VIC 3089 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Diamond Creek

Households in Diamond Creek combine a $2,508 weekly household income at the 92.5th percentile with a strongly detached housing base: 94.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 52.0% have four or more bedrooms. Its 12,503 residents have a median age of 39, which is 1.0 years below the national comparison, while population change across the wider area is 7.2% over 10 years. Compared with nearby Eltham and Wattle Glen, the suburb reads as an established mortgage-belt market: 53.5% of homes are mortgaged, 35.7% owned outright and 10.1% rented. Growth is slower at 0.5% annually because family-sized housing and long-term ownership limit rapid turnover.

Diamond Creek urban fabric map

Population

12,503

Median Age

39.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,508/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

69

Median House

$1.1M

October to December 2025

17.84 km²· 701 people/km²· Family income $2,761/wk

Diamond Creek suits buyers prioritising land, bedrooms and established streets over apartment choice. Four-plus-bedroom homes make up 52.0% and three-bedroom homes 41.1%, while 94.4% of dwellings are separate houses. A typical mortgage payment is $2,167 monthly and mortgage-to-income is 20.0%, with stress not flagged. Compared with higher-density markets, the 0.1% apartment share confirms the trade-off: buyers gain space because the stock is overwhelmingly detached, but have fewer low-maintenance options.

For Buyers

Diamond Creek suits buyers prioritising land, bedrooms and established streets over apartment choice. Four-plus-bedroom homes make up 52.0% and three-bedroom homes 41.1%, while 94.4% of dwellings are separate houses. A typical mortgage payment is $2,167 monthly and mortgage-to-income is 20.0%, with stress not flagged. Compared with higher-density markets, the 0.1% apartment share confirms the trade-off: buyers gain space because the stock is overwhelmingly detached, but have fewer low-maintenance options.

For Investors

Diamond Creek presents a low-turnover investment profile. Weekly rent is $430 and vacancy is 3.1%, while only 10.1% of dwellings are rented; 35.7% are owned outright and 53.5% carry a mortgage. That owner-heavy base can reduce rental depth because fewer properties compete for tenants. Development activity reached 56 applications in 12 months, and overseas migration is the primary forecast driver. Compared with higher-rental-share markets, the 3.1% vacancy rate is supportive, but investors should test the numbers against maintenance and financing costs.

Development Activity

Total DAs

86

Last 12 Months

69

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+762.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
30
Subdivision
13
Renovation / Extension
10
Tree Removal
10
Other
3
Fencing
2
Garage / Carport / Shed
2
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
1

Schools in Diamond Creek

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Diamond Creek East Primary School

Primary Government

Diamond Creek Primary School

Primary Government

Sacred Heart School

Primary Catholic

Diamond Valley College

Secondary Government

Demographics

Diamond Creek has a settled, family-leaning profile: median age is 39 and average household size is 2.9, which is 0.4 above the national comparison. Couples with children account for 55.3% of families, while couples without children represent 31.3% and one-parent families 12.7%. University attainment is 35.8%, 5.7 percentage points above the national comparison, supporting a substantial professional base. Overseas-born residents comprise 15.0%, 6.6 points below the national comparison. English, Irish, Scottish and Italian are the leading ancestries at 5,055, 1,665, 1,450 and 1,218 people. No religion is recorded for 6,051 residents versus 5,606 identifying with Christianity. The settled pattern reflects larger family households, with turnover at 13.6%.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.3%
15-24
14.3%
25-44
24.1%
45-64
29.1%
65+
13.1%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.8%
2 bed
6.1%
3 bed
41.1%
4+ bed
52.0%

Dwelling Structure

94.4%

Houses

5.5%

Townhouse

0.1%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 35.7% Mortgage 53.5% Rent 10.1% Other 0.8%

The housing stock is concentrated in detached family formats. Separate houses account for 94.4% of dwellings, with 52.0% containing four or more bedrooms and 41.1% containing three; apartments are just 0.1% and semi-detached homes 5.5%. Tenure is owner-heavy, with 35.7% owned outright, 53.5% mortgaged and 10.1% rented. Price growth averaged 3.9% annually across 19 years, while mortgage-to-income was 20.0% and rent-to-income 17.1%, because household income ranks at the 92.5th percentile. Compared with smaller-home markets, Diamond Creek trades dwelling variety for space and tenure stability.

