• The median age of Wagga Wagga residents is 31 years
• 41% of Wagga Wagga’s population is classified as “Youth” (25 or under)
• 88.8% of Wagga Wagga residents are born in Australia
• Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders make up 3.2% of the city’s population
• 90% of residents reside in separate houses dwelling
• Family households make up the greatest proportion of Household types in the City of Wagga Wagga at 72%
• 9% of Wagga Wagga households do not have a motor vehicle
• A total of 73% of households have one or two vehicles and 12.4% have 3 or more vehicles
• The local Tourism industry is worth $191 million annually to the City resulting in employment of an estimated 2,173 people in this sector
• The main purpose of travel for visitors to the Riverina is “Visiting Friends and Relatives (50.9% of visitor nights) followed by Leisure (27.2%) and Business (14.1%).
• On average households in Wagga Wagga are $950pa better off than the NSW average
• Wagga Wagga residents can afford to spend 13.4% of their income on recreational pursuits compared to 11.8% across NSW
• The costs of purchasing a home in Wagga Wagga are 41% of a median residential dwelling in the Sydney SDA.
• The average mortgage repayment in Wagga Wagga equates to 25% of average household income compared to an average of 44% across NSW
• The affordability of home ownership has played out with Wagga Wagga being the only regional (non-coastal) city to make the top 20 for First Home Owner Grant take-up since its inception, ranking 7th in the state. 64% of householders own or are buying their own home.

Key Employment sectors include:

• Agriculture (5.7%)
• Retail (17.6%)
• Health and Community (10.2%)
• Government & Defence (9.4%)
• Education (9.5%)

In an independently conducted Community Survey in August 2006:

• 84% of residents who responded would recommend Wagga Wagga as a place to live
• 68% consider Wagga wagga to be a leading Regional City
• 75% thought there was a good choice and availablility of housing options in Wagga Wagga and 69% believe land and housing is affordable
• 77% think that Wagga Wagga is a safe place to live and work
• 88% indicated that their neighbours would be likely to help them if they needed
• 71% rate Wagga Wagga as a healthy community

For further information visit the Wagga Wagga Community Profile