Chirnside Park
Detached housing defines Chirnside Park more than almost anything else: 98.0% of dwellings are separate houses, a much higher share than apartment-led suburbs closer to Melbourne. Compared with nearby Lilydale and Mooroolbark, it reads less like a rail village and more like a family mortgage-belt pocket, with 11,779 residents, a $886,500 median house price and household income in the 78.9 percentile nationally. The suburb's appeal is practical because large homes, car access and local schools align with family demand.
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
$886K
Apr-Jun 2024
Buyers are paying a $886,500 median house price for a suburb where 98.0% of homes are separate houses and 94.7% have 3 or more bedrooms. That is higher space value than apartment-heavy areas, but the market has cooled from its $1,000,000 peak in Apr-Jun 2023 to sit 11.3% lower by Apr-Jun 2024. Repayments look manageable for many local households because mortgage costs take 24.0% of income, while household income sits above average at the 78.9 national percentile.
For Buyers
Buyers are paying a $886,500 median house price for a suburb where 98.0% of homes are separate houses and 94.7% have 3 or more bedrooms. That is higher space value than apartment-heavy areas, but the market has cooled from its $1,000,000 peak in Apr-Jun 2023 to sit 11.3% lower by Apr-Jun 2024. Repayments look manageable for many local households because mortgage costs take 24.0% of income, while household income sits above average at the 78.9 national percentile.
For Investors
Chirnside Park is a selective rental market rather than a high-turnover one: only 15.1% of homes are rented, while the median rent is $443 per week and vacancy is 4.4%. That vacancy rate is higher than a tight inner rental market, so tenant selection and pricing matter. Development pressure is modest, with 5 applications in 12 months, which limits new competition. Demand is supported because the suburb is still adding population at 1.63% a year and has a very detached housing base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
22
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+16.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Chirnside Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Oxley Christian College
Prep-12 · 838 students
Chirnside Park Primary School
Prep-6 · 411 students
Demographics
Chirnside Park has 11,779 residents with a median age of 38, which is 2.0 years below the national benchmark. University attainment is 31.9%, 1.8 percentage points above national, while the overseas-born share of 22.2% is 0.6 points above national. The ancestry profile leans Anglo, with English at 4,643 responses, followed by Irish at 1,127 and Scottish at 1,107. Mandarin is the largest non-English language count at 136, so multicultural presence exists but is lower than many eastern suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.0%
Houses
1.6%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing market has almost doubled over the long run, rising from $450,000 in 2013 to $886,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 97.0% gain and 5.0% compound annual growth across 14 years. The latest price is still 11.3% below the $1,000,000 peak, which gives buyers more room than at the 2023 high. Ownership is mortgage-heavy at 47.8%, with 37.1% owned outright and only 15.1% rented. The median price is underpinned by scarcity of alternative stock, since apartments are just 0.4%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$443
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
23.9%
Couples, no children
10,181
Total families
Economy & Employment
Local workers are concentrated in practical service sectors: healthcare employs 703 people or 17.2%, construction 597 or 14.6%, education 481 or 11.8%, professional and tech 343 or 8.4%, and retail 317 or 7.7%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 1,205, above managers at 873 and clerical/admin at 871. Unemployment is low at 3.3%. SEIFA is mixed but above the middle, with IEO decile 6, IER 9, IRSD 8 and IRSAD 7, suggesting strong resources even though education and occupation status is less elevated.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
7,091
Unemployed
220
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.5%
Part-time
34.2%
Participation
62.4%
Employed
5,713
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.9%
Postgraduate
7.0%
Born Overseas
22.2%
Dwellings
4,069
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-led: 91.4% of commuters drive, compared with only 1.8% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling. School choice is compact but strong, with 2 local schools and an ICSEA range from 1040 to 1119. Oxley Christian College leads on ICSEA at 1119 with 838 enrolments, while Chirnside Park Primary provides the Government option with 411 enrolments. Safety needs local context: 767 offences equal 65.1 per 1,000 residents, while IRSAD decile 7 sits above average for advantage.
Drive
91.4%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.63%/yr
(+206 people/yr)
EstablishedChirnside Park is forecast to keep growing rather than plateau, with trend growth of 1.63% a year, equal to about 206 people annually. The medium population path rises from 12,807 in 2026 to 13,837 in 2031. Migration is the main driver because overseas migration adds an average 86 people a year, compared with net internal movement of -4. Gentrification is still labelled Early signs with a score of 26, so change is gradual; growth is more about family demand and migration than rapid redevelopment.
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 space, schools and car access. It has 11,779 residents, 98.0% separate houses, 2 local schools and household income in the 78.9 national percentile, although public transport use is low at 1.8%.
What is the median house price in Chirnside Park?
The median house price in Chirnside Park is $886,500 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 11.3% below the $1,000,000 peak recorded in Apr-Jun 2023, but still 97.0% higher than the $450,000 level recorded in 2013.
What schools are in Chirnside Park?
Chirnside Park has 2 listed local schools. Oxley Christian College is an Independent combined school with ICSEA 1119 and 838 enrolments, while Chirnside Park Primary School is a Government primary with ICSEA 1040 and 411 enrolments.
Is Chirnside Park safe?
Chirnside Park recorded 767 offences, equal to 65.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 451, followed by crimes against the person at 130, so buyers should compare streets and property security.
Is Chirnside Park good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking detached family housing rather than high rental churn. Renting is only 15.1%, median rent is $443 per week, vacancy is 4.4% and development activity is modest at 5 applications in 12 months.
How is Chirnside Park's population changing?
Chirnside Park is growing at a forecast 1.63% a year, or about 206 people annually. The medium scenario reaches 13,837 residents by 2031, with overseas migration adding an average 86 people a year and internal migration at -4.
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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