Watsonia, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Watsonia VIC is 5,352 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Watsonia is $900 per week ($46,800 per year). Median rent in Watsonia is $385 per week ($1,668 per month). Watsonia has a median age of 38 years, equal to the national median. Watsonia has a population density of 2,326 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Watsonia is China. The most common religion is No religion (46.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Watsonia is $2,019.

There were 528 recorded offences in Watsonia in 2025-25, a rate of 99 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (241 offences).

Population
5,352
Census 2021
Median income
$900/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$385/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
38years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au), 2025-25.

Watsonia vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Watsonia is $900 a week, 17% above the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 264th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $385 a week, $69 more than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 20.4% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 38, 5 years younger than in the typical VIC suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureWatsoniaTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$900/wk$767/wk +17%$766/wk
Household income$1,883/wk$1,687/wk +12%$1,637/wk
Rent$385/wk$316/wk +22%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,019/mo$1,723/mo +17%$1,733/mo
Median age3843 −5 yrs42
Rent share of household income20.4%19.1% +1.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Watsonia, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Watsonia Population

5,352 residents at the 2021 Census.

Watsonia Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$900/wk
$46,800 per year
Ranked 2,120 of 14,663
Median Rent
$385/wk
$1,668 per month
Ranked 2,381 of 14,663
Median Age
38years
Same as the national median
Mortgage
$2,019/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Watsonia Rent Prices & Affordability

20% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,883/wk
Median rent $385/wk
Rent to income 20.4%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Watsonia against your income

About $8,160 a month
Median rent $385/wk
Left after rent $1,498/wk
Rent share 20.4%

Watsonia Schools

28
schools nearby
20
government
1067
avg ICSEA score
12,866
total students
Viewbank Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 656 students
1138
ICSEA
Rosanna Golf Links Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 557 students
1133
ICSEA
St Martin of Tours School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 463 students
1127
ICSEA
St Mary's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 524 students
1109
ICSEA
Watsonia Heights Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 522 students
1104
ICSEA
Apollo Parkways Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 675 students
1103
ICSEA
Rosanna Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 343 students
1098
ICSEA
Montmorency Secondary College Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,085 students
1083
ICSEA
Mastery Schools Victoria Independent
Combined · 4-9 · 62 students
1082
ICSEA
St Damian's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 378 students
1080
ICSEA
Watsonia North Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 541 students
1080
ICSEA
Parade College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,968 students
1077
ICSEA
Macleod College Government
Combined · Prep-12 · 545 students
1073
ICSEA
Bundoora Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 306 students
1063
ICSEA
Greensborough Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 159 students
1058
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 28 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Watsonia, with a map

Watsonia Map

Watsonia, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Watsonia, Victoria: 37.7100°S, 145.0853°E

Watsonia Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (28)

People in Watsonia

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.0% (2,621) Female 51.0% (2,731)

Population Density

2,326
people per km²
5,352 people · 2.3 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,450
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

China
2.2%
England
2.0%
India
1.9%
New Zealand
1.2%
Malaysia
1.0%
Italy
0.7%
Iran
0.6%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
3.0%
Italian
1.4%
Cantonese
1.3%
Greek
0.7%
Persian (excluding Dari)
0.7%
Spanish
0.7%
Hindi
0.6%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
34.2%
English
33.7%
Irish
13.5%
Scottish
10.1%
Italian
7.1%
Chinese
5.2%
German
3.9%
Indian
2.9%
Greek
2.3%
Dutch
1.4%
Macedonian
1.2%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
46.6%
Catholic
23.0%
Anglican
6.5%
Not stated
6.0%
Eastern Orthodox
3.0%
Hinduism
2.3%
Uniting Church
2.1%
Christian (other)
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
44.6% 1,941
Separated
3.2% 141
Divorced
8.7% 380
Widowed
5.7% 249
Never married
37.7% 1,641

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
43.8%
Couple: no children
24.7%
Couple: no children under 15
15.5%
One parent: no children under 15
8.3%
One parent: children under 15
7.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
26.7%
2 persons
32.7%
3 persons
17.4%
4 persons
16.7%
5 persons
4.4%
6+ persons
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Watsonia

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,105 occupied private dwellings in Watsonia at the 2021 Census, 29.9% were rented, 32.6% owned outright and 35.6% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.0% 22 dwellings
Owned outright
32.6% 686 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
35.6% 750 dwellings
Rented
29.9% 629 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.9% 19 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
86.9%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
8.7%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.7%
2 bedrooms
17.4%
3 bedrooms
57.3%
4 bedrooms
19.5%
5 bedrooms
2.4%
6+ bedrooms
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.7%
$300-$449/mo
1.5%
$450-$599/mo
1.3%
$600-$799/mo
3.3%
$800-$999/mo
3.4%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
11.5%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
16.4%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
25.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
16.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
14.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
7.2%
1 vehicle
40.6%
2 vehicles
39.6%
3 vehicles
9.0%
4+ vehicles
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Watsonia

