Windsor (Vic.)

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

The population of the suburb of Windsor (Vic.) is estimated at around 7,683 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 410 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,273 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 7,680 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 66 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 7,248 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 91.0% 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 the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, making adjustments 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. Future population trends project an above median growth for statistical areas nationally, with the suburb expected to grow by 1,633 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 21.2% over the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Windsor has seen around 33 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years ending June 2021. This totals an estimated 169 homes. As of July 2022, 9 approvals have been recorded in the current financial year, FY-26. During this period, Windsor's population has fallen slightly, yet housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $802,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, commercial approvals have totalled $231,000, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Recent construction comprises 2.0% detached houses and 98.0% townhouses or apartments, favouring compact living which offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

Windsor's population density is approximately 95 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Windsor is projected to add 1,630 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Windsor has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence a region's performance. AreaSearch has identified 38 potential impact projects in total. Key initiatives include Essex Street Public Housing Redevelopment, Prahran Market Restoration, Chapel Street Precinct Improvement Plan, and Prahran Town Hall Cultural Hub. The following list details those likely to be 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 landscape in Windsor shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Windsor's workforce is highly educated. In the technology sector specifically, it has significant representation with an unemployment rate of 5.1%. Over the past year, estimated employment growth was 2.4%.

This is based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 5,548 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.3% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation in Windsor was 80.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 49.2% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Windsor has a particularly notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing shows lower representation at 3.1% versus the regional average of 7.2%. The ratio of workers to residents, as at the Census, indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 2.4% while labour force increased by 3.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points in Windsor. In Greater Melbourne, employment rose by 2.4%, the labour force grew by 2.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Windsor. These projections estimate that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Windsor's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released on 30 June 2023, the suburb of Windsor had a median income among taxpayers of $67,065 and an average income of $99,370. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Windsor would be approximately $73,517 (median) and $108,929 (average) as of March 2026. Census data shows individual earnings in Windsor stand out at the 94th percentile nationally ($1,278 weekly), though household income ranks lower at the 66th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 32.1% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (2,466 individuals), reflecting patterns seen in the region where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. Economic strength emerges through 31.0% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 17.8% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 64th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Windsor features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Windsor, as per the latest Census evaluation, 12.6% of dwellings were houses while 87.3% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Melbourne metro's dwelling structure of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Windsor was 17.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.3% and rented ones at 59.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,145, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Windsor was $411, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Windsor's median monthly mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 43.1% of all households, consisting of 10.4% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 4.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 56.9%, with lone person households at 44.8% and group households comprising 12.2% of the total. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Windsor shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Windsor's residents aged 15 and above have a higher educational attainment than broader national averages. Specifically, 55.6% of Windsor's population holds university qualifications, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and Victoria's average of 33.4%. This notable educational advantage suggests strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities in the area. Bachelor degrees are the most common type of qualification, held by 38.5% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.2%, and graduate diplomas at 3.9%.

Vocational pathways account for 22.2% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas held by 11.1% and certificates by another 11.1%. Furthermore, a significant portion of Windsor's population is actively pursuing formal education, with 24.9% currently enrolled in educational programs. This includes 11.7% in tertiary education, 3.3% in primary education, and 3.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Windsor has 25 active public transport stops offering lightrail and bus services. These are served by 8 routes, facilitating 7,571 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 143 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode at 54%, followed by train at 15% and walking at 13%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.5 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 49.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 1,081 trips per day, equating to approximately 302 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Windsor is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Windsor shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups exhibit low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 66% of the total population (5,066 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 10.8% of residents and asthma impacting 8.4%. A significant majority, 71.1%, report being free from medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Under-65 residents demonstrate better than average health outcomes. The area has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,090 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Windsor 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

Windsor's cultural diversity was evident, with 22.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 34.9% born overseas. Christianity dominated as the main religion, accounting for 31.5%. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented in Windsor at 2.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (24.8%), Australian (17.4%), and Other (11.7%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: Polish at 1.5% vs regional 0.8%, Russian at 0.8% vs 0.4%, and Greek at 4.9% vs 2.7%.

Windsor hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Windsor's median age is 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Windsor has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (36.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and present, Windsor's median age has decreased by 1 year to 33 from 34. The proportion of residents aged 25-34 has increased from 34.0% to 36.6%, while the proportions for those aged 45-54 have decreased from 10.4% to 9.1% and for those aged 15-24 have dropped from 10.8% to 9.6%. By 2041, Windsor's age profile is projected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 25-34 is expected to increase by 446 people (16%), from 2,811 to 3,258. Conversely, the number of residents aged 15-24 is projected to decrease.