Waterways VIC 3195
Waterways sits 35 km from Melbourne CBD in Victoria, around 44 minutes by car. Census data records 2,422 residents with a median age of 41 and a median household income of $156,676 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the top 20% nationally. The suburb fell 1.6% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $623 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,500. Waterways is characterised by high flood risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. Walkability is low.
Is Waterways a good suburb?
Waterways scores a A (68/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on community, weaker on safety.
Somewhat walkable
Walkability 32/100 · 34.8 km · 44 min drive to Melbourne
Around the state median
Median $1.66M · Pricier than 81% of VIC
High flood risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 33/100 · Flood 92/100
Very advantaged
SEIFA decile 10/10 · median age 41 · 2,422 residents
Liveability Rating
68 / 100 · Ranked #175 in VICEach bar is Waterways's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
How do you rate the liveability in Waterways?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
68 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataWaterways's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $1.66 million, roughly 18% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$1,655,500
66% above its 3 neighbours (median $1,000,000)
Based on 54 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 30 days — median across 16 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 3 bed 12 sales $1.04M
- 4 bed 24 sales $1.61M
- 5 bed 12 sales $1.84M
Land
$1,577,500
Based on only 6 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Waterways are currently listed at around $1.68 million on average. Based on 8 houses listed in the past six months.
$1.68M
8 houses listed in the last 6 months.
8 of the suburb's 709 dwellings (1.1%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Waterways rent for around $938 a week on average, based on 4 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
$938/wk
4 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
4 rentals advertised against an estimated 79 rented homes (5.1%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025105 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 29% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3195.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$938/week ($49,000 a year) on a $1.68 million median
Based on a small sample (4 listings) — indicative only.
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Short-Stay Rentals
1 active Airbnb listing: 1 whole home and 0 rooms. Whole homes are about 0.1% of the suburb's homes.
Airbnb only, as at Jun 2026; other platforms are not included. Active means reviewed in the past 12 months. The share is against private dwellings at the 2021 Census.
Is Waterways safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Waterways sits in the low band, with 52 incidents recorded in 2026 — down roughly 45% on the prior year.
52 offences
45.3% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–20255 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Walkability
Waterways is car-dependent on foot — at 32/100, most errands require a car.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Waterways.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 14.0 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 12.7 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 11.1 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 1 min
- Span of service
- 18.7 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Waterways.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 100%
- Premises covered
- 754
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Kingston (Vic.): council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 5 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 2 different deciles — a narrow range, so the average describes the suburb closely.
Waterways is home to about 2,400 residents, with a median age of 41, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $157,000 a year, with unemployment at 4.6%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
2,422
Median Age
41
Median Household Income
$156,676/yr
Census Median Rent
$623/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,500/mo
Avg Household Size
3.3
Median Personal Income
$49,920/yr
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Unoccupied Dwellings
3.9%
Total Dwellings
709
Owner-Occupier Rate
88.9%
Houses
87.9%
Rental Stress
20.7%
Mortgage Stress
19.1%
Work From Home
34.4%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 54.4%
- English Spoken at Home
- 53.7%
- Employment Rate
- 68.7%
- Completed Year 12
- 59.2%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
92 residents (3.8%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 2,319 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
13% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (172 of 1,339).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,940 a year through Kingston (Vic.) based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Infrastructure and transport 50%
- Residential 48%
- Parks and recreation 2%
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 — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Kingston (Vic.)
In the year to August 2026, 465 new dwellings were approved across Kingston (Vic.). That mix is 196 houses and 269 units. Approvals are down 36.4% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2017).
Registered Aboriginal Parties are appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage for their area. They are the body to contact about cultural heritage here.
Air Quality
MODERATEPM2.5 averaged 6.3 µg/m³ in 2025 — below Australia's NEPM annual standard (8 µg/m³), slightly above the stricter WHO guideline (5 µg/m³). 1 day exceeded the daily threshold of 25 µg/m³.
