Craigieburn
Population scale is the first surprise: 65,178 residents occupy 35.45 square kilometres at a density of 1,838.6 people per square kilometre. The median age is 32, which is 8 years below the national figure, while 50.8% of residents were born overseas, 29.2 percentage points above national. Families are prominent, with 3.3 people per household, 0.8 above national, and 61.6% of couples with children. Housing is mortgage-led, with 89.2% separate houses and 54.6% mortgaged dwellings. For buyers comparing Craigieburn with nearby Roxburgh Park or Greenvale, its scale, family housing and overseas-born majority are key differences to investigate.
Population
65,178
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,798/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
34
Median House
$730K
October to December 2025
Craigieburn suits buyers seeking family-sized detached housing rather than a high-density apartment market. The typical monthly mortgage is $1,850 and mortgage payments equal 23.8% of household income. Compared with apartment-led options, the 89.2% separate-house share gives families more choice of conventional homes, although the 54.6% mortgage tenure shows how strongly the market depends on owner-occupier borrowing. A 32 median age and 61.6% share of couples with children reinforce demand for practical, multi-bedroom layouts.
For Buyers
Craigieburn suits buyers seeking family-sized detached housing rather than a high-density apartment market. The typical monthly mortgage is $1,850 and mortgage payments equal 23.8% of household income. Compared with apartment-led options, the 89.2% separate-house share gives families more choice of conventional homes, although the 54.6% mortgage tenure shows how strongly the market depends on owner-occupier borrowing. A 32 median age and 61.6% share of couples with children reinforce demand for practical, multi-bedroom layouts.
For Investors
Craigieburn has a sizeable rental base, with 28.9% of occupied dwellings rented, but that share is lower than the 54.6% held by households with a mortgage. Weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 4.8%, giving tenants more choice than in a tightly constrained market while still providing a clear rental demand base. Rent growth is recorded at 6.7%, and 36 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply and subdivision activity should be monitored. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support tenant demand because newer arrivals often rent before purchasing. Compared with established low-growth areas, the combination of migration and construction activity creates opportunity, but investors should allow for competition from new dwellings.
Development Activity
Total DAs
103
Last 12 Months
34
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-8.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Craigieburn
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Mount Ridley P-12 College
Aitken Creek Primary School
Aitken Hill Primary School
Craigieburn Primary School
Craigieburn South Primary School
Demographics
Craigieburn has a young but changing population profile. The median age of 32 is 8 years below national, university attainment is 38.5%, or 8.4 percentage points above national, and 50.8% of residents were born overseas, 29.2 points above national. Punjabi is spoken by 3,890 residents, Arabic by 2,596 and Hindi by 1,133, alongside substantial Christian and Muslim populations of 26,696 and 9,968. Household size averages 3.3 people, 0.8 above national, because 61.6% of couples have children. Mobility is moderate, with 75.9% staying at the same address. Compared with nearby Roxburgh Park and Greenvale, people assessing Craigieburn should focus on its large family base, migrant-majority profile and substantial language mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.2%
Houses
9.6%
Townhouse
1.2%
Apartment
Tenure
The compound annual growth rate is 3.8% over 19 years, and the latest result is also the peak, above the 2013 trough. Housing is overwhelmingly detached: 89.2% are separate houses, compared with 9.6% semi-detached dwellings and 1.2% apartments. Tenure is concentrated in the mortgage belt, with 54.6% paying a mortgage, 28.9% renting and only 15.3% owning outright. The 48.3% share of homes with 4 or more bedrooms reflects family demand. Compared with higher-density suburbs, Craigieburn provides more conventional house stock but leaves households more exposed to borrowing costs.
Mortgage / mo
$1,850
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $380.
