VIC 3401 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Haven

With 99.4% of dwellings being separate houses and household income in the 82.2nd percentile nationally, Haven reads as a prosperous, low-density rural fringe suburb rather than a typical regional settlement. The population of 1,443 lives across 27.6 square kilometres at a density of just 52 people per km2, well below state norms. Family formation is the defining feature: 66.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, average household size is 2.9 compared to the national figure of 2.5, and couples with children account for the majority of family structures. Yet SEIFA tells a more complex story: the IRSAD decile sits at 1 and IEO at 1, placing Haven among the most disadvantaged localities nationally on education and occupation measures despite its income strength.

Haven urban fabric map

Population

1,443

Median Age

41.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,161/wk

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

6

27.61 km²· 52.3 people/km²· Family income $2,318/wk

Haven has no recorded median house price in current data, but the broader context points to an affordable market relative to income. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,585, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 16.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most metropolitan suburbs. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 99.4%, with 66.2% of dwellings featuring 4 or more bedrooms, giving families significant space. Outright ownership runs at 44.7%, while 50.4% carry a mortgage, a mortgage-belt profile typical of growing regional family areas. The detached-dominant, large-lot character means buyers seeking space and affordability will find Haven comparable to other Horsham-area localities rather than competing with metro pricing.

For Buyers

Haven has no recorded median house price in current data, but the broader context points to an affordable market relative to income. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,585, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 16.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most metropolitan suburbs. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 99.4%, with 66.2% of dwellings featuring 4 or more bedrooms, giving families significant space. Outright ownership runs at 44.7%, while 50.4% carry a mortgage, a mortgage-belt profile typical of growing regional family areas. The detached-dominant, large-lot character means buyers seeking space and affordability will find Haven comparable to other Horsham-area localities rather than competing with metro pricing.

For Investors

The rental market in Haven is thin: only 4.9% of dwellings are rented, compared to the national average of around 30%, which limits the tenant pool. Weekly rent averages $303, a modest return on any purchase price. The vacancy rate is 5.5%, above the 3% threshold that signals balanced supply, suggesting limited rental demand pressure. Development activity shows 5 applications in the past 12 months, including several subdivision permits for 4 to 12 lots, indicating low-level but ongoing land fragmentation. Migration patterns show net internal outflow averaging 91 residents per year offset by overseas arrivals of 45, leaving the suburb with thin organic demand growth. Investors prioritising yield over capital growth will find the low-renter share a constraint compared to higher-density regional centres.

Development Activity

Total DAs

10

Last 12 Months

6

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+500.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
7

Demographics

The median age is 41, matching the national average, but the composition differs significantly. The overseas-born share is just 3.5%, which is 18.1 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic led by English (621), Scottish (164), German (143) and Irish (133) residents. University qualifications reach 19.1%, which is 11 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the IEO decile 1 placement. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above the national figure, driven by a high proportion of couples with children (649 families). The volunteering rate is notable at 28.7%, considerably above typical suburban norms, reflecting the community-oriented character of smaller rural localities.

Age Distribution

0-14
21.8%
15-24
10.9%
25-44
21.3%
45-64
31.5%
65+
14.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.1%
2 bed
2.3%
3 bed
30.4%
4+ bed
66.2%

Dwelling Structure

99.4%

Houses

N/A

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 44.7% Mortgage 50.4% Rent 4.9%

The housing stock is among the most uniform in Victoria: 99.4% separate houses, 66.2% with 4 or more bedrooms and just 30.4% with 3 bedrooms. No apartments or semi-detached dwellings register in the data. Tenure splits into 44.7% owned outright and 50.4% on mortgage, while renters are nearly absent at 4.9%, well below the national rental share of approximately 30%. Monthly mortgage costs of $1,585 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.9%, confirming households are not under pressure. Rent-to-income at 14.0% is also comfortable for the small renter cohort. The high outright ownership share of 44.7% suggests a mature, long-settled resident base rather than a high-turnover market, supported by a mobility figure showing 87.3% of residents stayed in the same address over the prior year.

Mortgage / mo

$1,585

Rent / wk

$303

HH Size

2.9

Personal Income / wk

$912

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

5.5%

Unoccupied

28

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

14.0%

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

16.9%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
621
Scottish
164
German
143
Irish
133
Ancestry NS
51
Italian
36

Household Composition

28.7%

Couples, no children

1,288

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare dominates local employment at 22.6% of the workforce (122 workers), reflecting the role of Horsham as a regional service hub. Construction follows at 13.5% (73 workers), consistent with ongoing subdivision activity, then Education at 10.2% (55), Agriculture at 8.3% (45) and Other Services at 6.9%. By occupation, Professionals lead with 136 workers, followed by Managers (121) and Clerical and Admin (108), a mix that outperforms the SEIFA education decile of 1, suggesting many professional workers commute from Haven into the broader Horsham region. The unemployment rate is just 1.2%, well below the national rate, and the participation rate is 68.0% with 61.3% employed full-time. Real income growth of 17.8% over the decade has lifted household income to the 82.2nd percentile nationally despite the low IEO score.

