Camberwell
Camberwell’s standout feature is how premium its market remains even after an 8.5% pullback from the Jan-Mar 2024 peak: the latest median house price is $2.58m, with household income in the 91.8th percentile. The suburb of 21,965 people skews older than the national profile, with a median age of 43, and feels more settled than nearby Hawthorn while sharing Canterbury’s high-income, education-led character.
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
318
Median House
$2.6M
Apr-Jun 2024
For homebuyers, Camberwell is a high-entry-cost family market: the Apr-Jun 2024 house median is $2.58m, although it sits 8.5% below the Jan-Mar 2024 peak. Separate houses make up 60.3% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes 39.2%, so buyers seeking larger blocks face deeper competition than apartment buyers, who are looking at a 17.4% apartment share. Mortgage costs equal 28.2% of household income, below stress settings, because local incomes are high.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Camberwell is a high-entry-cost family market: the Apr-Jun 2024 house median is $2.58m, although it sits 8.5% below the Jan-Mar 2024 peak. Separate houses make up 60.3% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes 39.2%, so buyers seeking larger blocks face deeper competition than apartment buyers, who are looking at a 17.4% apartment share. Mortgage costs equal 28.2% of household income, below stress settings, because local incomes are high.
For Investors
Investors face a premium but mixed rental equation. Renters account for 26.2% of households and the median rent is $486 a week, while vacancy is 10.5%, higher than a tight rental market and a signal to price conservatively. Demand still has depth because overseas migration averages +424 people a year against -207 internal migration, and 69 development applications in 12 months show ongoing renewal rather than rapid greenfield expansion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
341
Last 12 Months
318
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+3433.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Camberwell iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Camberwell Primary School
Prep-6 · 552 students
Hartwell Primary School
Prep-6 · 570 students
St Dominic's School
Prep-6 · 146 students
Siena College Ltd
7-12 · 691 students
SEDA College (Victoria)
11-12 · 721 students
Demographics
Camberwell is older and more qualified than the national profile, with a median age of 43, 3.0 years above national, and university attainment at 64.7%, 34.6 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents are 32.3%, 10.7 points above national, with English ancestry at 7,003 people and Chinese at 3,478. Mandarin is the largest non-English language at 870 speakers, reflecting education and migration links.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
60.3%
Houses
21.7%
Townhouse
17.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is anchored by long-held family property: 43.7% of homes are owned outright, higher than the 30.1% with a mortgage and 26.2% renting. The median house price has risen from $1.382m in 2013 to $2.58m in Apr-Jun 2024, an 86.7% lift over 14 years, but it is 8.5% below the $2.8195m peak. Larger dwellings shape the market because 39.2% have 4-plus bedrooms and only 3.5% have 0 to 1 bedroom.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (Apr-Jun 2024)
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
25.3%
Couples, no children
17,378
Total families
Economy & Employment
Camberwell’s workforce ranks in the top decile on education and occupation, with IEO decile 10, IRSD decile 10 and IRSAD decile 10; the IER decile is slightly lower at 9 because some older or asset-rich households report less current income. Healthcare employs 1,609 workers, or 18.6%, Professional/Tech 1,604, or 18.5%, Education 1,031, or 11.9%, Finance 744, or 8.6%, and Retail 620, or 7.2%. Professionals number 4,399 and managers 2,283, supporting a 4.5% unemployment rate and 58.9% participation.
Unemployment
2.7%
Labour Force
12,717
Unemployed
347
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.6%
Part-time
33.9%
Participation
58.9%
Employed
10,401
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.7%
Postgraduate
20.8%
Born Overseas
32.3%
Dwellings
7,885
Transport to Work
Camberwell’s livability is strongest for education-oriented households because 3 schools sit at ICSEA 1169 or higher and daily routines can still work by car. There are 5 local schools across Government, Catholic and Independent sectors, with ICSEA scores from 1036 to 1194; Camberwell Primary at 1194, Hartwell Primary at 1191 and St Dominic's at 1169 anchor the upper end. Commuting is more car-led than transit-led, with 80.4% driving, 7.0% using public transport and 6.9% walking or cycling. Crime is 53.4 per 1,000, and IRSAD decile 10 supports strong amenity.
Drive
80.4%
Public Transport
7.0%
Walk / Cycle
6.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.22%/yr
(+49 people/yr)
EstablishedCamberwell’s growth outlook is subdued rather than expansionary: the trend is 0.22% a year, or 49 people, lifting the medium scenario from 22,231 in 2026 to 22,475 in 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding an average +424 people a year, while internal migration subtracts -207, so turnover is replacing residents more than expanding supply. The gentrification score is 10, stage Not gentrifying, and the ageing trajectory shows seniors up 4.6 percentage points.
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
Is Camberwell a good suburb to live in?
Yes. Camberwell suits buyers who value schools, larger homes and high amenity: the median age is 43, IRSAD is decile 10, and 5 local schools sit between ICSEA 1036 and 1194. The trade-off is price, with a $2.58m median house value.
What is the median house price in Camberwell?
The median house price in Camberwell was $2.58m in Apr-Jun 2024. That is 8.5% below the Jan-Mar 2024 peak of $2.8195m, but 86.7% above the 2013 level of $1.382m.
What schools are in Camberwell?
Camberwell has 5 local schools across Government, Catholic and Independent sectors. The highest ICSEA results are Camberwell Primary at 1194, Hartwell Primary at 1191 and St Dominic's School at 1169.
Is Camberwell safe?
Camberwell recorded 1,172 offences, or 53.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 882, followed by 141 crimes against the person, so safety varies by street and activity centre.
Is Camberwell good for property investment?
It can work for investors who buy well, but the signals are mixed. Renters make up 26.2% of households and median rent is $486 a week, while vacancy is high at 10.5%. The 69 development applications point to ongoing renewal.
How is Camberwell's population changing?
Population growth is slow, with a trend of 0.22% a year, or 49 people. The medium scenario reaches 22,475 by 2031, driven by +424 overseas migrants a year and offset by -207 internal migration.
What languages are spoken in Camberwell?
English remains dominant, but 32.3% of residents were born overseas. The largest non-English language group is Mandarin with 870 speakers, followed by Greek at 238, Cantonese at 195, Italian at 141 and French at 135.
Is there much development in Camberwell?
Yes, there is steady renewal rather than large-scale fringe growth. There were 69 development applications in the past 12 months, including tree removal, partial demolition and alterations within a Heritage Overlay.
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.
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