Ararat
Detached homes account for 89.8% of dwellings and weekly rent is $250, supporting a lower-density market than metropolitan areas. For buyers comparing Ararat with nearby Stawell or Beaufort, the strongest local distinction is the combination of established housing, regional employment and an aging resident base. Population growth is slow at 0.13% annually, so the suburb suits households prioritising space and manageable costs over rapid market change.
Population
8,500
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,216/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
25
Median House
$430K
October to December 2025
Ararat suits buyers seeking detached housing at a regional price point. Housing choice is concentrated in separate homes at 89.8%, with 3-bedroom dwellings making up 55.1% and 4-bedroom-plus homes 23.5%. Compared with apartment-led markets, this provides more scope for yards, storage and family layouts, although the 26.8% renting share means buyers should compare purchase costs with the local $250 weekly rent. Outright ownership is already high at 41.3%, while 29.9% have a mortgage.
For Buyers
Ararat suits buyers seeking detached housing at a regional price point. Housing choice is concentrated in separate homes at 89.8%, with 3-bedroom dwellings making up 55.1% and 4-bedroom-plus homes 23.5%. Compared with apartment-led markets, this provides more scope for yards, storage and family layouts, although the 26.8% renting share means buyers should compare purchase costs with the local $250 weekly rent. Outright ownership is already high at 41.3%, while 29.9% have a mortgage.
For Investors
The vacancy level can create more competition for landlords than in a tightly held rental market, so property condition and tenant demand matter. Rent growth of 42.5% over the forecast shift period supports the income story, while 22 development matters were recorded in 12 months, including subdivision activity that could gradually add supply. Migration is classified as Balanced and annual growth is only 0.13%, so investors should prioritise durable local demand over assumptions of rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
70
Last 12 Months
25
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+19.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ararat
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Ararat North Primary School
Ararat Primary School
Ararat West Primary School
St Mary's School
Ararat Secondary College
Demographics
Ararat has an older and smaller-household structure than national benchmarks. The median age is 45, or 5 years above the national comparison, while average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below the national figure. University attainment is 19.2%, 10.9 percentage points below the national comparison, and overseas-born residents account for 12.9%, 8.7 points below. English ancestry is recorded for 3,202 people, followed by Scottish at 970 and Irish at 871. No religion is the largest recorded affiliation at 3,714, ahead of Christianity at 3,157. Compared with nearby Stawell or Beaufort, households should focus on these measurable age, income and tenure differences when assessing fit.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.8%
Houses
9.1%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Ararat's housing market has moved materially higher over the long term. Compared with apartment-oriented suburbs, Ararat is strongly detached, with 89.8% separate houses, 9.1% semi-detached dwellings and only 0.4% apartments. Tenure is split between 41.3% owned outright, 29.9% mortgaged and 26.8% rented. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 55.1%, while 18.3% have 2 bedrooms. Housing costs are comparatively contained, with both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income measures at 20.6%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$681
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.5%
Unoccupied
338
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.9%
Couples with children
46.6%
Couples, no children
19.2%
Single parent
2,045
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Ararat's largest listed industry at 25.3%, or 503 workers, higher than manufacturing at 12.1% and construction at 6.0%. Public administration accounts for 15.2% and education 9.2%, giving the local economy a strong service and institutional base. The labour force contains 3,525 people, with unemployment at 4.0%, participation at 48.4% and a full-time employment rate of 57.4%. Community and personal occupations lead at 624 workers, narrowly above labourers at 620, followed by professionals at 472 and trades at 417. Compared with higher-income locations, household income sits at the 26.1st percentile, while IRSAD and IRSD are both in decile 2, indicating lower socioeconomic advantage.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
3,525
Unemployed
141
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
34.7%
Participation
48.4%
Employed
3,384
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.2%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
12.9%
Dwellings
3,214
Transport to Work
Daily life in Ararat is strongly car-based: 76.2% drive to work, compared with 0.8% using public transport, while 7.2% walk or cycle and 7.4% work from home. That makes a car more practical than public transport for many routines. Families have access to 6 nearby schools across 4 government and 2 Catholic settings, covering primary and secondary years; exact enrolment zones should be checked by address. Safety requires attention, with 1,155 recorded offences and a rate of 135.9 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences total 494, followed by justice procedures at 303. Compared with higher-advantage areas, IRSAD is in decile 2, while volunteering reaches 17.4%.
Drive
76.2%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
7.4%
Population Forecast
+0.13%/yr
(+4 people/yr)
EstablishedArarat is an established, slow-growth market, with the forecast annual trend at 0.13% and migration described as Balanced. The trajectory is Aging: senior share has increased by 5.0 percentage points while working share has fallen by 6.0 points. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 10.3% over 10 years, a measured pace compared with high-growth markets. Rent growth is recorded at 42.5%, which may support investor interest even as household change remains gradual. The shift indicators label gentrification as Active with a score of 45, while the current gentrification measure records a score of 0 and stage Not gentrifying. These signals favour steady repositioning rather than a rapid transformation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+19
Net Internal / yr
-17
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,155
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
135.9
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ararat compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Ararat?
Ararat has 6 schools across government and Catholic sectors. Catholic options are Marian College and St Mary's School. Government schools include Ararat North Primary School, Ararat Primary School, Ararat West Primary School and Ararat Secondary College, covering primary and secondary education.
Is Ararat safe?
Safety varies by location and personal circumstances. Ararat recorded 1,155 offences at a rate of 135.9 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 494 incidents, justice procedures for 303 and crimes against the person for 197. Compare recent street-level conditions before choosing a home.
How is Ararat's population changing?
Ararat has an aging trajectory rather than rapid expansion. Annual forecast growth is 0.13%, migration is classified as Balanced and population change across the wider area is 10.3% over 10 years. The senior share has increased by 5.0 percentage points, while the working share has fallen by 6.0 points.
What development is occurring in Ararat?
There were 22 development matters recorded over 12 months. The visible activity includes subdivision of land into 2 lots, certification of a 2-lot plan and a consolidation matter involving 0 lots. This points to land and subdivision activity rather than a clearly stated wave of new dwelling construction.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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