Windsor
A crime rate of 146.3 per 1,000, nearly triple the Melbourne average, coexists with SEIFA decile 10 for education and opportunity, and a median house price of $1,580,000. This contradiction defines Windsor: a highly educated (58.4% university degree, 28.3 points above national), high-income inner suburb where 59.4% of residents rent and 41.3% moved within the past 5 years. The 16.7% vacancy rate, nearly 5 times the healthy benchmark, signals a market with significant oversupply in its dominant apartment stock (59.7%), likely concentrated in short-stay and investor-held units.
Population
7,273
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,022/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
84
Median House
$1.6M
Apr-Jun 2024
At $1,580,000, Windsor houses sit 4.2% below the 2022 peak of $1,650,000, offering buyers a correction window. The 14-year CAGR of 4.7% from $835,000 in 2013 is solid for inner Melbourne. However, houses represent just 12.6% of stock; 59.7% are apartments and 27.5% semi-detached. Bedrooms skew small: 29.4% studio/one-bed and 44% two-bed, compared to only 5.7% four-plus. Mortgage-to-income of 24.5% is comfortable at the 75th-percentile household income. Buyers here are purchasing location and walkability (22.3% walk or cycle), not space. The 51.4% couples-without-children share confirms this is not a family suburb.
For Buyers
At $1,580,000, Windsor houses sit 4.2% below the 2022 peak of $1,650,000, offering buyers a correction window. The 14-year CAGR of 4.7% from $835,000 in 2013 is solid for inner Melbourne. However, houses represent just 12.6% of stock; 59.7% are apartments and 27.5% semi-detached. Bedrooms skew small: 29.4% studio/one-bed and 44% two-bed, compared to only 5.7% four-plus. Mortgage-to-income of 24.5% is comfortable at the 75th-percentile household income. Buyers here are purchasing location and walkability (22.3% walk or cycle), not space. The 51.4% couples-without-children share confirms this is not a family suburb.
For Investors
Windsor's 59.4% renter share, the highest in this batch, and 16.7% vacancy rate, also the highest, create a paradox of deep demand and significant oversupply. Weekly rent of $411 on the $1,580,000 house median suggests a gross yield of 1.4% for houses, though apartment yields will differ substantially. The 76 DAs in 12 months, including mixed-use and commercial applications, signal ongoing development activity. Population growth of 1.55% per year (+139 persons) projects to 9,711 by 2031. Rent growth of 27% over the decade is the weakest in this batch, reflecting the supply-side pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
86
Last 12 Months
84
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+8300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Windsor iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Prahran High School
7-12 · 564 students
Windsor Primary School
Prep-6 · 125 students
Demographics
Windsor's university attainment of 58.4% is the highest in this batch, sitting 28.3 points above the national rate. The median age of 34 is 6 years below national, and the average household size of 1.8, the smallest in this batch, reflects a community of young professionals and couples. Only 5.7% of homes have 4-plus bedrooms. English ancestry leads (2,436) but is less dominant than suburban norms, with 1,151 identifying other ancestries. At 34.9% born overseas, 13.3 points above national. Greek (154 speakers) is the most common non-English language, a legacy of Prahran's post-war migration history. Judaism (180) and Islam (169) join Christianity (2,084) in a multi-faith community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
12.6%
Houses
27.5%
Townhouse
59.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The median house price of $1,580,000 sits 4.2% below the 2022 peak of $1,650,000, with a 14-year CAGR of 4.7% from $835,000 in 2013. The stock profile is apartment-dominant: 59.7% flats, 27.5% semi-detached, and only 12.6% detached houses. This makes Windsor fundamentally different from most suburbs in this batch. Renting dominates tenure at 59.4%, with only 17.3% owning outright and 23.3% on mortgages. The 16.7% vacancy rate signals persistent oversupply, likely concentrated in the apartment segment. Rent-to-income of 20.3% and mortgage-to-income of 24.5% both sit below stress thresholds.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,145
Rent / wk
$411
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,278
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.7%
Unoccupied
722
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.4%
Couples, no children
3,710
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and technical services lead at 18.4% (703 workers), the highest share in this batch, followed by healthcare (14.2%), education (8.8%), retail (7.7%), and finance (7.6%). Professionals dominate at 1,872 workers, nearly triple the next occupation category (managers, 861). The 73.6% full-time employment rate is the highest in this batch, and unemployment at 4.3% is near the national average. The participation rate of 68.4% reflects a working-age community with few retirees. SEIFA shows an unusual pattern: IEO decile 10 (highest education) but IER decile 2 (very low economic resources), explained by the high renter share and apartment-dominated housing.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
6,393
Unemployed
299
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
73.6%
Part-time
22.1%
Participation
68.4%
Employed
4,456
Occupations
Top Industries
University
58.4%
Postgraduate
14.9%
Born Overseas
34.9%
Dwellings
3,598
Transport to Work
Two schools serve the area: Prahran High School (Government, ICSEA 1080, 564 students) and Windsor Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1049, 125 students), both above the national benchmark. The crime rate of 146.3 per 1,000, heavily skewed toward property offences (668 of 1,064 total), is the highest in this batch. Drug offences at 71 and justice procedure offences at 107 are also elevated. Public transport at 9.3% is the highest in this batch, and walking/cycling at 22.3% is exceptional, reflecting the dense, walkable urban form. Car dependency at 64.7% is the lowest profiled. The IRSAD decile of 10 confirms top-tier socio-economic positioning.