PM10 averaged 20.8 µg/m³ · NO₂ averaged 0.98 pphm. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 3 · NO₂ 0 · ozone 0.
From the Dandenong monitoring station, 6.8 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Moorabbin Airport, 4.9 kmModerate rainfall — hot summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 4 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 3.0 km
- 3.1 km to a named beach
- Annual rainfall
- 644 mm
- 94 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 26.0°C
- 10 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 6.9°C
- 2 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
8 facilities within 5 km- 1.1 kmMilk and Cream ProcessingTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5)
- 1.9 km
- 2.1 kmLaundry and Dry-Cleaning ServicesTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5)
- 2.1 kmHuman Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Product ManufacturingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Ethanol · Oxides of Nitrogen
- 2.5 km
EV adoption
In postcode 3195, 508 of 30,147 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.8% (842 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 4.5%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3195, 4,536 rooftop-solar systems totalling 34.9 MW have been installed since 2001, against 14,584 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 331 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
The separate First Home Buyer Duty Reduction (stamp-duty concession) runs alongside this grant.
0 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3195 in 2025-26. The most was 309, in 2001-02.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
2 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb, 28 across postcode 3195.
Land transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with State Revenue Office Victoria
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $10,000 — see what qualifies with State Revenue Office Victoria.
At $1,655,500 this is $905,500 above the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $10,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with State Revenue Office Victoria.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Mark Dreyfus Australian Labor Party
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mark Dreyfus | 64.3% | 35.7% | +4.8 |
| 2022 | Mark Dreyfus | 56.9% | 43.1% | -0.4 |
| 2019 | Mark Dreyfus | 56.4% | 43.6% | -3.5 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Tim Richardson Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tim Richardson ALP | 58.2% | 58.2% | 41.8% |
| 2018 | Tim Richardson ALP | 50.1% | 62.9% | 37.1% |
| 2014 | Tim Richardson ALP | 52.1% | 52.1% | 47.9% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Waterways?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 2,422 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
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Checking the whole city?
Suburbs to avoid in Melbourne There is no list of bad suburbs, but there are hazards the state measures and publishes — recorded crime, bushfire exposure, flood overlays and aircraft noise. Melbourne suburbs ranked on them, with what the numbers do and don't mean.Nearby suburbs
Compare Waterways to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Waterways
Is Waterways a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Waterways is low (33/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Waterways?
Waterways has no recorded bushfire history. Flood overlays cover a high share of it (92/100). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Waterways a good place to live?
Waterways has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of A (68/100), ranked against other VIC suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Waterways?
Waterways, VIC had a population of 2,422 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Waterways, VIC?
The postcode for Waterways, VIC is 3195.
How far is Waterways from Melbourne?
Waterways is 35 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 44 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Waterways?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Waterways was $156,676 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Waterways?
The median advertised rent in Waterways is $938 a week for houses (4 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Waterways?
The median age of residents in Waterways was 41 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Waterways walkable?
Waterways scores 32/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the air quality in Waterways?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Waterways (Dandenong) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 6.3 µg/m³ and PM10 of 20.8 µg/m³. That puts Waterways below the Australian NEPM annual standard of 8 µg/m³ but above the stricter WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Waterways?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Waterways, Moorabbin Airport (4.9 km away), summer days average 26°C, winter nights 6.9°C, 644 mm of rain a year over 94 rainy days, and 10 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Waterways?
First-home buyers in VIC may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by State Revenue Office Victoria; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Waterways belong to?
Waterways sits within the Kingston (Vic.) local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Waterways?
The average residential rates bill through Kingston (Vic.) is $1,940 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Waterways?
Across Kingston (Vic.), 465 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 36.4% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Waterways in?
Waterways sits within the federal Division of Isaacs, currently held by Mark Dreyfus (Australian Labor Party).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2026
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Air quality · 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- Short-stay rentals · Jun 2026
- State electorate · 2022
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.