VIC 3840 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Hazelwood North

Hazelwood North sits in Victoria's Latrobe Valley with a population of 1,552 across a large 66.6 km2 footprint, giving it a low density of just 23.3 persons per km2. The standout figure is household income in the 87.1st percentile nationally, unusually high for a semi-rural area, driven largely by Utilities and public sector employment. The suburb scores decile 10 on both IEO and IRSAD, placing it in the top tier nationally for education-occupation advantage and overall socio-economic position, despite an IER decile of only 4. All dwellings are separate houses, 58.8% have four or more bedrooms, and 90.7% of residents stayed in the same address over five years, signalling a deeply stable, owner-occupier community.

Hazelwood North urban fabric map

Population

1,552

Median Age

45.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,261/wk

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

3

66.61 km²· 23.3 people/km²· Family income $2,393/wk

No recent median house price data is recorded for Hazelwood North, reflecting low transaction volumes typical of small rural localities. The housing stock is 100% separate houses, with 58.8% having four or more bedrooms and 36.3% having three bedrooms, making it a predominantly large-home market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,755, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold compared to many metropolitan markets. Outright ownership stands at 47.5%, close to the mortgage-held share of 49.8%, indicating a mature base of long-term residents alongside active buyers. Only 2.7% of dwellings are rented, which is far below state and national norms, reinforcing the owner-occupier character of the suburb.

For Buyers

No recent median house price data is recorded for Hazelwood North, reflecting low transaction volumes typical of small rural localities. The housing stock is 100% separate houses, with 58.8% having four or more bedrooms and 36.3% having three bedrooms, making it a predominantly large-home market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,755, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold compared to many metropolitan markets. Outright ownership stands at 47.5%, close to the mortgage-held share of 49.8%, indicating a mature base of long-term residents alongside active buyers. Only 2.7% of dwellings are rented, which is far below state and national norms, reinforcing the owner-occupier character of the suburb.

For Investors

At 2.7%, the renter share in Hazelwood North is very low compared to the national average, limiting the depth of the rental pool available to landlords. Weekly rent of $235 is modest, and the vacancy rate of 4.9% sits above the 3% threshold generally considered balanced. Only 3 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating minimal new supply pressure but also limited capital activity. Net internal migration for the broader area runs at negative 257 per year, offset by overseas inflows of 394, so population stability depends on continued overseas arrivals rather than domestic demand. The combination of low renter share, moderate vacancy, and thin transaction volumes means investment returns here are driven by land appreciation and lifestyle demand rather than rental yield.

Development Activity

Total DAs

9

Last 12 Months

3

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

Other
5
Commercial / Industrial
1

Schools in Hazelwood North iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Hazelwood North Primary School

ICSEA 989 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 140 students

Demographics

The median age is 45, which is 5.0 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is reinforced by the senior share rising 3.9 points while the working-age share fell 3.9 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for only 9.8% of the population, compared to the national average of around 21.6%, a gap of 11.8 percentage points. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (615 residents), Scottish (198) and Irish (150). University qualifications reach 22.3%, which is 7.8 points below the national figure, consistent with the trades and public sector employment base. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national, reflecting the prevalence of couple-with-children households, which make up 544 out of 1,375 total families.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.3%
15-24
10.0%
25-44
20.2%
45-64
32.2%
65+
18.1%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.0%
2 bed
3.9%
3 bed
36.3%
4+ bed
58.8%

Dwelling Structure

100.0%

Houses

N/A

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 47.5% Mortgage 49.8% Rent 2.7%

Every dwelling in Hazelwood North is a separate house, an unusually pure figure compared to most suburban markets. Tenure skews toward ownership: 47.5% own outright and 49.8% hold a mortgage, while just 2.7% rent, far below state and national norms. The bedroom profile is large-home dominant, with 58.8% at four or more bedrooms and 36.3% at three bedrooms, giving less than 5% of dwellings with two or fewer bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,755 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.9%, a comfortable level that is lower than the national median for mortgage holders. Rent-to-income sits at 10.4%, well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning even tenants here face low housing cost pressure. The 4.9% vacancy rate is slightly elevated, consistent with a thin rental market.

