Chiltern
At 7.9 people per sq km across 200.26 sq km, Chiltern has a notably spacious small-town profile. That combination suits buyers seeking land and detached stock rather than apartment living. Compared with nearby Beechworth and Rutherglen, Chiltern's clearest measurable distinction is its low density and 45.1% outright ownership, which point to a settled market. Population growth is forecast at 0.55% a year, so change is likely to be gradual rather than rapid.
Local council: Indigo
Population
1,580
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,305/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$525K
October to December 2025
Only a handful of houses sold here in this period, so this median can jump sharply from one quarter to the next for reasons that have nothing to do with the market. Treat it as a rough guide, not a settled price.
Chiltern suits buyers prioritising detached housing and manageable repayments because apartment stock is only 1.7%. Compared with that long-run starting point, today's entry level is materially higher, even though the latest quarter is softer. Separate houses account for 93.3%, with 3-bedroom homes making up 54.4% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 27.7%. The 45.1% outright ownership rate and 42.0% mortgage share indicate both established owners and active finance demand.
For Buyers
Chiltern suits buyers prioritising detached housing and manageable repayments because apartment stock is only 1.7%. Compared with that long-run starting point, today's entry level is materially higher, even though the latest quarter is softer. Separate houses account for 93.3%, with 3-bedroom homes making up 54.4% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 27.7%. The 45.1% outright ownership rate and 42.0% mortgage share indicate both established owners and active finance demand.
For Investors
Chiltern's investment case is income-focused but should be assessed against a small renter pool. Weekly rent is $260 and the vacancy rate is 7.9%, while only 11.7% of households rent compared with 45.1% owning outright and 42.0% carrying a mortgage. That ownership profile can limit tenant depth, even as 30.0% rent growth across the shift period supports a positive long-term income signal. Compared with owner-occupier demand, rental demand is the narrower segment because detached homes dominate at 93.3%. The latest 12-month development count is only 2, so near-term competing supply appears limited, but the small pipeline also reflects a modest market. Forecast growth is 0.55% annually with Balanced migration, favouring patient yields over a rapid-growth strategy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Chiltern
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Chiltern Primary School
St Joseph's School
Demographics
Chiltern has an older, locally rooted population profile. Median age is 50, 10 years above the national comparison, and 87.9% of residents stayed at the same address while turnover was 12.1%. University qualification is 20.3%, or 9.8 percentage points below the national figure, and overseas-born residents account for 11.2%, 10.4 points below national. English ancestry leads at 695 people, followed by Irish at 198, Scottish at 171 and German at 79. No religion is recorded for 731 residents versus 722 identifying with Christianity. Average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below national, consistent with 49.0% of couples having no children. Compared with nearby Beechworth and Rutherglen, Chiltern's profile points to an older and less mobile community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.3%
Houses
2.1%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Chiltern's housing is overwhelmingly detached and skewed to family-sized stock, although smaller dwellings are present. Separate houses account for 93.3%, compared with 1.7% apartments and 2.1% semi-detached homes; 54.4% have 3 bedrooms and 27.7% have 4 or more. Tenure is more secure than the rental share suggests: 45.1% own outright, 42.0% have a mortgage and 11.7% rent. Compared with nearby Beechworth and Rutherglen, Chiltern shoppers should focus on land, maintenance and resale depth because apartment supply is only 1.7%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$260
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$682
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
57
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.0%
Couples with children
49.0%
Couples, no children
13.6%
Single parent
441
Total families
Economy & Employment
Chiltern's employment base is anchored by healthcare, with 26.1% of jobs and 113 workers, followed by public administration and education at 10.9% and 47 each. Construction contributes 9.2% or 40, while manufacturing is 8.1% or 35. The occupational mix includes 130 trades workers, 115 professionals, 93 community and personal workers, 86 managers and 72 clerical or administrative workers. Unemployment is 4.0%, participation is 56.1% and full-time work is 57.5%, indicating a mixed labour market rather than a single-industry base. Household income is $1,305 weekly and sits at the 31.1 percentile, below the national median. SEIFA results are uneven: economic resources rank in decile 7, education and occupation in decile 4, disadvantage in decile 6 and advantage in decile 4. The gap between decile 7 and decile 4 suggests resources are stronger than broader social advantage.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
753
Unemployed
30
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
34.0%
Participation
56.1%
Employed
723
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.3%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
11.2%
Dwellings
657
Transport to Work
Chiltern is best suited to residents comfortable with car-based access and a quieter settlement pattern. Car drivers account for 76.5% of travel, compared with 5.0% walking or cycling, while 15.4% work from home. Two local primary schools provide a government option and a Catholic option; families should confirm enrolment zones against the exact address because school access can cross suburb boundaries. Recorded crime was 66 offences, or 41.8 per 1,000 people, led by 38 property and deception offences, with 13 crimes against the person and 13 justice procedures offences. That makes property security worth considering. Compared with its IRSAD decile 4, the IRSD decile 6 indicates that disadvantage and overall socioeconomic advantage do not rank identically.
Drive
76.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
15.4%
Growth Outlook
Chiltern's growth outlook is measured and shaped by ageing. The forecast annual trend is 0.55%, with Balanced migration as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 10.1% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 6.7%, the young share is down 2.0% and the working share is down 3.2%. That pattern points to demand for accessible services and lower-maintenance housing because older households are becoming a larger part of the market. Gentrification signals are mixed but restrained: the gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 4, while the shift score is 27 and stage is Early signs. Compared with a rapid-growth corridor, Chiltern is more likely to change incrementally, with affordability marked Stable at 36.1% in 2011 and 34.6% in 2021.
Population trend: Indigo council area
Chiltern sits in the Indigo council area. These are the council area's residents, not Chiltern's.
Residents 2025
17,758
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.8%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
66
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
41.8
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 Chiltern compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiltern a good suburb to live in?
Chiltern may suit households seeking detached homes, lower density and a settled community. It has 7.9 people per sq km, a median age of 50 and 93.3% separate houses. Car dependence is material at 76.5%, so compare the address with your work, services and school needs before deciding.
What schools are in Chiltern?
Chiltern has 2 local primary schools: government Chiltern Primary School and Catholic St Joseph's School. School sector and type are clear, but enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Families comparing options should also allow for the suburb's car-led travel pattern, with 76.5% driving.
Is Chiltern safe?
Recorded crime was 66 offences, equal to 41.8 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 38, while crimes against the person and justice procedures offences recorded 13 each. Treat this as a guide, inspect the specific street and consider security because property incidents lead the local count.
Is Chiltern good for property investment?
Chiltern can suit a patient investor, but the rental pool is small. Weekly rent is $260, vacancy is 7.9% and only 11.7% of households rent, compared with 45.1% owning outright. Forecast growth is 0.55% annually with Balanced migration, while only 2 development applications were recorded in 12 months. That supports a limited-supply angle, but not a high-volume rental thesis.
How is Chiltern's population changing?
Chiltern is ageing gradually rather than expanding rapidly. The forecast annual trend is 0.55%, migration is Balanced and population change across the wider area is 10.1% over 10 years. The senior share has risen 6.7%, while the young share has fallen 2.0% and the working share has fallen 3.2%. The gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 4, pointing to steady demographic change more than a rapid redevelopment cycle.
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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