VIC 3030 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

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.

Local council: Wyndham

Werribee South urban fabric map

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

13

Median House

$850K

October to December 2025

Only a handful of houses sold here in this period, so this median can jump sharply from one quarter to the next for reasons that have nothing to do with the market. Treat it as a rough guide, not a settled price.

36.94 km²· 64.8 people/km²· Family income $2,160/wk

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

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

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.

Development Activity

Total DAs

16

Last 12 Months

13

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

$233K

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
8
Other
2
Change of Use
1
Garage / Carport / Shed
1
Demolition
1

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

0-14
12.9%
15-24
11.4%
25-44
25.2%
45-64
29.8%
65+
20.6%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
9.1%
2 bed
18.6%
3 bed
35.0%
4+ bed
37.3%

Dwelling Structure

74.6%

Houses

4.3%

Townhouse

17.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 41.2% Mortgage 26.3% Rent 30.7% Other 1.8%

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.

Mortgage / mo

$2,127

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$350

Census 2021

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

Italian
48
Macedon
24
Greek
21
Hindi
14

Ancestry

English
587
Italian
365
Other
285
Ancestry NS
204
Greek
177
Scottish
174

Household Composition

39.0%

Couples with children

46.0%

Couples, no children

13.5%

Single parent

639

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.

Unemployment

4.5%

Labour Force

1,251

Unemployed

56

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

60.7%

Part-time

30.3%

Participation

60.1%

Employed

1,195

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Managers 236
Professionals 203
Clerical/Admin 192
Trades 148
Labourers 105
Machinery/Drivers 100
Community/Personal 92
Sales 72

Top Industries

Construction 15.4%
Healthcare 14.5%
Education 10.2%
Public Admin 8.4%
Professional/Tech 6.8%

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

63.2%

Public Transport

1.2%

Walk / Cycle

6.5%

Work from Home

24.8%

Growth Outlook

Werribee South shows characteristics of a mature, low-growth suburb rather than an area undergoing rapid expansion. Population of 2,392 across 36.94 square kilometres gives a density of 64.8 per square kilometre, far below developing fringe suburbs. The 24% residential turnover rate means around one in four properties changed occupancy over the reference period, moderate for a suburb of this profile. The 11.4% vacancy rate is an indicator of near-term softness, and the relatively low development activity of 5 permits in 12 months means supply growth is minimal.

Population trend: Wyndham council area

Werribee South sits in the Wyndham council area. These are the council area's residents, not Werribee South's.

Residents 2025

347,830

Growth, 5 yr average

+3.9%/yr

2020 to 2025

Growth, last year

+3.7%

2024 to 2025

ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

188

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

78.6

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
131
Crimes against the person
25
Justice procedures offences
13
Drug offences
9

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

Population
Top 20%
Household Income
Top 47%
Rent Level
Top 28%
Apartments
Top 5%
Renters
Top 20%
Uni Educated
Top 39%
Public Transport
Bottom 25%
Born Overseas
Top 17%
Density
Top 29%

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 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. 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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).

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