Williamstown

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

Williamstown's population is around 17,197 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,285 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,912 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,102 from the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 590 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,339 persons per square kilometer, placing Williamstown in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Williamstown's growth rate of 8.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 6.8%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 90.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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, 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. Future trends project an above median population growth, with the area expected to grow by 2,867 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 16.1% over the 16 years.

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

Williamstown has seen approximately 102 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 513 homes were approved, with an additional 15 approved so far in FY-26. On average, over these five years, about 0.2 new residents arrived per year for each new home built.

This indicates that the supply of new dwellings is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings during this period was $416,000. In FY-26 alone, $21.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating moderate levels of commercial development in Williamstown compared to Greater Melbourne, where it shows approximately 67% of the construction activity per person. Nationally, Williamstown places among the 29th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. New building activity in Williamstown consists of 17.0% detached houses and 83.0% medium to high-density housing.

This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and caters to the needs of downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is currently 54.0% houses. This change reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Williamstown has approximately 586 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market with steady population growth. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Williamstown is forecasted to gain around 2,772 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Williamstown has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Workshops Pier Repairs Project, Williamstown Mechanics Institute Masterplan and Restoration, Williamstown Foreshore Precinct Upgrade, and Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club Redevelopment. 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 of employment trends sees Williamstown performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Williamstown has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.2% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.2%.

As of December 2025, 10,288 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 72.5%, similar to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Census responses indicated that 47.2% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading employment industries include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Williamstown specializes in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while health care & social assistance has a limited presence at 11.5% compared to the regional average of 14.2%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 4.2% and labour force grew by 4.5%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Williamstown's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Williamstown SA2 had a median income of $71,811 and an average income of $105,258. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. By March 2026, estimates based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $78,719 (median) and $115,384 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Williamstown rank highly nationally, between the 85th and 87th percentiles. Distribution data shows that 30.1% of locals (5,176 people) fall into the $4000+ category, differing from the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category is predominant at 32.8%. Economic strength is evident with 41.6% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income, and residents rank highly in disposable income at the 88th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Williamstown displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Williamstown, as per the latest Census evaluation, 54.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 45.5% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is compared to Melbourne metro's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Williamstown stood at 39.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.3% and rented ones at 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Williamstown was $450, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Williamstown's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,600 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Williamstown has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 71.7 percent of all households, including 35.8 percent couples with children, 25.8 percent couples without children, and 9.1 percent single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.3 percent, with lone person households at 26.7 percent and group households comprising 1.6 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Williamstown's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 45.0% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.0% in the SA4 region. This high level of educational attainment positions Williamstown strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.9%) and graduate diplomas (5.3%).

Vocational pathways account for 24.4% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 11.0% and certificates 13.4%. Educational participation is notably high in Williamstown, with 30.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Williamstown has 73 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. Four individual routes operate collectively providing 4,770 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 185 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. Car remains the dominant mode at 79%, while train accounts for 10% and walking for 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 47.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 681 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 65 weekly trips per stop.

Williamstown's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Williamstown's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 73% of Williamstown's total population (12,571 people) has private health cover, which is notably higher than Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 7.5 and 7.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 71.6%, report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Williamstown's working-age residents have a low prevalence of chronic conditions. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 21.4% (3,683 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are strong and align broadly with the general population's national rankings.

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

Williamstown's cultural diversity is above average, with 23.7% of its population born overseas and 15.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Williamstown, comprising 47.2% of people, but Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 0.2% versus 1.0%. The top three ancestry groups are English (26.1%), Australian (21.4%), and Irish (9.9%).

Notably, Croatian (1.4%), Maltese (1.9%), and Macedonian (1.0%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.7%, 1.1%, and 0.7% respectively.

Williamstown hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Williamstown is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Williamstown has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (15.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (8.2%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 75 to 84 increased from 5.1% to 7.5%, while the 15 to 24 age group rose from 11.9% to 13.5%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group decreased from 13.6% to 11.6%, and the 45 to 54 age group fell from 16.6% to 14.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Williamstown's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 57% (737 people), reaching a total of 2,031 from the previous count of 1,293. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 59% of the total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.