Chiltern
At a median age of 50, Chiltern runs 10 years older than the national figure, a gap large enough to shape almost every metric from tenure to transport. The 1,580-resident township sits in the upper reaches of rural Victoria, with 93.3% separate houses and a vacancy rate of 7.9%, both well above typical suburban norms. Median house prices reached $500,000 in April-June 2024, up 191.5% from $171,500 in 2013, a 7.9% compound annual growth rate over 14 years. Household income falls in the 31.1st percentile nationally, reflecting a rural economy anchored in healthcare, public administration, and construction rather than high-wage knowledge work.
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
$500K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $500,000 in April-June 2024 looks accessible by VIC regional standards, with monthly mortgage repayments of $1,300 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 93.3% of dwellings, compared to the national mix that includes far more apartments, so buyers get genuine land and structure. Three-bedroom homes account for 54.4% of stock and 4-plus bedroom properties add another 27.7%, giving families practical options. Outright owners at 45.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 42.5%, pointing to a settled older base rather than a churn of recent buyers. Price history shows a clear upward trend from $412,500 in October-December 2023 to $500,000 by mid-2024.
For Buyers
The median house price of $500,000 in April-June 2024 looks accessible by VIC regional standards, with monthly mortgage repayments of $1,300 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 93.3% of dwellings, compared to the national mix that includes far more apartments, so buyers get genuine land and structure. Three-bedroom homes account for 54.4% of stock and 4-plus bedroom properties add another 27.7%, giving families practical options. Outright owners at 45.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 42.5%, pointing to a settled older base rather than a churn of recent buyers. Price history shows a clear upward trend from $412,500 in October-December 2023 to $500,000 by mid-2024.
For Investors
The rental market is thin: only 11.8% of dwellings are rented, compared to significantly higher shares in larger regional centres, and weekly rent sits at $260. The vacancy rate of 7.9% is elevated, signalling that available stock outpaces tenant demand in a slow-growing town. Net internal migration averages 12 residents per year and overseas migration adds 2, giving a balanced but modest demand base. Development activity recorded just 2 applications in the past 12 months, both subdivision permits, indicating minimal new supply pressure. Price growth has been strong at a 7.9% CAGR over 14 years, so the investment case rests primarily on long-term capital appreciation in an affordable entry-point market rather than yield.
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 Chiltern iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
Prep-6 · 33 students
Chiltern Primary School
Prep-6 · 71 students
Demographics
Chiltern's median age of 50 sits 10 years above the national average, and the demographic shift is accelerating. The senior share grew 6.7 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 3.2 points, a faster aging trajectory than most regional towns. Overseas-born residents make up 11.2% of the population, which is 10.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the town's strongly Anglo-Celtic heritage: English (695), Irish (198) and Scottish (171) ancestry dominate. University qualifications at 20.3% are 9.8 points below the national average, consistent with a trade and services economy. Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below national, and 35.2% of families are couples without children, typical of an aging base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.3%
Houses
2.1%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Price history from $171,500 in 2013 to $500,000 in mid-2024 represents a 191.5% total gain, a 7.9% CAGR over 14 years. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93.3%, with semi-detached at 2.1% and apartments at just 1.7%. Three-bedroom homes account for 54.4% of dwellings and 4-plus bedrooms for 27.7%, so the housing supply skews toward family-sized properties. Tenure splits at 45.7% owned outright, 42.5% with mortgage and 11.8% renting, with rent-to-income at 19.9% and mortgage-to-income at 23.0%, both below stress thresholds. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 places Chiltern at a mid-range disadvantage level nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$260
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
35.2%
Couples, no children
1,203
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 26.1% of the workforce, well above its national share, followed by Public Administration and Education at 10.9% each, Construction at 9.2% and Manufacturing at 8.1%. By occupation, Professionals (115) lead, followed closely by Community/Personal service workers (93) and Managers (86), pointing to a healthcare and government-services town rather than a trade or manufacturing base. The unemployment rate is 4.3% against a participation rate of 51.6%, the latter low because 497 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with a large retired cohort. Household income in the 31.1st percentile nationally reflects these structural factors. The IEO decile of 4 signals below-average education and occupation outcomes compared to national benchmarks.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
1,821
Unemployed
86
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.8%
Part-time
32.9%
Participation
51.6%
Employed
662
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.3%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
11.2%
Dwellings
657
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 90.4% of residents driving to work, above the national average, because the town lacks meaningful public transport infrastructure. Walking and cycling account for 5.9% of commutes, reasonable for a compact rural town. Crime sits at 66 total incidents recorded, giving a rate of 41.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences (38 incidents) account for the largest share, while crimes against the person total 13. The IRSAD decile of 4 places Chiltern below the national median on combined advantage and disadvantage, reflecting lower incomes rather than acute deprivation. Volunteering is strong at 23.4% of residents, above typical metropolitan rates, and housing stress is absent at current income-to-cost ratios. No schools were recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset.
Drive
90.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.55%/yr
(+18 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.55% annually, adding roughly 18 residents per year, and medium forecasts for the broader SA2 area project growth from about 3,257 in 2025 to 3,344 by 2031. Over the past decade the population grew 10.1%, moderate for a rural town but driven by the aging trajectory rather than young family formation. The young adult share fell 2.0 points over 10 years while the senior share rose 6.7 points. Gentrification sits at an early-signs stage with a score of 27, held back by low income levels, though rent grew 30.0% over the period. Internal migration averages 12 net arrivals per year, suggesting the town draws lifestyle-oriented movers from other parts of Victoria and NSW rather than employment-seekers.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+2
Net Internal / yr
+12
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011
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 suits buyers seeking affordable detached housing in a quiet rural setting. The median house price of $500,000 sits well below Melbourne metro, mortgage-to-income is a manageable 23.0%, and 93.3% of dwellings are separate houses. The trade-off is high car dependency at 90.4% and a median age of 50, which is 10 years above the national figure.
What is the median house price in Chiltern?
The median house price reached $500,000 in April-June 2024, up from $412,500 in October-December 2023. Since 2013 the price has risen 191.5% from $171,500, a compound annual growth rate of 7.9% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $260 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300.
What schools are in Chiltern?
No schools are recorded inside the Chiltern suburb boundary in this dataset. The town is in the Indigo Shire region of northeast Victoria and families typically access schools in nearby centres. University qualifications among residents reach 20.3%, which is 9.8 points below the national average, consistent with a trade and services economy.
Is Chiltern safe?
Crime data shows 66 total incidents, giving a rate of 41.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for the largest share at 38 incidents, while crimes against the person total 13. Housing stress is absent, with rent-to-income at 19.9% and mortgage-to-income at 23.0%, both well below stress thresholds.
Is Chiltern good for property investment?
The long-term capital growth case is supported by a 7.9% CAGR over 14 years, reaching a median of $500,000. However, only 11.8% of dwellings are rented and the vacancy rate is 7.9%, so rental yields and tenant demand are thin. Development activity was just 2 applications in 12 months, meaning little new supply dilution but also limited investor activity to anchor demand.
How is Chiltern's population changing?
Population grows at 0.55% per year, adding about 18 residents annually. The 10-year population change was 10.1%. The dominant shift is demographic aging: the senior share rose 6.7 points and the working-age share fell 3.2 points over the decade. Net internal migration averages 12 per year, suggesting lifestyle-oriented movers sustain the modest growth.
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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