Watsonia
Detached houses make up 86.1% of Watsonia's dwellings yet the median house price has fallen 10.4% from its $1,005,000 peak in early 2024 to $900,800, a rare cooling in a suburb whose population has grown 31.4% since 2011. Household income sits in the 70.3rd percentile nationally and all four SEIFA indexes score decile 7, a solidly above-average advantage tier without reaching the top end. University qualifications reach 42.7%, which is 12.6 points above the national figure, and the median age of 38 runs 2.0 years below national, pointing to a settling family demographic rather than an aging one. Apartments are almost absent at 1.1%, so the stock is overwhelmingly three-bedroom houses (57.3%).
Population
5,352
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,883/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$901K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $900,800 median sits well below Melbourne's premium markets, and the recent 10.4% slide from the $1,005,000 peak in Jan-Mar 2024 has opened a window for buyers who were priced out at the top. Over the longer run the market still gained 78.4% from $505,000 in 2013, a CAGR of 4.2%. The stock suits families: 86.1% are separate houses with just 1.1% apartments, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.3% with another 22.6% offering four or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,019, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes only in the 70.3rd percentile. That affordability headroom exists because prices cooled while incomes held, and it makes the suburb accessible to upgraders rather than only high earners.
For Buyers
The $900,800 median sits well below Melbourne's premium markets, and the recent 10.4% slide from the $1,005,000 peak in Jan-Mar 2024 has opened a window for buyers who were priced out at the top. Over the longer run the market still gained 78.4% from $505,000 in 2013, a CAGR of 4.2%. The stock suits families: 86.1% are separate houses with just 1.1% apartments, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.3% with another 22.6% offering four or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,019, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes only in the 70.3rd percentile. That affordability headroom exists because prices cooled while incomes held, and it makes the suburb accessible to upgraders rather than only high earners.
For Investors
A 30.5% renter share and weekly rent of $385 give landlords a moderate tenant pool, and against the $900,800 median that rent implies a gross yield near 2.2%, typical for a detached-house Melbourne suburb. The 6.4% vacancy rate is higher than a tight rental market would show, so finding tenants takes effort rather than being automatic. Demand support is genuine: the population grew 31.4% over the decade and net overseas migration adds 79 residents a year against 42 from internal moves, a balanced inflow rather than a single fragile driver. Development is thin at 8 applications in 12 months, mostly small subdivisions, which limits new supply and protects existing landlords from oversupply. Rent grew 9.3% over the period, so the case rests on steady tenant demand and capital growth more than high yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
13
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+400.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Watsonia iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Loyola College
7-12 · 1443 students
Watsonia Primary School
Prep-6 · 63 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, and the young-adult share rose 2.4 points over the decade while the senior share slipped 0.8 points, the opposite of the aging trend seen in most established suburbs. University qualifications at 42.7% run 12.6 points above national, which aligns with a professional workforce. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,801), Irish (722) and Scottish (540), with Italian (380) the largest continental group. Overseas-born residents reach 21.7%, just 0.1 points above national, so the suburb is close to the Australian average on diversity rather than migrant-heavy. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (66 speakers), Cantonese (37) and Italian (33). Average household size of 2.5 matches national exactly, consistent with the family-couple profile where couples with children (1,858) outnumber couples without (1,048).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.1%
Houses
12.8%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits fairly evenly: 33.2% own outright, 36.3% carry a mortgage and 30.5% rent. Mortgage holders narrowly outnumbering outright owners points to a market of working families paying down loans rather than retirees sitting on debt-free wealth. The stock is 86.1% separate houses with only 1.1% apartments and 12.8% semi-detached, so detached supply is plentiful and three-bedroom homes account for 57.3% of dwellings. The median house price fell 10.4% from its $1,005,000 peak to $900,800, yet still sits 78.4% above the 2013 level of $505,000. Mortgage-to-income at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 20.4% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, an unusually comfortable position that reflects how the price correction improved affordability against incomes in the 70.3rd percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,019
Rent / wk
$385
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$900
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
145
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.4%
