Woy Woy
A population of 11,072 gives Woy Woy a substantial Peninsula base, but its median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure. The suburb is relatively compact at 15.98 sq km and 692.7 people per sq km, with 39.2% renting and 33.9% working from home. Household income sits at the 21.9th percentile, below the national midpoint, which helps explain its practical, cost-conscious character. English ancestry totals 4,608 and Christianity 5,437, reinforcing an Anglo-leaning, aging profile. Nearby Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach broaden local amenity, while Woy Woy's 0.42% annual growth marks it as slower-growing than a development-led market.
Population
11,072
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,151/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
95
Buyers face a trade-off between established housing choice and stretched household budgets. Typical rent is $380 a week and mortgage payments are $1,900 a month; mortgage costs equal 38.1% of income, above the 33.0% rent-to-income measure, so borrowing capacity needs careful testing. Separate houses make up 62.1%, while semi-detached homes account for 29.1% and apartments 7.4%. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 46.3%, higher than 4-plus-bedroom homes at 18.0%, which suits smaller households averaging 2.2 people. The 34.7% outright ownership rate is higher than the 24.2% mortgage-held share, supporting an established owner base but not removing affordability pressure.
For Buyers
Buyers face a trade-off between established housing choice and stretched household budgets. Typical rent is $380 a week and mortgage payments are $1,900 a month; mortgage costs equal 38.1% of income, above the 33.0% rent-to-income measure, so borrowing capacity needs careful testing. Separate houses make up 62.1%, while semi-detached homes account for 29.1% and apartments 7.4%. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 46.3%, higher than 4-plus-bedroom homes at 18.0%, which suits smaller households averaging 2.2 people. The 34.7% outright ownership rate is higher than the 24.2% mortgage-held share, supporting an established owner base but not removing affordability pressure.
For Investors
Rental demand has a meaningful base because 39.2% of occupied dwellings are rented, exceeding the 34.7% owned outright share. The $380 weekly rent provides a clear entry benchmark, while the 7.3% vacancy rate suggests more available stock than a tightly constrained market. Development activity reached 95 applications in 12 months, including alterations, retail work and a secondary dwelling, so investors should assess competing supply street by street. Growth is modest at 0.42% annually, far lower than the 52.0% rent growth recorded in the longer shift indicators. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which may support tenant demand, but the mixed trajectory argues for conservative cash-flow assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
515
Last 12 Months
95
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+25.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Woy Woy
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Woy Woy has an older profile than Australia overall: the median age is 48, or 8 years above the national comparison, while university attainment is 24.5%, 5.6 percentage points below the national level. Overseas-born residents comprise 20.2%, 1.4 points below national, and average household size is 2.2, 0.3 below the national figure. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 4,608, 1,360 and 1,124. Christianity has 5,437 adherents versus 4,413 reporting no religion. This points to demand from smaller households, older residents and service users, rather than a strongly student-led market. Compared with nearby Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach, Woy Woy sits within the same Peninsula network but retains a distinctly established demographic base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
62.1%
Houses
29.1%
Townhouse
7.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Woy Woy's housing is weighted toward smaller, established dwellings rather than large family stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.3%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 28.1%; only 18.0% have 4 or more bedrooms. Separate houses represent 62.1%, but the 29.1% semi-detached share is higher than the 7.4% apartment share, giving buyers a substantial medium-density option. Tenure is split between 34.7% outright ownership, 24.2% mortgages and 39.2% renting, with renting higher than either ownership category individually. That structure reflects an established, lower-income market: household income ranks at the 21.9th percentile, while mortgage and rent stress reach 38.1% and 33.0% of income. Nearby Peninsula suburbs may vary, so compare dwelling type and tenure street by street.
Mortgage / mo
$1,900
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $380.
