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. Household income lands at the 23.2nd percentile nationally, well below average, yet the median house price reached $715,000 in mid-2024. That gap is possible because 45.4% of residents own their homes outright, suggesting long-held coastal properties bought decades before prices rose. The 26.4% vacancy rate reveals a large portion of dwellings are holiday or investment properties rather than permanent residences.
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
$715K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $715,000 reflects a retreat of 16.9% from the October 2023 peak of $860,000, which means buyers entering now are paying less than those who bought at the top. Since 2013, however, the median has risen 116.7% from $330,000, a compound annual growth rate of 5.7% over 14 years. 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 median house price of $715,000 reflects a retreat of 16.9% from the October 2023 peak of $860,000, which means buyers entering now are paying less than those who bought at the top. Since 2013, however, the median has risen 116.7% from $330,000, a compound annual growth rate of 5.7% over 14 years. 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. The 19.4% renter share is lower than the national average, and weekly rent of $320 is modest against the $715,000 median, implying a gross yield around 2.3%. 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
17
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+200.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Corinella iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bass Valley Primary School
Prep-6 · 198 students
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
N/A
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%. The price history spans from $270,000 at the 2014 trough to a peak of $860,000 in late 2023 before settling to $715,000 by mid-2024, a 116.7% gain over the full period from 2013. Rent-to-income at 27.4% is below the 30% stress threshold, keeping rental costs manageable for the small renter population.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$320
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
42.0%
Couples, no children
899
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.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.2%
Part-time
36.4%
Participation
43.6%
Employed
407
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
97.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
N/A
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 is the median house price in Corinella?
The median house price was $715,000 as of April-June 2024, down 16.9% from the peak of $860,000 in late 2023. The suburb has grown 116.7% since 2013's $330,000 trough, a CAGR of 5.7% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500 and weekly rent is $320.
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.
Is Corinella good for property investment?
The long-term growth case is supported by a 5.7% CAGR since 2013, but investors face a 26.4% vacancy rate that reflects holiday property use rather than persistent rental demand. Weekly rent of $320 against a $715,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.3%, below typical investment benchmarks. Development supply is thin at 5 applications in 12 months.
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), 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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