Watsonia

Watsonia has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Watsonia is around 5,597. This figure reflects a growth of 245 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,352. AreaSearch validated this estimate using the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 52 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,433 persons per square kilometer for Watsonia, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 4.6% since the census is within 0.5 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 5.1%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Watsonia.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Watsonia is forecasted to grow by 1,678 persons, reflecting a total gain of 28.6% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Watsonia according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Between FY-21 and FY-25, Watsonia saw approximately 129 new homes approved annually. In FY-26, around 9 have been approved so far. Over the past five financial years, an average of zero people moved to the area per dwelling built.

This indicates that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand. The average construction cost value for new properties is $521,000. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $23.6 million. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Watsonia has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 56th percentile nationally.

New development consists of 52% standalone homes and 48% medium to high-density housing. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 86% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 281 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts estimate Watsonia will gain 1,599 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Watsonia has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region: 149 McKimmies Road Residential Precinct, M80 Ring Road Completion, Diamond Creek Community Infrastructure Master Plan, and Hurstbridge Rail Line Upgrades (Watsonia-Eltham) are key projects. The following details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment environment in Watsonia shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Watsonia has a well-educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate was 3.3% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 1.2%.

As of June 2025, 3,071 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 1.3%, lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Health care & social assistance had particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.2 times the regional average.

Manufacturing employed just 5.3% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 7.2%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 1.2% while labour force grew by 1.3%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.5%, labour force grow by 4.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Watsonia. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with significant variations between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Watsonia's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 on Watsonia's median income among taxpayers at $60,696 and average at $72,429. These figures are higher than the national averages of $51,839 (median) and $70,573 (average). Comparing to Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761 shows Watsonia is slightly below Melbourne's average but above its median. Based on a 12.16% growth in wages since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $68,077 (median) and $81,236 (average). Census 2021 data indicates Watsonia's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 62nd percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant with 32.4% of residents (1,813 people), consistent with surrounding regions' trends showing 32.8% in the same category. High housing costs consume 15.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 59th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Watsonia is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Watsonia's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.1% houses and 13.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 76.0% houses and 24.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Watsonia was at 33.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.5% and rented ones at 30.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,019, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,167. Median weekly rent in Watsonia was $385, compared to Melbourne metro's $399. Nationally, Watsonia's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,019 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $385 compared to the national figure of $375.

Watsonia has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 69.5% of all households, including 31.7% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 12.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.5%, with lone person households at 26.7% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

The educational profile of Watsonia exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Watsonia trail regional benchmarks; 34.8% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to 41.2% in the SA3 area. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 22.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 31.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (20.3%).

Educational participation is notably high; 27.4% of residents are currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 4.8% pursuing tertiary education. Watsonia's three schools have a combined enrollment reaching 1,510 students as of the latest data; the area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1036) with balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with two primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (27.0 places per 100 residents vs 18.4 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The public transport analysis indicates that there are 30 active transport stops currently operating within Watsonia. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. The analysis further reveals that these stops are serviced by 5 individual routes in total, which collectively provide 3,782 weekly passenger trips.

The report rates the transport accessibility as excellent, with residents typically located an average distance of 182 meters from their nearest transport stop. Moreover, the service frequency averages 540 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 126 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Watsonia are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Watsonia's health indicators show below-average results compared to national averages. Common health conditions are somewhat typical but higher among older residents.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% (~3,102 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 60.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.0% and 8.7% of residents respectively. 68.0% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.3%. The area has 17.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,001 people), which is lower than Greater Melbourne's 19.8%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Watsonia was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Watsonia's cultural diversity is above average, with 21.7% of its population born overseas and 19.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Watsonia, accounting for 43.4% of people. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 0.3% versus 0.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (24.8%), English (24.3%), and Irish (9.8%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Macedonian is overrepresented at 0.8% in Watsonia compared to the regional figure of 1.1%, Italian stands at 5.1% versus 7.7%, and Croatian remains similar at 0.8%.

Watsonia's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Watsonia is close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37, being 38 years old, and is equivalent to the Australian median age of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Watsonia has a higher proportion of 0-4 residents at 7.3%, but fewer 15-24 year-olds at 9.4%. Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the 75-84 age group in Watsonia grew from 5.5% to 6.5% of the population. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort decreased from 15.3% to 14.6%. By 2041, Watsonia's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 45-54 group is projected to grow by 36%, adding 259 people and reaching 970 from 710. The 0-4 group is expected to grow more modestly at 10%, adding only 40 residents.