Windale
An 80.8% renter share makes Windale one of the most tenant-heavy suburbs in the Hunter region, far above the national average, and the SEIFA data explains why: all four indexes sit at decile 1, the lowest advantage tier nationally. The suburb covers 2.06 km2 with 3,421 residents and a median age of 37, three years below national. Weekly household income of $775 places Windale in the 4.1st income percentile across Australia. Despite the low-income profile, the median house price reached $630,000 in 2024-2025, rising 15.5% from $607,333 in 2024, which pushes the mortgage-to-income ratio to 44%, well above the 30% stress threshold.
Population
3,421
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$775/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$773K
12m to Jun 2026 (PSI)
The $630,000 median house price is more accessible than Sydney, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 44% still flags stress against Windale's household income base. Prices moved from $607,333 in 2024 to $701,770 in 2025, a 15.5% gain, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,478. Stock is 74.8% separate houses, giving detached buyers reasonable choice compared to higher-density markets. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.8%, followed by two-bedroom at 22.1%. The renter majority (80.8%) means owner-occupiers are buying into a market where most neighbours rent, which tends to suppress community investment in upkeep. Only 7.7% own outright and 11.4% carry a mortgage, reflecting the thin ownership base across the suburb.
For Buyers
The $630,000 median house price is more accessible than Sydney, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 44% still flags stress against Windale's household income base. Prices moved from $607,333 in 2024 to $701,770 in 2025, a 15.5% gain, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,478. Stock is 74.8% separate houses, giving detached buyers reasonable choice compared to higher-density markets. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.8%, followed by two-bedroom at 22.1%. The renter majority (80.8%) means owner-occupiers are buying into a market where most neighbours rent, which tends to suppress community investment in upkeep. Only 7.7% own outright and 11.4% carry a mortgage, reflecting the thin ownership base across the suburb.
For Investors
With 80.8% of dwellings rented, Windale ranks among the highest renter-share suburbs in NSW, providing landlords a deep and stable tenant pool. Weekly rent is $186 (2021 Census), and a vacancy rate of 5.8% sits modestly above the typical investor comfort zone of 3-4%. Net migration adds roughly 44 internal and 25 overseas residents per year, supporting steady demand. Development activity is modest with 12 applications in the past 12 months, including secondary dwelling approvals, meaning supply pressure from new construction is limited. The gentrification score of 63 and an active stage classification signal that underlying demand is building, with rent growth of 62.4% recorded over the decade. The low entry price relative to other Hunter locations may attract buyers seeking yield over capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
55
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Windale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Pius X Primary School
K-6 · 54 students
Windale Public School
P-6 · 252 students
Demographics
Windale's median age of 37 is 3 years below the national median, reflecting a relatively young population. The overseas-born share is just 6.1%, which is 15.5 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is Anglo-leaning with English (1,258 residents), Irish (239) and Scottish (227) as the dominant groups. University qualifications reach only 8.0%, which is 22.1 percentage points below the national rate, a gap that correlates with the occupational and income profile. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below national. Christianity (1,355 residents) is the dominant religion. Residential stability is relatively high, with 82.5% of residents remaining in the same address over five years, despite the majority renting, suggesting long-term tenancy rather than transient occupancy.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.8%
Houses
17.0%
Townhouse
8.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is heavily skewed: 80.8% of dwellings are rented, 11.4% carry a mortgage and just 7.7% are owned outright, a profile that sits near the extreme end nationally for a non-purpose-built rental estate. Separate houses account for 74.8% of stock, semi-detached for 17.0% and apartments for 8.2%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common bedroom type at 57.8%, with two-bedroom at 22.1% and four-plus at 8.2%. Price history shows growth from $607,333 in 2024 to $701,770 in 2025, a 15.5% rise over one year. The vacancy rate of 5.8% is above the stable-market benchmark, suggesting some excess rental supply. At 44.0% mortgage-to-income, owner-occupiers face meaningful repayment pressure relative to local incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (12m to Jun 2026 (PSI))
Mortgage / mo
$1,478
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (January to March 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $186.
