VIC 3929 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Flinders

A vacancy rate of 52.6% in a suburb where median house prices sit at $2,087,500 tells you most of Flinders is a second-home destination rather than a primary residence. Spread across 55 square kilometres of Mornington Peninsula coastal land, the 1,130 residents produce a density of just 20.5 people per km2. Median age is 63, which is 23 years above the national figure, and SEIFA scores place Flinders in decile 10 for economic resources and relative disadvantage, the highest tier nationally. This is old, established wealth that stays put: 82.9% of residents have not moved in five years.

Flinders urban fabric map

Population

1,130

Median Age

63.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,104/wk

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

15

Median House

$2.1M

Apr-Jun 2024

55.13 km²· 20.5 people/km²· Family income $2,851/wk

The current median house price of $2,087,500, recorded for Apr-Jun 2024, sits 37.5% below the 2022 peak of $3,342,000, which represents the post-pandemic correction in premium coastal markets. Over 14 years the CAGR is 7.4%, lifting prices from $765,000 in 2013. Separate houses account for 97.2% of dwellings, and 47.4% of those have four or more bedrooms, so buyers typically acquire substantial land-holding properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.4% remains below the 30% stress threshold despite prices that are far above the state median. With 67.2% owning outright and only 20.9% carrying a mortgage, the buyer pool is dominated by equity-rich purchasers rather than first-home entrants.

For Buyers

The current median house price of $2,087,500, recorded for Apr-Jun 2024, sits 37.5% below the 2022 peak of $3,342,000, which represents the post-pandemic correction in premium coastal markets. Over 14 years the CAGR is 7.4%, lifting prices from $765,000 in 2013. Separate houses account for 97.2% of dwellings, and 47.4% of those have four or more bedrooms, so buyers typically acquire substantial land-holding properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.4% remains below the 30% stress threshold despite prices that are far above the state median. With 67.2% owning outright and only 20.9% carrying a mortgage, the buyer pool is dominated by equity-rich purchasers rather than first-home entrants.

For Investors

A rental vacancy rate of 52.6% is the defining constraint for investors: the market is overwhelmingly owner-occupied or held as a holiday property, not a functioning long-term rental market. The 11.9% renter share and $451 weekly rent imply a gross yield well below 1.2% against the $2,087,500 median. Only 13 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months across 55 km2, confirming minimal new supply. Population growth runs at 0.38% annually, adding roughly 23 residents per year, driven by overseas migration of 48 net arrivals annually against a net internal outflow of 24. The investment case is capital-growth focused rather than yield or income driven.

Development Activity

Total DAs

21

Last 12 Months

15

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+650.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
5
Other
4
New Dwelling
3
Tree Removal
3
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
1
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
1

Demographics

The median age of 63 is 23 years above the national figure, the result of a 10.9 point increase in the senior share over the past decade while the working-age share fell 5 points. University qualifications reach 47.3%, which is 17.2 percentage points above the national rate, consistent with a retired professional cohort. Overseas-born residents make up 18.6%, which is 3 points below national, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (566), Irish (186) and Scottish (179) are the three largest groups. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, reflecting the high proportion of couples without children at 53.3% of families. Volunteering at 32.2% is notably high, a typical signal in affluent retirement communities.

Age Distribution

0-14
9.0%
15-24
6.7%
25-44
9.4%
45-64
30.7%
65+
44.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.7%
2 bed
8.3%
3 bed
42.6%
4+ bed
47.4%

Dwelling Structure

97.2%

Houses

N/A

Townhouse

2.8%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 67.2% Mortgage 20.9% Rent 11.9%

Tenure here is almost entirely owner-occupier: 67.2% own outright, 20.9% hold a mortgage, and only 11.9% rent, compared to far higher rental proportions in the broader state. The outright ownership rate is exceptional because the resident base skews toward retired, debt-free households rather than recent buyers. Separate houses make up 97.2% of stock and 47.4% have four or more bedrooms, meaning large-format coastal properties dominate. The price record covers 15 quarters: from $765,000 in 2013, prices reached a peak of $3,342,000 in 2022 before correcting to $2,087,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 37.5% decline from peak. The 14-year CAGR of 7.4% still places Flinders well above average long-run residential growth rates.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,500

Rent / wk

$451

HH Size

2.1

Personal Income / wk

$1,118

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

52.6%

Unoccupied

470

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

21.4%

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

27.4%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
566
Irish
186
Scottish
179
Ancestry NS
130
Other
58
German
35

Household Composition

53.3%

Couples, no children

747

Total families

Economy & Employment

With only 407 employed residents across all sectors, the local workforce is small relative to the population. Healthcare leads at 13.7% (44 workers) and Professional/Tech follows at 13.4% (43), with Finance and Real Estate each at 8.4%. By occupation, Professionals (131) and Managers (124) together account for more than 60% of employed residents, which aligns with the decile 9 IEO education and occupation score. The unemployment rate is 2.6%, below the national average, but the labour force participation rate of 40.7% is very low because 457 residents are not in the labour force, primarily retirees. Real income grew 24.2% over the decade and household income sits at the 79.6th percentile nationally.

