Croydon South
The population is 4,759, median age 38, and household income sits at the 70.2nd percentile, above the national comparison point. The suburb has a family-oriented household structure, with 46.7% of couples having children and 29.9% working from home. Its aging trajectory, 3.5% rise in senior share and 81.7% resident retention point to stability rather than rapid turnover.
Population
4,759
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,876/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$1.0M
October to December 2025
Croydon South suits buyers prioritising a conventional family home over apartment living: 92.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 60.2% have 3 bedrooms and 31.3% have 4 or more. A $2,000 monthly mortgage represents 24.6% of household income, with mortgage stress marked false, while rent is $410 a week. Compared with a more apartment-oriented search, the suburb's 0.4% apartment share makes detached housing the dominant choice, although buyers should allow for a relatively high entry price.
For Buyers
Croydon South suits buyers prioritising a conventional family home over apartment living: 92.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 60.2% have 3 bedrooms and 31.3% have 4 or more. A $2,000 monthly mortgage represents 24.6% of household income, with mortgage stress marked false, while rent is $410 a week. Compared with a more apartment-oriented search, the suburb's 0.4% apartment share makes detached housing the dominant choice, although buyers should allow for a relatively high entry price.
For Investors
Investors face a low rental share of 19.6%, a weekly rent of $410 and a 4.1% vacancy rate. This mix can support owner-occupier stability because 33.8% of homes are owned outright and 46.3% are mortgaged, but it also points to a smaller tenant pool than in a renter-heavy suburb. Development activity is limited to 3 applications in 12 months, including a 4-lot subdivision, reducing near-term supply pressure. Rent growth of 36.7% is higher than the 0.64% annual growth trend, suggesting stronger recent rental momentum than capital growth. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, which may broaden demand over time.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
3
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 Croydon South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Croydon Special Developmental School
Demographics
Croydon South has a median age of 38, which is 2.0 years below the national comparison, but its direction is older: the senior share has increased 3.5 percentage points and the working share has fallen 1.6 points. English ancestry counts 1,898 people, followed by Irish at 576 and Scottish at 489, while 21.0% were born overseas, 0.6 points below the national figure. University attainment is 36.4%, 6.3 points above the national comparison, indicating a more qualified profile than its Anglo-leaning character may suggest. No religion is recorded for 2,288 people versus 1,990 identifying with Christianity. Household size is 2.6, 0.1 above national, and 81.7% stayed at the same address, reinforcing a settled pattern.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.0%
Houses
7.7%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Croydon South's housing market is concentrated in established detached stock. Separate houses account for 92.0% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 7.7% and apartments 0.4%; 60.2% have 3 bedrooms and 31.3% have 4 or more. Tenure is more owner-heavy than a renter-led suburb: 33.8% own outright, 46.3% have a mortgage and 19.6% rent. Compared with nearby Mooroolbark, buyers should expect Croydon South to remain strongly detached rather than apartment-led.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$410
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$843
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
75
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.7%
Couples with children
35.6%
Couples, no children
17.0%
Single parent
1,374
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is relatively solid, with 2,511 people in the labour force, a 66.0% participation rate and 3.6% unemployment. Healthcare leads local industry at 17.5% with 294 workers, followed by Construction at 14.3% and 240, Education at 12.2% and 204, Professional/Tech at 10.3% and 173, and Manufacturing at 7.4% and 125. Occupations are led by Professionals at 607, Trades at 383, Clerical/Admin at 346 and Managers at 304, creating a mixed professional and hands-on base. Household income is at the 70.2nd percentile, above the national midpoint. SEIFA education and occupation, economic resources, relative disadvantage and advantage measures all sit at decile 7. This capacity coexists with commuting dependence because 62.8% drive and 2.6% use public transport.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
2,511
Unemployed
90
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.9%
Part-time
34.0%
Participation
66.0%
Employed
2,421
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.4%
Postgraduate
8.0%
Born Overseas
21.0%
Dwellings
1,764
Transport to Work
Daily life is geared towards cars and home-based routines: 62.8% drive to work, 29.9% work from home and 2.6% use public transport. Croydon South has 1 identified local school, Croydon Special Developmental School, in the government special sector, so families should check exact enrolment zones and nearby options across Maroondah. Safety is a practical consideration, with 281 recorded offences and a rate of 59.0 per 1,000; justice procedures offences numbered 106 and property and deception offences 98, higher than crimes against the person at 44. Socioeconomic conditions sit in SEIFA decile 7 for IRSAD, above the midpoint, while 14.6% volunteer. Compared with a transit-led inner suburb, Croydon South is more car dependent, but its 2.56 square kilometre area and 1,856.1 people per square kilometre support an established residential catchment.
Drive
62.8%
Public Transport
2.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
29.9%
Population Forecast
+0.64%/yr
(+33 people/yr)
EstablishedCroydon South is forecast to grow at 0.64% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 8.1% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging, including a 3.5 percentage point rise in senior share and a 1.6 point fall in working share. The suburb is classified as Not gentrifying with a score of 3, although the shift measure records Early signs at 31, so the signals are weaker than a clear redevelopment cycle. Affordability was broadly Stable, moving from 49.6% in 2011 to 48.6% in 2021, and real income growth was 13.4%. This points to gradual established-suburb change rather than rapid expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+50
Net Internal / yr
-36
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
281
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
59.0
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 Croydon South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Croydon South a good suburb to live in?
It can suit households wanting detached housing and a settled setting. The median age is 38, 92.0% of homes are separate houses and 81.7% stayed at the same address, indicating stronger stability than a high-turnover area.
What schools are in Croydon South?
Croydon South has 1 identified local school, Croydon Special Developmental School, a government special school. Families should check exact enrolment zones and compare nearby options across Maroondah because school access can change across suburb boundaries.
Is Croydon South safe?
The recorded crime rate is 59.0 offences per 1,000 people, with 281 offences in total. Property and deception offences numbered 98, compared with 44 crimes against the person, so address-level checks remain sensible.
Is Croydon South good for property investment?
It may suit a long-term investor seeking established detached stock, but the rental pool is smaller than in a renter-heavy suburb: 19.6% rent, $410 weekly rent and 4.1% vacancy. Annual growth is 0.64%, so the case is steadier than high-growth speculation.
How is Croydon South's population changing?
Change is gradual rather than rapid. Annual growth is forecast at 0.64%, population change across the wider area is 8.1% over 10 years, and the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.5 points. Overseas migration is the primary driver.
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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