Charlton
A median age of 56, sitting 16 years above the national figure, is the single most striking fact about Charlton. With only 1,095 residents spread across 244.6 km2, it is one of Victoria's more sparsely settled rural towns, at just 4.5 people per km2. Household income lands at the 11.2nd percentile nationally, yet house prices have compounded at 10.8% per year over 14 years, reaching $505,000 by mid-2024. Ownership rates are exceptionally high at 58.1% outright owned, well above the national average, which reflects a long-settled, low-debt community rather than an investment-driven one.
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
0
Median House
$505K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $505,000 median house price as of Apr-Jun 2024 is affordable in absolute dollar terms compared to metropolitan Victoria, and mortgage repayments average $758 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 94.3%, so buyers are rarely competing for apartments or semi-detached product. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.8%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 23.2%. Prices have risen 320.8% since 2013, from $120,000 to $505,000, at a CAGR of 10.8%, well above the typical inflation anchor, though base effects from a low starting point explain much of that trajectory.
For Buyers
The $505,000 median house price as of Apr-Jun 2024 is affordable in absolute dollar terms compared to metropolitan Victoria, and mortgage repayments average $758 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 94.3%, so buyers are rarely competing for apartments or semi-detached product. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.8%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 23.2%. Prices have risen 320.8% since 2013, from $120,000 to $505,000, at a CAGR of 10.8%, well above the typical inflation anchor, though base effects from a low starting point explain much of that trajectory.
For Investors
Charlton presents a mixed picture for investors. Weekly rent of $200 is low, and against the $505,000 median that implies a gross yield around 2.1%, below the threshold most investors target. The vacancy rate of 17.6% is notably high and signals tenant demand is limited in this small market of 1,095 people. Only 16.5% of dwellings are rented, compared to the state average, and no development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, pointing to a static rather than growing supply environment. The long-run price appreciation of 10.8% per year over 14 years is a positive data point, but the thin rental market and high vacancy make yield-focused investing difficult.
Schools in Charlton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
Prep-6 · 38 students
Charlton College
Prep-12 · 123 students
Demographics
Charlton's median age of 56 is 16.0 years above the national median, reflecting a strongly aging community. The overseas-born share of 7.5% sits 14.1 percentage points below the national figure, and the university qualification rate of 17.4% is 12.7 points below national, both consistent with a rural, Anglo-heritage population. English (380) and Irish (175) ancestries dominate, followed by Scottish (107). Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below the national average, because 44.1% of families are couples with no children, the profile of empty-nesters and retirees. The volunteering rate of 34.5% is notably high, indicating strong civic participation in this small community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.3%
Houses
4.2%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Charlton is unusually skewed toward outright ownership: 58.1% of households own their home without a mortgage, a rate well above the national average that reflects a long-settled, older resident base. Only 25.4% carry a mortgage and 16.5% rent. Separate houses account for 94.3% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 4.2% and apartments at just 0.6%. Three-bedroom homes represent 56.8% of the stock, 4-plus bedroom homes 23.2%, and only 2.3% are one-bedroom or studio dwellings. The median house price has climbed from $120,000 in 2013 to $505,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 320.8% increase over 14 years, though the vacancy rate of 17.6% signals that not all stock is actively occupied or rented.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$758
Rent / wk
$200
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
44.1%
Couples, no children
725
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education (18.4% of workers, 45 employed), Healthcare (14.8%, 36 workers) and Agriculture (13.1%, 32 workers) are the three pillars of the local economy, together accounting for nearly half of all employment. Public Admin (7.8%) and Retail (8.2%) round out the top five. By occupation, Managers (84) lead, followed by Labourers (70) and Professionals (52), which reflects the mix of farm owners, service-sector workers and educators. The unemployment rate is 4.9% and the participation rate is only 44.8%, lower than state and national averages, because the aging population places a large share of residents (398 people) outside the labour force. Household income at the 11.2nd percentile nationally reflects the combination of part-time work, retirement incomes and a rural wage structure.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.8%
Part-time
35.3%
Participation
44.8%
Employed
408
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.4%
Postgraduate
3.1%
Born Overseas
7.5%
Dwellings
477
Transport to Work
Charlton is car-dependent: 84.3% of employed residents drive to work, and 10.8% walk or cycle, while public transport usage is not recorded, typical for a rural town without a rail or bus network. The crime rate is 68.5 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, with property and deception offences (55 of 75 total incidents) the dominant category. Rent-to-income sits at 20.9% and mortgage-to-income at 18.3%, both below the stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset. The assistance need rate of 10.7% (103 residents) is consistent with the older population profile, where some residents require help with daily activities.
Drive
84.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
10.8%
Work from Home
N/A
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 those seeking a low-cost, low-density rural lifestyle. Mortgage repayments average $758 per month and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 18.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The community is stable, with 84.8% of residents staying at the same address year to year, and a volunteering rate of 34.5% reflects strong local participation. The trade-off is a thin services environment, car dependency at 84.3%, and an aging median age of 56.
What is the median house price in Charlton?
The median house price is $505,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024. Prices have risen 320.8% from $120,000 in 2013, at a compound annual rate of 10.8% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $200 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $758, making ongoing housing costs affordable relative to most Victorian markets.
What schools are in Charlton?
No schools are recorded inside the Charlton boundary in this dataset. The university qualification rate is 17.4%, which is 12.7 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a rural community where most residents complete trade or vocational education rather than higher degree pathways. Families with school-age children typically access schools in the broader Loddon Shire region.
Is Charlton safe?
Charlton recorded 75 criminal incidents in the latest period, giving a crime rate of 68.5 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 55 of those incidents, with crimes against the person at 8. The small population of 1,095 means a single incident can shift the per-1,000 rate meaningfully, so the figures should be read alongside the suburb's character as a stable, low-turnover community where 84.8% of residents are long-term.
Is Charlton good for property investment?
Long-run capital growth is strong at a CAGR of 10.8% over 14 years, from $120,000 to $505,000. However, the rental market is thin: only 16.5% of dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $200, and the vacancy rate of 17.6% is high. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. The investment case rests on capital appreciation in a low-liquidity market rather than rental yield.
How is Charlton's population changing?
Charlton has a population of 1,095 with a median age of 56, which is 16.0 years above the national median. No growth forecast data is available, but the aging resident base and low density of 4.5 people per km2 across 244.6 km2 point to gradual population decline rather than growth. Resident stability is high, with 84.8% living at the same address compared to prior year.
What is the main industry in Charlton?
Education is the largest employer at 18.4% of local workers (45 people), followed by Healthcare at 14.8% (36 workers) and Agriculture at 13.1% (32 workers). Together these three sectors employ nearly half the workforce. By occupation, Managers (84) and Labourers (70) are the most common roles, reflecting the mix of farm operators and service-sector workers in the local economy.
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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