Canadian
For buyers comparing nearby Mount Clear and Ballarat East, the suburb presents a practical detached-home market with 48.2% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms and 30.4% containing 4 or more. Its median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, while university attainment is 34.2%, or 4.1 percentage points above national levels. Canadian is ageing rather than rapidly gentrifying, with a 6.0-point rise in the senior share and a current gentrification score of 6.
Population
4,098
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,438/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
29
Median House
$594K
October to December 2025
Canadian suits buyers seeking established houses rather than apartment-led stock. Three-bedroom homes make up 48.2% of the market and 4-plus-bedroom homes account for 30.4%, so family-sized properties are more common than compact dwellings. The typical mortgage payment is $1,387 per month and mortgage costs equal 22.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $300. Compared with a smaller-unit market, the 86.2% separate-house share means buyers should focus on land, maintenance and renovation condition because these are likely to drive price differences.
For Buyers
Canadian suits buyers seeking established houses rather than apartment-led stock. Three-bedroom homes make up 48.2% of the market and 4-plus-bedroom homes account for 30.4%, so family-sized properties are more common than compact dwellings. The typical mortgage payment is $1,387 per month and mortgage costs equal 22.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $300. Compared with a smaller-unit market, the 86.2% separate-house share means buyers should focus on land, maintenance and renovation condition because these are likely to drive price differences.
For Investors
Canadian has a meaningful rental base, with 34.9% of households renting compared with 28.0% owning outright. Weekly rent is $300 and the vacancy rate is 7.0%, which is above zero and may give tenants more choice than in a tightly constrained market. Investor competition could increase because 28 development applications were recorded over 12 months, including a proposal for 3 single-storey dwellings. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver, supporting longer-term housing demand, but the current vacancy rate means rental returns should be assessed conservatively. Detached houses may appeal to families because 78.6% of dwellings have 3 or more bedrooms.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
29
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+866.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Canadian has an established, Anglo-leaning population of 4,098 people, with a median age of 37 that is 3 years below the national figure. English ancestry is reported by 1,653 residents, followed by Irish ancestry at 619 and Scottish ancestry at 487. The overseas-born share is 13.7%, or 7.9 percentage points below national levels, while university attainment is 34.2%, 4.1 points above national. Average household size is 2.4, slightly below the national comparison of 2.5, which helps explain the strong presence of couples without children at 40.4%. Population turnover is moderate: 72.0% stayed at the same address, while 28.0% moved.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.2%
Houses
12.9%
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Canadian's house-price history shows substantial long-term growth but limited movement below the recent peak. Housing is predominantly detached, with 86.2% separate houses, 12.9% semi-detached homes and 1.0% apartments. Tenure is split between 36.0% mortgages, 34.9% renting and 28.0% outright ownership.
Mortgage / mo
$1,387
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$749
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.0%
Unoccupied
119
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.5%
Couples with children
40.4%
Couples, no children
18.5%
Single parent
1,033
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Canadian's largest industry at 23.0%, with 314 workers, followed by education at 15.2% and 207 workers. Construction contributes 8.2%, public administration 7.7% and professional or technical services 7.3%. The occupational mix includes 447 professionals, 309 community and personal service workers, 275 trades workers and 251 clerical or administrative workers. Labour-force participation is 62.5%, unemployment is 5.4%, and full-time employment accounts for 57.5% of employed residents. Household income is $1,438 per week and sits at the 43.6 percentile, below the midpoint comparison. SEIFA results are uneven, with economic resources at decile 3 and relative advantage and disadvantage at decile 4, suggesting resources are more constrained than the broader socioeconomic profile.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
2,107
Unemployed
114
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.5%
Part-time
35.9%
Participation
62.5%
Employed
1,993
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.2%
Postgraduate
9.4%
Born Overseas
13.7%
Dwellings
1,576
Transport to Work
Canadian is strongly car-oriented: 71.6% of residents drive to work, compared with 1.6% using public transport and 2.3% walking or cycling. A further 19.9% work from home, which may reduce commuting pressure but does not remove the need for a car for many daily trips. The recorded crime rate is 41.0 offences per 1,000 people, with 168 offences in total; property and deception offences account for 91, compared with 49 crimes against the person. Families should check nearby Ballarat school options against the exact address and enrolment zone. Socioeconomic conditions sit around the middle to lower-middle range, with IRSAD and IRSD both at decile 4, while volunteering is 15.9%.
Drive
71.6%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
19.9%
Population Forecast
+1.15%/yr
(+144 people/yr)
EstablishedCanadian's forecast trend is 1.15% annual growth, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 17.4% over 10 years, indicating steady expansion rather than a sudden development surge. The trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 6.0-point increase in the senior share and a 1.4-point decline in the young share. Gentrification is currently labelled Not gentrifying, with a score of 6, while the broader shift assessment is marked Early signs at 36. Compared with a rapid-renewal market, this points to gradual change driven more by population replacement, rental demand and household ageing than by major social restructuring.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+113
Net Internal / yr
-66
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +18% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
168
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
41.0
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 Canadian compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canadian a good suburb to live in?
Canadian can suit households wanting established detached housing close to Ballarat's broader services. The suburb has a median age of 37, an 86.2% separate-house share and 19.9% working from home. Car use is high at 71.6%, while public transport use is 1.6%, so lifestyle fit depends on comfort with driving.
What schools are in Canadian?
School access should be checked against the exact Canadian address because enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. Nearby Ballarat school options, sector and travel time are important to compare. With 71.6% of residents driving and only 2.3% walking or cycling, transport planning may matter more than distance alone.
Is Canadian safe?
Canadian recorded 168 offences at a rate of 41.0 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 91, followed by crimes against the person at 49 and justice procedures offences at 22. These figures support checking the specific street, lighting and movement patterns before making a decision.
Is Canadian good for property investment?
Canadian has rental demand indicators, with 34.9% of households renting and weekly rent at $300. The 7.0% vacancy rate is above zero, so investors should not assume immediate rental scarcity. A further 28 development applications were recorded over 12 months, while overseas migration is the main forecast growth driver.
How is Canadian's population changing?
Growth is forecast at 1.15% annually, with overseas migration as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 17.4% over 10 years, while Canadian's trajectory is labelled Aging. The senior share has risen by 6.0 points and the young share has fallen by 1.4 points, indicating gradual demographic ageing.
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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