Windale

Windale is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Windale's population is estimated at around 3,673 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 252 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,421 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,577 following examination of ABS data up to June 2024 and validation of five new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,783 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Windale's growth rate of 7.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (4.1%) and the Rest of NSW region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 63.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, population projections indicate an increase just below the median of regional areas nationally, with Windale expected to grow by 351 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 6.9% over the 17 years.

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

Windale recorded approximately 18 residential properties granted approval annually. Between financial years FY21 and FY25, around 93 homes were approved, with an additional 11 approved so far in FY26. On average, 1 person moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years, indicating that supply has met or exceeded demand.

The average construction value of new properties was $422,000, slightly above the regional average. In FY26, $3.7 million in commercial development approvals were recorded. Compared to Rest of NSW, Windale had 29.0% higher construction activity per person over the past five years. New developments consisted of 29.0% detached dwellings and 71.0% medium and high-density housing, a shift from the current 75.0% houses in the area. This trend suggests decreasing developable sites and increasing demand for diverse housing options.

Windale has a mature market with around 387 people per approval. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates an increase of 255 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

The performance of an area can greatly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 18 projects that are expected to have an impact on the area. Notable among these are The Summit, Windale Area Plan, Ryhope Street Subdivision, and Mount Hutton Precinct Area Plan. The following list provides details on those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Windale face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Windale's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. The unemployment rate in December 2025 was 16.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregated statistical area data. As of that date, 1,062 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 12.8% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Windale lagged significantly at 44.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. Only 8.5% of residents worked from home, as per Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors among residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Notably, health care & social assistance had employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented, with only 0.4% of Windale's workforce compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%. Limited local employment opportunities were indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.7%, while employment decreased by 5.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 5.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Windale. These projections suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Windale's employment mix suggests that local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Windale's median taxpayer income in financial year 2023 was $36,388, with an average of $47,210. This is lower than the national average. In Regional NSW, the median income was $52,390 and the average was $65,215. By September 2025, estimated median and average incomes in Windale would be approximately $39,612 and $51,393 respectively, based on an 8.86% growth since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Windale fall between the 0th and 2nd percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. In Windale, 37.5% of residents earn between $400 and $799 weekly, compared to regional levels where 29.9% earn between $1,500 and $2,999. A significant portion (52.0%) of Windale's population has incomes below $800 per week, indicating financial constraints for many households. Housing affordability is severely pressured in Windale, with only 75.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 2nd percentile nationally.

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

Windale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 74.8% houses and 25.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Windale was at 7.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 10.9% and rented ones at 81.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,478, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Windale was $186, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Windale's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,478 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Windale features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 58.0% of all households, including 14.4% couples with children, 15.3% couples without children, and 26.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 42.0%, with lone person households at 38.3% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Windale faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 6.3%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 5.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (0.9%) and graduate diplomas (0.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (5.5%) and certificates (32.6%). Educational participation is high at 34.8%, comprising 13.9% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 2.1% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 34.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.9% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Windale has 45 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 21 different routes that together facilitate 693 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 136 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Windale being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 92%. On average, there are 0.7 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 99 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Windale is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Windale faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low, at approximately 46% of Windale's total population (~1,678 people), compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (16.3%) and asthma (14.0%), while 46.7% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, lower than Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Windale has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (17.4%, or 639 people) compared to Regional NSW (23.4%). However, senior health outcomes align broadly with national rankings.

The latest Census data sees Windale placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Windale's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.9% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (93.9%), and speaking English only at home (96.4%). Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 46.6% of Windale's population. Notably, the 'Other' category comprises 0.8%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (35.5%) and English (30.1%) are the top groups, significantly higher than regional averages of 30.0% and 9.2% respectively. Australian Aboriginal ancestry is also notably high at 12.0%, compared to Regional NSW's 4.6%. Other ethnicities with notable representation include Welsh (0.5%), Samoan (0.1%), and Vietnamese (0.3%).

Windale's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Windale is 37 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are prominent at 16.1%, while those aged 75-84 make up a smaller proportion at 5.8%. Between 2021 and the present, the percentage of 25 to 34-year-olds has increased from 13.4% to 16.1%, while the 35 to 44 age group has risen from 11.1% to 12.3%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 15.4% to 13.8%, and the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 12.3% to 10.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Windale's age structure. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to increase by 93 people (16%), from 591 to 685. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to decrease in number.