Hamilton
Hamilton's most telling feature is its regional scale in a low-density setting: 10,346 residents across 198.34 square kilometres, at 52.2 people per square kilometre, while 91.4% of dwellings are separate houses. The median age is 45, or 5 years above national, and vacancy is 10.2%, pointing to a looser market than tightly held regional centres. Compared with nearby Coleraine and Dunkeld, Hamilton functions as the broader service hub, with healthcare representing 25.5% of industry employment and 9 schools.
Population
10,346
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,247/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$445K
October to December 2025
That stock suits families and downsizers because apartments account for only 2.1%. The stated mortgage cost is $1,083 per month, and payments equal 20.1% of household income, higher than the 18.8% rent-to-income figure but not flagged as mortgage stress. Tenure is established: 42.5% own outright, 31.8% hold a mortgage and 23.9% rent.
For Buyers
That stock suits families and downsizers because apartments account for only 2.1%. The stated mortgage cost is $1,083 per month, and payments equal 20.1% of household income, higher than the 18.8% rent-to-income figure but not flagged as mortgage stress. Tenure is established: 42.5% own outright, 31.8% hold a mortgage and 23.9% rent.
For Investors
Rental investment needs selectivity. Weekly rent is $235 and 23.9% of households rent, while vacancy is 10.2%, a higher-supply signal than a tightly held market. That vacancy can lengthen reletting times even as rents have grown 16.7%, so yield should be tested against maintenance and turnover. Houses dominate 91.4% of stock, creating a clearer family-rental proposition than the 2.1% apartment segment.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hamilton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Good Shepherd College
The Hamilton and Alexandra College
George Street Primary School - Hamilton
Hamilton (Gray Street) Primary School
Hamilton North Primary School
Demographics
Hamilton leans older and more locally rooted than the national profile. Median age is 45, 5 years above national, while average household size is 2.2, or 0.3 below national. The 80.4% five-year stay rate and 19.6% turnover point to stability because most residents remain in place. Overseas-born residents make up 8.4%, 13.2 percentage points below national, and university attainment is 23.0%, 7.1 points below national. English ancestry counts 4,254, Scottish 1,412 and Irish 1,190; Christianity has 5,137 adherents and no religion 4,255. Compared with nearby Coleraine and Dunkeld, Hamilton's service role helps explain its established household mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.4%
Houses
6.1%
Townhouse
2.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Price momentum has been substantial but uneven. Housing is overwhelmingly detached at 91.4%, with 53.8% three-bedroom and 26.5% four-plus-bedroom homes. Tenure is split between 42.5% outright ownership, 31.8% mortgages and 23.9% renting. Mortgage-to-income is 20.1%, versus 18.8% rent-to-income, and neither is flagged as stress.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $235.
$370
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $390 · units $320
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$693
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.2%
Unoccupied
494
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.1%
Couples with children
46.4%
Couples, no children
16.1%
Single parent
2,728
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare anchors Hamilton's economy at 25.5% of industry employment, followed by education at 11.8%, construction at 10.4%, public administration at 8.5% and agriculture at 7.5%. The occupational mix is practical and service-led: professionals number 842, trades 712, community and personal service workers 628, managers 579 and labourers 567. Unemployment is 3.1% with 56.0% participation, while full-time employment is 55.5%. Household income is at the 27.6th percentile. SEIFA deciles are 3 for education and occupation, 4 for disadvantage and 3 for advantage, all below the midpoint of 5. That pattern helps explain why essential services and trades matter more than high-income knowledge work.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
4,820
Unemployed
148
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.5%
Part-time
36.9%
Participation
56.0%
Employed
4,672
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.0%
Postgraduate
4.8%
Born Overseas
8.4%
Dwellings
4,328
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented and service-focused. Car drivers account for 78.6% of travel to work, compared with 6.6% walking or cycling, 0.1% public transport and 8.9% working from home, so parking and proximity matter more than transit access. Families can choose among 9 schools: 5 government, 2 Catholic and 2 independent, across primary, secondary, combined Pri/Sec and special settings. Safety deserves active checking: recorded crime is 1,335 offences, or 129.0 per 1,000 residents, led by 445 justice-procedure and 418 property/deception offences. IRSAD is decile 3 and IRSD decile 4, below the midpoint of 5, so compare exact streets for services, school zones and evening amenity.
Drive
78.6%
Public Transport
0.1%
Walk / Cycle
6.6%
Work from Home
8.9%
Population Forecast
+1.89%/yr
(+140 people/yr)
EstablishedHamilton is on an established, aging trajectory rather than a gentrification cycle. Growth runs at 1.89% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver, while wider-area population change is 43.3% over 10 years. Senior share has increased 4.0 percentage points and young share has fallen 3.2, supporting demand for healthcare and accessible housing. Compared with a gentrifying market, the stage is Not gentrifying and the score is 17. Rent growth of 16.7% and improving affordability, from 37.9% in 2011 to 35.1% in 2021, indicate firmer demand without a clear displacement signal. Planning activity is modest at 11 applications in 12 months.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+153
Net Internal / yr
-5
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +50% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,335
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
129.0
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 Hamilton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamilton a good suburb to live in?
Hamilton can suit buyers seeking space, services and a slower pace. Its 10,346 residents have access to 9 schools, and 91.4% of dwellings are separate houses. Trade-offs include 78.6% car-based commuting, a median age of 45 and crime recorded at 129.0 offences per 1,000 residents, so inspect the exact street.
What schools are in Hamilton?
Hamilton has 9 schools: 4 primary, 2 secondary, 2 combined Pri/Sec and 1 special setting. The sector mix is 5 government, 2 Catholic and 2 independent providers. Check enrolment zones and transport for the exact address, because school access can differ across a 198.34 square kilometre suburb.
Is Hamilton safe?
Safety is mixed rather than uniform. Hamilton recorded 1,335 offences, equal to 129.0 per 1,000 residents, with 445 justice-procedure and 418 property/deception offences. Property/deception offences were higher than public-order/security offences at 98, so review recent incidents, lighting and parking around the specific property before deciding.
How is Hamilton's population changing?
Hamilton's population is 10,346 today, while wider-area population change is 43.3% over 10 years and the annual trend is 1.89%. The main driver is overseas migration, but the trajectory is Aging: senior share is up 4.0 percentage points and young share is down 3.2. The gentrification stage is Not gentrifying, with a score of 17.
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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