Corinella
With a median age of 53, Corinella sits 13 years above the national figure, making it one of Victoria's most distinctly older coastal communities. The suburb's 1,181 residents are spread across 16.79 square kilometres, producing a density of just 70 people per square kilometre compared to metropolitan norms. The 26.4% vacancy rate reveals a large portion of dwellings are holiday or investment properties rather than permanent residences.
Local council: Bass Coast
Population
1,181
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,169/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$686K
October to December 2025
The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.4%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 50.2% and four-plus bedroom at 34.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability is relative, though: household income sits at the 23.2nd percentile nationally, so buyers tend to come from outside the local workforce.
For Buyers
The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.4%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 50.2% and four-plus bedroom at 34.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability is relative, though: household income sits at the 23.2nd percentile nationally, so buyers tend to come from outside the local workforce.
For Investors
Corinella's investment profile is shaped by a 26.4% vacancy rate, one of the highest of any Victorian coastal suburb, which signals that a significant share of the housing stock functions as holiday accommodation rather than long-term rentals. Development activity logged 5 applications in the past 12 months, with recent permits including subdivision and land transfer matters, below the threshold for a pipeline-driven rental pressure. The 72.2% of residents who stayed in the suburb over the measured period indicates stable long-term holders, but the high vacancy limits income certainty for buy-to-let investors compared to year-round suburban markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
19
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Corinella
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Bass Valley Primary School
Demographics
Corinella's population is distinctly older than national and state norms: median age is 53, which is 13 years above the national figure. This aging profile is consistent with a sea-change and retirement destination pattern. Overseas-born residents make up 20.8% of the population, only 0.8 points below the national figure, with English (510), Irish (131) and Scottish (127) ancestry dominating, reflecting a predominantly Anglo-Celtic heritage. University qualifications reach just 15.6%, sitting 14.5 percentage points below the national average, because many residents are retirees who completed formal education before university participation expanded. Average household size is 2.2, marginally below the national figure, and couples without children make up 42.0% of families, consistent with an empty-nester demographic.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.4%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 99.4% of all dwellings in Corinella, leaving apartments at just 0.6%, which is far lower than state or national averages. Tenure splits toward outright ownership: 45.4% own without a mortgage, which is substantially higher than the national norm, while 35.2% carry a mortgage and 19.4% rent. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 50.2%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 34.0% and two-bedroom at 13.5%. Rent-to-income at 27.4% is below the 30% stress threshold, keeping rental costs manageable for the small renter population.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$320
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$603
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
26.4%
Unoccupied
172
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.4%
Couples with children
55.6%
Couples, no children
18.0%
Single parent
338
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is modest relative to population: just 439 residents are employed full-time, with a 43.6% participation rate that is well below national norms, because the suburb's older age profile means a large share of residents are retired. Healthcare is the largest industry at 16.3% of workers (51 people), followed by Construction at 14.1% (44 people) and Retail at 8.3% (26 people). By occupation, Professionals (65) and Managers (58) lead, alongside Community/Personal services (58). Unemployment among those participating sits at 6.4%, higher than metropolitan benchmarks. Household income at the 23.2nd percentile nationally confirms the suburban economy is not a high-income employment centre, with many residents drawing superannuation or other retirement income rather than wages.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
484
Unemployed
28
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.1%
Part-time
38.2%
Participation
48.5%
Employed
456
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.6%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
20.8%
Dwellings
476
Transport to Work
Car dependence in Corinella is near-total: 97.0% of workers drive, compared to national averages where public transport and active travel account for a larger share, and only 1.0% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children rely on neighbouring towns, a practical consideration given the 16.79 square kilometre footprint and low density. The crime rate of 55 incidents per 1,000 residents covers 65 total offences, with property and deception offences (24) the largest category. Volunteering runs at 15.8%, above the national average for comparable communities. Mortgage stress at 29.6% of income sits just below the 30% threshold, and rent-to-income at 27.4% is below that level, keeping housing costs relatively manageable for those already in the market.
Drive
76.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
21.2%
Growth Outlook
The 27.8% turnover rate over the measured period indicates a quarter of residents changed in recent years, somewhat elevated for a community where 72.2% stayed, suggesting a mix of stable long-term owners and incoming sea-changers. Development activity is light at 5 applications in 12 months, with subdivision rather than new dwelling construction dominating, so supply growth is constrained.
Population trend: Bass Coast council area
Corinella sits in the Bass Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Corinella's.
Residents 2025
44,377
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
65
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
55.0
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 Corinella compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Corinella a good suburb to live in?
Corinella suits retirees and sea-changers well, with 45.4% of residents owning outright and a median age of 53. The lifestyle appeal is coastal and low-density, covering 16.79 square kilometres with just 1,181 residents. The trade-off is near-total car dependence (97%), no recorded schools, and household income at the 23.2nd percentile nationally.
What schools are in Corinella?
No schools are recorded within the Corinella suburb boundary (postcode 3984). Families rely on schools in nearby towns. This is consistent with the suburb's demographic, where 42.0% of families are couples without children and the median age of 53 reflects a predominantly older, post-family resident base.
Is Corinella safe?
Corinella recorded 65 total offences in the measured period, giving a rate of 55 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 24 of those, followed by justice procedures offences (20) and crimes against the person (16). The small population of 1,181 means low absolute numbers even if the per-capita rate appears elevated.
How is Corinella's population changing?
The suburb's population of 1,181 sits in a low-density coastal area with a 27.8% resident turnover in recent years, indicating some churn as sea-changers arrive and depart. The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, and 42.0% of families are couples without children, suggesting the population skews older over time rather than younger.
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).
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