$520
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $500 · units $440
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$700
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.8%
Unoccupied
961
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
61.6%
Couples with children
21.9%
Couples, no children
15.1%
Single parent
16,781
Total families
Economy & Employment
Craigieburn's employment base is led by healthcare, which accounts for 18.5% of industry employment and 3,346 workers, followed by construction at 9.6%, transport at 9.4%, manufacturing at 9.3% and education at 8.6%. The labour force totals 30,263, with a 62.5% participation rate, 59.2% full-time employment rate and 7.8% unemployment rate. Professionals number 4,556 and trades workers 4,127, supporting both service demand and the construction pipeline. Household income is $1,798 per week at the 64th percentile. Compared with a single-industry economy, this spread gives Craigieburn several employment anchors, although the SEIFA results show uneven outcomes: economic resources sit at decile 6, education and occupation at 5, relative disadvantage at 2 and advantage and disadvantage at 4. The gap suggests income resources are not evenly shared across households.
Unemployment
7.8%
Labour Force
30,263
Unemployed
2,351
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
34.2%
Participation
62.5%
Employed
27,912
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.5%
Postgraduate
12.3%
Born Overseas
50.8%
Dwellings
18,944
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car-oriented: 70.7% of workers drive, compared with 3.3% using public transport, 0.8% walking or cycling and 19.5% working from home. Families have access to 10 local schools across government primary and secondary settings, one Catholic primary school, a P-12 college and special provision. Enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address because they can cross local streets and development areas. Recorded crime totals 3,710 offences, including 2,169 property and deception offences and 746 crimes against the person, for a rate of 56.9 per 1,000 residents. That rate should be compared with similar suburbs and measured over time rather than treated as a complete safety judgement. The IRSAD decile is 4, below the IER decile of 6, pointing to living conditions that vary across the suburb.
Drive
70.7%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
19.5%
Population Forecast
+6.1%/yr
(+689 people/yr)
High GrowthCraigieburn is on a high-growth path, with a forecast annual trend of 6.1% and Overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The wider area's trajectory is labelled Aging, while rent growth is 6.7%, indicating that demand is rising alongside a gradual shift in the age structure. Affordability moved from 47.2 in 2011 to 51.5 in 2021 and is marked Worsening, so price and rent pressure may increasingly shape who can enter. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, suggesting growth is being driven more by population expansion and housing delivery than by an established inner-suburban reinvestment cycle. Compared with a mature low-growth suburb, the 6.1% annual rate and 36 development applications point to continuing construction pressure, while overseas migration remains the main demand engine.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+256
Net Internal / yr
-138
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
3,710
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
56.9
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 Craigieburn compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Craigieburn a good suburb to live in?
Craigieburn can suit households wanting detached, family-sized housing, with 89.2% of dwellings separate houses and a median age of 32. The trade-offs are car dependence, with 70.7% driving, and a recorded crime rate of 56.9 per 1,000 residents.
What schools are in Craigieburn?
Craigieburn has 10 local schools covering government primary and secondary options, one Catholic primary school, a government P-12 college and special provision. Families should confirm the relevant zone for an address before making enrolment decisions.
Is Craigieburn safe?
Recorded crime was 3,710 offences, equal to 56.9 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 2,169 cases and crimes against the person for 746. Compare the rate with similar suburbs and recent years for a more useful assessment.
Is Craigieburn good for property investment?
Craigieburn may suit investors seeking a broad rental market, with 28.9% of dwellings rented, weekly rent of $380 and vacancy of 4.8%. The 6.7% rent growth and 36 development applications also mean investors should assess new supply and local competition.
How is Craigieburn's population changing?
The forecast annual growth trend is 6.1%, driven primarily by Overseas migration. The trajectory is labelled Aging, with rent growth of 6.7% and affordability marked Worsening, so demand is expanding while the age and cost profile gradually changes.
What languages are spoken in Craigieburn?
Punjabi is spoken by 3,890 residents, Arabic by 2,596 and Hindi by 1,133. Sinhal is recorded for 992 residents and Urdu for 909. Overall, 50.8% of Craigieburn residents were born overseas, above the national figure by 29.2 percentage points.
What development is occurring in Craigieburn?
There were 36 development applications in the past 12 months, including subdivision activity involving 2 and 5 lots. New construction and land release should be considered when assessing future housing competition, amenity access and rental supply.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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