Camberwell
The median age is 43, which is 3 years above the national figure, while 64.7% of residents hold university qualifications, 34.6 percentage points above the national comparison. Compared with nearby Hawthorn's more inner-urban setting, Camberwell has a stronger established-family feel, supported by 42.9% outright ownership and 39.2% of homes with 4 or more bedrooms. Its premium position suits established buyers more than budget-led households.
Population
21,965
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,457/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
366
Median House
$2.5M
October to December 2025
Housing is weighted toward separate houses at 60.3%, semi-detached homes at 21.7% and apartments at 17.4%, with 39.2% of dwellings containing 4 or more bedrooms. A $3,000 monthly mortgage represents 28.2% of income, while 42.9% of households own outright, so affordability depends heavily on deposit strength and existing equity.
For Buyers
Housing is weighted toward separate houses at 60.3%, semi-detached homes at 21.7% and apartments at 17.4%, with 39.2% of dwellings containing 4 or more bedrooms. A $3,000 monthly mortgage represents 28.2% of income, while 42.9% of households own outright, so affordability depends heavily on deposit strength and existing equity.
For Investors
Camberwell presents a mixed investment case. Rents average $486 per week and have grown 22.5%, but the 10.5% vacancy rate can weaken competition between tenants and extend leasing periods. Compared with outright owners at 42.9%, renters account for a smaller 25.7% of households, reflecting a predominantly owner-occupied market. Development activity reached 357 matters over 12 months, which may gradually add supply through subdivisions and other approvals.
Development Activity
Total DAs
393
Last 12 Months
366
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2715.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Camberwell
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Camberwell Primary School
Hartwell Primary School
SEDA College (Victoria)
Siena College Ltd
Demographics
Camberwell has an older, highly educated demographic profile. At 43, its median age is 3 years above the national figure, while 64.7% of residents hold university qualifications, 34.6 percentage points above the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 32.3%, or 10.7 percentage points above the national level. English ancestry is recorded for 7,003 residents, Chinese ancestry for 3,478 and Irish ancestry for 2,797. Mandarin is the largest listed non-English language at 870 residents, followed by Greek at 238. Couples with children represent 49.4% of families, while couples without children account for 37.3%, consistent with an established and ageing household base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
60.3%
Houses
21.7%
Townhouse
17.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Camberwell's housing market is expensive but historically resilient. Tenure is split between 42.9% outright ownership, 29.5% mortgages and 25.7% renting. Separate houses make up 60.3% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 21.7% and apartments 17.4%; 39.2% have 4 or more bedrooms. Mortgage costs equal 28.2% of income and rent equals 19.8%, helping explain the area's strong owner-occupier base.
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $486.
$650
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $838 · units $600
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,043
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
930
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.4%
Couples with children
37.3%
Couples, no children
11.6%
Single parent
5,875
Total families
Economy & Employment
Camberwell's economy is led by Healthcare at 18.6%, Professional and Technical services at 18.5%, Education at 11.9%, Finance at 8.6% and Retail at 7.2%. Professionals number 4,399 and managers 2,283, giving the suburb a strong knowledge-sector base. Household income ranks at the 91.8th percentile, while SEIFA places Camberwell in decile 10 for IRSAD and IEO and decile 9 for IER. Compared with lower-income areas, these top-decile results reflect substantial economic advantage. The participation rate is 62.2% and unemployment is 4.2%; 6,398 residents are outside the labour force, a pattern consistent with the suburb's median age of 43 and ageing trajectory.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
11,497
Unemployed
487
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.2%
Part-time
36.3%
Participation
62.2%
Employed
11,010
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.7%
Postgraduate
20.8%
Born Overseas
32.3%
Dwellings
7,885
Transport to Work
Camberwell provides access to four nearby schools across primary and secondary education, with government, Catholic and independent sectors represented. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. Compared with areas where public transport dominates commuting, Camberwell has 38.1% of workers travelling as car drivers and 4.6% using public transport, while 51.4% work from home, supporting a flexible daily routine. Recorded crime totals 1,172 offences, or 53.4 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 882. The IRSAD score sits in decile 10 and IER in decile 9, so socioeconomic conditions rank well above average, although street-level safety still warrants normal checks.
Drive
38.1%
Public Transport
4.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
51.4%
Population Forecast
+0.22%/yr
(+49 people/yr)
EstablishedCamberwell is tracking as a slow-growth, ageing suburb rather than a high-turnover expansion area. The annual forecast trend is 0.22%, while population change across the wider area is 6.0% over ten years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but the trajectory is labelled Aging, with the young share down 2.2% and the senior share up 4.6%. Compared with faster-growing corridors, this points to gradual change shaped by established housing and limited affordability. Rental growth of 22.5% shows stronger movement in the leasing market. The gentrification score is 10 with a status of Not gentrifying, while a separate shift indicator records 24 and Early signs, suggesting selective change rather than broad transformation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+424
Net Internal / yr
-207
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -207/yr, Strong overseas inflow +424/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,172
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
53.4
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 Camberwell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Camberwell?
Camberwell Primary School and Hartwell Primary School are government primary schools. Siena College Ltd is a Catholic secondary school, while SEDA College (Victoria) is an independent secondary school. Four listed schools cover both primary and secondary education across 3 sectors.
Is Camberwell safe?
Camberwell recorded 1,172 offences, equal to 53.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 882 incidents, compared with 141 crimes against the person. Safety can vary by street, so inspect the immediate area and review current local conditions before renting or buying.
How is Camberwell's population changing?
Change is gradual and ageing. The annual forecast trend is 0.22%, while population change across the wider area is 6.0% over ten years. The senior share has increased by 4.6% and the young share has fallen by 2.2%, with overseas migration identified as the primary growth driver.
What languages are spoken in Camberwell?
Mandarin is the largest listed non-English language, with 870 residents, followed by Greek at 238 and Canton at 195. Overall, 32.3% of residents were born overseas, which is 10.7 percentage points above the national comparison.
Is Camberwell experiencing much development?
Development activity is substantial, with 357 matters recorded over 12 months. Examples include a two-lot subdivision and tree-related applications. Compared with a low-activity established suburb, this volume may create incremental change, although the count does not indicate that all matters will add new dwellings.
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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