Bicheno
A median age of 54 sets Bicheno apart, sitting 14 years above the national benchmark and shaping a quieter, older coastal market. The suburb has 1,049 residents across 114.83 sqkm, so density is just 9.1 people per sqkm. A 50.7% vacancy rate points to holiday and seasonal housing because many dwellings are not occupied year-round. Compared with nearby Swansea and Coles Bay, Bicheno's numbers point less to a commuting suburb than to a small East Coast settlement dominated by 95.5% separate houses.
Local council: Glamorgan-Spring Bay
Population
1,049
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,030/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers are looking at a detached-house market rather than a mixed apartment area, with separate houses at 95.5% compared with apartments at only 2.0%. Three-bedroom homes are the main format at 44.9%, while 4-plus bedroom dwellings account for 21.5%. Median mortgage payments are $1,280 a month and mortgage costs take 28.7% of income, below the usual stress threshold flagged in the local indicators. The trade-off is choice: high vacancy at 50.7% may reflect holiday stock, not constant owner-occupier supply.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are looking at a detached-house market rather than a mixed apartment area, with separate houses at 95.5% compared with apartments at only 2.0%. Three-bedroom homes are the main format at 44.9%, while 4-plus bedroom dwellings account for 21.5%. Median mortgage payments are $1,280 a month and mortgage costs take 28.7% of income, below the usual stress threshold flagged in the local indicators. The trade-off is choice: high vacancy at 50.7% may reflect holiday stock, not constant owner-occupier supply.
For Investors
Bicheno is a specialist rental market, not a broad metropolitan-style one. Renters make up 23.7% of households and median rent is $250 a week, but the 50.7% vacancy rate is higher than the permanent rental share, pointing to strong seasonal or holiday-home influence. That can support short-stay demand, yet it also means cash flow may vary because occupancy depends on visitor cycles. Development activity is muted with 0 approvals in the past 12 months, while rent growth of 42.9% shows pressure on the limited occupied rental pool.
Demographics
Bicheno's age profile is the defining demographic feature: the median age is 54, which is 14.0 years above the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 19.3%, sitting 2.3 percentage points below the national share, while university attainment is 30.9%, 0.8 points above national. English ancestry is the largest group with 466 people, followed by Irish at 115 and Scottish at 87. Average household size is 2.0, 0.5 below national, because couples without children account for 64.4% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.5%
Houses
1.6%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Bicheno is highly detached and ownership-heavy. Separate houses account for 95.5% of dwellings vs 2.0% apartments and 1.6% semi-detached homes, so buyers wanting compact strata options have limited choice. Outright ownership is 51.2%, higher than the 22.4% with a mortgage and 23.7% renting, reflecting the older age structure. Bedrooms also skew practical rather than dense: 44.9% are 3-bedroom homes, 25.6% have 2 bedrooms and 21.5% have 4 or more. The 50.7% vacancy rate is the key housing risk signal.
Mortgage / mo
$1,280
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$631
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
50.7%
Unoccupied
465
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.2%
Couples with children
64.4%
Couples, no children
10.7%
Single parent
298
Total families
Economy & Employment
Bicheno's economy leans on visitor services and local land-based work. Hospitality is the largest industry at 23.2% or 63 workers, compared with agriculture and education at 9.2% each. Retail adds 8.1% and healthcare 7.7%, so employment follows tourism, services and community needs. Labourers are the biggest occupation group at 96 people, ahead of managers at 83 and professionals at 75. Unemployment is 4.4%, but participation is only 52.0% because 377 people are not in the labour force. SEIFA is below average, with IEO 3, IER 3, IRSD 3 and IRSAD 2 deciles.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
479
Unemployed
21
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
46.9%
Part-time
41.7%
Participation
52.0%
Employed
458
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.9%
Postgraduate
9.7%
Born Overseas
19.3%
Dwellings
442
Transport to Work
Daily life in Bicheno is car-reliant compared with urban suburbs. Car drivers account for 65.7% of commuting, far above public transport at 1.1%, because regional distances make bus or rail alternatives limited. Walking and cycling are meaningful at 16.8%, and working from home is 13.2%, which suits a small coastal settlement where many errands are local. Socio-economic conditions sit lower than average, with IRSAD in decile 2 and IRSD in decile 3. Volunteering is relatively visible at 24.1%, supporting local groups and services.
Drive
65.7%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
16.8%
Work from Home
13.2%
Growth Outlook
Bicheno's growth outlook is steady rather than explosive. The forecast trend is 1.24% a year, below the past 10-year population change of 19.9%, and migration is labelled Balanced rather than driven by one dominant inflow. The shift trajectory is Aging, backed by a senior share increase of 8.0 percentage points, a young share fall of 4.3 points and a working-age share fall of 3.1 points. Change is still visible: gentrification is scored 28 with Early signs, while the broader shift score of 48 sits in an Active stage.
Population trend: Glamorgan-Spring Bay council area
Bicheno sits in the Glamorgan-Spring Bay council area. These are the council area's residents, not Bicheno's.
Residents 2025
5,352
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.9%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bicheno compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bicheno a good suburb to live in?
Bicheno suits buyers seeking a quiet coastal setting, detached homes and lower density. It has 1,049 residents, density of 9.1 people per sqkm and 95.5% separate houses. Public transport is low at 1.1%, so it suits car-based households more than commuters.
What is the median house price in Bicheno?
A reliable median house price is not quoted for Bicheno, so local costs are better read through housing payments and tenure. Median mortgage payments are $1,280 a month, median rent is $250 a week, and 51.2% of homes are owned outright.
What schools are in Bicheno?
There are 0 schools recorded within Bicheno itself. Families should check school access in nearby East Coast towns and factor travel into daily routines, especially because public transport use is only 1.1% and car driving is 65.7%.
Is Bicheno safe?
A local crime rate per 1,000 residents is not published for Bicheno, so safety is harder to benchmark numerically. The suburb has 1,049 residents and a 50.7% vacancy rate, meaning some streets may be quieter outside peak holiday periods.
Is Bicheno good for property investment?
Bicheno can work for investors who understand seasonal demand. Renters are 23.7% of households and median rent is $250 a week, while vacancy is very high at 50.7%. Development approvals are 0, so new supply pressure appears limited.
How is Bicheno's population changing?
Bicheno is growing steadily, with a 10-year population change of 19.9% and a forecast annual trend of 1.24%. The trajectory is Aging, with seniors up 8.0 percentage points and young residents down 4.3 points.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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