Woodend
A population of 6,732 sits in a mature Macedon Ranges market where 41.4% of residents own their homes outright and 41.6% hold a mortgage. The median age is 45, or 5.0 years above the national figure, while household income ranks at the 79.6th percentile. Compared with nearby Macedon and Gisborne, Woodend's standout profile is its combination of detached housing, established wealth and remote-work capacity: 90.8% of dwellings are separate houses and 41.1% of residents work from home. That mix supports family demand, but an aging trajectory and worsening affordability point to a market that is less accessible to younger entrants.
Population
6,732
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,104/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$1.1M
October to December 2025
Woodend suits buyers seeking a conventional family house rather than apartment living. Housing is 90.8% separate houses, with 46.9% having 3 bedrooms and 39.5% having 4 or more, so buyers get more choice in family-sized stock than in small dwellings. A $2,000 monthly mortgage equates to 22.0% of household income, while $400 weekly rent is 19.0% of income. Compared with the 2014 trough, today's entry point is materially higher, making deposit size the main hurdle.
For Buyers
Woodend suits buyers seeking a conventional family house rather than apartment living. Housing is 90.8% separate houses, with 46.9% having 3 bedrooms and 39.5% having 4 or more, so buyers get more choice in family-sized stock than in small dwellings. A $2,000 monthly mortgage equates to 22.0% of household income, while $400 weekly rent is 19.0% of income. Compared with the 2014 trough, today's entry point is materially higher, making deposit size the main hurdle.
For Investors
Woodend's investment case is shaped by low rental intensity and a large detached-house base. Only 15.8% of households rent, below the 41.4% owning outright and 41.6% paying a mortgage, while the median rent is $400 a week. Vacancy is 8.6%, so landlords should test property-specific demand rather than assume scarcity. Rents have grown 56.8% across the shift period, which supports the income story, but affordability is worsening from 40.3 in 2011 to 45.1 in 2021. Development activity is limited at 4 applications in 12 months, and forecast migration is Balanced. Compared with a high-turnover rental market, Woodend is more likely to reward a long hold focused on family houses because 90.8% of dwellings are separate houses.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+33.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Woodend
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Braemar College
St Ambrose's School
Woodend Primary School
Demographics
Woodend has an older and more settled population profile than Australia overall. Median age is 45, 5.0 years above national, while 44.5% hold a university qualification, 14.4 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 16.8%, 4.8 points below national, and 79.8% stayed at the same address over the reference period, indicating relatively low churn. English ancestry is recorded for 2,953 people, followed by Irish at 1,197 and Scottish at 997. No religion is the largest stated affiliation at 3,586, ahead of Christianity at 2,541. Average household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national, with couples with children representing 45.2% of families. These patterns help explain the suburb's stable, family-oriented character.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.8%
Houses
8.9%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Woodend's housing market is overwhelmingly detached and owner-occupied. Separate houses make up 90.8% of dwellings, while apartments account for only 0.2% and semi-detached homes 8.9%. Tenure is split between 41.4% owning outright, 41.6% with a mortgage and 15.8% renting, consistent with an established mortgage-belt market. Compared with nearby Macedon and Gisborne, Woodend's practical distinction is its very limited apartment supply, which pushes demand toward family-sized houses: 46.9% have 3 bedrooms and 39.5% have 4 or more.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$400
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$857
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.6%
Unoccupied
231
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.2%
Couples with children
39.3%
Couples, no children
14.7%
Single parent
1,910
Total families
Economy & Employment
Woodend's economy combines public-facing services with professional and trade work. Healthcare is the largest listed industry at 17.2% and 404 workers, followed by Education at 13.9% and 326, Professional/Tech at 13.6% and 319, Public Administration at 10.4% and 243, and Construction at 8.8% and 207. Professionals number 981 and managers 540, reinforcing a higher-skill base. Unemployment is 3.6% among a labour-force participation rate of 60.7%, while 55.1% of workers are full time. Household income sits at the 79.6th percentile. SEIFA scores are strong but not identical: IEO and IRSAD are decile 8, while IER and IRSD reach decile 9, all above the national midpoint. The spread suggests economic resources and low disadvantage are particularly strong compared with the broader education and occupation mix. These conditions support spending power, although 41.1% working from home also links local prosperity to jobs elsewhere.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
3,295
Unemployed
119
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.1%
Part-time
36.9%
Participation
60.7%
Employed
3,176
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.5%
Postgraduate
13.5%
Born Overseas
16.8%
Dwellings
2,447
Transport to Work
Woodend's daily life is oriented around cars and home-based work. A total of 50.1% drive to work, compared with 2.1% using public transport and 2.9% walking or cycling, while 41.1% work from home. Families have access to 3 nearby schools spanning 2 primary options and 1 Pri/Sec college across Catholic, government and independent sectors; check enrolment zones against the exact address. Recorded crime is 37.4 offences per 1,000 residents, with 252 incidents overall, led by property and deception offences at 106 and justice procedures offences at 63. SEIFA places Woodend in IRSAD decile 8, IER decile 9 and IRSD decile 9, indicating advantage above the middle deciles. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, the higher 50.1% car use means parking, road access and commuting time matter more than rail frequency. The 23.1% volunteering rate adds a practical community participation signal.
Drive
50.1%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
41.1%
Population Forecast
+1.32%/yr
(+107 people/yr)
EstablishedWoodend is forecast to grow at 1.32% a year, with migration marked as Balanced rather than driven by one dominant stream. The wider area's population change is 24.0% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 8.1% and the young share has fallen 1.9%. Affordability is worsening, moving from 40.3 in 2011 to 45.1 in 2021, and rents have grown 56.8%, which can redirect demand toward established households with more equity. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 23. Compared with a flat-growth setting, the 1.32% annual trend indicates continued momentum, but the 8.1% senior-share increase is higher than the -1.9% young-share change, pointing to gradual aging rather than youth-led expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+34
Net Internal / yr
+16
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +23% since 2011, Accelerating: 7% → 15%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
252
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
37.4
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 Woodend compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Woodend?
Woodend has 3 nearby schools: 2 primary options and 1 Pri/Sec college. The mix covers Catholic, government and independent sectors, including Woodend Primary School, St Ambrose's School and Braemar College. Check the exact enrolment zone because boundaries can affect eligibility.
Is Woodend safe?
Crime is recorded at 37.4 offences per 1,000 residents, with 252 incidents in the period measured. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 106, followed by justice procedures at 63. Treat this as a suburb-wide indicator and check the exact street and current local conditions before deciding.
Is Woodend good for property investment?
It can suit a long-term investor, but the numbers call for selectivity. Renting is 15.8%, median rent is $400 a week and vacancy is 8.6%, while rents have grown 56.8%. Only 4 development applications were recorded over 12 months, so investors should focus on tenant demand, property condition and holding costs rather than assume rapid supply growth.
How is Woodend's population changing?
Woodend's population is 6,732 today, with growth across the wider area forecast at 1.32% a year and 24.0% over 10 years. Migration is classified as Balanced, while the trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased 8.1% and the young share has fallen 1.9%. That points to steady growth with an older resident mix.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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