Coldstream
Construction workers outnumber any other occupational group in Coldstream, a telling detail for a suburb where 99.1% of homes are separate houses on a 55.6 square kilometre footprint. The median house price reached $767,500 in mid-2024, down 11.3% from the $865,000 peak in 2023 yet still 99.4% above the $385,000 recorded in 2013. Household incomes sit at the 71.4th percentile nationally, comfortably above average, and mortgage stress is low at 21.8% of income. With only 13.4% of residents renting and an 87% stay-rate, this is a community of owners who put down roots rather than cycle through.
Population
2,199
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,913/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$768K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $767,500 median house price in Coldstream reflects a market that more than doubled from $385,000 in 2013, delivering a 5.1% compound annual growth rate over 14 years. Prices eased 11.3% from the $865,000 peak in Jul-Sep 2023, giving buyers some room compared to the frenzy of that cycle. Virtually every home, 99.1%, is a separate house, so competition is concentrated in one dwelling type with no apartment alternative. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 54.7%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 38.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,809, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8% sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the income base is sufficient to carry typical debt at current rates.
For Buyers
The $767,500 median house price in Coldstream reflects a market that more than doubled from $385,000 in 2013, delivering a 5.1% compound annual growth rate over 14 years. Prices eased 11.3% from the $865,000 peak in Jul-Sep 2023, giving buyers some room compared to the frenzy of that cycle. Virtually every home, 99.1%, is a separate house, so competition is concentrated in one dwelling type with no apartment alternative. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 54.7%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 38.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,809, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8% sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the income base is sufficient to carry typical debt at current rates.
For Investors
The rental market in Coldstream is thin by design: only 13.4% of dwellings are rented, well below national averages, and the vacancy rate sits at 3.2%. Median weekly rent is $371. Against the $767,500 median house price, that implies a gross yield around 2.5%, low for a regional market. Development activity is minimal, with just 2 applications lodged in the past 12 months, so supply pressure is not a concern for existing owners. The low renter share and high outright-ownership rate at 35.5% signal that most buyers come to live rather than invest, which historically underpins price stability. The 5.1% CAGR over 14 years suggests patient capital appreciation rather than short-term yield plays.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
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 Coldstream iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Coldstream Primary School
Prep-6 · 85 students
Demographics
Coldstream's median age of 37 sits 3 years below the national figure, skewing somewhat younger than average. Overseas-born residents make up just 12.6% of the population, compared to roughly 21.6% nationally, a difference of 9 percentage points. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (996), Scottish (237) and Irish (227) lead, with Italian (142) the main continental European group. University qualifications reach 19.4%, which is 10.7 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a skilled-trades economy where construction alone accounts for 23.6% of employment. Average household size is 2.8, slightly above the national norm, and 40.7% of families are couples with children, reflecting the family-oriented, owner-occupier profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.1%
Houses
0.4%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Homeownership defines Coldstream: 35.5% own outright and 51.1% hold a mortgage, leaving just 13.4% renting, which is well below state and national averages. The entire housing stock is essentially detached, with separate houses at 99.1% of dwellings. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 54.7% and 4-plus bedroom homes make up a further 38.6%, meaning the market caters heavily to families with space. The median price has grown from $385,000 in 2013 to $767,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 99.4% total return over 14 years. From the $865,000 peak in 2023, prices have corrected 11.3%, aligning Coldstream's trajectory with the broader Yarra Valley market rather than diverging from it.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,809
Rent / wk
$371
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$827
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.2%
Unoccupied
25
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.7%
Couples, no children
1,852
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the dominant industry in Coldstream at 23.6% of employed residents, nearly double the share of the next sector, healthcare at 11.5%. Manufacturing accounts for 8.8%, education 8.4% and retail 8.0%. By occupation, clerical and administrative workers (161) are the largest group, closely followed by managers (159) and labourers (140), with professionals fourth at 135. The unemployment rate is 3.2% and the full-time employment rate is 64.9%. SEIFA scores tell a layered story: the IER decile of 8 indicates above-average economic resources, yet the IEO decile of 5 is exactly at the national median for education and occupation, reflecting a skilled-trades workforce rather than a professional-class one.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.9%
Part-time
31.9%
Participation
61.7%
Employed
1,051
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.4%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
12.6%
Dwellings
752
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near total in Coldstream: 90.1% of residents drive to work, and only 0.8% use public transport, reflecting the semi-rural character of a suburb spanning 55.6 square kilometres. The crime rate of 48.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, covering 107 total incidents, includes property offences (37) and justice procedures (34) as the leading categories. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families typically access education in neighbouring Yarra Valley towns. Volunteering participation at 16.2% is healthy, and the IRSAD decile of 6 places Coldstream above the national median on the combined advantage-disadvantage index. Housing stress is low: mortgage costs consume 21.8% and rent 19.4% of income, both comfortably below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
90.1%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
107
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
48.7
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 Coldstream compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coldstream a good suburb to live in?
Coldstream suits owner-occupier families who prefer space and a semi-rural setting. The suburb has 99.1% separate houses, low housing stress with mortgage repayments at 21.8% of income, and an 87% resident stay-rate pointing to a settled community. The IRSAD decile of 6 places it above the national median for combined advantage, and unemployment is low at 3.2%.
What is the median house price in Coldstream?
The median house price in Coldstream was $767,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 11.3% from the $865,000 peak in Jul-Sep 2023. Prices have grown 99.4% since 2013, when the median was $385,000, representing a 5.1% compound annual growth rate over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,809.
What schools are in Coldstream?
No schools are recorded inside the Coldstream suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access primary and secondary schools in the surrounding Yarra Valley area, including nearby towns. The local university qualification rate is 19.4%, which is 10.7 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a trades-oriented workforce.
Is Coldstream safe?
Coldstream recorded 107 total incidents in the reference period, giving a crime rate of 48.7 per 1,000 residents. The main categories were property and deception offences (37 incidents) and justice procedures offences (34). The IRSAD decile of 6 is above the national median, and low unemployment at 3.2% supports social stability.
Is Coldstream good for property investment?
Coldstream offers capital growth credentials, with a 5.1% CAGR over 14 years and prices doubling from $385,000 to $767,500. However, gross rental yield is modest: weekly rent of $371 against a $767,500 median implies around 2.5%. The vacancy rate of 3.2% and only 13.4% renter share mean demand for rentals is limited compared to higher-density suburbs.
How is Coldstream's population changing?
Coldstream's population stands at 2,199 across a 55.6 square kilometre area. The 87% stay-rate and 13% annual turnover indicate a very stable resident base with minimal churn. No near-term population forecast data is available in the brief, but the minimal development pipeline of just 2 applications in 12 months suggests slow, organic growth rather than rapid expansion.
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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