Charlton
A median age of 56 gives Charlton an older profile, 16 years above the national comparison, while its 1,095 residents are spread across 244.6 square kilometres at just 4.5 people per square kilometre. Housing is strongly detached, with 94.3% separate houses, and vacancy is a notable 17.6%. Compared with nearby Boort and Wycheproof, Charlton reads as a small, low-density service town where established households shape demand. The combination of 57.1% outright ownership and 11.9% working from home supports stability, but the 7.5% overseas-born share and 2.0-person average household point to a smaller, less internationally diverse base than larger regional centres. Its appeal is strongest for buyers prioritising space and affordability over rapid urban growth.
Local council: Buloke
Population
1,095
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$958/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$320K
October to December 2025
The typical purchase suits households seeking land and conventional layouts because 94.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 56.8% have 3 bedrooms, while another 23.2% have 4 or more. A $758 monthly mortgage is modest relative to household income, with mortgage costs at 18.3% of income and rent at $200 a week. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Charlton provides fewer compact options, so buyers should inspect maintenance, heating and resale demand carefully in a small market.
For Buyers
The typical purchase suits households seeking land and conventional layouts because 94.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 56.8% have 3 bedrooms, while another 23.2% have 4 or more. A $758 monthly mortgage is modest relative to household income, with mortgage costs at 18.3% of income and rent at $200 a week. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Charlton provides fewer compact options, so buyers should inspect maintenance, heating and resale demand carefully in a small market.
For Investors
Charlton's investment case is shaped by low rents and a large vacancy buffer rather than rapid rental competition. Weekly rent is $200, while the vacancy rate is 17.6% and only 16.2% of occupied dwellings are rented. Development activity is limited to 1 recorded application in the last 12 months, reducing the risk of a large new supply wave but also signalling a thin market. With 15.2% turnover and 84.8% of residents staying, demand may be steadier for well-presented, affordable homes than for speculative stock. Compared with lower-vacancy regional markets, investors should allow for longer leasing periods and verify recent comparable rents before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
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
Schools in Charlton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Charlton College
St Joseph's School
Demographics
Charlton's median age of 56 is 16 years above the national comparison, and its average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below the national figure. The population is predominantly Australian-born, with 7.5% born overseas, 14.1 percentage points below the national comparison. English ancestry counts 380 people, followed by Irish at 175 and Scottish at 107, while Christianity has 576 adherents and no religion 358. A high 84.8% stayed at the same address, helping explain the suburb's stable feel, while university attainment is 17.4%, 12.7 points below the national comparison. Compared with larger regional centres, these figures point to an older, more settled and less internationally diverse population, supporting demand for familiar services and smaller households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.3%
Houses
4.2%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Charlton's housing stock is strongly detached: 94.3% separate houses, 4.2% semi-detached dwellings and just 0.6% apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.8%, with 23.2% containing 4 or more bedrooms, so the market is oriented to conventional houses rather than compact units. Ownership is relatively entrenched, with 57.1% owned outright, 24.9% mortgaged and 16.2% rented. Compared with a unit-heavy market, Charlton provides more land-led housing, although the 17.6% vacancy rate signals a softer resale and rental environment.
Mortgage / mo
$758
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$200
Census 2021
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$545
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.6%
Unoccupied
102
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.8%
Couples with children
56.9%
Couples, no children
12.8%
Single parent
281
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education is Charlton's largest listed industry at 18.4% and 45 workers, followed by healthcare at 14.8% and 36, agriculture at 13.1% and 32, retail at 8.2% and 20, and public administration at 7.8% and 19. This mix reflects a small service centre supporting surrounding farming districts, while the occupation profile combines 84 managers, 70 labourers, 61 trades workers, 52 professionals and 42 community or personal service workers. Unemployment is 4.7%, but participation is 46.3%, so the labour market also reflects Charlton's older age profile. Compared with higher-income regional hubs, spending power is more constrained, making essential services and value-focused retail important.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
444
Unemployed
21
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.7%
Part-time
38.8%
Participation
46.3%
Employed
423
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.4%
Postgraduate
3.1%
Born Overseas
7.5%
Dwellings
477
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-dependent: 74.3% travel as a car driver, compared with 9.5% who walk or cycle and 11.9% who work from home. Local education access includes 2 schools, spanning a Catholic primary option and a government primary and secondary college. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross town edges. Recorded crime totals 75 incidents, including 55 property and deception offences, 8 crimes against the person and 4 drug offences, producing a rate of 68.5 per 1,000. Compared with larger centres, Charlton has fewer transport choices but a simpler school and service catchment, which suits residents comfortable with driving and planning longer trips for specialist needs.
Drive
74.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
9.5%
Work from Home
11.9%
Growth Outlook
Charlton's housing trajectory has been positive over the long run but uneven recently. Only 1 development application was recorded in the past 12 months, a small pipeline that limits immediate construction pressure but also suggests modest expansion. With a current population of 1,095 and 84.8% of residents staying at the same address, change is more likely to be gradual than driven by rapid turnover. Compared with the sharp recent price peak, Charlton's present growth profile is steadier and more affordability-led.
Population trend: Buloke council area
Charlton sits in the Buloke council area. These are the council area's residents, not Charlton's.
Residents 2025
5,887
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
75
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
68.5
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 Charlton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charlton a good suburb to live in?
Charlton suits buyers who value detached housing and a slower pace. Its median age is 56, population is 1,095 and 94.3% of homes are separate houses. The 17.6% vacancy rate and car use of 74.3% are trade-offs compared with larger regional centres, so inspect services, transport needs and property condition before deciding.
What schools are in Charlton?
Charlton has 2 listed schools: St Joseph's School, a Catholic primary school, and Charlton College, a government primary and secondary school. School choice is narrower than in larger regional centres, so families should confirm year-level availability and enrolment zones for the exact address before signing a lease or contract.
Is Charlton safe?
Charlton recorded 75 offences, including 55 property and deception offences, with a total rate of 68.5 incidents per 1,000 people. The headline rate is a useful comparison point, but local risk can vary by street and time. Check recent local conditions and secure homes carefully, particularly when properties are vacant.
How is Charlton's population changing?
Charlton has 1,095 residents today, a median age of 56 and an 84.8% same-address retention rate. Those figures point to an older, settled population rather than rapid churn. The 15.2% turnover rate and 2.0-person average household size suggest change is likely to be gradual, with demand shaped by established households and ageing residents.
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).
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