Mortgage / mo

$2,167

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$430

Census 2021

HH Size

2.9

Personal Income / wk

$983

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

3.1%

Unoccupied

131

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

17.1%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

20.0%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Italian
68
Greek
41
Mandarin
34
Persian ED
34
Macedon
30
German
22

Ancestry

English
5,055
Irish
1,665
Scottish
1,450
Italian
1,218
Other
1,006
German
490

Household Composition

55.3%

Couples with children

31.3%

Couples, no children

12.7%

Single parent

3,588

Total families

Economy & Employment

Diamond Creek's economy is anchored by essential services and construction. Healthcare leads at 17.4% with 854 workers, followed by construction at 15.5% and 761, education at 14.8% and 729, public administration at 8.4% and 415, and professional and technical services at 8.4% and 412. Participation is 72.5%, unemployment 3.4% and full-time employment 58.4%, indicating an engaged workforce. The main occupations are professionals at 1,692, trades at 1,112 and managers at 1,080, matching the industry mix. SEIFA sits above average: IEO decile 7, IER decile 10, IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 8. IER ranks highest because household resources are strong, while IEO is lower at decile 7. Household income is at the 92.5th percentile, higher than average.

Unemployment

3.4%

Labour Force

7,308

Unemployed

250

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
8
Disadvantage
9
Economic resources
10
Education & occupation
7

Full-time

58.4%

Part-time

34.6%

Participation

72.5%

Employed

7,058

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 1,692
Trades 1,112
Managers 1,080
Clerical/Admin 975
Community/Personal 820
Sales 580
Labourers 452
Machinery/Drivers 253

Top Industries

Healthcare 17.4%
Construction 15.5%
Education 14.8%
Public Admin 8.4%
Professional/Tech 8.4%

University

35.8%

Postgraduate

8.1%

Born Overseas

15.0%

Dwellings

4,153

Transport to Work

Daily life is shaped by a car-oriented suburban layout. Car drivers account for 61.8% of commuting, compared with 1.9% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling, while 32.4% work from home. Education access includes 4 nearby schools: 3 government schools across primary and secondary levels and 1 Catholic primary school. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, since they cut across suburb boundaries. The recorded crime rate is 35.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 442 total offences; property and deception offences account for 231 and crimes against the person 95. Socioeconomic amenity is relatively strong, with IRSAD decile 8 and IRSD decile 9, above the middle of the national distribution. A 14.5% volunteering rate supports local participation, although limited public transport means convenience depends on car access.

Drive

61.8%

Public Transport

1.9%

Walk / Cycle

1.3%

Work from Home

32.4%

Population Forecast

+0.5%/yr

(+75 people/yr)

Established

Diamond Creek is an established, slow-growth market: the forecast trend is 0.5% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 7.2% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging, supported by a 5.3 percentage-point rise in the senior share and a 2.4-point fall in the young share. The affordability trend is Improving, with index values of 49.1 in 2011 and 44.6 in 2021, even as rents grew 28.1%. Gentrification signals register Early signs with a score of 33, while the forecast gentrification stage remains Not gentrifying at 0. This mixed signal reflects established ownership and a 0.5% trend, so compared with faster-growth corridors, change is likely to be gradual. Development activity adds 56 applications in 12 months.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+64

Net Internal / yr

-80

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

442

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

35.4

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
231
Crimes against the person
95
Justice procedures offences
64
Public order and security offences
26

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Diamond Creek compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 3%
Household Income
Top 8%
Rent Level
Top 11%
Apartments
Top 26%
Renters
Bottom 36%
Uni Educated
Top 24%
Public Transport
Bottom 39%
Born Overseas
Top 46%
Density
Top 18%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Diamond Creek a good suburb to live in?

It suits buyers who value detached homes, larger blocks and established services. The median age is 39, 94.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 61.8% of commuters drive, so it is more practical for car-oriented households than car-free living.

What schools are in Diamond Creek?

There are 4 local schools: Diamond Creek East Primary School, Diamond Creek Primary School and Diamond Valley College in the government sector, plus Sacred Heart School in the Catholic sector. The mix covers primary and secondary years.

Is Diamond Creek safe?

No suburb is risk-free. Diamond Creek recorded 35.4 offences per 1,000 residents and 442 total offences, including 231 property and deception offences and 95 crimes against the person. Compare recent incidents with nearby suburbs and check the exact street context.

How is Diamond Creek's population changing?

Change is gradual and increasingly older in profile. The forecast trend is 0.5% a year, population change across the wider area is 7.2% over 10 years and the trajectory is Aging. Senior share rose 5.3 points while young share fell 2.4 points, with overseas migration the primary driver.

Is Diamond Creek experiencing much development?

There were 56 development applications in the past 12 months, including permits for dwelling construction, garages, extensions and other works. That points to ongoing incremental change rather than a confirmed large estate, so buyers should check permit status, timing and dwelling yield.

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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