$625
Bond data Mar 2026
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$462
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.8%
Unoccupied
82
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
44.0% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.0%
Couples, no children
2,274
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs the largest share of local workers at 29.5% (109 workers), well above the share typical of outer suburban areas, likely because the John Hunter Hospital precinct is nearby. Retail (9.8%), Construction (9.2%), Education (8.7%) and Other Services (8.4%) round out the top five industries. By occupation, Labourers (177) and Community/Personal workers (139) lead, consistent with the decile 1 IEO score for education and occupation. The unemployment rate of 15.5% is substantially above national averages, and the labour force participation rate of 31.9% is very low, with 1,378 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment is 54.7% among those employed. Real income grew 21.8% over the decade, but from a low base given the 4.1st household income percentile.
Unemployment
9.4%
Labour Force
4,435
Unemployed
417
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.7%
Part-time
29.8%
Participation
31.9%
Employed
716
Occupations
Top Industries
University
8.0%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
6.1%
Dwellings
1,319
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 81.7% of residents driving to work, compared with lower rates in better-connected suburbs. Public transport use is 3.1% and walking or cycling accounts for 3.3%. Crime data is not available in the dataset, but the decile 1 IRSD and IRSAD scores indicate Windale sits at the highest disadvantage tier nationally, which is typically associated with higher crime exposure than decile 5-10 areas. Volunteering is 7.8% and 14.7% of residents (433 people) need daily assistance, a rate above the national average that reflects the disadvantage profile. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on schools in nearby Kotara, Glendale or Cardiff. Rent-to-income at 24.0% remains below the 30% stress threshold, keeping renters relatively comfortable despite the low-income environment.
Drive
81.7%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.55%/yr
(+53 people/yr)
EstablishedThe suburb SA2 population tracking shows the broader area at 9,686 residents in 2025, up 9.7% over ten years. Annual growth is 0.55%, adding about 53 persons per year, with medium forecasts projecting the area reaching roughly 10,028 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with 44 net internal arrivals and 25 net overseas arrivals annually. The gentrification score of 63 places Windale in the active stage, driven by rent growth of 62.4% and an affordability trend that has worsened from 38.1% in 2011 to 41.3% in 2021. The aging trajectory signal indicates the senior share grew 4.3 points while the young adult share fell 1.6 points over the decade, which will gradually shift the demand profile toward more accessible, lower-maintenance stock.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+25
Net Internal / yr
+44
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Windale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windale a good suburb to live in?
Windale scores decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes, the lowest advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 4.1st percentile. The suburb suits renters on moderate incomes, with weekly rent of $186 (2021 Census) and a rent-to-income ratio of 24.0%. Proximity to the John Hunter Hospital precinct and the 74.8% separate-house stock are practical positives, but limited schooling inside the boundary and a 15.5% unemployment rate are trade-offs to weigh.
What is the median house price in Windale?
The median house price is $630,000 based on 2024-2025 PSI data. Prices rose 15.5% from $607,333 in 2024 to $701,770 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,478, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 44.0%, above the 30% stress threshold given local household incomes.
What schools are in Windale?
No schools are recorded inside the Windale boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in adjacent suburbs including Kotara, Glendale and Cardiff. The local university qualification rate is 8.0%, which is 22.1 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Windale safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Windale in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 1 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the lowest tier nationally, and 14.7% of residents (433 people) need daily assistance. These signals suggest a higher-disadvantage environment than the state or national median.
Is Windale good for property investment?
The 80.8% renter share and steady migration (44 internal plus 25 overseas net arrivals per year) support consistent tenant demand. Weekly rent of $186 (2021 Census) and a vacancy rate of 5.8% deliver modest yield at the $630,000 median. The active gentrification stage and 62.4% rent growth over the decade indicate upward rent pressure, though the 5.8% vacancy rate is above the 3-4% comfort zone.
How is Windale's population changing?
The broader SA2 area grew 9.7% over ten years to 9,686 residents in 2025, adding about 53 persons per year at 0.55% annually. Medium forecasts project around 10,028 residents by 2031. The suburb is on an aging trajectory, with the senior share up 4.3 points and the young adult share down 1.6 points over the decade.
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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