NSW · Wagga Wagga Council

Charles Sturt University, 2678

Est. population · Jun 2025

485

Growth (1 yr)

+1.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+15.8%

Median age

20

Median income

$2,750/wk

Employment rate

45.9%

University qualified

6.7%

Work from home

2.5%

Languages at home

10.6%non-English

Most common: Hindi, Malayalam

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

46.7/100
Average

Top 43% of New South Wales' suburbs

Verified 79% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Education hub
  • Agricultural
  • Regional centre
What Charles Sturt University is known for: Education hub, Agricultural, Regional centre

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Charles Sturt University, NSW suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Charles Sturt University, NSW Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/nsw/charles-sturt-university

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Suburb profile

Charles Sturt University is a major regional centre in New South Wales, in Wagga Wagga Council, with mainly mixed commercial and residential development. It has a university campus.

Local amenities are a relative strength, with local amenities 68% above the peer median. Local school ICSEA scores are among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked major regional centres. Household incomes are a relative strength, with household incomes 103% above the peer median, and population growth is an exceptional strength. The clearer weaknesses are thinner park access and fewer university qualifications, with park access 100% below the peer median.

Overall, Charles Sturt University suits people prioritising school quality and local amenities over open space.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Major regional centre · compared with major regional centres in New South Wales (276)

Strengths

  • Local school ICSEA scores are among the highest in the peer group
  • Household incomes are a relative strength
  • Population growth is a relative strength
  • Local amenities are a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • Park access is a relative weakness
  • University qualifications sit well below the peer median

What stands out

  • University campus

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyersInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Charles Sturt University compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$315/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

485

+1.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

—

No data available

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#21

among Country & regional · Growth area

Crime rate

30th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

83rd

percentile in NSW

School ICSEA

71st

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
46.7/100 — Average
State standing
Top 43% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
2700th in Australia
State rank
917th in NSW
Peer rank
#21 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#283 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
79%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

485(June 2025)

+1.7% annual · +15.8% over 5 years · 83th percentile in NSW

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.7%
5-year growth
+15.8%
Change in 1 year
+8
Change in 5 years
+66
Growth rank in NSW
83th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~600), extrapolated at +3.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
433
Median age
20
Median household income / week
$2,750
Unoccupied private dwellings
0 of 0
Median monthly mortgage
$0
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$315
Employment rate
45.9%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
2.5% / 0% / 58.1%
Walked or cycled to work
1.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
0 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

6.7% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 10.4% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified6.7% · 27.8% NSW
  • Diploma qualified3.9% · 9.3% NSW
  • Trade / vocational10.4% · 15% NSW
  • Year 12 or below79% · 47.9% NSW

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Agriculture and environment34.3%
  • Health23.5%
  • Management and commerce10.8%
  • Society and culture7.8%
  • Mixed field programmes6.9%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services5.9%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Seasonal & agricultural work

12.6% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 5.5× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 2.0% across New South Wales.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing
12.6%

63rd percentile in NSW · +448% vs Australia

Resident workers (2021)
25
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462

Postcode 2678

Occupation mix in this industry

2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.

  • Labourers16

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 2678 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.

Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)

Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for Riverina (SA4 113), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.

  • Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12131,856
  • Crop Farmers ANZSCO 12121,144
  • Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8415868
  • Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211743
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1214697
  • Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412344
  • Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 841996
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 841662
  • Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 841343
  • Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841121

Riverina is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.

Census employed residents counted in G54: 198 · AFF share +530% vs the state.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
  • Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0

Community & culture

10.6% speak a language other than English at home; 11.3% born overseas

Language at home
389 English only · 46 other
Non-English at home
10.6%
Born overseas
49 (11.3%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
12 (2.8%)
Australian citizens
411
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
2

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Hindi3 · 50%
  • Malayalam3 · 50%

Religion

46.7%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 46.7%, while 44.3% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion44.3%32.8%
Christianity46.7%47.6%
Other / not stated9%19.6%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic24.5%22.4%
Anglican11.3%11.9%
Uniting Church3.2%2.1%
Christian (not further defined)2.3%2.4%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
24
Against the person
4
Against property
18
Rate per 1,000 residents
49.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 108 residents
State crime-rate percentile
29.7th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+4.6%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
4
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
8.25

