Badger Creek
With 90.1% of residents staying put year to year, Badger Creek ranks among the most stable small communities in the Yarra Valley, and the data explains why. The 1,610-person suburb sits at 8.97 square kilometres, producing a low density of 179 people per km2. Median age of 43 runs 3 years above the national figure, and the 40.2% who own their home outright signal a long-settled, financially established base rather than a churn of new buyers. Household income sits at the 46.1st percentile nationally, below the median, yet housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income lands at 23.7% and rent-to-income at 21.8%, both comfortably inside stress thresholds.
Population
1,610
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,481/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$740K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $740,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024 is 9.8% below the suburb peak of $820,000 reached in Jul-Sep 2023, creating a re-entry window compared to recent highs. The long-run story is stronger: prices climbed 134.9% from $315,000 in 2013 at a 6.3% compound annual rate over 14 years. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 93.4%, and 61.9% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms, which aligns with the family and semi-rural demand profile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, well below the stress threshold relative to local incomes. The 49.7% on a mortgage versus 40.2% owning outright shows the market has attracted a newer cohort of buyers alongside the established owner base.
For Buyers
The median house price of $740,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024 is 9.8% below the suburb peak of $820,000 reached in Jul-Sep 2023, creating a re-entry window compared to recent highs. The long-run story is stronger: prices climbed 134.9% from $315,000 in 2013 at a 6.3% compound annual rate over 14 years. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 93.4%, and 61.9% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms, which aligns with the family and semi-rural demand profile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, well below the stress threshold relative to local incomes. The 49.7% on a mortgage versus 40.2% owning outright shows the market has attracted a newer cohort of buyers alongside the established owner base.
For Investors
The investment case is constrained by thin rental demand. Only 10.1% of dwellings are rented, compared to the national average of around 30%, so tenant supply is limited. Weekly rent of $323 against a $740,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.3%, below most Melbourne suburban benchmarks. A vacancy rate of 6.0% is elevated, reinforcing that rental demand does not absorb available stock quickly. Development activity was minimal at 1 planning permit in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is negligible. The suburb's strength for investors lies in its long-run capital growth of 134.9% since 2013 and the low-turnover owner-occupier base, which tends to support price floors rather than rapid yield compression.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Badger Creek skews older than the national profile: median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, and the 15.9% volunteering rate points to an engaged, settled community. Overseas-born residents at 14.3% are 7.3 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is Anglo-Celtic, led by English (730), Scottish (206) and Irish (189). University qualifications reach 19.6%, which is 10.5 percentage points below national, consistent with the suburb's trade-heavy employment profile. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Couples with children make up the largest household type at 490 families, while 395 couples have no children, a tenure pattern that reflects both family-rearing years and post-child empty-nesters in a single community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.4%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Price history across 15 quarters shows a clear arc: from $315,000 in 2013, the market peaked at $820,000 in Jul-Sep 2023 before settling to $740,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 9.8% correction from peak. Tenure structure is dominated by outright owners at 40.2% and mortgaged buyers at 49.7%, with renters at just 10.1%, well below state and national norms. Separate houses account for 93.4% of the stock, 3-bedroom homes lead at 61.9% and 4-plus bedroom homes follow at 24.4%. Mortgage stress is absent at 23.7% mortgage-to-income, and rent-to-income of 21.8% keeps tenants comfortable. This combination of low renter share and stable ownership creates less price volatility than higher-turnover suburban markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$323
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$683
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.0%
Unoccupied
39
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.0%
Couples, no children
1,315
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction leads employment at 17.4% of local workers (84 people), a share higher than typical suburban averages, reflecting the semi-rural and renovation-active character of the area. Healthcare follows at 15.7% (76 workers) and Education at 11.2% (54 workers), giving the suburb a services backbone alongside trade occupations. By occupation, Labourers lead at 113 workers, followed by Community and Personal service workers at 102, then Professionals at 98 and Managers at 75. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, below the national benchmark, though the participation rate of 55.5% is modest, partly because 464 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age and semi-retirement patterns. Full-time employment accounts for 54.3% of employed residents.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.3%
Part-time
42.6%
Participation
55.5%
Employed
711
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.6%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
14.3%
Dwellings
605
Transport to Work
Car dependence defines daily life here: 91.4% of residents drive to work, while only 0.8% use public transport, among the lowest rates in the state. This reflects the suburb's position as a rural-fringe community without rail or frequent bus links. No schools are recorded within the Badger Creek boundary, so families rely on facilities in nearby towns. The crime rate of 36.0 incidents per 1,000 residents is based on 58 total incidents, with justice procedures (27) and crimes against the person (17) the leading categories. Volunteering reaches 15.9% of residents, above typical suburban averages, and only 6.0% of residents (93 people) require daily assistance. Rent and mortgage stress indicators both sit well below the stress threshold, adding to the relative financial comfort of the area.
Drive
91.4%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
58
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
36.0
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 Badger Creek compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Badger Creek a good suburb to live in?
Badger Creek suits owner-occupiers seeking space and stability. It has 93.4% detached houses, a median age of 43 (3 years above national), and 90.1% of residents stay year to year. Financial stress is low: mortgage-to-income sits at 23.7% and rent-to-income at 21.8%, both below stress thresholds. The main trade-off is minimal public transport, with 91.4% of residents driving to work.
What is the median house price in Badger Creek?
The median house price is $740,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024, which is 9.8% below the peak of $820,000 reached in Jul-Sep 2023. Long-run growth since 2013 is 134.9% (6.3% CAGR over 14 years). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and weekly rent runs $323.
What schools are in Badger Creek?
No schools are recorded within the Badger Creek boundary (postcode 3777) in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Healesville and surrounding Yarra Valley towns. Local university qualification rates sit at 19.6%, which is 10.5 percentage points below the national average.
Is Badger Creek safe?
The recorded crime rate is 36.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 58 total incidents in the period. The leading categories are justice procedures offences (27 incidents) and crimes against the person (17 incidents). With a population of 1,610 and 90.1% residential stability, the community is settled rather than transient.
Is Badger Creek good for property investment?
Rental demand is thin at only 10.1% renters (vs roughly 30% nationally) and weekly rent of $323 implies a gross yield near 2.3% against the $740,000 median. Vacancy at 6.0% is elevated. The stronger case is capital growth: 134.9% since 2013 at a 6.3% annual compound rate, with only 1 development permit in 12 months limiting new supply.
How is Badger Creek's population changing?
The current population is 1,610 with a very low annual mobility rate of 9.9%, meaning 90.1% of residents stayed in place year to year. This is among the most stable turnover profiles compared to higher-density suburban markets. The suburb's aging median age of 43 (3 years above national) suggests gradual demographic shift rather than rapid growth.
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), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Badger Creek on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map