Warragul
Warragul's standout trait is how house-dominated it remains despite rapid regional growth: 88.0% of dwellings are separate houses and the median house price is $640,000. Household income sits at the 51st percentile, just above the national middle, while overseas-born residents are 14.7%, or 6.9 percentage points below the national share. Compared with nearby Drouin and Yarragon, Warragul plays more of a service-centre role because healthcare, education and retail-linked activity cluster around its larger population base of 19,856.
Population
19,856
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,563/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$640K
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers get a family-house market rather than an apartment market: 88.0% of homes are separate houses, apartments are only 4.2%, and 43.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms. The $640,000 median house price is 2.3% below the Jul-Sep 2023 peak of $655,000, giving buyers slightly more room than during the peak. Mortgage pressure is moderate because the $1,625 monthly mortgage equates to 24.0% of household income, while 3 bedroom homes still make up 39.8% of stock.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a family-house market rather than an apartment market: 88.0% of homes are separate houses, apartments are only 4.2%, and 43.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms. The $640,000 median house price is 2.3% below the Jul-Sep 2023 peak of $655,000, giving buyers slightly more room than during the peak. Mortgage pressure is moderate because the $1,625 monthly mortgage equates to 24.0% of household income, while 3 bedroom homes still make up 39.8% of stock.
For Investors
Warragul is not a pure renter market: renting is 23.1%, below the combined owner occupier base, so tenant demand depends on steady population inflow rather than a large transient pool. The median rent is $321 a week, vacancy is 6.2%, and rent growth has been 52.4%, which suggests income has lifted but availability is looser than in tighter markets. Supply is also active, with 27 development applications in 12 months, while migration adds an average 373 internal and 87 overseas residents annually.
Development Activity
Total DAs
120
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+36.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Warragul iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
Prep-6 · 335 students
St Angela of the Cross Primary School
Prep-6 · 282 students
Marist-Sion College
7-12 · 1063 students
Warragul North Primary School
Prep-6 · 480 students
Warragul Primary School
Prep-6 · 261 students
Demographics
Warragul looks older and more locally rooted than many metropolitan growth areas. The median age is 40, matching the national benchmark with a 0.0 year gap, while 14.7% were born overseas, 6.9 percentage points below the national share. University attainment is 27.9%, 2.2 points below national, because the workforce leans toward health, education, trades and local services. English ancestry is the largest at 8,523 people, followed by Scottish at 2,405 and Irish at 2,398, and average household size is 2.5.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.0%
Houses
5.2%
Townhouse
4.2%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing story is long-run growth with a recent pause. The median house price rose from $315,000 in 2013 to $640,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 103.2% gain over 14 years at a 5.2% CAGR, but it remains 2.3% below the $655,000 peak. Tenure is stable: 38.4% own outright, 38.5% have a mortgage and 23.1% rent. This supports a lower-turnover family market because larger homes dominate, with 43.9% at 4 or more bedrooms and 39.8% at 3 bedrooms.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wk
$321
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$754
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
496
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.8%
Couples, no children
15,486
Total families
Economy & Employment
Warragul's economy is service-led rather than commuter-only. Healthcare employs 1,316 people or 20.8%, above education at 15.2% and construction at 12.3%, with public admin at 7.1% and professional or tech roles at 6.3%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 2,009, followed by community and personal service workers at 1,198 and labourers at 1,171. SEIFA is middle-ranked overall: IEO decile 5, IRSD decile 5 and IRSAD decile 5, while IER decile 7 sits higher because resources are stronger than advantage measures. Unemployment is 4.3% and participation is 55.3%.
Unemployment
2.7%
Labour Force
13,212
Unemployed
352
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.8%
Part-time
33.9%
Participation
55.3%
Employed
8,578
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.9%
Postgraduate
6.3%
Born Overseas
14.7%
Dwellings
7,487
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 89.4% drive to work, compared with only 0.9% using public transport and 3.0% walking or cycling, because the suburb serves a broad regional catchment. School choice is a strength, with 6 local schools and an ICSEA range from 975 to 1051. St Joseph's School leads at 1051, followed by St Angela of the Cross Primary at 1035 and Marist-Sion College at 1025, giving Catholic and Government options. The main caution is safety: recorded crime is 111.7 per 1,000 people, while IRSAD is decile 5.
Drive
89.4%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.25%/yr
(+571 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is the clearest pressure point. The forecast trend is 2.25% a year, or 571 people annually, taking the medium population path from 25,716 in 2026 to 28,571 in 2031. Internal migration is the main driver, averaging 373 net people a year compared with 87 from overseas, so demand is being pushed by regional movers more than international arrivals. The shift is labelled Aging, with seniors up 4.4 points and young residents down 1.9 points, while gentrification is Active with a score of 57.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+87
Net Internal / yr
+373
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +50% since 2011, Net internal migration +373/yr, Accelerating: 13% → 33%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,217
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
111.7
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 Warragul compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Warragul a good suburb to live in?
Warragul suits buyers wanting space, schools and regional services, with 88.0% separate houses and 6 local schools. The trade-off is car reliance, with 89.4% driving to work, and a recorded crime rate of 111.7 per 1,000 people.
What is the median house price in Warragul?
The median house price in Warragul is $640,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 2.3% below the Jul-Sep 2023 peak of $655,000, but still 103.2% higher than the $315,000 level recorded in 2013.
What schools are in Warragul?
Warragul has 6 local schools across Catholic and Government sectors. Leading ICSEA results include St Joseph's School at 1051, St Angela of the Cross Primary at 1035 and Marist-Sion College at 1025.
Is Warragul safe?
Safety is mixed. Warragul recorded 2,217 offences, equal to 111.7 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 986, followed by justice procedures offences at 549.
Is Warragul good for property investment?
Warragul has investment appeal through growth, with the forecast adding 571 people a year and rent growth at 52.4%. Investors should also note the 6.2% vacancy rate and renter share of 23.1%, which point to selective demand.
How is Warragul's population changing?
Warragul is growing and aging. The trend forecast is 2.25% annual growth, with the medium path reaching 28,571 people by 2031. Internal migration is the main driver, averaging 373 net people a year.
What development is happening in Warragul?
Development activity is active, with 27 applications in the past 12 months. Recent samples include 2 lot and 34 lot subdivision proposals, so new supply is likely to keep shaping the outer residential edges.
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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