Windang
A median age of 56, which is 16 years above the national figure, defines Windang more than any other data point. On a narrow peninsula south of Wollongong, its 2,610 residents live mostly in detached houses, with household income at the 9.2nd percentile nationally. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 2, placing it in the bottom 20% of advantage nationally. Rent grew 56.8% over the decade while the population rose just 1.5%, meaning housing costs have outpaced incomes for this coastal, older-skewing community.
Population
2,610
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$916/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$1.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,035,000 median house price sits well above most regional NSW benchmarks, driven by coastal scarcity on a 2.37 km2 peninsula. Prices peaked at $1,125,000 in 2024 before easing to $1,010,000 in 2025, a fall of 10.2%. Detached houses dominate at 80.4%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 33.8%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 49.2% is well above the 30% stress threshold, reflecting the gap between coastal values and local incomes at the 9.2nd percentile. Outright ownership at 54.7% is high because many long-term residents paid off mortgages before recent price rises.
For Buyers
The $1,035,000 median house price sits well above most regional NSW benchmarks, driven by coastal scarcity on a 2.37 km2 peninsula. Prices peaked at $1,125,000 in 2024 before easing to $1,010,000 in 2025, a fall of 10.2%. Detached houses dominate at 80.4%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 33.8%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 49.2% is well above the 30% stress threshold, reflecting the gap between coastal values and local incomes at the 9.2nd percentile. Outright ownership at 54.7% is high because many long-term residents paid off mortgages before recent price rises.
For Investors
Investors face a cautious picture. Weekly rent of $335 against the $1,035,000 median implies a gross yield under 1.7%, and the 12.6% vacancy rate is elevated, suggesting seasonal or holiday-let stock. Only 22.1% of dwellings are rented, below national norms. Development activity is limited at 16 applications in the past 12 months. Net internal migration averages negative 18 per year, offset by overseas migration of positive 32. Population is forecast to decline slowly through 2031, so capital growth depends on coastal land scarcity rather than demand from demographic expansion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
104
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+63.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Windang iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Windang Public School
K-6 · 203 students
Demographics
Windang's median age of 56 is 16 years above the national figure, with the senior share rising 3.7 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.1 points. The overseas-born share of 14.2% sits 7.4 points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,047), Irish (307) and Scottish (237). University qualifications at 15.9% are 14.2 percentage points below national, consistent with the IEO decile 1 score. Average household size is 2.1, 0.4 below national, and couples without children make up 34.7% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.4%
Houses
9.6%
Townhouse
3.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 54.7% is high compared to national patterns because most residents are long-term owners who purchased before recent price rises. Mortgage holders account for 23.2% and renters 22.1%. Detached houses make up 80.4% of stock, apartments only 3.6%. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 33.8% and two-bedroom at 31.9%. Median price fell from $1,125,000 in 2024 to $1,010,000 in 2025, a 10.2% decline. Rent-to-income at 36.6% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, despite weekly rents of $335, because household income sits at only the 9.2nd percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$335
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$588
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.6%
Unoccupied
170
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.6% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
49.2% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.7%
Couples, no children
1,816
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local employment mix at 19.3% of workers (108 people), followed by Construction at 14.0% and Education at 12.2%. By occupation, Community and Personal Service (142) outranks Professionals (134) and Clerical workers (124), a pattern typical of coastal service economies rather than white-collar hubs. The unemployment rate is 5.1% and the participation rate only 36.8%, well below national levels because 1,156 residents are not in the labour force. This reflects the aging profile directly. Real income grew 25.7% over the decade, yet weekly household income of $916 remains at the 9.2nd percentile nationally.
Unemployment
9.9%
Labour Force
1,845
Unemployed
182
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.6%
Part-time
34.3%
Participation
36.8%
Employed
795
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.9%
Postgraduate
3.3%
Born Overseas
14.2%
Dwellings
1,176
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 93.0% of residents driving to work, well above national averages, reflecting Windang's peninsula geography and limited public transport. Walking and cycling account for just 2.4% of commutes. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families travel to neighbouring areas. The IRSAD decile of 2 and IEO decile of 1 place the suburb in the bottom tiers nationally for advantage and educational outcomes. On balance, the suburb suits owner-occupiers seeking a coastal lifestyle: 54.7% own outright, 80.4% of homes are detached, and 10.8% of residents volunteer.
Drive
93.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.09%/yr
(-4 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation rose just 1.5% over 10 years and the current trend points to a slow decline of roughly 4 persons annually through 2031, when the medium forecast puts the count at approximately 4,214. The 2025 population of 4,224 has not recovered to the pre-COVID peak of 4,324. Net internal migration averages negative 18 per year, with net overseas migration of positive 32 providing a partial offset. Rent grew 56.8% over the decade compared to real income growth of 25.7%, a widening gap that pressures lower-income renters even as the suburb shows only early signs of gentrification, scoring 40 on that index.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+32
Net Internal / yr
-18
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Windang compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windang a good suburb to live in?
Windang suits retirees and coastal lifestyle seekers. 54.7% of residents own their homes outright and 80.4% of dwellings are detached houses. However, it scores IRSAD decile 2 nationally, placing it in the bottom 20% for socioeconomic advantage. There are no recorded schools in the suburb, and 93% of residents drive to work, so families with school-age children face real constraints.
What is the median house price in Windang?
The median house price is $1,035,000, based on PSI-derived data for 2024 to 2025. Prices peaked at $1,125,000 in 2024 before falling 10.2% to $1,010,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $335 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,950.
What schools are in Windang?
No schools are recorded inside the Windang suburb boundary. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Wollongong-area suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 15.9%, which is 14.2 percentage points below the national average, reflecting an older, established demographic rather than a young family or student base.
Is Windang safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Windang in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSAD decile 2 nationally, which can correlate with higher crime exposure. The community is predominantly older, with a median age of 56, and 10.8% of residents volunteer, suggesting a relatively stable social fabric despite the low advantage ranking.
Is Windang good for property investment?
The investment case is cautious. Weekly rent of $335 against a $1,035,000 median implies a gross yield under 1.7%, and the 12.6% vacancy rate is elevated, pointing to holiday or seasonal stock. Net internal migration averages negative 18 per year and population is forecast to fall to around 4,214 by 2031, so capital growth depends on coastal land scarcity rather than demographic-driven demand.
How is Windang's population changing?
Windang grew just 1.5% over 10 years and is now declining at roughly 4 persons per year. The 2025 population of 4,224 remains below the pre-COVID peak of 4,324. The median age is 56, with the senior share rising 3.7 points over the decade. Net internal migration is negative 18 annually, partially offset by overseas migration of positive 32 per year.
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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