Woodend VIC 3442
Woodend sits 69 km from Melbourne CBD in Victoria, around 56 minutes by car. Census data records 6,732 residents with a median age of 45 and a median household income of $109,408 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the top 20% nationally. The town grew 15.9% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $400 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,000. Woodend is characterised by high bushfire risk. 3 schools sit within the town boundary, and walkability is moderate.
Is Woodend a good town?
Woodend scores a C (46/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on transit and community, weaker on schools and safety.
Below the state average
3 schools · Bottom 11% in VIC
Very walkable
Walkability 63/100 · 69.3 km · 56 min drive to Melbourne
Around the state median
Median $998K
High bushfire risk
Fire 79/100 · Crime 45/100 · Flood 25/100
Very advantaged
SEIFA decile 9/10 · median age 45 · 6,732 residents
Liveability Rating
46 / 100 · Ranked #483 in VICEach bar is Woodend's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
How do you rate the liveability in Woodend?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
46 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataWoodend's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $998,000, roughly 12% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$997,500
25% below its 4 neighbours (median $1,332,500)
Based on 164 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 54 days — median across 95 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 15 sales $795K
- 3 bed 71 sales $840K
- 4 bed 61 sales $1.15M
- 5 bed 13 sales $1.57M
Land
$737,500
Based on 16 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 145 days — median across 4 sales that recorded a listing period
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Woodend are currently listed at around $1.25 million on average. Based on 77 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$1.25M
77 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$680K
4 units listed in the last 6 months — typical time on market 2 days.
81 of the suburb's 2,449 dwellings (3.3%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Woodend rent for around $765 a week on average, based on 8 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
$765/wk
8 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
9 rentals advertised against an estimated 389 rented homes (2.3%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 202579 Severely unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 38% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3442.
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$765/week ($40,000 a year) on a $1.25 million median
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.
Is Woodend safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Woodend sits in the moderate band, with 220 incidents recorded in 2026 — down roughly 11% on the prior year.
220 offences
11.3% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–202527 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 3 of them fatal
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the town carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Three schools serve Woodend, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 603 students across 2 schools (avg 302)
- • Sectors: 1 Independent, 1 Catholic, 1 Government
- • ICSEA 1091-1109, median 1100 (well above the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Woodend Primary School (378 students)
Primary
Combined
Walkability
Woodend is somewhat walkable on foot — at 63/100, a short cluster of errands work on foot but most trips still benefit from a car.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Woodend.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 4.8 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 2.4 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 2.4 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 9 min
- Span of service
- 19.6 hours
- Direct to CBD (peak)
- 44 min wait
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 Woodend.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 44%
- Premises covered
- 3,120
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
Macedon Ranges: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this town alone — this town's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 14 small areas inside this town and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 5 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this town rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Woodend is home to about 6,700 residents, with a median age of 45, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $109,000 a year, with unemployment at 3.6%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
6,732
Median Age
45
Median Household Income
$109,408/yr
Census Median Rent
$400/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,000/mo
Avg Household Size
2.6
Median Personal Income
$44,564/yr
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Unoccupied Dwellings
9.4%
Total Dwellings
2,449
Owner-Occupier Rate
84.1%
Houses
90.7%
Rental Stress
19.0%
Mortgage Stress
21.9%
Work From Home
40.8%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
41 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 23 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 382 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 79.5%
- English Spoken at Home
- 91.0%
- Employment Rate
- 58.4%
- Completed Year 12
- 49.2%
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.
86 residents (1.3%) 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.
23.4% of residents (1,497) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (1,397).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 6,399 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
18% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (581 of 3,169).
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.
Local Jobs
People who work in this town against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 1,863 people work here; 3,169 employed residents live here.
Mostly a place people commute from: 0.6 jobs per working resident. At least 38% of employed residents must work outside the town.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $2,065 a year through Macedon Ranges based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Environmental 68%
- Rural and farming 12%
- Parks and recreation 9%
- Residential 6%
- Infrastructure and transport 5%
- Zones under 1% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the town around it — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Macedon Ranges
In the year to August 2026, 331 new dwellings were approved across Macedon Ranges. That mix is 281 houses and 50 units. Approvals are up 79.5% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2008).
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.
Climate & Setting
from Macedon Forestry, 6.7 kmModerate rainfall.
- Elevation
- 568 m
- above sea level, at the town centre
- Annual rainfall
- 778 mm
- 74 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- —
- Winter min (Jul)
- —
Elevation is the ground at the town 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
2 facilities within 5 km- 3.1 kmSewerage and Drainage ServicesTop reported: Ammonia (total) · Total Nitrogen · Total Phosphorus
- 4.2 km
EV adoption
In postcode 3442, 125 of 7,675 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.8% (215 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 4.4%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3442, 1,996 rooftop-solar systems totalling 12.9 MW have been installed since 2001, against 3,434 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 111 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 3442 in 2025-26. The most was 46, in 2001-02.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
5 mortgage brokers are registered in this town, 6 across postcode 3442.
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 $997,500 this is $247,500 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 Rob Mitchell Australian Labor Party
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rob Mitchell | 54.8% | 45.2% | +0.9 |
| 2022 | Rob Mitchell | 53.3% | 46.7% | +2.0 |
| 2019 | Rob Mitchell | 55.0% | 45.0% | +1.0 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact town's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Mary-Anne Thomas Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Mary-Anne Thomas ALP | 59.5% | 59.5% | 40.5% |
| 2018 | Mary-Anne Thomas ALP | 50.6% | 63.2% | 36.8% |
| 2014 | Mary-Anne Thomas ALP | 53.8% | 53.8% | 46.2% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this town's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Woodend?
Every figure above is a town 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 6,732 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.
Featured in
Nearby suburbs
Macedon VIC 3440
Mount Macedon VIC 3441
Bullengarook VIC 3437
Tylden VIC 3444
Newham VIC 3442
Carlsruhe VIC 3442
Compare Woodend to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Woodend
Is Woodend a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Woodend is moderate (45/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Woodend?
Woodend has a high recorded bushfire history (79/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). Flood overlays cover a low share of it (25/100). These are town-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Woodend a good place to live?
Woodend has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of C (46/100), 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 Woodend?
Woodend, VIC had a population of 6,732 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Woodend, VIC?
The postcode for Woodend, VIC is 3442.
How far is Woodend from Melbourne?
Woodend is 69 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 56 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Woodend?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Woodend was $109,408 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 Woodend?
The median advertised rent in Woodend is $765 a week for houses (8 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Woodend?
The median age of residents in Woodend was 45 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Woodend at risk of bushfire?
Woodend has a high recorded bushfire history (79/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the town relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
How are the schools in Woodend?
There are 3 schools inside the Woodend boundary: 1 at and 1 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Woodend walkable?
Woodend scores 63/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it somewhat walkable. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the weather like in Woodend?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Woodend, Macedon Forestry (6.7 km away), 778 mm of rain a year over 74 rainy days over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Woodend?
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 Woodend belong to?
Woodend sits within the Macedon Ranges local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Woodend?
The average residential rates bill through Macedon Ranges is $2,065 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Woodend?
Across Macedon Ranges, 331 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 79.5% 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 Woodend in?
Woodend sits within the federal Division of Mcewen, currently held by Rob Mitchell (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
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- 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.