Invermay vs Wendouree

Wendouree is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 45 in Invermay. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Invermay, most households are couple families. In Wendouree, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Invermay: a median of $1.25 million, against $515,000 in Wendouree, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Invermay tends to suit families with children and couples, while Wendouree suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Invermay is already more of a family suburb (84% vs 42%)
  • Wendouree has more parks and reserves (21 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Invermay leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 27%)
  • Wendouree has cheaper houses ($515,000 vs $1,245,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wendouree

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 6%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $325/wk)
  • But Invermay leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 25%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Wendouree

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wendouree

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (20% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • But Invermay carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 93/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Invermay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.8% vs -0.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Invermay and Wendouree drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Invermay Wendouree
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Invermay Wendouree
Walkability 0 / 82
Invermay — Walkability: 0/100 Wendouree — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 46 / 7
Invermay — Safety: 46/100 Wendouree — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 25 / 86
Invermay — Low fire risk: 25/100 Wendouree — Low fire risk: 86/100
Low flood risk 30 / 100
Invermay — Low flood risk: 30/100 Wendouree — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wendouree has more residents (10,376 vs 900); Invermay has higher household incomes ($121,940 vs $51,480).

Invermay Wendouree
Population 900 10,376
+1053% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.8% -0.7%
Median age 45 42
Median household income $121,940/yr
+58% vs other
 $51,480/yr
Median weekly rent $325/wk
+23% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Invermay Wendouree
0-4 3.6% / 5.4%
Invermay — 0-4: 3.6% Wendouree — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 17.6% / 10.7%
Invermay — 5-14: 17.6% Wendouree — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 8.7% / 6.1%
Invermay — 15-19: 8.7% Wendouree — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 3.3% / 6.4%
Invermay — 20-24: 3.3% Wendouree — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 5.6% / 14.1%
Invermay — 25-34: 5.6% Wendouree — 25-34: 14.1%
35-44 10.1% / 9.7%
Invermay — 35-44: 10.1% Wendouree — 35-44: 9.7%
45-54 15.4% / 11.2%
Invermay — 45-54: 15.4% Wendouree — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 14.2% / 11.8%
Invermay — 55-64: 14.2% Wendouree — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 16.8% / 11.8%
Invermay — 65-74: 16.8% Wendouree — 65-74: 11.8%
75-84 4.4% / 8.5%
Invermay — 75-84: 4.4% Wendouree — 75-84: 8.5%
85+ 0.7% / 4.5%
Invermay — 85+: 0.7% Wendouree — 85+: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Invermay 72.5% couple families
Invermay — Couple Families: 72.5% Invermay — Lone Person: 16.3% Invermay — One Parent Families: 11.2% Invermay — Group Household: 0.0% Invermay — Other Families: 0.0%
Wendouree 20.1% couple families
Wendouree — Couple Families: 20.1% Wendouree — Lone Person: 51.5% Wendouree — One Parent Families: 21.7% Wendouree — Group Household: 4.5% Wendouree — Other Families: 2.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Invermay 6.1% renting
Invermay — Owned Outright: 54.9% Invermay — Mortgage: 39.0% Invermay — Renting: 6.1%
Wendouree 44.4% renting
Wendouree — Owned Outright: 34.6% Wendouree — Mortgage: 21.1% Wendouree — Renting: 44.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Invermay Wendouree
Certificate III & IV 13.7% / 16.2%
Invermay — Certificate III & IV: 13.7% Wendouree — Certificate III & IV: 16.2%
Bachelor Degree 14.9% / 6.5%
Invermay — Bachelor Degree: 14.9% Wendouree — Bachelor Degree: 6.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 5.6%
Invermay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Wendouree — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Postgraduate Degree 5.6% / 1.5%
Invermay — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6% Wendouree — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 1.2%
Invermay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Wendouree — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Invermay Wendouree
England 2.1% / 1.5%
Invermay — England: 2.1% Wendouree — England: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.3% / 0.7%
Invermay — New Zealand: 1.3% Wendouree — New Zealand: 0.7%
Netherlands 0.8% / 0.6%
Invermay — Netherlands: 0.8% Wendouree — Netherlands: 0.6%
Philippines — / 1.3%
Invermay — Philippines: not among its largest Wendouree — Philippines: 1.3%
Germany 0.6% / 0.3%
Invermay — Germany: 0.6% Wendouree — Germany: 0.3%
India — / 0.7%
Invermay — India: not among its largest Wendouree — India: 0.7%
Sri Lanka 0.3% / —
Invermay — Sri Lanka: 0.3% Wendouree — Sri Lanka: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Invermay 98.2% houses
Invermay — Houses: 98.2% Invermay — Townhouses: 0.0% Invermay — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Wendouree 80.0% houses
Wendouree — Houses: 80.0% Wendouree — Townhouses: 15.6% Wendouree — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Invermay Wendouree
Median house price $1,245,000 $515,000
Median unit price — $327,500
Median land price — $355,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 24 days
from 116 sales

