Dimboola
At a median age of 52, Dimboola's residents are 12 years older than the national figure, making this Wimmera township one of Victoria's most distinctly senior-skewed communities. The median house price sits at $257,000, well below the state average, while household income places the suburb at just the 15.2nd percentile nationally. Yet 53.5% of residents own their homes outright, a rate far higher than the national norm, pointing to long-established, debt-free ownership rather than a community under financial pressure. With a vacancy rate of 18.8% and only 1,635 residents spread across 442 square kilometres, Dimboola is a low-density rural centre where affordability comes with the trade-offs of limited services and a slowly contracting population base.
Population
1,635
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,059/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$257K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $257,000 median house price is among the most affordable entry points in regional Victoria, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.4% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Detached houses dominate at 96.2% of the housing stock, so buyers get space and privacy rather than apartments or semi-detached options. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 53.1%, with four-plus bedrooms at 19.9% and two-bedrooms at 21.6%. The price history shows real long-run gains, rising from $89,000 in 2013 to $257,000 in mid-2024, a compound annual growth rate of 7.9% over 14 years, though the market peaked at $430,000 in early 2024 before correcting 40.2%. Buyers should weigh that peak-to-trough swing against the town's modest population and limited buyer depth, because liquidity is thin compared to metropolitan or coastal markets.
For Buyers
The $257,000 median house price is among the most affordable entry points in regional Victoria, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.4% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Detached houses dominate at 96.2% of the housing stock, so buyers get space and privacy rather than apartments or semi-detached options. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 53.1%, with four-plus bedrooms at 19.9% and two-bedrooms at 21.6%. The price history shows real long-run gains, rising from $89,000 in 2013 to $257,000 in mid-2024, a compound annual growth rate of 7.9% over 14 years, though the market peaked at $430,000 in early 2024 before correcting 40.2%. Buyers should weigh that peak-to-trough swing against the town's modest population and limited buyer depth, because liquidity is thin compared to metropolitan or coastal markets.
For Investors
A 16.0% renter share against a $257,000 median and $170 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 3.4%, higher than many urban markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $800, giving investors a low cost base. The 18.8% vacancy rate is the key risk: it is well above the 3% threshold considered balanced, indicating persistent softness in rental demand relative to supply. Only 4 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, suggesting negligible new supply entering the market. The town's aging demographic profile and household income at the 15.2nd percentile nationally constrain rent growth prospects. Investment suits buyers seeking low acquisition cost and some yield, provided they accept that capital growth depends on rare demand spikes rather than structural population growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Dimboola iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Dimboola Primary School
Prep-6 · 85 students
Dimboola Memorial Secondary College
7-12 · 124 students
Demographics
The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, reflecting a population that has aged in place over decades. Overseas-born residents account for just 7.1%, which is 14.5 percentage points below the national rate, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (671 residents), German (216), Scottish (184) and Irish (165). University qualifications reach 18.1%, which is 12 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a regional town economy that relies more on trades, agriculture and community services than professional roles. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, driven by a high share of couples without children at 40.7% of families. The community is stable: 87.5% of residents did not move in the year before the Census, and volunteering runs at 25.6%, signalling strong local engagement.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.2%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Dimboola's tenure structure is unusual: 53.5% of dwellings are owned outright, compared to 31.6% nationally, and only 16.0% are rented. This reflects an older population that has paid off mortgages over long holding periods rather than a churn of new buyers. Separate houses make up 96.2% of all dwellings, with apartments at just 3.1% and semi-detached housing effectively absent. The median price of $257,000 in April-June 2024 sits near the lower end of regional Victorian markets, having risen 188.8% from $89,000 in 2013. That long-run gain masks a sharp cycle: prices peaked at $430,000 in early 2024 before falling 40.2% to the current level, likely driven by thin transaction volumes where a handful of sales can move the median significantly. Monthly mortgage repayments average $800 and rent-to-income is 16.1%, both indicating low housing stress for current occupants.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$800
Rent / wk
$170
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$575
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.8%
Unoccupied
169
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.7%
Couples, no children
1,155
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 20.0% of local workers (73 people), followed by Education at 14.5% (53) and Agriculture at 14.0% (51), a mix typical of a regional service town supporting a surrounding farming catchment. Public Administration and Construction account for 9.6% and 8.5% respectively. Occupation data shows Managers (100) and Professionals (91) as the top two categories, but Community and Personal Service (82) and Labourers (82) are almost as large, reflecting the breadth of roles in a small town. The unemployment rate is 4.0% and the full-time employment rate is 63.8%, broadly in line with regional norms. The participation rate of 42.6% is low, largely because 672 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the town's high median age and significant retiree population.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.8%
Part-time
32.2%
Participation
42.6%
Employed
577
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.1%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
7.1%
Dwellings
717
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 87.1%, which is typical for a rural town where public transport is effectively unavailable. Walking or cycling accounts for 7.7% of commuters, above what many comparable towns record, likely reflecting the flat terrain and compact town centre. Safety data shows a crime rate of 56.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 92 offences recorded in total. Property and deception offences lead at 43 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 35. No schools are recorded in the dataset for this suburb boundary. The combination of very low housing costs, a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.4%, and a 25.6% volunteering rate paints a picture of a community where financial stress is low and civic participation is high, though service access requires travel to larger regional centres such as Horsham, approximately 38 kilometres to the east.
Drive
87.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
92
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
56.3
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 Dimboola compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dimboola a good suburb to live in?
Dimboola offers some of the most affordable housing in regional Victoria, with a $257,000 median house price and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.4%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The 25.6% volunteering rate reflects a cohesive community, though residents are heavily car-dependent at 87.1% and services beyond the town centre require travel to Horsham, about 38 km east.
What is the median house price in Dimboola?
The median house price is $257,000, recorded in April-June 2024. Prices have risen 188.8% from $89,000 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 7.9% over 14 years. The market peaked at $430,000 in early 2024 before correcting 40.2%, reflecting the thin transaction volumes typical of a town with 1,635 residents.
What schools are in Dimboola?
No schools are recorded inside the Dimboola suburb boundary in this dataset. The nearest secondary and primary options are in the broader Wimmera region, with Horsham, approximately 38 km east, the main education hub. Locally, 18.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 12 percentage points below the national average.
Is Dimboola safe?
Dimboola recorded 92 offences in the latest crime data, giving a rate of 56.3 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 43 incidents and crimes against the person for 35. For context, the town's low housing stress, with rent-to-income at 16.1% and mortgage-to-income at 17.4%, removes a key driver of crime seen in higher-pressure markets.
Is Dimboola good for property investment?
A $257,000 median with $170 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 3.4%, higher than many urban markets. The 18.8% vacancy rate is the main risk, well above the 3% balanced benchmark. Only 4 development applications were lodged in 12 months, so new supply is minimal. Returns depend on low cost of entry and some yield rather than strong capital growth from population pressure.
How is Dimboola's population changing?
Dimboola's population of 1,635 is stable but aging, with a median age of 52 that is 12 years above the national figure. The 87.5% residency retention rate shows most residents are long-term locals. Household income at the 15.2nd percentile nationally and a high retiree share mean organic growth through new household formation is limited.
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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