Employment

Employed full-time
41.4% 1,655 people
Employed part-time
22.0% 879 people
Unemployed
3.2% 126 people
Not in labour force
33.4% 1,336 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
36.2%
Technicians & Trade Workers
15.6%
Managers
14.0%
Clerical & Administrative
12.6%
Community & Personal Service
10.5%
Sales Workers
4.3%
Labourers
3.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.6%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
1.5%
$300-$399/wk
2.2%
$400-$499/wk
6.3%
$500-$649/wk
4.6%
$650-$799/wk
5.0%
$800-$999/wk
5.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.4%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
10.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
6.2%
$4,000+/wk
12.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.4%
$1-$149/wk
4.1%
$150-$299/wk
5.0%
$300-$399/wk
3.8%
$400-$499/wk
3.7%
$500-$649/wk
3.1%
$650-$799/wk
8.2%
$800-$999/wk
8.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
12.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.3%
$3,500+/wk
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
66.8%
Did not go to work
19.3%
Train
6.3%
Car (passenger)
3.2%
Walked only
1.7%
Bus
0.6%
Other
0.6%
Bicycle
0.5%
Truck
0.3%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
70.2%
Year 10 or equivalent
12.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
12.0%
Year 9 or equivalent
5.4%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
34.7%
Certificate III/IV
27.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
16.6%
Postgraduate Degree
13.3%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.3%
Certificate I/II
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
20.6%
Engineering
15.8%
Society & Culture
15.0%
Health
12.3%
Education
8.5%
Architecture & Building
6.3%
Creative Arts
6.0%
Information Technology
5.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
4.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
3.7%
Agriculture & Environment
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
31.4%
Secondary: Government
19.6%
Pre-school
12.4%
Vocational Education
12.2%
Primary: Catholic
11.7%
Secondary: Catholic
8.7%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.2%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
89.3%
Has need for assistance
6.7%
Need for assistance not stated
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
541
Asthma
235
Arthritis
170
Diabetes
144
Heart disease
121
Lung condition
91
Cancer
72
Stroke
59
Kidney disease
51
Dementia
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.5% 601
Did not provide
85.5% 3,556

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
13.4% 560
Not a volunteer
86.6% 3,614

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.3% 12
Previously served
2.8% 116
Never served
96.9% 4,049

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
36.7%
1 child
14.8%
2 children
29.7%
3 children
12.7%
4 children
4.8%
5+ children
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
14
1951: 1960
76
1961: 1970
95
1971: 1980
79
1981: 1990
108
1991: 2000
151
2001: 2010
236
2011: 2015
172
2016
26
2017
44
2018
38
2019
32
2020
18
2021
10

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

12.1%
moved in the last year
35.6%
moved in the last 5 years
4.4%
unemployment rate (Census)
65.3%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,438
Moved from VIC
513
Moved: same area (SA2)
50
Moved from overseas
29
Moved from QLD
6
Moved from NSW
3
Moved from NT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.3%
5: 14 hours
32.8%
15: 29 hours
13.0%
30+ hours
9.5%
Did not do domestic work
23.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
90.6%
Step family: no other children
6.0%
Blended family: no other children
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Watsonia Crime Statistics

528 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
241
Justice Procedures
75
Assault
62
Fraud
36
Property Damage
32
Drug Offences
30
Break & Enter
28
Public Order
11
Weapons
10
Robbery
2
Other
1

Total offences by year

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Katunga
Income: $736/wk Rent: $240/wk $145/wk less rent
Inverleigh
Income: $852/wk Rent: $300/wk $85/wk less rent
Bunyip
Income: $779/wk Rent: $320/wk $65/wk less rent
Hamlyn Heights
Income: $830/wk Rent: $345/wk $40/wk less rent
Lethbridge
Income: $797/wk Rent: $350/wk $35/wk less rent
Launching Place
Income: $795/wk Rent: $350/wk $35/wk less rent
Bayswater North
Income: $839/wk Rent: $360/wk $25/wk less rent
Essendon North
Income: $1,031/wk Rent: $360/wk $25/wk less rent

Suburbs near Watsonia

The closest suburb to Watsonia is Macleod (Vic.), 1.5 km away.

Macleod (Vic.)
1.5 km away · income $908/wk · rent $396/wk
Watsonia North
1.6 km away · income $830/wk · rent $401/wk
Greensborough
1.9 km away · income $903/wk · rent $404/wk
Bundoora (Vic.)
2.0 km away · income $690/wk · rent $381/wk
Yallambie
2.1 km away · income $1,021/wk · rent $340/wk
Briar Hill
3.2 km away · income $940/wk · rent $411/wk

Compare Watsonia

Frequently Asked Questions About Watsonia

What is the population of Watsonia VIC?

The population of Watsonia VIC is 5,352 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2,326 people per km². Watsonia is ranked #1,471 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Watsonia?

The median personal income in Watsonia VIC is $900 per week, or $46,800 per year. The median household income is $1,883 per week. Family income is $2,450 per week. Watsonia is ranked #2,120 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Watsonia?

Median rent in Watsonia VIC is $385 per week ($1,668 per month). Rent represents 20.4% of household income, which is considered affordable. Watsonia ranks #2,381 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Watsonia?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Watsonia VIC is $2,019. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Watsonia?

The median age in Watsonia VIC is 38 years. This is equal to the national median age of 38 years.

Is Watsonia a good suburb to live in?

Watsonia is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 5,352. The median income is $900/wk, which is above the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (20.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Melbourne Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 22721. All dollar figures in AUD.