Woodend (Vic.)

Woodend lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) population updates for Woodend, Vic., and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, as of Nov 2025, Woodend's estimated population is around 6,824. This reflects an increase of 92 people from the ABS Estimated Residential Population (ERP) estimate of 6,732 in the 2021 Census. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,803 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on Jun 2024 and an additional 53 validated new addresses since the Census date. This equates to a density ratio of 98 persons per square kilometer in Woodend. Over the past decade, from 2012 to 2022, Woodend has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.6%, outpacing its Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 54.0% 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 Victorian State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted 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, significant population increase is forecasted for the top quartile of locations outside capital cities, with Woodend expected to expand by 2,455 persons to reach a total population of approximately 9,280 by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 35.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Woodend recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Woodend has seen approximately 25 dwelling approvals per year based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 128 homes were approved, with a further 4 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, about 2.9 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these five financial years.

The average expected construction cost of new homes is $793,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY-26, there have been $5.1 million in commercial approvals, reflecting Woodend's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of Vic., Woodend has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 41st percentile nationally, suggesting relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings.

Recent construction comprises 89.0% standalone homes and 11.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is around 400 people. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Woodend is projected to grow by 2,429 residents through to 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Woodend has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to its local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. A total of one such project has been identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact this particular area. Notable projects include the Hanging Rock to Daylesford Shared Trail, Outer Metropolitan Ring / E6 Transport Corridor, Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, and Regional Housing Fund Projects. The following details those projects deemed most relevant.

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Woodend ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Woodend has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 1.8% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.2%.

As of June 2025, there are 3,311 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.0% lower than Rest of Vic.'s 3.8%. Workforce participation is 60.6%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 2.5 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 1.4% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited based on Census data. Over a 12-month period ending Sep-22, employment increased by 1.2%, labour force by 1.9%, and unemployment rose by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic. saw employment fall by 0.9% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Woodend's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Woodend's median income among taxpayers was $57,103 during financial year 2022. The average income stood at $83,788 in the same period. This compares to figures for Rest of Vic., which were $48,741 and $60,693 respectively. As of September 2025, current estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% would be approximately $64,047 (median) and $93,977 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Woodend cluster around the 66th percentile nationally. In terms of income distribution, 27.1% of residents (1,849 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, mirroring metropolitan regions where 30.3% occupy this bracket. Notably, 34.6% earn above $3,000 weekly, indicating prosperity and robust local economic activity. After housing costs, residents retain 87.7% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Woodend's dwellings were 90.8% houses and 9.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings) in the latest Census, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 95.2% houses and 4.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woodend was 41.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.2% and rented ones at 15.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,600. Median weekly rent in Woodend was $400, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $320. Nationally, Woodend's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 76.8% of all households, including 34.9% couples with children, 30.0% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 23.2%, with lone person households at 21.4% and group households making up 1.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of Vic average of 2.4.

Educational achievement in Woodend places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Woodend's residents aged 15 and above exhibit high educational attainment, with 39.3% holding university qualifications compared to the broader Victorian average of 21.7%. This figure is also higher than the SA4 region average of 25.4%, indicating a significant educational advantage for Woodend residents. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 23.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.2%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (17.7%). Educational participation is notably high in Woodend, with 30.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.2% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education. The three schools in Woodend have a combined enrollment reaching 625 students. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1107. The educational mix includes two primary schools and one K-12 school.

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

Woodend has three active public transport stops operating, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 14 different routes that collectively facilitate 518 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport options is considered limited, with residents typically residing 1344 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, service frequency stands at 74 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 172 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Woodend are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Woodend's health indicators show below-average results, with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population of 4,085 people, compared to 52.9% in the rest of Victoria.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.1% and 8.4% of residents respectively. 66.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in the rest of Victoria. The area has 23.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,589 people), which is lower than the 24.9% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

Woodend ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Woodend had a lower level of cultural diversity, with 83.2% born in Australia, 91.2% being citizens, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 40.8%. Judaism was overrepresented, comprising 0.2%, compared to 0.2% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups were English (30.4%), Australian (26.7%), and Irish (12.3%). Scottish (10.3%) and Welsh (0.8%) were notably overrepresented, while Maltese (1.0%) was slightly overrepresented compared to regional figures.

Woodend hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Woodend's median age of 45 years modestly exceeds Rest of Vic.'s 43 and is considerably older than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Rest of Vic. average, Woodend has an over-representation of the 45-54 cohort (16.0% locally) and under-representation of the 25-34 age group (5.4%). Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group grew from 6.8% to 8.4%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 9.7% to 11.1%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort declined from 6.9% to 5.4%. Demographic modeling suggests Woodend's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 45-54 age cohort projected to expand by 476 people (44%) from 1,091 to 1,568.