South Windsor vs Windsor Downs

South Windsor is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 49 in Windsor Downs. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In South Windsor, about half of households rent. In Windsor Downs, the large majority of households own their home and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Windsor Downs: a median of $2.23 million, against $960,000 in South Windsor, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, South Windsor tends to suit renters, people living alone, and families with children, while Windsor Downs suits couples.

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

  • South Windsor has more childcare (10 vs 1)
  • Windsor Downs carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 85/100)

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

  • South Windsor has cheaper houses ($960,000 vs $2,235,000)
  • Windsor Downs leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Windsor

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 5%)
  • has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $420/wk)
  • But Windsor Downs leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 25%)

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

Commuting to the city

South Windsor

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (57/100 vs 17/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (58 min vs 65 min)
  • But Windsor Downs sits closer to the CBD (57.8 km vs 60.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • South Windsor has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 3%)
  • Windsor Downs carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 85/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

South Windsor Windsor Downs
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.

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Walkability 57 / 17
South Windsor — Walkability: 57/100 Windsor Downs — Walkability: 17/100
Safety 15 / 80
South Windsor — Safety: 15/100 Windsor Downs — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 38 / 36
South Windsor — Low fire risk: 38/100 Windsor Downs — Low fire risk: 36/100

Demographics

South Windsor has more residents (5,948 vs 1,183); Windsor Downs has higher household incomes ($136,708 vs $76,232).

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Population 5,948
+80% vs other
 1,183
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.0% +0.3%
Median age 34 49
Median household income $76,232/yr $136,708/yr
+79% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $420/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Windsor Windsor Downs
0-4 7.4% / 3.7%
South Windsor — 0-4: 7.4% Windsor Downs — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 13.3% / 8.2%
South Windsor — 5-14: 13.3% Windsor Downs — 5-14: 8.2%
15-19 6.2% / 6.8%
South Windsor — 15-19: 6.2% Windsor Downs — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 6.4% / 8.9%
South Windsor — 20-24: 6.4% Windsor Downs — 20-24: 8.9%
25-34 16.6% / 9.5%
South Windsor — 25-34: 16.6% Windsor Downs — 25-34: 9.5%
35-44 12.6% / 6.1%
South Windsor — 35-44: 12.6% Windsor Downs — 35-44: 6.1%
45-54 11.6% / 16.6%
South Windsor — 45-54: 11.6% Windsor Downs — 45-54: 16.6%
55-64 12.4% / 20.6%
South Windsor — 55-64: 12.4% Windsor Downs — 55-64: 20.6%
65-74 8.0% / 12.2%
South Windsor — 65-74: 8.0% Windsor Downs — 65-74: 12.2%
75-84 4.4% / 6.4%
South Windsor — 75-84: 4.4% Windsor Downs — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 1.0% / 1.6%
South Windsor — 85+: 1.0% Windsor Downs — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Windsor 34.6% couple families
South Windsor — Couple Families: 34.6% South Windsor — Lone Person: 36.9% South Windsor — One Parent Families: 23.4% South Windsor — Group Household: 4.0% South Windsor — Other Families: 1.1%
Windsor Downs 73.5% couple families
Windsor Downs — Couple Families: 73.5% Windsor Downs — Lone Person: 16.0% Windsor Downs — One Parent Families: 10.5% Windsor Downs — Group Household: 0.0% Windsor Downs — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Windsor 45.1% renting
South Windsor — Owned Outright: 17.8% South Windsor — Mortgage: 37.1% South Windsor — Renting: 45.1%
Windsor Downs 5.4% renting
Windsor Downs — Owned Outright: 55.4% Windsor Downs — Mortgage: 39.3% Windsor Downs — Renting: 5.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Certificate III & IV 17.7% / 21.0%
South Windsor — Certificate III & IV: 17.7% Windsor Downs — Certificate III & IV: 21.0%
Bachelor Degree 6.4% / 10.5%
South Windsor — Bachelor Degree: 6.4% Windsor Downs — Bachelor Degree: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 9.0%
South Windsor — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Windsor Downs — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 3.7%
South Windsor — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Windsor Downs — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.9%
South Windsor — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Windsor Downs — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

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.

