Williamstown
At 45, Williamstown skews older than the national median by 5 years while household income sits in the 90.8 percentile. Its $1.595m median house price and 41.1% outright ownership point to established wealth, yet the latest price is 3.4% below the 2022 peak. Compared with Newport and Altona, it reads as Hobsons Bay's premium coastal end because 56.4% of dwellings are separate houses and density is 2,582.7 people per sqkm.
Population
14,407
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,411/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
31
Median House
$1.6M
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers pay for scarcity and stability: the median house price is $1.595m, 73.4% higher than 2013, but still 3.4% below the 2022 peak. The housing mix gives more house choice than many inner bayside areas, with 56.4% separate houses, 30.3% semi-detached homes and only 13.2% apartments. Mortgage pressure looks contained because repayments sit at 25.9% of income, while 41.1% outright ownership can reduce forced-selling turnover.
For Buyers
Homebuyers pay for scarcity and stability: the median house price is $1.595m, 73.4% higher than 2013, but still 3.4% below the 2022 peak. The housing mix gives more house choice than many inner bayside areas, with 56.4% separate houses, 30.3% semi-detached homes and only 13.2% apartments. Mortgage pressure looks contained because repayments sit at 25.9% of income, while 41.1% outright ownership can reduce forced-selling turnover.
For Investors
Investors face a mixed signal: 25.0% of homes are rented and the median rent is $450 a week, but the 11.4% vacancy rate is higher than a tight rental market. Demand has a migration tailwind, with overseas migration averaging +259 people a year against -27 internal migration, yet 18 development applications in 12 months suggest only moderate new supply. The 45.2% rent growth indicator supports income upside, although entry pricing is high.
Development Activity
Total DAs
39
Last 12 Months
31
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+675.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$3.3M
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Williamstown iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Williamstown North Primary School
Prep-6 · 601 students
Newmark Primary
Prep-6 · 131 students
Williamstown Primary School
Prep-6 · 460 students
Williamstown High School
7-12 · 1527 students
St Mary's School
Prep-6 · 263 students
Demographics
Williamstown is older and highly educated: median age 45 is 5 years above the national benchmark, and 53.7% university attainment is 23.6 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents are 23.3%, only 1.7 points above national, so the suburb leans more Anglo-European than migrant-majority areas nearby. English ancestry leads at 5,267 residents, followed by Irish at 2,021 and Scottish at 1,699, while Christianity counts 6,484 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
56.4%
Houses
30.3%
Townhouse
13.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is expensive but not euphoric. The median house price reached $1.595m in Apr-Jun 2024 after rising 73.4% from $920,000 in 2013, a 4.0% CAGR over 14 years. It remains 3.4% below the $1.6505m 2022 peak, which gives buyers more leverage than at the top. Tenure is owner-heavy, with 41.1% owned outright and 34.0% mortgaged compared with 25.0% renting, while 40.7% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (Apr-Jun 2024)
Mortgage / mo
$2,700
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $450.
$670
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $800 · units $523
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,106
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.4%
Unoccupied
700
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.5%
Couples, no children
11,873
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy reflects high-skill incomes above average, with household income in the 90.8 percentile. Professional/Tech employs 866 people, Education 753, Healthcare 737, Public Admin 488 and Construction 442, supported by 2,511 professionals and 1,636 managers. SEIFA is consistently high: IRSAD, IRSD and IEO are all decile 9, while IER is lower at decile 8, likely because wealth is strong but some residents are retired. Unemployment is 4.8% and participation is 61.7%.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
10,523
Unemployed
235
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
30.6%
Participation
61.7%
Employed
6,938
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.7%
Postgraduate
16.1%
Born Overseas
23.3%
Dwellings
5,447
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for established families who value schools and walkable routines more than maximum transit use. Six local schools span ICSEA 1006 to 1135; standouts include Government Williamstown North Primary at 1135, Independent Newmark Primary at 1134 and Government Williamstown High at 1112 with 1,527 students. Public transport commuting is 6.0%, below car driving at 80.1%, while walking and cycling reach 8.5%. Crime is 94.8 per 1,000, so safety checks matter despite IRSAD decile 9.
Drive
80.1%
Public Transport
6.0%
Walk / Cycle
8.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.6%/yr
(+103 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than rapid. The trend forecast adds 0.6% a year, or about 103 people, lifting the medium scenario from 17,055 in 2026 to 17,571 in 2031. Population growth is driven by overseas migration at +259 people annually, while the average internal balance is -27, suggesting older owners stay and some locals trade out. The trajectory is Aging, with seniors up 5.2 points, and gentrification is labelled Early signs with a score of 24.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+259
Net Internal / yr
-27
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +11% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +259/yr, COVID recovered (-4% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,366
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
94.8
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 Williamstown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Williamstown a good suburb to live in?
Yes, especially for higher-income households wanting established housing, strong schools and a coastal setting. The median age is 45, household income is in the 90.8 percentile and 41.1% of homes are owned outright, so the feel is stable rather than transient.
What is the median house price in Williamstown?
The median house price is $1,595,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 73.4% higher than the $920,000 level recorded in 2013, but 3.4% below the 2022 peak of $1,650,500, giving buyers slightly more room than at the top.
What schools are in Williamstown?
Williamstown has 6 local schools across Government, Independent and Catholic sectors. ICSEA scores range from 1006 to 1135, with Williamstown North Primary at 1135, Newmark Primary at 1134 and Williamstown High at 1112.
Is Williamstown safe?
Williamstown recorded 1,366 offences, equal to 94.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 830, followed by crimes against the person at 230, so buyers should compare street-level patterns carefully.
Is Williamstown good for property investment?
It can suit long-term investors more than yield-first buyers. Renting covers 25.0% of homes and median rent is $450 a week, while the 11.4% vacancy rate is high. Overseas migration of +259 people a year supports demand, but entry prices are steep.
How is Williamstown's population changing?
Williamstown is growing slowly, with the trend forecast at 0.6% a year or about 103 extra people annually. The medium scenario rises from 17,055 in 2026 to 17,571 in 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration rather than internal moves.
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.
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