress flagged false. Rent is $428 weekly. Compared with a unit-led suburb, Wantirna provides little apartment choice, at 0.1%, so downsizers need to inspect smaller homes carefully.
For Buyers
Wantirna suits buyers who prioritise land, storage and established family layouts because 90.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 49.5% have 4 or more bedrooms. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,167 represents 26.5% of household income, with mortgage stress flagged false. Rent is $428 weekly. Compared with a unit-led suburb, Wantirna provides little apartment choice, at 0.1%, so downsizers need to inspect smaller homes carefully.
For Investors
Wantirna's investor case is income-led rather than high-growth. Weekly rent is $428, 19.8% of dwellings are rented and vacancy is 5.2%, giving tenants more choice than in a tight market. The 0.05% annual trend is below a fast-growth profile, so capital growth expectations should be restrained. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the 41-year median age and Aging trajectory point to slower turnover. With 48 development matters in 12 months, supply and renovation activity deserve attention. Compared with a low-development suburb, returns here depend more on purchase price, maintenance and tenant appeal than headline growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
79
Last 12 Months
51
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+292.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wantirna
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Regency Park Primary School
St Luke's School
Templeton Primary School
Wantirna Primary School
Wantirna College
Demographics
Wantirna combines an older-established trajectory with a high cultural and educational profile. The median age is 41, 1.0 year above national, and 44.8% of residents have university qualifications, 14.7 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 41.0%, with English and Chinese ancestry recorded for 3,431 and 3,334 people; Mandarin is spoken by 855 residents and Cantonese by 440. Average household size is 2.8, or 0.3 above national, and couples with children make up 50.1% of families. Compared with nearby Knoxfield and Wantirna South, this mix supports family services and culturally responsive businesses, while the 6.8-point rise in senior share signals ageing demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.2%
Houses
9.7%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Wantirna's housing stock is strongly detached: 90.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 9.7% semi-detached and 0.1% apartments. Tenure is split between 39.2% outright owners, 37.8% mortgage holders and 19.8% renters. Compared with nearby Knoxfield and Wantirna South, the low apartment share makes land and maintenance more important, while 49.5% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $428.
$620
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $597 · units $510
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$762
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
270
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.1%
Couples with children
35.8%
Couples, no children
13.4%
Single parent
4,095
Total families
Economy & Employment
Wantirna's employment base is led by healthcare at 18.5%, followed by education 11.1%, professional and technical services 9.6%, construction 8.4% and retail 8.1%. That mix helps explain the prominence of professionals, numbering 1,849, alongside 935 clerical and administrative workers, 860 managers and 853 trades workers. Unemployment is 4.6% and participation is 60.7%, with 3,915 employed full time. Household income ranks at the 70.4th percentile, while SEIFA education and occupation deciles of 7 and 8 sit above the midpoint. Compared with a lower-income outer-suburban profile, Wantirna has stronger human-capital indicators because 44.8% hold university qualifications, although 60.1% drive to work.
Unemployment
4.6%
Labour Force
7,044
Unemployed
325
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.3%
Part-time
35.8%
Participation
60.7%
Employed
6,719
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.8%
Postgraduate
12.4%
Born Overseas
41.0%
Dwellings
4,910
Transport to Work
Wantirna is practical for households that drive: 60.1% travel as car drivers, 32.4% work from home and only 2.1% use public transport, so daily convenience is shaped more by road access than transit. Five local schools cover primary and secondary years, with 4 government schools and 1 Catholic school; check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb edges. The crime rate is 50.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, including 349 property and deception offences, 124 crimes against the person and 97 drug offences. IRSAD and IEO deciles are both 7, above the midpoint, indicating a relatively advantaged socioeconomic profile. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, Wantirna is better suited to car-based routines.
Drive
60.1%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
32.4%
Population Forecast
+0.05%/yr
(+7 people/yr)
EstablishedWantirna's outlook is slow and established rather than expansionary. The forecast annual trend is 0.05%, while population change across the wider area is 4.2% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 6.8 percentage points and the working share down 6.1 points. Affordability is worsening, moving from 53.1 in 2011 to 56.0 in 2021, despite real income growth of 2.6%. Gentrification signals are mixed: the score is 20 with stage Early signs, while another measure gives a score of 12 and stage Not gentrifying. Compared with a high-growth corridor, change is likely to be gradual because established housing and an ageing base limit rapid turnover.
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
717
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
50.4
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 Wantirna compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wantirna a good suburb to live in?
Wantirna suits households wanting established detached housing, with 90.2% separate houses and 49.5% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Its median age of 41 is above national by 1.0 year, and 32.4% work from home. Car dependence is higher than public transport use, at 60.1% versus 2.1%, so lifestyle fit depends on transport needs.
What schools are in Wantirna?
Wantirna has 5 local schools across primary and secondary years: 4 government schools and 1 Catholic school. The mix includes Wantirna College and four primary options, so families should compare year-level availability and check the exact enrolment zone before signing a lease or contract. School quality should be assessed directly rather than inferred from location.
Is Wantirna safe?
Wantirna recorded 717 offences, equal to 50.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 349, followed by crimes against the person at 124. Safety can vary by street and time, so compare the exact address and use standard home and vehicle security practices.
Is Wantirna good for property investment?
Investment conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $428, 19.8% of dwellings are rented and vacancy is 5.2%, while the annual growth trend is only 0.05%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the 41-year median age and Aging trajectory suggest demand may be steadier than in a younger, faster-growing market.
How is Wantirna's population changing?
Wantirna has 14,237 residents today. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 4.2% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 0.05% and Overseas migration as the primary driver. The trajectory is Aging, including a 6.8-point rise in senior share, so change is likely to be gradual and age-led rather than rapid.
What languages are spoken in Wantirna?
English and Chinese ancestry are both prominent, at 3,431 and 3,334 people. Mandarin is the most common listed language other than English, with 855 speakers, followed by Cantonese at 440. This is consistent with an overseas-born share of 41.0%, which is 19.4 percentage points above national.
What development is occurring in Wantirna?
Development activity is noticeable, with 48 matters recorded in the 12 months covered. The activity includes planning permits and residential property changes, so buyers should check the exact lot for permits, covenant changes, construction impacts and future amenity before committing.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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