Chirnside Park
The suburb has 11,779 residents, a median age of 38, and a 98.0% separate-house share, creating a family and mortgage-belt profile. Household income sits at the 78.9th percentile, above a typical national position, while 49.4% of families are couples with children. For buyers weighing Chirnside Park against nearby Lilydale, the suburb's larger 22.2 sq km footprint and 530.5 people per sq km point to a lower-density, detached-home setting because family-sized housing dominates.
Population
11,779
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,084/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$980K
October to December 2025
Monthly mortgage repayments are listed at $2,167, equal to 24.0% of household income, which is below the suburb's 36.8% outright ownership share but still relevant for newer borrowers. Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 98.0% separate houses, including 48.1% with 3 bedrooms and 46.6% with 4 or more. That mix suits families because 49.4% of families have children, but it limits apartment-style choice compared with denser areas.
For Buyers
Monthly mortgage repayments are listed at $2,167, equal to 24.0% of household income, which is below the suburb's 36.8% outright ownership share but still relevant for newer borrowers. Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 98.0% separate houses, including 48.1% with 3 bedrooms and 46.6% with 4 or more. That mix suits families because 49.4% of families have children, but it limits apartment-style choice compared with denser areas.
For Investors
Chirnside Park has a relatively small rental pool, with 15.0% of households renting compared with 84.1% owning outright or with a mortgage. The weekly rent is $443 and vacancy is 4.4%, so tenant demand should be assessed carefully against the suburb's almost entirely detached housing stock. Only 7 development applications were recorded over 12 months, pointing to a modest near-term pipeline. Growth is forecast at 1.63% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration, which may support demand because new arrivals add to the wider rental and buyer pool.
Development Activity
Total DAs
23
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Chirnside Park
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Oxley Christian College
Chirnside Park Primary School
Demographics
Chirnside Park has a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national comparison, while the average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 higher than the national figure. University attainment is 31.9%, or 1.8 percentage points above the national comparison, and 22.2% of residents were born overseas, 0.6 points above national levels. English ancestry is recorded for 4,643 people, followed by Irish at 1,127, Scottish at 1,107 and Italian at 850. Mandarin is the most common listed non-English language with 136 speakers, ahead of Italian at 94. The household pattern explains the housing demand: couples with children account for 49.4% of families, while 35.8% are couples without children. Compared with nearby Lilydale, buyers seeking a stable family base may find Chirnside Park's larger household profile more relevant.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.0%
Houses
1.6%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is prominent: 36.8% of households own outright and 47.3% are paying a mortgage, compared with 15.0% renting. The stock is more concentrated than many suburban markets, with 98.0% separate houses, 48.1% 3-bedroom homes and 46.6% with 4 or more bedrooms. This concentration supports family demand because larger households are common, but it reduces the range of smaller dwelling formats.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$443
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$852
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.4%
Unoccupied
189
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.4%
Couples with children
35.8%
Couples, no children
13.9%
Single parent
3,382
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Chirnside Park's largest listed industry at 17.2%, representing 703 workers, followed by construction at 14.6% and 597 workers, education at 11.8% and 481, professional and technical services at 8.4% and 343, and retail at 7.7% and 317. The occupation mix is led by professionals at 1,205 people, trades at 1,032, managers at 873, clerical and administrative workers at 871, and community and personal service workers at 695. Labour-force participation is 66.8%, unemployment is 3.1%, and 3,572 workers are employed full time compared with 2,141 part time. Economic resources rank higher than education and occupation: the IER is in decile 9 versus IEO decile 6, while IRSAD is decile 7 and IRSD decile 8. That gap suggests household resources are stronger than the education and occupation profile alone would imply.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
6,330
Unemployed
196
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.2%
Part-time
34.9%
Participation
66.8%
Employed
6,134
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.9%
Postgraduate
7.0%
Born Overseas
22.2%
Dwellings
4,069
Transport to Work
Chirnside Park suits residents who rely on cars or work from home: 66.9% travel as car drivers, much higher than the 1.3% using public transport and 1.0% walking or cycling, while 26.7% work from home. Two local schools provide a government primary option and an independent primary/secondary option; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb edges. There were 767 recorded offences at a rate of 65.1 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 451, so home security and vehicle awareness are practical considerations. The suburb covers 22.2 sq km at 530.5 people per sq km, providing a lower-density setting than more compact districts. Its IRSAD decile of 7 is above the national midpoint, supporting a generally established social and economic base.
Drive
66.9%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
26.7%
Population Forecast
+1.63%/yr
(+206 people/yr)
EstablishedChirnside Park is forecast to be Growing (all ages), with an annual trend of 1.63% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 29.1% over 10 years, a positive trajectory above a flat-growth outcome, because demand is being supported across multiple age groups rather than by one narrow cohort. The shift profile also records rent growth of 33.8% and real income growth of 17.8%, although affordability moved from 56.3 in 2011 to 52.0 in 2021. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 26, while the broader shift score is 36 and also labelled Early signs. These indicators point to gradual change rather than a completed transformation, with migration and rising rents likely to matter more than a major development pipeline of only 7 applications.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+86
Net Internal / yr
-4
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +34% since 2011, Accelerating: 9% → 23%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
767
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
65.1
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 Chirnside Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chirnside Park a good suburb to live in?
Chirnside Park suits households wanting detached homes, space and a family-oriented setting. Separate houses make up 98.0% of dwellings, the median age is 38, and couples with children represent 49.4% of families. Car dependence is high at 66.9%, so it is better suited to drivers than residents seeking strong public transport access.
What schools are in Chirnside Park?
There are 2 local school options: a government primary school and an independent primary/secondary school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact property address, as school boundaries may not match suburb boundaries. The mix provides both government and independent pathways within the suburb.
Is Chirnside Park safe?
Chirnside Park recorded 767 offences at a rate of 65.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category with 451 incidents, followed by 130 crimes against the person. Safety can vary by street, so buyers and renters should inspect the immediate area and consider home, car and valuables security.
How is Chirnside Park's population changing?
The wider area is forecast to grow at 1.63% annually, with a Growing (all ages) trajectory and overseas migration as the primary driver. Population change over 10 years is forecast at 29.1%. Gentrification is still at the Early signs stage with a score of 26, indicating gradual change rather than a fully established transformation.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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