South Windsor Windsor Downs
England 3.0% / 3.8%
South Windsor — England: 3.0% Windsor Downs — England: 3.8%
Philippines 1.5% / 1.2%
South Windsor — Philippines: 1.5% Windsor Downs — Philippines: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.6% / 0.8%
South Windsor — New Zealand: 1.6% Windsor Downs — New Zealand: 0.8%
India 1.7% / —
South Windsor — India: 1.7% Windsor Downs — India: not among its largest
Fiji — / 1.2%
South Windsor — Fiji: not among its largest Windsor Downs — Fiji: 1.2%
Italy — / 1.0%
South Windsor — Italy: not among its largest Windsor Downs — Italy: 1.0%
Scotland 0.5% / —
South Windsor — Scotland: 0.5% Windsor Downs — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Windsor 76.0% houses
South Windsor — Houses: 76.0% South Windsor — Townhouses: 22.0% South Windsor — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Windsor Downs 97.2% houses
Windsor Downs — Houses: 97.2% Windsor Downs — Townhouses: 0.8% Windsor Downs — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Median house price $960,000 $2,235,000
Median unit price $815,500 —
Median land price $2,205,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 44 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Windsor Downs has more land zoned for conservation (44% vs 5%); South Windsor has more rural and farming land (41% vs 5%).

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Residential 20% 50%
Environmental 5% 44%
Rural and farming 41% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 1%
Industrial 12% 0%
Parks and recreation 10% 0%
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

South Windsor Windsor Downs
New dwellings approved 459
across Hawkesbury
same for both
Approvals change year on year +3%
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.

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Houses 4.3%
$690/wk on $840K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

South Windsor Windsor Downs
House price Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Schools Higher than 3% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 85% of NSW —

Liveability

South Windsor is more walkable (57 vs 17); Windsor Downs scores higher overall (56 vs 25).

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Grade D B
Score 25/100 56/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

South Windsor carries more crime risk (85 vs 20).

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Bushfire Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
64/100
Crime High
85/100
 Low
20/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in South Windsor

  • Bede Polding College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Chisholm Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Windsor South Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Windsor Downs

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Parks & reserves 7 1
Childcare 10 1
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

South Windsor sits further from the CBD (60.6 km vs 57.8 km).

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Walkability score 57/100 17/100
Distance to Sydney 60.6 km
+5% vs other
 57.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 58 min 65 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 22/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 110.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 3.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 4 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2756
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 46
postcode 2756
same for both

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.

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Car (driver) 66.4% / 56.6%
South Windsor — Car (driver): 66.4% Windsor Downs — Car (driver): 56.6%
Worked from Home 23.6% / 38.5%
South Windsor — Worked from Home: 23.6% Windsor Downs — Worked from Home: 38.5%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 3.2%
South Windsor — Car (passenger): 4.3% Windsor Downs — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Train 2.6% / 0.8%
South Windsor — Train: 2.6% Windsor Downs — Train: 0.8%
Walked Only 2.4% / 0.9%
South Windsor — Walked Only: 2.4% Windsor Downs — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.4%).

Setting

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Elevation 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 39.0 km 39.3 km

NBN connectivity

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Connectivity score 100/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
3,113 premises
 68%
368 premises

Climate

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Annual rainfall 806 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

South Windsor Windsor Downs
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Average residential rate $1,650/yr
same for both
Council Hawkesbury
same for both

Federal electorate

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Division Macquarie
same for both
Member Susan Templeman
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

South Windsor Windsor Downs
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

South Windsor

Outer Townhouses

Windsor Downs

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Windsor

South Windsor vs Bligh Park South Windsor vs Richmond South Windsor vs Londonderry South Windsor vs Berkshire Park South Windsor vs Windsor South Windsor vs Vineyard

Other comparisons with Windsor Downs

Windsor Downs vs Marsden Park Windsor Downs vs Bligh Park Windsor Downs vs Londonderry Windsor Downs vs Berkshire Park Windsor Downs vs Vineyard Windsor Downs vs Angus
Full data on South Windsor Full data on Windsor Downs
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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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