Werribee South
At a median age of 45, Werribee South skews 5 years older than the national average, and that aging resident base shapes almost everything about the suburb. The 36.94 square kilometre area holds just 2,392 people, producing a density of 64.8 residents per square kilometre, far below metropolitan VIC norms. An 11.4% vacancy rate is unusually high relative to the broader region, and 42% of dwellings are owned outright, well above the national average, reflecting a long-established, settled ownership base. The median house price reached $931,000 as of April to June 2024, having grown 73% from $538,000 in 2013.
Population
2,392
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,601/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$931K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price stands at $931,000 for April to June 2024, down from a peak of $1,200,000 in April to June 2023, a 22.4% correction that has drawn prices back toward the long-run trend. From the 2013 trough of $538,000, prices have grown 73% over 14 years, a compound annual rate of 4.0%. Separate houses dominate at 74.6% of stock, with apartments at 17.5%, making this a market weighted toward detached living. Bedrooms skew large: 37.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 35% have 3, reflecting family-sized homes rather than entry-level product. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,127, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.7%, crossing the standard 30% stress threshold, which is important context for buyers relying on current income levels.
For Buyers
The median house price stands at $931,000 for April to June 2024, down from a peak of $1,200,000 in April to June 2023, a 22.4% correction that has drawn prices back toward the long-run trend. From the 2013 trough of $538,000, prices have grown 73% over 14 years, a compound annual rate of 4.0%. Separate houses dominate at 74.6% of stock, with apartments at 17.5%, making this a market weighted toward detached living. Bedrooms skew large: 37.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 35% have 3, reflecting family-sized homes rather than entry-level product. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,127, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.7%, crossing the standard 30% stress threshold, which is important context for buyers relying on current income levels.
For Investors
The 31.3% renter share is moderate and weekly rent of $350 is below the broader metropolitan VIC median, keeping gross yields compressed against a $931,000 house price. More pressing for investors is the 11.4% vacancy rate, which is significantly higher than the healthy threshold of around 3%, pointing to soft rental demand relative to supply. Only 5 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, suggesting limited new supply pressure, but also limited upward demand signals. The 76% residential stability rate, where three-quarters of residents stayed put over a recent period, points to low tenant turnover among existing occupants. Long-term capital growth at 4.0% CAGR over 14 years is modest compared to inner-Melbourne benchmarks and warrants comparison against other VIC options.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$325K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, placing Werribee South among the older suburbs in VIC. Overseas-born residents account for 27.2% of the population, which is 5.6 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry reflects a Southern European influence: Italian (365) is the second largest group behind English (587), and Greek (177) also features prominently. University qualifications reach 27.8%, which is 2.3 percentage points below the national rate, suggesting a workforce weighted toward trades and technical roles rather than tertiary-qualified professions. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below the national figure, consistent with the older, couples-without-children profile: 32.5% of families are couples with no children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.6%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
17.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits favour outright ownership: 42% own their homes free of mortgage, 26.8% carry a mortgage and 31.3% rent. The high outright-ownership share, well above the national average, reflects long-term residents who purchased decades ago and have paid down their loans. Separate houses account for 74.6% of dwellings, with apartments at 17.5% and semi-detached at 4.3%. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 37.3% and three-bedroom 35%, indicating a market built for families even if the current age profile skews older. The price cycle shows a peak of $1,200,000 in April to June 2023 followed by a 22.4% pullback to $931,000 by April to June 2024. From the 2013 base of $538,000, total appreciation is 73% over 14 years at a 4.0% compound annual rate.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,127
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$857
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.4%
Unoccupied
122
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.7% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.5%
Couples, no children
1,795
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the largest employing industry at 15.4% of local workers, followed by Healthcare at 14.5% and Education at 10.2%, an industry mix that is more typical of a service-oriented community than a manufacturing or logistics hub. Public Administration employs 8.4% and Professional and Technical services 6.8%, together with Construction and Healthcare making up more than half of local employment. By occupation, Managers (236) and Professionals (203) lead, but Clerical and Admin (192) and Labourers (105) also register, reflecting a broad occupational spread. The unemployment rate of 4.9% sits slightly above the national norm, and the labour force participation rate of 54.9% is below average, largely because the older age profile means more residents are outside the workforce. Household income sits at the 52.6th percentile nationally, near the middle of the distribution.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.7%
Part-time
28.4%
Participation
54.9%
Employed
1,087
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.8%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
27.2%
Dwellings
948
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high: 84% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average, and only 1.6% use public transport, reflecting the low-density, semi-rural character of a 64.8 person-per-square-kilometre suburb. Walking and cycling accounts for 8.7% of commutes, above what might be expected, likely reflecting proximity to local amenities for some residents. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby Werribee and Hoppers Crossing for schooling. Crime totals 188 incidents annually, at a rate of 78.6 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences making up 131 of those incidents. Mortgage stress at 30.7% of income is a practical concern for newer buyers, though rental costs at 21.9% of income remain below the 30% stress threshold, keeping tenants in a relatively comfortable position.
Drive
84.0%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
8.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
188
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
78.6
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 Werribee South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Werribee South a good suburb to live in?
Werribee South suits residents seeking space and established community rather than urban density. At 64.8 people per square kilometre across 36.94 square kilometres, it is quiet and low-density. Household income sits at the 52.6th percentile nationally, near the middle of the distribution, and 42% of homes are owned outright, pointing to financial stability among long-term residents.
What is the median house price in Werribee South?
The median house price is $931,000 as of April to June 2024. Prices peaked at $1,200,000 in April to June 2023, a 22.4% correction has since occurred. From the 2013 base of $538,000, prices grew 73% over 14 years at a compound annual rate of 4.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,127.
What schools are in Werribee South?
No schools are recorded within the Werribee South boundary in this dataset. Families typically rely on schools in nearby Werribee and Hoppers Crossing. The local university qualification rate of 27.8% is 2.3 percentage points below the national figure, and 27.2% of residents were born overseas.
Is Werribee South safe?
Werribee South recorded 188 crimes in the latest period, at a rate of 78.6 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 131 of those incidents, crimes against the person totalled 25, and drug offences 9. These figures should be weighed against the low residential density of 64.8 people per square kilometre.
Is Werribee South good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. The 11.4% vacancy rate is well above the healthy 3% threshold, indicating soft rental demand, and weekly rent of $350 against a $931,000 median implies a low gross yield. Long-run capital growth of 4.0% CAGR over 14 years is modest compared to higher-demand VIC corridors. Only 5 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so supply pressure is low.
How is Werribee South's population changing?
Werribee South has a population of 2,392 across 36.94 square kilometres, giving a low density of 64.8 per square kilometre. The suburb shows characteristics of a stable, mature community rather than a growth area. The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and 76% of residents stayed put over the reference period, indicating low turnover and an aging, settled base.
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 Werribee South on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map