Unemployment

5.8%

Labour Force

5,861

Unemployed

341

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
1
Disadvantage
2
Economic resources
4
Education & occupation
1

Full-time

61.3%

Part-time

37.5%

Participation

68.0%

Employed

757

Occupations

Professionals 136
Managers 121
Clerical/Admin 108
Community/Personal 88
Sales 76
Labourers 66
Machinery/Drivers 58

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.6%
Construction 13.5%
Education 10.2%
Agriculture 8.3%
Other Services 6.9%

University

19.1%

Postgraduate

3.2%

Born Overseas

3.5%

Dwellings

477

Transport to Work

Car dependence is high at 92.8% of commuters driving, which is typical for a low-density rural suburb with no public transport data recorded. The crime rate of 14.6 incidents per 1,000 residents is low in absolute terms, with just 21 total recorded offences: 12 property and deception, 4 against the person and 3 drug offences. No schools are recorded within the Haven boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schooling in nearby Horsham, roughly 10 kilometres distant. The suburb's IRSAD decile of 1 indicates relative disadvantage on the national scale despite income being in the 82.2nd percentile, a divergence explained by lower education attainment rates at 19.1% university-qualified, 11 points below national. The housing stress rate is low: mortgage-to-income at 16.9% and rent-to-income at 14.0% both sit comfortably below stress thresholds.

Drive

92.8%

Public Transport

N/A

Walk / Cycle

2.0%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.61%/yr

(+71 people/yr)

Established

Haven's population grew 4.7% over ten years, and the current annual rate is 0.61%, adding around 71 residents per year. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 12,205 by 2031. The trajectory is classified as declining young: the under-25 share fell 3.5 percentage points while the senior share rose 2.0 points, below the national pattern of net youth retention seen in higher-growth areas. Real income growth of 17.8% over the decade is above the national average, yet gentrification remains at the early signs stage with a score of 34, because affordability has held stable at around 58% and net internal migration averages minus 91 per year, limiting speculative demand.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+45

Net Internal / yr

-91

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

21

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

14.6

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
12
Crimes against the person
4
Drug offences
3
Public order and security offences
1

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Haven compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 25%
Household Income
Top 18%
Rent Level
Top 37%
Renters
Bottom 2%
Uni Educated
Bottom 34%
Born Overseas
Bottom 2%
Density
Top 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Haven a good suburb to live in?

Haven suits families seeking space and affordability. Household income sits in the 82.2nd percentile nationally, mortgage costs average $1,585 per month with a 16.9% income ratio well below stress levels, and 99.4% of homes are separate houses with 66.2% having 4 or more bedrooms. The main trade-offs are car dependence at 92.8% and distance from Horsham's services.

What is the median house price in Haven?

A specific median house price is not recorded in current data for Haven. As a reference point, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,585 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 16.9%, indicating pricing is affordable relative to the area's household income, which sits in the 82.2nd percentile nationally.

What schools are in Haven?

No schools are recorded within the Haven suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on Horsham, the nearest major centre roughly 10 kilometres away. Around 19.1% of Haven residents hold university qualifications, which is 11 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting regional patterns.

Is Haven safe?

Haven recorded just 21 offences in the latest data, giving a crime rate of 14.6 per 1,000 residents, which is low. Property and deception offences account for 12 of those incidents, crimes against the person for 4 and drug offences for 3. The overall picture is consistent with a quiet rural residential locality.

Is Haven good for property investment?

The investment case is limited by a thin rental market. Only 4.9% of dwellings are rented, well below the national average of around 30%, and weekly rent averages just $303. The vacancy rate is 5.5%, above the balanced-market threshold of 3%. Population is growing at 0.61% per year, which provides modest but stable support for long-term values.

How is Haven's population changing?

Haven grew 4.7% over the past decade, currently adding around 71 residents per year at 0.61% annual growth. The trajectory is declining young, with the under-25 share falling 3.5 percentage points as younger residents move to cities, while the senior share rose 2.0 points. Net internal migration averages minus 91 per year, offset partially by overseas arrivals of 45.

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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