Most common offence types

  • Domestic Violence Related Assault2
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment2
  • Other Offences2
  • Steal From Dwelling3
  • Steal From Motor Vehicle10

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
2
Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
1,061.5
Median ICSEA percentile
71th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
2
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
1
School list
  • Estella Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1019 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 28% · 402 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
  • The Riverina Anglican CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1104 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 26% · 1,000 students · Top SEA quarter 44% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
  • Estella PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Nth Wagga PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Wagga Wagga HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Riverina Children's Centre (486)kindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Childcare centres per 1,000 residents

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

21 public transport stops in this suburb

  • CSU, NaLSH, Nathan Cobb Dr
  • Charles Sturt Uni, Butler Hall
  • Charles Sturt Uni, Hampdens College
  • Estella Public School, Estella Rd
  • The Riverina Anglican College

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

  • Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed

Amenities

88 mapped amenities

1 libraries · 2 places of worship · 1 swimming pools · 1 ev charging · 1 post offices

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • A car helps for daily needs
  • Well connected by public transport — 21 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
30/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Shopping(1)
  • Winery Cellar DoorBottle shop
Everyday services(4)
  • ExplorenEV charging
  • 321Laundry
  • 462Laundry
  • 460Post office
Community(2)
  • Riverina Children's Centre (486)Kindergarten
  • William Merrylees LibraryLibrary
Sport & outdoors(8)
  • University Cycle RouteCycling route
  • YindyamarraNature reserve
  • Basketball CourtsSports field
  • Beres Ellwood OvalSports field
  • Peter Hastie OvalSports field
  • Sports field
  • Tennis CourtsSports field
  • Swimming pool
Transport(13)

13 bus stops

Other(29)
  • Bench
  • Motorcycle Parking
  • 04Parking
  • 05Parking
  • 06Parking
  • 07Parking
  • 13Parking
  • 14Parking
  • 16Parking
  • 20Parking
  • 24Parking
  • 26Parking
  • 27Parking
  • 33Parking
  • 35Parking
  • 36Parking
  • 42Parking
  • 5Parking
  • 55Parking
  • 61Parking
  • 63Parking
  • 70Parking
  • 73Parking
  • Parking (29)
  • Parking Space (2)
  • Islamic Study Centre (472)Place of worship
  • St Mary's Chapel (377)Place of worship
  • Shelter (3)
  • Charles Sturt University - Wagga Wagga CampusUniversity

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Sporting clubs

1 named sporting club in this suburb

  • World Shimjang Taekwondo

    Taekwondo · +61 401 285 079

Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap sporting clubs — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Geofabrik australia-latest.osm.pbf

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • YindyamarraNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
8.5%
Woodland / forest cover
8.5%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
3
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
31°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Places of worship

2 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • Islamic Study Centre (472)
  • St Mary's Chapel (377)

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Calvary Riverina Surgicentre (6.2 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
12
Participants per 1,000 residents
24.7

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
31° / 16°
Rainfall
122 mm · ~15 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
23° / 10°
Rainfall
131 mm · ~16 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 4°
Rainfall
142 mm · ~18 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
22° / 9°
Rainfall
137 mm · ~17 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

2 planning-related records

2024· 2 proposals
  • October 2024

  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    250 BOOROOMA STREET CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY 2678Determined
  • March 2024

  • Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Tertiary institution; Infrastructure
    250 BOOROOMA STREET CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY 2678Determined

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Riverina
Member of Parliament
Michael McCORMACK (The Nationals)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
128,537
Turnout (2025)
92.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-2.9 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 62.6%Labor 37.4%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 8.6 km away).

Coalition 56.2%Labor 43.8%

6.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +0.8 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Charles SturtLabor 43.7% · Coalition 56.3% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
  • EstellaLabor 44.4% · Coalition 55.6% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
  • Wagga Wagga NorthLabor 35.2% · Coalition 64.8% TPP (2025)4.8 km away
  • Wagga WaggaLabor 47.5% · Coalition 52.5% TPP (2025)5.6 km away
  • Wagga Wagga SouthLabor 44.8% · Coalition 55.2% TPP (2025)6.9 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Wagga Wagga Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.