VIC 3850 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Wurruk

A 99.0% separate-house share is the clearest signal of Wurruk's housing character, while its population of 1,177 and median age of 41 point to a small, mature residential community. The 84.1% same-address rate is higher than the 15.9% turnover rate, suggesting relatively stable household patterns. Compared with nearby Sale's more urban setting, Wurruk has a more detached and car-oriented feel. Its crime rate of 117.2 incidents per 1,000 residents is a significant consideration, particularly alongside the suburb's otherwise settled profile.

Local council: Wellington

Wurruk urban fabric map

Population

1,177

Median Age

41.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,495/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

1

4.85 km²· 242.4 people/km²· Family income $1,911/wk

Wurruk suits buyers who prioritise detached housing, larger floorplans and a quieter setting over apartment access or extensive public transport. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms account for 53.9% of the housing mix, while 3-bedroom homes represent 31.3%. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,517 equates to a 23.4% mortgage burden, higher than the 16.7% rent-to-income measure attached to weekly rent of $250. Because a current median house price is unavailable, buyers should rely on recent comparable sales, building condition and exact street location when comparing Wurruk with Sale or other nearby choices.

For Buyers

Wurruk suits buyers who prioritise detached housing, larger floorplans and a quieter setting over apartment access or extensive public transport. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms account for 53.9% of the housing mix, while 3-bedroom homes represent 31.3%. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,517 equates to a 23.4% mortgage burden, higher than the 16.7% rent-to-income measure attached to weekly rent of $250. Because a current median house price is unavailable, buyers should rely on recent comparable sales, building condition and exact street location when comparing Wurruk with Sale or other nearby choices.

For Investors

Wurruk has a small but identifiable rental market, with 20.8% of households renting and weekly rent recorded at $250. The 5.0% vacancy rate provides more tenant choice than a tightly constrained market, so investors should allow for leasing competition and avoid assuming automatic rental growth. Only 2 subdivision applications were lodged over the latest 12 months, indicating a limited development pipeline compared with larger growth locations. The 99.0% separate-house share supports family-oriented demand, but the absence of a current median sale price means rental yield cannot be assessed without property-level sales evidence.

Development Activity

Total DAs

7

Last 12 Months

1

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-50.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
3

Schools in Wurruk

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Wurruk Primary School

Primary Government

Demographics

Wurruk has a median age of 41, which is 1.0 year above the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.7, or 0.2 above the national figure. University attainment is 22.7%, 7.4 percentage points below the national level, while the overseas-born share is 11.7%, 9.9 points below national. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry are the largest recorded backgrounds at 475, 122 and 110 people. Christianity accounts for 549 residents and no religion for 505. Compared with more urban areas such as Sale, this profile is more Anglo-leaning and less internationally diverse, partly reflecting Wurruk's smaller detached-home setting.

Age Distribution

0-14
21.8%
15-24
13.5%
25-44
19.2%
45-64
31.0%
65+
13.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.7%
2 bed
14.1%
3 bed
31.3%
4+ bed
53.9%

Dwelling Structure

99.0%

Houses

1.0%

Townhouse

0.0%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 35.9% Mortgage 43.3% Rent 20.8%

Wurruk's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 99.0% separate houses and only 1.0% semi-detached dwellings recorded. Larger homes dominate: 4 or more bedrooms account for 53.9%, followed by 3 bedrooms at 31.3%, 2 bedrooms at 14.1% and 0 or 1 bedroom at 0.7%. Mortgage holders represent 43.3% of households, higher than the 35.9% owned outright, while 20.8% rent. This tenure pattern reflects a mortgage-belt suburb where family-sized homes are more common than compact dwellings. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Wurruk offers less housing variety but more space per property.

Mortgage / mo

$1,517

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$250

Census 2021

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$749

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

5.0%

Unoccupied

22

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

16.7%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.4%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
475
Scottish
122
Irish
110
Ancestry NS
85
Other
62
German
61

Household Composition

44.3%

Couples with children

38.4%

Couples, no children

15.8%

Single parent

323

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is Wurruk's largest industry at 18.5% and 65 workers, above public administration at 14.2% and 50 workers. Construction accounts for 12.5% and 44 workers, education 11.7% and 41, and retail 8.0% and 28. The occupation mix is led by professionals at 87 people, followed by trades and community or personal services at 82 each, managers at 76 and sales workers at 62. This combination links local household demand to essential services, government activity, construction and education rather than a single employer. The 4.7% unemployment rate sits below the 60.4% participation rate as a separate measure, while 53.8% of employed residents work full time.

