Corowa, Benalla and Wodonga populations predicted to grow post-pandemic

The Great Australian Shift by property researcher Ripehouse Advisory forecast Corowa will experience a 14.9 per cent net population increase, the third largest result nationwide.

Benalla topped the Victorian list and placed eighth nationally with a 5.08 per cent rise while Wodonga sat fourth in Victoria with 3.22 per cent net growth.

Albury is predicted to receive a 1.4 per cent increase in population on top of previous growth forecasts.

Ripehouse Advisory said factors driving these shifts included COVID-19, changed work arrangements and the desire for a sea or tree change.

Chief executive Jacob Field said centres in the "golden circle", two to three hours from the key metropolitan markets and not reliant on international migration, were likely to benefit most.

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"Your region is already somewhere that we've felt very bullish about, very positive about, and this has further reignited that," he told The Border Mail.

"Sea and tree changes are nothing new, but due to COVID, a larger influx of people are saying 'Hey, we've now got this option'.

"Now the positives outweigh the negatives of picking up and moving."

Mr Field said 129 property industry professionals, such as economists, academics, valuers and agents, contributed to the study.

PJ Murphy Real Estate Albury manager James Seymour said he had seen an increase in capital city residents looking to relocate.

"It's like a switch has been flicked," he said.

"Before COVID, one in 10 of my inquiries would have been from Melbourne and Sydney buyers, that's certainly jumped to about three in 10 now."

Alatalo Bros general manager Tony Moyle said the fact so many people had worked from home during the COVID-19 restrictions led some to reconsider their home base.

"It's a bit early to tell yet, but I think we're certainly going to see a shift in the way that people work from an office block or now successfully work from home," he said.