Chigwell
With a median age of 33, Chigwell runs 7 years younger than the national figure, and that youth is reflected in the tenure mix: 39.3% of households carry a mortgage compared to just 22.6% who own outright. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 2 across all four indexes, placing it among the more disadvantaged 20% of Australian suburbs nationally, yet household income has grown in real terms by 20.7% over the decade. At 2,050 residents across 3.01 square kilometres, it is a compact, predominantly detached-house suburb where 81% of dwellings are separate houses and the median house price of $505,000 is well below Hobart metropolitan averages.
Population
2,050
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,232/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$505K
YTD 2026
The median house price of $505,000 at YTD 2026 sits below the 2025 peak of $552,000, a 8.5% pullback that opens a potential entry point for buyers. The long-run record is more compelling: prices have risen 676.9% since 1996, from $65,000, at a CAGR of 7.1% over 30 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, making this more serviceable than many Australian markets. Stock is dominated by three-bedroom separate houses at 68.2% of dwellings, with 81% of all stock being detached. The 38% renter share means buyers face relatively limited competition from investors seeking yield-only purchases.
For Buyers
The median house price of $505,000 at YTD 2026 sits below the 2025 peak of $552,000, a 8.5% pullback that opens a potential entry point for buyers. The long-run record is more compelling: prices have risen 676.9% since 1996, from $65,000, at a CAGR of 7.1% over 30 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, making this more serviceable than many Australian markets. Stock is dominated by three-bedroom separate houses at 68.2% of dwellings, with 81% of all stock being detached. The 38% renter share means buyers face relatively limited competition from investors seeking yield-only purchases.
For Investors
The 38% renter share provides landlords a solid tenant pool, and at $300 weekly rent against a $505,000 median, the gross yield sits near 3.1%. The vacancy rate of 5.5% is elevated and warrants monitoring, pointing to some softness in rental demand. Overseas migration adds approximately 62 net residents a year while internal migration removes 50, leaving thin but positive net growth. The gentrification score of 73 (Advanced stage) suggests socioeconomic uplift has already occurred, which has historically supported capital growth in suburbs at a comparable decile 2 starting point.
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 14.5%, which is 7.1 percentage points below the national average, so this is a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic dominated, led by English (835), Irish (171) and Scottish (154). University qualifications reach 20.1%, which is 10 percentage points below national, consistent with the community services and labourer occupational profile. Average household size is 2.4. Couples with children make up the largest family type at 532 households, compared to 300 couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.0%
Houses
12.7%
Townhouse
6.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits between renters (38%), mortgagees (39.3%) and outright owners (22.6%), skewing toward younger households still building equity. The stock is 81% separate houses, with 68.2% three-bedroom and only 6.3% apartments. Prices peaked at $552,000 in 2025 before settling to $505,000 in 2026, an 8.5% pullback from peak. The long-run record is stronger: a 30-year CAGR of 7.1% from $65,000 in 1996. Rent-to-income at 24.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, making renting here more affordable relative to income than the national median.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$667
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
47
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.9%
Couples, no children
1,504
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 21.4% of workers (113 people), followed by Construction at 12.7% and Education at 9.8%. By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers (153) and Labourers (150) are the top two roles. The unemployment rate of 8.6% is above national averages, and participation at 57.4% is low, with 524 residents not in the labour force. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 2 on all four indexes, meaning it falls in the bottom 20% nationally for advantage and economic resources, reflecting lower incomes and occupational status than the broader Australian market.
Unemployment
6.8%
Labour Force
2,968
Unemployed
202
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
30.3%
Participation
57.4%
Employed
844
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.1%
Postgraduate
7.5%
Born Overseas
14.5%
Dwellings
805
Transport to Work
Chigwell is car-dependent: 83.6% of residents drive to work and only 5.9% use public transport, compared to higher transit use in denser inner suburbs. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary. Crime data is unavailable for this suburb. The SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 ranking places it in the bottom 20% nationally for relative disadvantage, covering income, education and service access. The volunteering rate of 10.6% reflects community engagement despite those pressures, and 6.2% of residents (119 people) need assistance with daily activities.
Drive
83.6%
Public Transport
5.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.57%/yr
(+34 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is modest but consistent. The SA2 grew from 5,847 in 2023 to 5,916 in 2025, and medium forecasts project 6,126 by 2031, an annual rate of 0.57%, lower than the national average for metro suburbs. Overseas migration contributes 62 net arrivals per year, partially offset by internal outflow of 50. The suburb's 10-year population change was 7.6%. Real income growth of 20.7% over the decade is above the state median, and the affordability ratio worsened from 39.5% in 2011 to 44.6% in 2021, reflecting price growth outpacing wage rises.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+62
Net Internal / yr
-50
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Chigwell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chigwell a good suburb to live in?
Chigwell offers affordable housing with a $505,000 median house price and manageable housing costs, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4% below the 30% stress threshold. It sits in SEIFA decile 2 nationally, meaning it ranks in the lower 20% for socioeconomic advantage. The suburb suits buyers seeking affordability and established detached housing within a short drive of central Hobart.
What is the median house price in Chigwell?
The median house price is $505,000 as of YTD 2026, down 8.5% from the 2025 peak of $552,000. Prices have grown 676.9% since 1996, when the median was $65,000, at a 30-year CAGR of 7.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300 and weekly rent averages $300.
What schools are in Chigwell?
No schools are recorded inside the Chigwell boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. University qualification rates in Chigwell are 20.1%, which is 10 percentage points below the national average, so access to quality schooling in nearby areas is an important consideration for families.
Is Chigwell safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Chigwell in the current dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 2 nationally, placing it in the lower 20% for relative disadvantage. The 10.6% volunteering rate suggests community cohesion, and 6.2% of residents (119 people) need daily assistance.
Is Chigwell good for property investment?
Chigwell's 38% renter share and $300 weekly rent suggest a gross yield near 3.1% against the $505,000 median. The vacancy rate of 5.5% is a caution flag, indicating some softness in demand. Long-run capital growth at a 7.1% CAGR over 30 years and a gentrification score of 73 (Advanced stage) support the case for appreciation over time.
How is Chigwell's population changing?
The SA2 area grew 7.6% over 10 years and reached 5,916 residents in 2025, with medium forecasts projecting 6,126 by 2031 at 0.57% annual growth. Overseas migration contributes approximately 62 net arrivals per year while internal migration removes around 50 annually. The suburb's own population of 2,050 is concentrated in family households.
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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