Zoning mix

Invermay has more rural and farming land (90% vs 0%); Wendouree has more industrially zoned land (27% vs 0%).

Invermay Wendouree
Rural and farming 90% 0%
Residential 0% 46%
Industrial 0% 27%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 12%
Parks and recreation 9%
same for both
Commercial 0% 4%
Other and special use 0% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Invermay Wendouree
New dwellings approved 1,451
across Ballarat
same for both
Approvals change year on year +42%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Invermay Wendouree
Houses — 4.0%
$430/wk on $565K
Units — 5.0%
$330/wk on $345K

Ranking within VIC

Invermay Wendouree
House price — Higher than 14% of VIC
Income Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 37% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 46% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 65% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 60% of VIC

Liveability

Wendouree is more walkable (82 vs 0); Wendouree scores higher overall (43 vs 36).

Invermay Wendouree
Grade C
same for both
Score 36/100 43/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Invermay carries more flood risk (70 vs 0); Invermay carries more bushfire risk (75 vs 14).

Invermay Wendouree
Bushfire High
75/100
 Low
14/100
Crime Moderate
54/100
 High
93/100
Flood High
70/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 20
within 5 km

Schools

Invermay Wendouree
Inside the suburb 1 9
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 4
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 7.0 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 4.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.0% 1.1%

Schools in Invermay

  • Invermay Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Wendouree

  • Wendouree Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ballarat Grammar Independent · Combined at peers
  • Forest Street Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Mount Rowan Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Our Lady Help of Christians School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Yuille Park Community College Government · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Invermay Wendouree
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 5
Parks & reserves 0 21
Childcare 1 12
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 4
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 14 0

Mobility

Invermay Wendouree
Walkability score 0/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 121.7 km 120.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 89 min 86 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 3352
 0.5%
postcode 3355
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 3352
 27
postcode 3355

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Invermay Wendouree
Car (driver) 71.4% / 78.2%
Invermay — Car (driver): 71.4% Wendouree — Car (driver): 78.2%
Worked from Home 21.4% / 9.9%
Invermay — Worked from Home: 21.4% Wendouree — Worked from Home: 9.9%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / 6.3%
Invermay — Car (passenger): 5.2% Wendouree — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Walked Only 1.2% / 3.2%
Invermay — Walked Only: 1.2% Wendouree — Walked Only: 3.2%
Bus 0.7% / 1.1%
Invermay — Bus: 0.7% Wendouree — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.2%).

Setting

Invermay Wendouree
Elevation 477 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 463 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Invermay Wendouree
Connectivity score 30/100 70/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
322 premises
 46%
6,294 premises

Climate

Invermay Wendouree
Annual rainfall 605 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Invermay Wendouree
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Invermay Wendouree
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Invermay Wendouree
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Invermay

Acreage Professionals

Wendouree

Affordable Parks Regional Centre Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Invermay

Invermay vs Ballarat North Invermay vs Invermay Park Invermay vs Nerrina Invermay vs Mount Rowan Invermay vs Sulky Invermay vs Glen Park

Other comparisons with Wendouree

Wendouree vs Alfredton Wendouree vs Ballarat Central Wendouree vs Ballarat North Wendouree vs Miners Rest Wendouree vs Lake Wendouree Wendouree vs Soldiers Hill
Full data on Invermay Full data on Wendouree
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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