Median house price
$418k
+27% change
VIC · Glenelg Council
Heywood, 3304
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,707
Growth (1 yr)
0.0%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.9%
Median age
48
Median income
$1,077/wk
Employment rate
47.1%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$417,500
Languages at home
2%non-English
Most common: Vietnamese, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Heywood is a quieter smaller community in Glenelg Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
The overall desirability read is below average, pulled by softer community and employment, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities compared with similar regional towns, though growth momentum remain brighter spots.
At a glance
Heywood snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
1,707
0.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#138
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
80th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
19th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
10th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 39.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3934th in Australia
- State rank
- 785th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #138 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #325 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $417,500
- Median price change
- +26.5%
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 4th Quarter 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
1,707(June 2025)
0.0% annual · -0.9% over 5 years · 19th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- 0.0%
- 5-year growth
- -0.9%
- Change in 1 year
- 0
- Change in 5 years
- -16
- Growth rank in VIC
- 19th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~1,700), extrapolated at -0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,815
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,077
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 72 of 804
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,025
- Employment rate
- 47.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 701 / 25 / 3 (+ 9 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 204
- Against the person
- 36
- Against property
- 89
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 119.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 50 residents
- State safety percentile
- 80.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +30.8%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage18
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft11
- B49 Other Theft18
- C32 Drug Possession16
- D11 Firearms Offences17
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 898.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 10th
School list
- Heywood Consolidated SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 899 · 10th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 105 students · Top SEA quarter 2%View on My School →
- Heywood District Secondary CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 898 · 10th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 72 students · Top SEA quarter 1%View on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Lindsay St/Princes Hwy
- Lindsay St/Princes Hwy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
8 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 supermarkets
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 28/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.55
Shopping(1)
- IGASupermarket
Sport & outdoors(1)
- Sports field
Other(4)
- Heywood Fire StationFire station
10 Edgar Street, Heywood
- Parking (3)
- Toilet blockPublic toilets
- Sanitary Dump Station
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Heywood Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Myamyn Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 60
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Heywood Rural Health (2.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Heywood Rural HealthBarclay StreetHospital
- Heywood Rural HealthHospital
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 42
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 24.6
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 112 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 164 mm · ~20 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 251 mm · ~31 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 212 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
12 planning-related records
2021· 7 proposals
August 2021
- Buildings and works to construct farm shed in a Heritage OverlayOAKBANK, 157 OAKBANK LANE HEYWOOD 3304Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and Works to Construct a Third Dwelling22A MURRAY STREET HEYWOOD 3304Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
- AMENDMENT: Use and development for a service station, native vegetation removal, and create access to Road Zone Category 1.3013 HENTY HIGHWAY HEYWOOD 3304NOD issued by a delegate
June 2021
- Re-subdivision of Two LotsRIGHETTI ROAD HEYWOOD 3304Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two Lot Subdivision, and Removal of Easement Shown as E-1 on PS602923T53 MARKHAM STREET HEYWOOD 3304Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Building and Works to Construct a Shed23 Owen StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and Works to Construct a Shed2210 Princes HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 5 proposals
December 2020
- Two Lot Re-subdivision and use of dwelling2215 Princes HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and development of land for a dwelling and associated outbuilding8 Kentbruck RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Twelve Lot Subdivision (2 Stages)15-19 Blake StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Change of Use to Service Station, associated Building and Works, and SignagePRINCES HIGHWAY HEYWOOD 3304NOD issued by a delegate
May 2020
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision51 Scott StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Wannon
- Member of Parliament
- Dan TEHAN (Liberal)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,788
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.3 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 60.9%Labor 39.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 34.7 km away).
Coalition 63.5%Labor 36.5%
2.5 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +36.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- HeywoodLabor 36.5% · Coalition 63.5% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- NarrawongLabor 40.3% · Coalition 59.7% TPP (2025)15.1 km away
- BolwarraLabor 37.1% · Coalition 62.9% TPP (2025)16.4 km away
- Portland NorthLabor 46.3% · Coalition 53.7% TPP (2025)20.9 km away
- Portland CentralLabor 45.2% · Coalition 54.8% TPP (2025)24.3 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Glenelg Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.