Werribee

Werribee lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of Werribee is around 60,010, reflecting a 9,983 person increase (20.0%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 50,027. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 57,618 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 1,581 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 1,401 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Werribee's growth exceeded both national (9.9%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, exceptional growth is predicted over the period, placing Werribee in the top 10 percent of Australian statistical areas. The area is expected to expand by 39,057 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 62.8% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Werribee was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Based on AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, Werribee has seen approximately 748 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 3,740 homes were approved, with an additional 379 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 3.4 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these years.

This has led to a substantial lag between supply and demand, potentially resulting in heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost value of new homes is $389,000. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $349.0 million, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Werribee maintains similar construction rates per person, reflecting a balanced market consistent with the broader area.

This activity is notably above average nationally, suggesting strong developer confidence in the area. The new development consists of 85.0% detached dwellings and 15.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving Werribee's suburban nature while attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 118 people per dwelling approval, Werribee exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Werribee is projected to add 37,688 residents by 2041. If current development rates persist, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

AreaSearch identified 46 infrastructure projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Werribee Mercy Hospital Emergency Department Expansion, Ison Road Project, Riverwalk Werribee, and Princes Freeway and Werribee Main Road Interchange Upgrade. The following list 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Werribee recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Werribee has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 7.7% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 5.2%. As of September 2025, 31,298 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 3.0% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation was at 74.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 23.4% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Werribee showed strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical employed only 6.3% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 5.2%, while the labour force grew by 6.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia projected a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Werribee's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows Werribee's median income is $53,148 and average income is $65,973. This is lower than Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. By September 2025, estimates suggest Werribee's median income will be approximately $57,533 and average income $71,416, based on an 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since June 2023. The 2021 Census ranks Werribee's household, family, and personal incomes modestly, between the 40th and 44th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 35.9% of locals (21,543 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999 per week, similar to Melbourne's 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Werribee, with only 83.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 44th percentile.

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

In Werribee, as per the latest Census evaluation, 85.0% of dwellings were houses while 14.9% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is in contrast to Melbourne metro's figures which stood at 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Werribee was recorded at 26.0%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 39.7% and rented dwellings making up 34.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Werribee was recorded at $330, substantially below the national average of $375. Nationally, Werribee's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

Werribee has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.7% of all households, including 34.5% couples with children, 22.7% couples without children, and 13.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.3%, with lone person households at 24.1% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Werribee performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 24.9%, significantly lower than the SA3 area average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 34.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (23.2%). Educational participation is high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including primary (10.4%), secondary (7.8%), and tertiary (4.5%) education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.4% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 4.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Werribee has 248 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 17 different routes that together facilitate 7,776 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 333 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from Werribee, primarily by car (86%), with train usage at 8%. The area has an average vehicle ownership of 1.3 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 23.4% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 1,110 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 31 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Werribee is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a slightly higher degree among older age cohorts

Werribee faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts.

Private health cover is at approximately 53% of the total population (~31,757 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.5 and 8.0% of residents respectively. However, 70.4% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 12.9% of residents aged 65 and over (7,741 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Werribee was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Werribee has a high level of cultural diversity, with 36.8% of its population born overseas and 34.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Werribee, accounting for 48.5% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 3.4% of Werribee's population, compared to 2.3% across Greater Melbourne.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (20.2%), English (20.2%), and Other (16.7%). Some ethnic groups have significant representation in Werribee: Maltese at 1.8%, Italian at 5.9%, and Indian at 5.6%.

Werribee's population is younger than the national pattern

Werribee's median age was 35 years in the period since 2021, which is slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's median age of 37 and somewhat younger than the national average of 38 years. The percentage of the population aged 5-14 was 13.6%, higher than that of Greater Melbourne, while the percentage of those aged 75-84 was 4.0%. Between 2021 and the present time, the proportion of the population aged 35 to 44 increased from 15.0% to 17.2%, while the proportion of those aged 25 to 34 decreased from 17.4% to 16.1%. Population forecasts for Werribee indicate significant demographic changes by the year 2041, with the 45 to 54 age cohort projected to increase substantially, growing by 6,195 people (92%) from 6,721 to 12,917.