Woodberry
Three facts define Woodberry more than any others: household income sits at the 23.8th percentile nationally, yet 96.4% of dwellings are separate houses, and the median house price reached $580,000. That combination, well below the national income average paired with near-total detached housing, marks this as a working-class owner-occupier suburb in the Hunter region. The population of 3,024 has a median age of 36, four years below the national figure, and 84% of residents stayed put between census years, signalling strong community attachment rather than a transient rental market.
Population
3,024
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,187/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$580K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $580,000 sits well below Sydney benchmarks, making Woodberry accessible for buyers priced out of coastal NSW markets. Prices moved from $535,000 in 2024 to $615,000 in 2025, a 15% gain in one year. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 96.4%, with three-bedroom homes dominating at 71.4% and four-plus bedroom homes at 23.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes in the 23.8th percentile nationally. That ratio indicates housing remains relatively affordable for existing residents, though the income constraint limits buying power for new entrants.
For Buyers
The median house price of $580,000 sits well below Sydney benchmarks, making Woodberry accessible for buyers priced out of coastal NSW markets. Prices moved from $535,000 in 2024 to $615,000 in 2025, a 15% gain in one year. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 96.4%, with three-bedroom homes dominating at 71.4% and four-plus bedroom homes at 23.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes in the 23.8th percentile nationally. That ratio indicates housing remains relatively affordable for existing residents, though the income constraint limits buying power for new entrants.
For Investors
The 34.3% renter share provides a solid tenant pool, and weekly rent of $320 against a $580,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.9%, higher than most Sydney inner suburbs. Vacancy sits at 4.2%, slightly above the typical equilibrium of 3%, suggesting modest oversupply rather than acute shortage. Rent-to-income at 27% means tenants are not stressed, which supports rental stability. Development activity is limited at 16 applications in the past 12 months, mostly pools and minor works, so new supply is not a near-term risk. The 15% price rise over the 2024-2025 period suggests the suburb is responding to broader Hunter Valley price momentum.
Development Activity
Total DAs
50
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+45.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Woodberry iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Woodberry Public School
K-6 · 221 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, skewing toward families and young workers. Overseas-born residents make up just 8.1% of the population, which is 13.5 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,268 residents), Scottish (247) and Irish (223). University qualifications reach only 11%, which is 19.1 points below national, consistent with the occupational profile of labourers and tradespeople. Couples with children at 716 families outnumber couples without children at 571, confirming the family-oriented makeup. Average household size of 2.6 is marginally above the national figure of 2.5.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.4%
Houses
3.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into three clear bands: 27.4% own outright, 38.2% carry a mortgage and 34.3% rent. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners signals a relatively young buyer base still paying off homes, rather than the long-held wealth profile seen in more established suburbs. Almost all homes are separate houses at 96.4%, with semi-detached at just 3.6% and no recorded apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 71.4% and four-plus bedroom for 23.4%, which together make up nearly 95% of stock, compared to the national mix that includes far more compact dwellings. Prices moved from $535,000 to $615,000 between 2024 and 2025, a 15% gain. Mortgage-to-income at 25.3% and rent-to-income at 27% both remain below stress thresholds.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$579
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.2%
Unoccupied
49
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.6%
Couples, no children
2,424
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 23.6% of workers (145 people), more than double the share of the next sector, Construction at 10.7% (66 workers) and Manufacturing at 10.1% (62 workers). By occupation, Labourers lead at 234 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service workers at 166 and Machinery Operators and Drivers at 148. That occupational stack explains why university qualifications are 19.1 percentage points below the national average: the local economy rewards trade and care skills more than professional credentials. Unemployment sits at 10%, above the national average, and the labour force participation rate of 50.1% is low, with 998 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment among those working runs at 60%.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.0%
Part-time
30.0%
Participation
50.1%
Employed
1,068
Occupations
Top Industries
University
11.0%
Postgraduate
0.9%
Born Overseas
8.1%
Dwellings
1,102
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extreme: 90% of residents drive to work, while only 1.7% use public transport and 1.5% walk or cycle, compared to higher public transport shares in urban NSW centres. That pattern reflects the suburban low-density layout across 8.39 square kilometres at 360 residents per square kilometre. No schools are recorded inside the Woodberry boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding Maitland and Beresfield areas. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb. On the positive side, housing stress is low, with rent-to-income at 27% and mortgage-to-income at 25.3%, both below stress thresholds, and 9.7% of residents require daily assistance, which is notable for a suburb with low incomes.
Drive
90.0%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Woodberry compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Woodberry a good suburb to live in?
Woodberry suits buyers and families who prioritise detached housing and low mortgage stress. Housing affordability is a strength, with a median house price of $580,000 and mortgage-to-income at 25.3%, below the 30% stress level. The main trade-offs are heavy car dependency (90% drive to work), a 10% unemployment rate above the national average, and household income at the 23.8th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Woodberry?
The median house price is $580,000, based on PSI data. Prices rose 15% from $535,000 in 2024 to $615,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $320 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%.
What schools are in Woodberry?
No schools are recorded inside the Woodberry boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Maitland and Beresfield areas. Locally, 11% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 19.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and care-sector occupational base.
Is Woodberry safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Woodberry in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low, with rent-to-income at 27% and mortgage-to-income at 25.3%, and 84% of residents stayed between census years, suggesting a stable, settled community. However, unemployment at 10% is elevated compared to the national average.
Is Woodberry good for property investment?
Rent of $320 a week against a $580,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.9%, better than many NSW coastal markets. Prices rose 15% over the 2024-2025 period, tracking the Hunter Valley momentum. The vacancy rate of 4.2% is slightly above equilibrium, and the 34.3% renter share provides a consistent tenant pool. Low development activity of 16 applications in 12 months limits near-term supply risk.
How is Woodberry's population changing?
Detailed forecast data is not available in this dataset, but the current population is 3,024 with a median age of 36, which is 4 years below the national figure. High residential stability, with 84% of residents staying between census periods and a turnover rate of just 16%, indicates a settled population rather than rapid demographic change.
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.
Explore Woodberry on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map