Unemployment

4.7%

Labour Force

556

Unemployed

26

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

53.8%

Part-time

36.0%

Participation

60.4%

Employed

530

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 87
Trades 82
Community/Personal 82
Managers 76
Sales 62
Clerical/Admin 59
Labourers 52
Machinery/Drivers 28

Top Industries

Healthcare 18.5%
Public Admin 14.2%
Construction 12.5%
Education 11.7%
Retail 8.0%

University

22.7%

Postgraduate

5.1%

Born Overseas

11.7%

Dwellings

411

Transport to Work

Daily life in Wurruk is strongly car dependent: 79.9% of residents drive to work, compared with 1.1% using public transport, 0.7% walking or cycling and 10.4% working from home. Families have access to 1 named local school, Wurruk Primary School, a government primary campus; enrolment zones and secondary options should be checked against the exact address, including nearby Sale. Safety requires attention, with 138 recorded offences and a rate of 117.2 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences numbered 64, higher than crimes against the person at 24. The 19.9% volunteering rate is a positive community indicator, but transport and safety considerations are more material than in a well-serviced inner suburb.

Drive

79.9%

Public Transport

1.1%

Walk / Cycle

0.7%

Work from Home

10.4%

Growth Outlook

Wurruk's current growth signals are modest but not absent. The suburb has 1,177 residents, 2 subdivision applications over the latest 12 months and a housing profile dominated by 99.0% separate homes. The 84.1% same-address rate is higher than the 15.9% turnover rate, pointing to a stable base rather than rapid churn. Compared with larger nearby Sale, this scale of subdivision activity suggests incremental change instead of a broad construction pipeline. An annual forecast rate, primary migration driver, gentrification score and 10-year trajectory should be checked before making a long-term growth assumption, because those indicators are not stated here.

Population trend: Wellington council area

Wurruk sits in the Wellington council area. These are the council area's residents, not Wurruk's.

Residents 2025

46,551

Growth, 5 yr average

+0.6%/yr

2020 to 2025

Growth, last year

+0.6%

2024 to 2025

ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

138

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

117.2

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
64
Justice procedures offences
37
Crimes against the person
24
Public order and security offences
7

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Wurruk compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 27%
Household Income
Bottom 47%
Rent Level
Bottom 44%
Apartments
Bottom 0%
Renters
Top 36%
Uni Educated
Bottom 46%
Public Transport
Bottom 22%
Born Overseas
Bottom 38%
Density
Top 22%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wurruk a good suburb to live in?

Wurruk can suit households seeking detached housing and a quieter setting, with 99.0% of dwellings recorded as separate houses. Car access is important because 79.9% of workers drive and only 1.1% use public transport. Safety should be weighed against the 117.2 per 1,000 crime rate.

What is the median house price in Wurruk?

A current median house price cannot be confirmed from the available figures. Buyers should compare recent sales for similar properties, because 99.0% of Wurruk homes are separate houses and the mix includes 53.9% with 4 or more bedrooms.

What schools are in Wurruk?

Wurruk Primary School is the named local option, and it is a government primary school. Families should check the enrolment zone for each address and compare secondary choices in nearby Sale. The suburb has 1 listed local school, so schooling access depends on year level.

Is Wurruk safe?

Safety deserves careful checking rather than a simple yes or no. Wurruk recorded 138 offences at a rate of 117.2 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 64 incidents, higher than crimes against the person at 24, so street-level conditions and property security matter.

Is Wurruk good for property investment?

Wurruk may suit an investor seeking detached family housing, but the case needs conservative assumptions. Weekly rent is $250, vacancy is 5.0% and only 20.8% of households rent. With 2 subdivision applications in 12 months and no current median sale price, calculate yield from comparable property sales.

How is Wurruk's population changing?

Wurruk has 1,177 residents and appears relatively stable, with 84.1% staying at the same address compared with 15.9% turnover. Two subdivision applications indicate some change, but not a large pipeline. Check current regional forecasts before assuming rapid population growth or a major shift in housing demand.

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).

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