Coleraine
With a median age of 56 and household income sitting at the 5.9th percentile nationally, Coleraine tells a clear story about a small rural town navigating economic pressure. Population is 1,062 across a 174 square kilometre footprint, giving a density of just 6.1 persons per square kilometre, far below state and national averages. The median house price of $270,000 is well below the Victorian median, making entry-level ownership accessible, while 59.6% of residents own their home outright, the highest tenure category by a wide margin compared to the national owner-occupier average.
Population
1,062
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$850/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$270K
Apr-Jun 2024
At $270,000 for the median house price as at Apr-Jun 2024, Coleraine sits far below Victorian and national medians, giving first buyers and downsizers genuine affordability. Separate houses dominate at 94.7% of stock, and 3-bedroom homes are the most common type at 56.5% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up another 21.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $650, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 17.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold compared to most metropolitan areas. The price has risen 128.8% from $118,000 in 2013, a CAGR of 6.1% over 14 years, showing consistent long-run capital growth from a low base. The current price is 4.3% below the 2022 peak of $282,000, suggesting a slight correction phase.
For Buyers
At $270,000 for the median house price as at Apr-Jun 2024, Coleraine sits far below Victorian and national medians, giving first buyers and downsizers genuine affordability. Separate houses dominate at 94.7% of stock, and 3-bedroom homes are the most common type at 56.5% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up another 21.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $650, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 17.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold compared to most metropolitan areas. The price has risen 128.8% from $118,000 in 2013, a CAGR of 6.1% over 14 years, showing consistent long-run capital growth from a low base. The current price is 4.3% below the 2022 peak of $282,000, suggesting a slight correction phase.
For Investors
The rental market here is thin but low-cost: weekly rent of $140 is significantly below the national median rent, and only 15.6% of residents rent, compared to higher renter proportions typical in regional centres. The 12.5% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling excess supply relative to tenant demand, which is a meaningful risk factor for landlords. Only 2 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, reflecting minimal new supply pressure. Rent-to-income at 16.5% means tenants are not stressed, supporting stable occupancy for those who do rent. The appeal for investors rests on low entry cost and long-run price appreciation of 128.8% since 2013 rather than yield, given current rent levels.
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 Coleraine iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
Prep-6 · 34 students
Coleraine Primary School
Prep-6 · 32 students
Demographics
The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national figure, making Coleraine one of the older resident profiles in Victoria. Only 10.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 11.2 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (469), Scottish (141) and Irish (140). University qualifications reach just 15.1%, which is 15 percentage points below national, reflecting the blue-collar and agricultural workforce base. Average household size is 1.9, which is 0.6 below the national average, consistent with an aging population of couples without children: 40.4% of families are couples with no children, and the volunteering rate is 22.6%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.7%
Houses
4.5%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership without a mortgage is the dominant tenure at 59.6%, a rate well above the national average, because the aging resident base tends to have paid off loans over decades. Only 24.8% carry a mortgage and 15.6% rent. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 94.7%, with semi-detached homes at 4.5% and no meaningful apartment segment. Three-bedroom homes account for 56.5% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 21.0%. Price history shows a trough of $90,000 in 2016 and a peak of $282,000 in 2022 before settling at $270,000, representing 128.8% growth from the 2013 starting point of $118,000. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income is 17.7% and rent-to-income is 16.5%, both comfortably below stress thresholds.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$650
Rent / wk
$140
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$502
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.5%
Unoccupied
70
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.4%
Couples, no children
668
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 26.2% of workers (56 people), followed by Agriculture at 18.2% (39) and Education at 10.3% (22), a structure typical of small service-and-farming towns in western Victoria. Retail contributes 8.9% and Construction 8.4%. By occupation, Managers (67) and Labourers (64) are near-equal in number, highlighting the split between farm operators and manual workers. Full-time employment is 55.6% of employed residents. The unemployment rate is 7.2%, higher than the national average, and the participation rate of 41.9% is low because 441 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the older age profile. Household income at the 5.9th percentile nationally indicates wages are substantially below average compared to urban centres.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
37.2%
Participation
41.9%
Employed
363
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.1%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
10.4%
Dwellings
492
Transport to Work
Car dependence is the norm: 81.8% of residents drive to work, while 11.9% walk or cycle, a higher active transport share than many rural towns of similar size. Public transport data is not available for Coleraine, consistent with limited service in small western Victoria towns. The crime rate of 81.0 incidents per 1,000 residents is driven primarily by justice procedures offences (36 incidents) and property and deception offences (24), with 86 total incidents recorded. No schools are listed within the suburb boundary in the current dataset, so families typically access schools in nearby Hamilton. SEIFA disadvantage data is not available at this level, but household income at the 5.9th percentile nationally signals significant economic disadvantage relative to broader Victoria.
Drive
81.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
11.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
86
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
81.0
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 Coleraine compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coleraine a good suburb to live in?
Coleraine suits those seeking affordable rural living. The median house price of $270,000 is well below the Victorian median, mortgage stress is minimal at 17.7% of income, and 59.6% of residents own their home outright. The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national figure, and household income sits at the 5.9th percentile nationally, so lifestyle and community fit matters more than economic opportunity here.
What is the median house price in Coleraine?
The median house price was $270,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 4.3% from the 2022 peak of $282,000. Prices have grown 128.8% since 2013 when the median was $118,000, a CAGR of 6.1% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $140 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $650.
What schools are in Coleraine?
No schools are recorded inside the Coleraine suburb boundary in the current dataset. Families typically access schools in the nearby regional centre of Hamilton, approximately 30 km away. University qualifications among residents stand at 15.1%, which is 15 percentage points below the national average.
Is Coleraine safe?
Coleraine recorded 86 total crimes, giving a rate of 81.0 per 1,000 residents. The largest category is justice procedures offences (36), followed by property and deception offences (24) and crimes against the person (17). The small absolute number of incidents reflects the population of just 1,062 residents rather than a high crime density.
Is Coleraine good for property investment?
The investment case rests on low entry cost and long-run capital growth rather than yield. At $140 weekly rent against a $270,000 median, gross yield is approximately 2.7%. The vacancy rate of 12.5% is elevated compared to metropolitan norms, signalling limited tenant demand. Price growth of 128.8% since 2013 at a 6.1% CAGR shows consistent appreciation from a very low base.
How is Coleraine's population changing?
Coleraine's current population is 1,062 across 174 square kilometres. The resident base has a median age of 56, which is 16 years above the national average, indicating an aging demographic profile. Residential turnover is low, with 82.3% of residents staying at the same address, suggesting a stable but slowly aging community rather than significant population 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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