Unemployment

0.8%

Labour Force

3,180

Unemployed

24

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

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

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

Full-time

45.2%

Part-time

52.2%

Participation

40.7%

Employed

407

Occupations

Professionals 131
Managers 124
Clerical/Admin 40
Sales 33
Community/Personal 31
Labourers 27
Machinery/Drivers 7

Top Industries

Healthcare 13.7%
Professional/Tech 13.4%
Construction 9.9%
Finance 8.4%
Real Estate 8.4%

University

47.3%

Postgraduate

13.2%

Born Overseas

18.6%

Dwellings

426

Transport to Work

Car dependency is the default for daily life in this low-density, 55 km2 coastal suburb: 84.1% of residents drive to work, and walking or cycling accounts for 13.6%, higher than many rural areas because the village core is walkable. Public transport data is not available in this dataset. Flinders scores decile 10 on IRSD and IER, the top tier nationally for both relative disadvantage and economic resources, meaning residents face minimal deprivation by any measure. Crime recorded 37 total incidents in the past year at a rate of 32.7 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 31 of those. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in nearby townships on the Mornington Peninsula.

Drive

84.1%

Public Transport

N/A

Walk / Cycle

13.6%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.38%/yr

(+23 people/yr)

Established

Population sits at approximately 1,130 residents and is growing at 0.38% annually, adding around 23 people per year. Medium forecasts project growth from roughly 6,055 to 6,172 by 2031 at the SA2 level, a slow expansion. The 10-year population change was 12.5%, moderate rather than fast. The primary migration driver is overseas arrivals at 48 net per year, which offsets an internal net outflow of 24 residents annually. The gentrification score from the demographic shift model reads as Active at 58 out of 100, driven by 24.2% real income growth and 58.2% rent growth over the period, but the suburb is already at decile 10 advantage so the ceiling for further uplift is limited. Affordability moved from 40.9% in 2011 to 42.3% in 2021, classified as Stable.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+48

Net Internal / yr

-24

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

37

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

32.7

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
31
Crimes against the person
4
Public order and security offences
2

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Flinders compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 27%
Household Income
Top 20%
Rent Level
Top 8%
Apartments
Bottom 43%
Renters
Bottom 22%
Uni Educated
Top 11%
Born Overseas
Top 34%
Density
Top 36%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Flinders a good suburb to live in?

Flinders ranks in decile 10 on IRSD and IER, the top tier nationally for economic resources and low disadvantage. Household income sits at the 79.6th percentile. The suburb suits retired professionals seeking coastal living: median age is 63, 82.9% of residents have not moved in 5 years, and volunteering is high at 32.2%. The main trade-offs are high entry prices at $2,087,500 median and no schools within the suburb boundary.

What is the median house price in Flinders?

The median house price is $2,087,500 as of Apr-Jun 2024. This is 37.5% below the 2022 peak of $3,342,000 following the post-pandemic correction. Over 14 years from 2013, prices have grown at a 7.4% CAGR from $765,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.4%.

What schools are in Flinders?

No schools are recorded inside the Flinders suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Mornington Peninsula towns. Despite this, local educational attainment is high: 47.3% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 17.2 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the retired professional demographic.

Is Flinders safe?

Flinders recorded 37 total offences over the past year at a rate of 32.7 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 31 of the 37 incidents, with only 4 crimes against the person. The suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier nationally, consistent with a low-crime, low-deprivation area.

Is Flinders good for property investment?

The investment case is entirely capital-growth based. A vacancy rate of 52.6% and only 11.9% renters mean the rental market is thin. Weekly rent of $451 against a $2,087,500 median implies a gross yield below 1.2%. The 14-year CAGR of 7.4% is the key metric for long-term holders. Prices are 37.5% below the 2022 peak, which may appeal to buyers timing a re-entry.

How is Flinders's population changing?

The resident population is approximately 1,130 and growing at 0.38% annually, adding around 23 people per year. The 10-year population change was 12.5%. Overseas migration contributes 48 net arrivals annually while internal migration produces a net outflow of 24 residents. The profile is aging: the senior share rose 10.9 points over the past decade while the working-age share fell 5 points.

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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