Drive
64.7%
Public Transport
9.3%
Walk / Cycle
22.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.55%/yr
(+139 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth of 1.55% per year (+139 persons) projects to 9,711 by 2031, a 24.8% increase over the decade. Growth is driven by overseas migration (+182 per year) while internal migration runs at -20. The young share dropped 2.2 points, suggesting some young professionals are leaving as they transition to family formation. Affordability improved from 39.1% in 2011 to 35.1% in 2021, still above the stress line for house purchasers. Real income grew 14.8% over the decade, modest for inner Melbourne. Gentrification score of 48 with early signs, and population growth accelerated from 12% to 18%.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+182
Net Internal / yr
-20
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +32% since 2011, Accelerating: 12% → 18%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,064
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
146.3
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 Windsor compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windsor a good suburb to live in?
Windsor excels on walkability (22.3% walk/cycle), public transport (9.3%), and education (SEIFA IEO decile 10). Both schools score above ICSEA 1000. The main concern is the crime rate of 146.3 per 1,000, driven by 668 property offences, roughly 3 times the Melbourne average. It suits young professionals prioritising urban access over space.
What is the median house price in Windsor?
The median house price is $1,580,000 as of mid-2024, down 4.2% from the 2022 peak of $1,650,000. The 14-year CAGR from $835,000 in 2013 is 4.7%. Note that houses are only 12.6% of stock; most dwellings are apartments (59.7%) priced differently.
What schools are in Windsor?
Windsor has 2 schools: Prahran High School (Government, ICSEA 1080, 564 students) and Windsor Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1049, 125 students). Both score above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1000. Windsor Primary's small size (125 students) offers a more intimate learning environment.
Is Windsor safe?
Windsor's crime rate is 146.3 per 1,000 residents, with 1,064 total offences. Property and deception offences dominate at 668 (63%), followed by crimes against the person at 144 and drug offences at 71. This rate is approximately 3 times the Melbourne suburban average, partly driven by the high-density, high-footfall commercial strip.
Is Windsor good for property investment?
The 59.4% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, but the 16.7% vacancy rate is the highest profiled, roughly 5 times the healthy benchmark. Gross house yield of approximately 1.4% ($411/week on $1,580,000) is very low. Apartment yields differ significantly. Population growth of 1.55% per year provides demand, though rent growth of 27% over the decade is the weakest in this batch.
How is Windsor's population changing?
Population grows at 1.55% per year (+139 persons), projecting to 9,711 by 2031. Overseas migration of +182 per year drives the growth. The young share dropped 2.2 points over the decade, suggesting young professionals leave when forming families. The 10-year population change of 24.8% is strong for inner Melbourne.
What languages are spoken in Windsor?
With 34.9% born overseas, Windsor has notable linguistic diversity. Greek (154 speakers) leads, followed by Mandarin (53), Cantonese (33), Italian (32), and Russian (32). The Greek-speaking community reflects the post-war Southern European migration legacy of the Prahran-Windsor corridor.
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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