$600
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $650 · units $498
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$605
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
372
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.0% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
38.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.0%
Couples with children
41.0%
Couples, no children
23.7%
Single parent
2,897
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is anchored by healthcare, which accounts for 22.4% of industry employment and 587 workers, followed by construction at 9.4% and 246, education at 8.4% and 221, public administration at 8.3% and 218, and professional or technical work at 8.3% and 216. Occupations are led by professionals at 782, trades at 600 and clerical or administration at 566. Yet household income sits at the 21.9th percentile, below the national midpoint, and unemployment is 6.4% with participation at 46.7%. SEIFA reinforces the uneven picture: education and occupation decile 4 is above economic resources decile 2, while disadvantage deciles are 3 for both IRSD and IRSAD. The mix suggests service employment alongside constrained household capacity.
Unemployment
6.4%
Labour Force
4,390
Unemployed
283
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.0%
Part-time
34.6%
Participation
46.7%
Employed
4,107
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.5%
Postgraduate
6.3%
Born Overseas
20.2%
Dwellings
4,740
Transport to Work
Daily life is practical but car-oriented. Car driving accounts for 52.9% of commuting, well above public transport at 6.1% and walking or cycling at 3.4%; working from home is comparatively common at 33.9%. Families have access to 3 government schools nearby, comprising 2 primary schools and 1 secondary campus, so address-level enrolment zones still matter. Woy Woy's density is 692.7 people per sq km across 15.98 sq km, supporting nearby services while retaining a suburban housing mix. Social conditions are mixed: IRSAD sits in decile 3, below the national midpoint, while volunteering is 11.1% and need for assistance is 10.6%. The suburb may suit residents who value established services and remote-work flexibility more than a transit-first lifestyle.
Drive
52.9%
Public Transport
6.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
33.9%
Population Forecast
+0.42%/yr
(+61 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than rapid. The annual trend is 0.42%, while population change across the wider area is 8.3% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the shift trajectory is Mixed, with senior share up 1.2 points vs young share down 0.4 points. Housing pressure is building because rent growth reached 52.0% and affordability worsened from 55.7 in 2011 to 59.2 in 2021. Signals on neighbourhood change are also mixed: the shift indicators label gentrification Active with a score of 50, while the current gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 0. That combination suits an established suburb with gradual change rather than a fast-growth corridor.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+93
Net Internal / yr
+12
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Woy Woy compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Woy Woy a good suburb to live in?
Woy Woy can suit buyers seeking an established Peninsula suburb with 3 government schools, a 33.9% work-from-home rate and a median age of 48. Budget carefully, because mortgage costs equal 38.1% of income and household income ranks at the 21.9th percentile.
What is the median house price in Woy Woy?
Check recent sales for the exact street and dwelling type before setting a budget, as a single median can mask differences between 3-bedroom houses, semis and apartments. Current cost markers include $380 weekly rent, $1,900 monthly mortgage payments and mortgage stress of 38.1%.
What schools are in Woy Woy?
Woy Woy has 3 government schools: Woy Woy Public School, Woy Woy South Public School and Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy Campus. The mix is 2 primary schools and 1 secondary campus, so check the enrolment zone for the exact address.
Is Woy Woy safe?
Safety should be checked using the latest street-level reports and by visiting at different times, because conditions can vary around transport, retail and evening activity. Woy Woy covers 15.98 sq km and has 11,072 residents, so local conditions may differ within the suburb.
Is Woy Woy good for property investment?
It can suit a long-term investor who is comfortable with moderate growth and local supply risk. Renting accounts for 39.2%, weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 7.3%; however, annual growth is 0.42% and 95 development applications in 12 months could add competition. Overseas migration is the main demand driver.
How is Woy Woy's population changing?
Population change is gradual rather than rapid. Woy Woy has 11,072 residents today, the annual trend is 0.42% and population change across the wider area is 8.3% over 10 years. The trajectory is Mixed, with senior share up 1.2 points and young share down 0.4 points.
Is Woy Woy seeing much development?
Development activity is noticeable, with 95 applications in 12 months. Examples include alterations to residential buildings, a retail shop application and a secondary dwelling involving demolition and a new structure. Check nearby approvals because added homes or retail activity can affect parking, construction noise and future competition.
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 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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