Exeter
At a median age of 53, Exeter runs 13 years older than the national figure, which tells you most of what you need to know about who chooses to live here. The suburb's 1,087 residents spread across 51.54 km2 in the Southern Highlands, a density of just 21.1 people per km2. Median house prices reached $2,062,500 in 2025, up 14.6% on the prior year, while 55.3% of homes are owned outright, well above national norms. University qualifications sit at 44.1%, which is 14 points above the national average, and household income ranks at the 71.5th percentile nationally, placing Exeter firmly in the upper-middle income tier despite its rural scale.
Population
1,087
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,914/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$1.9M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $2,062,500 in 2025, rising from $1,800,000 in 2024, a 14.6% increase over one year. Virtually all stock is separate houses at 99.3%, with 58.4% having 4 or more bedrooms, which suits buyers seeking space rather than density. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 55.3% far outnumber mortgage holders at 33.7%, meaning most of the housing wealth is held without debt, a sign that the buyer pool skews toward established and downsizing households rather than first-home entrants. Renters account for just 11.0% of the market, keeping owner-occupier demand dominant.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $2,062,500 in 2025, rising from $1,800,000 in 2024, a 14.6% increase over one year. Virtually all stock is separate houses at 99.3%, with 58.4% having 4 or more bedrooms, which suits buyers seeking space rather than density. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 55.3% far outnumber mortgage holders at 33.7%, meaning most of the housing wealth is held without debt, a sign that the buyer pool skews toward established and downsizing households rather than first-home entrants. Renters account for just 11.0% of the market, keeping owner-occupier demand dominant.
For Investors
With only 11.0% of households renting against a $2,062,500 median price, rental yield is thin by any standard, and the 16.6% vacancy rate signals that a meaningful share of dwellings sit empty or are used as holiday or secondary homes. Weekly rent of $400 implies a gross yield well below 1.5% compared to the median price, making capital growth the primary investment thesis. Development activity reached 25 applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling additions, CDCs and secondary dwellings, suggesting incremental rather than large-scale supply additions. The 81.6% resident retention rate points to a stable occupant base, but thin rental demand and high vacancy make Exeter more suitable for owner-investors than yield-seeking landlords.
Development Activity
Total DAs
221
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-11.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Exeter iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Exeter Public School
K-6 · 123 students
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, the dominant demographic signal here. Overseas-born residents account for 16.9%, which is 4.7 points below the national average, consistent with the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry mix: English (493 residents), Scottish (196), Irish (154) and German (42). Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure, and 42.6% of families are couples without children, the largest household type. University qualifications reach 44.1%, which is 14 points above national, and the workforce is led by Professionals (139) and Managers (107), occupations consistent with educated tree-changers and semi-retirees who have relocated from major cities.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.3%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The price trajectory moved from $1,800,000 in 2024 to $2,062,500 in 2025, a 14.6% CAGR over one year. Ownership structure is unusual even by premium standards: 55.3% own outright and only 33.7% hold a mortgage, which is significantly above the rate of outright ownership nationally. Renters form just 11.0% of the market. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.3%, and 58.4% of those have 4 or more bedrooms, while 29.6% have 3 bedrooms and only 8.2% have 2 bedrooms. The vacancy rate at 16.6% is elevated, reflecting a segment of dwellings used as weekenders or secondary homes rather than primary residences, which is common in high-amenity rural lifestyle areas at this price point.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$873
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.6%
Unoccupied
85
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.6%
Couples, no children
913
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local employment base of around 461 workers spans Education at 15.9% (60 workers), Construction at 15.6% (59), Professional/Tech at 13.2% (50) and Healthcare at 12.4% (47). Unemployment is just 1.1%, well below national norms, though the participation rate of 52.0% is lower than average because 368 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age. Full-time employment reaches 56.6% of those employed. The Professionals and Managers occupational mix aligns with the 44.1% university qualification rate, which is 14 points above national. Household income at the 71.5th percentile nationally, combined with mortgage-to-income of only 28.8%, suggests residents carry manageable housing cost burdens relative to earnings.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.6%
Part-time
42.3%
Participation
52.0%
Employed
461
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.1%
Postgraduate
12.3%
Born Overseas
16.9%
Dwellings
427
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 85.7%, consistent with a rural suburb where public transport coverage is limited. Walking and cycling account for 9.7% of commutes, unusually high for a rural area, suggesting short local trips within the village. The volunteering rate of 19.7% is above average, which aligns with an engaged, older community where a significant share of residents have left full-time work. Rent stress and mortgage stress are both absent at the current income and housing cost ratios, with rent-to-income at 20.9% and mortgage-to-income at 28.8%. Only 3.6% of residents (37 people) need daily assistance. No schools are listed for the suburb in this dataset, so families with children would rely on schools in nearby townships in the Southern Highlands.
Drive
85.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
9.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Exeter compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Exeter a good suburb to live in?
Exeter suits buyers seeking a low-density lifestyle in the Southern Highlands. The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, pointing to a predominantly older, established resident base. Household income sits at the 71.5th percentile nationally, mortgage stress is absent at 28.8% mortgage-to-income, and the volunteering rate of 19.7% reflects a connected community.
What is the median house price in Exeter?
The median house price reached $2,062,500 in 2025, up 14.6% from $1,800,000 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.3%, with 58.4% having 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers are paying for space rather than density.
What schools are in Exeter?
No schools are recorded inside the Exeter suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with children rely on schools in neighbouring Southern Highlands towns. The local adult population is highly educated, with 44.1% holding university qualifications, which is 14 points above the national average.
Is Exeter safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Exeter in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has low socioeconomic disadvantage signals: household income is at the 71.5th percentile nationally, unemployment is just 1.1%, and only 3.6% of the 1,087 residents need daily assistance, all consistent with a low-disadvantage environment.
Is Exeter good for property investment?
The investment case rests on capital growth rather than yield. Weekly rent of $400 against a $2,062,500 median implies a gross yield below 1.5%, and the 16.6% vacancy rate suggests many dwellings are holiday or secondary homes. Prices rose 14.6% in one year, and the lifestyle-migration trend from Sydney continues to support demand.
How is Exeter's population changing?
Exeter's population of 1,087 is spread across 51.54 km2, giving a density of 21.1 people per km2. The 81.6% resident retention rate over the Census reference period indicates a stable, low-turnover base. No population forecast data is available in this dataset, but development activity at 25 applications in 12 months is modest, pointing to incremental rather than rapid growth.
How much development is happening in Exeter?
There were 25 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including Complying Development Certificates, standard Development Applications and modifications. Activity focuses on dwelling additions, secondary dwellings and structural works rather than large subdivision, consistent with a rural suburb where infill is incremental and the lot sizes are large.
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.
Explore Exeter on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map