Couples, no children
4,288
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in services rather than commerce: Healthcare leads at 19.7% (404 workers), Education follows at 13.5% (277) and Professional/Tech at 11.2% (229), with Construction at 9.4% and Public Admin at 8.6%. By occupation, Professionals (788) and Clerical/Admin (398) lead, followed by Managers (345), which fits the 42.7% university qualification rate running 12.6 points above national. Unemployment is low at 4.8% and the full-time employment rate is 65.3%, while participation reads 61.1% because 1,341 residents are not in the labour force. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 7, a coherent above-average reading with no anomaly between economic resources and education. Real incomes grew 9.4% over the decade, keeping pace with the broader trend.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
5,441
Unemployed
184
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.3%
Part-time
29.9%
Participation
61.1%
Employed
2,533
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.7%
Postgraduate
11.9%
Born Overseas
21.7%
Dwellings
2,106
Transport to Work
Car use is high at 84.3% of commuters while public transport carries 8.8% and only 2.9% walk or cycle, a car-dependent pattern typical of a detached-house suburb 2.3 km2 in size. The crime rate is 55.9 per 1,000 residents, driven by 202 property and deception offences out of 299 total, while crimes against the person are low at 37. The suburb scores decile 7 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, an above-average tier meaning few residents face deprivation, and only 7.0% (361 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, though the high 42.7% university qualification rate, 12.6 points above national, signals an education-focused resident base.
Drive
84.3%
Public Transport
8.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.03%/yr
(+150 people/yr)
EstablishedWatsonia is expanding steadily: annual population growth registers 2.03%, adding about 150 residents a year, and the 10-year change of 31.4% is well above the flat trajectory of most established Melbourne suburbs. The historical series climbed from 7,134 in 2023 to 7,377 in 2025, and the medium forecast carries the population to 8,251 by 2031. Growth is balanced rather than reliant on one source, with net overseas migration of 79 a year and net internal migration of 42. The gentrification stage reads early signs at a score of 28, supported by the renter share accelerating from 13% to 24% and the 40% population rise since 2011. Affordability improved from 39.8% in 2011 to 32.3% in 2021, a sign incomes rose faster than housing costs over that span.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+79
Net Internal / yr
+42
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +40% since 2011, Accelerating: 13% → 24%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
299
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
55.9
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 Watsonia compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Watsonia a good suburb to live in?
Watsonia scores decile 7 on all four SEIFA indexes, an above-average advantage tier, with household income in the 70.3rd percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 42.7%, 12.6 points above national, and the median age of 38 runs below the national figure. The main trade-off is high car dependence at 84.3% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Watsonia?
The median house price is $900,800 as of Apr-Jun 2024, down 10.4% from its $1,005,000 peak in early 2024 but still 78.4% above the 2013 level of $505,000. Weekly rent averages $385 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,019, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the stress threshold.
What schools are in Watsonia?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.3 km2 Watsonia boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is highly educated, with university qualifications at 42.7%, which is 12.6 points above the national figure.
Is Watsonia safe?
Watsonia recorded 299 offences for a crime rate of 55.9 per 1,000 residents. Most are property and deception offences at 202, while crimes against the person are low at 37. The suburb scores decile 7 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, an above-average tier consistent with a low-deprivation area.
Is Watsonia good for property investment?
Rent of $385 a week against a $900,800 median gives a gross yield near 2.2%, typical for detached Melbourne suburbs, though the 6.4% vacancy rate is higher than a tight market. Population grew 31.4% over the decade with balanced migration, so returns lean on capital growth more than yield.
How is Watsonia's population changing?
The population is growing 2.03% annually, about 150 residents a year, and rose 31.4% over the decade, well above most established suburbs. It climbed from 7,134 in 2023 to 7,377 in 2025, and the medium forecast reaches 8,251 by 2031, driven by balanced overseas and internal migration.
What languages are spoken in Watsonia?
About 21.7% of residents were born overseas, almost exactly the national average at 0.1 points above. English dominates, with Mandarin (66 speakers), Cantonese (37), Italian (33) and Hindi (24) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a resident mix close to the Australian norm rather than migrant-heavy.
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.
Explore Watsonia on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map