Mortgage / mo

$1,755

Rent / wk

$235

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$855

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

4.9%

Unoccupied

27

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

10.4%

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

17.9%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
615
Scottish
198
Irish
150
Other
95
Italian
93
Ancestry NS
76

Household Composition

32.6%

Couples, no children

1,375

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare dominates local employment at 16.4% (84 workers), followed by Construction at 13.5% (69) and Utilities at 10.4% (53), the last being unusually prominent given the Latrobe Valley's energy industry legacy. Public Administration at 9.8% and Manufacturing at 8.2% round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals (112) and Managers (103) are well represented relative to the suburb size, alongside Clerical/Admin (106), which reflects the public sector and utilities weight. The unemployment rate is just 3.0%, below the national figure, and the full-time employment rate is 63.3%. On SEIFA, the suburb scores decile 10 on IEO, meaning the workforce sits in the top national tier for education and occupation advantage, despite the IER score of decile 4, which reflects lower physical and economic resource accumulation in a rural property context.

Unemployment

4.1%

Labour Force

11,706

Unemployed

482

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
10
Disadvantage
9
Economic resources
4
Education & occupation
10

Full-time

63.3%

Part-time

33.7%

Participation

60.6%

Employed

736

Occupations

Professionals 112
Clerical/Admin 106
Managers 103
Labourers 81
Community/Personal 80
Sales 63
Machinery/Drivers 57

Top Industries

Healthcare 16.4%
Construction 13.5%
Utilities 10.4%
Public Admin 9.8%
Manufacturing 8.2%

University

22.3%

Postgraduate

3.4%

Born Overseas

9.8%

Dwellings

521

Transport to Work

Car dependence is nearly universal: 94.9% of residents drive to work, the highest bracket nationally, compared to urban averages where public transport use is substantial. Only 1.1% walk or cycle, consistent with the low density of 23.3 persons per km2 across a 66.6 km2 area. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families travel to neighbouring townships for education. The crime rate is 30.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 22 of 48 total incidents. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD, placing it in the low-disadvantage tier nationally, and decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier. Volunteering is active at 14.2% of residents, above the national average, and housing stress is low with both rent-to-income (10.4%) and mortgage-to-income (17.9%) well below stress thresholds.

Drive

94.9%

Public Transport

N/A

Walk / Cycle

1.1%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.2%/yr

(+32 people/yr)

Established

Hazelwood North is a slow-growth, established suburb with annual population growth of just 0.2%, adding roughly 32 persons per year. The 10-year population change was 1.3%, one of the lower rates in regional Victoria. The broader area population, tracked through forecast data, reached 15,880 in 2024 and is projected to grow gradually to around 16,068 by 2031 under the medium scenario. Net internal migration runs at negative 257 per year, consistent with a modest outflow of younger residents, while overseas arrivals of 394 per year sustain the population base. Rent growth of 18.6% over the period and a real income growth of 4.4% indicate improving affordability, which improved from 33.0% in 2011 to 30.4% in 2021. The gentrification stage is classified as early signs, driven by the overseas inflow and COVID recovery pattern.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+394

Net Internal / yr

-257

20

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Net internal outflow -257/yr, Strong overseas inflow +394/yr, COVID recovered (-7% dip → full recovery)

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

48

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

30.9

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
22
Crimes against the person
11
Drug offences
8
Public order and security offences
4

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Hazelwood North compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 24%
Household Income
Top 13%
Rent Level
Bottom 42%
Renters
Bottom 0%
Uni Educated
Bottom 45%
Born Overseas
Bottom 28%
Density
Top 35%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hazelwood North a good suburb to live in?

Hazelwood North ranks in decile 10 on IRSAD and IEO nationally, the top advantage tier for socio-economic position and education-occupation. Household income sits in the 87.1st percentile. Housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 17.9% and rent-to-income at 10.4%. The main trade-off is high car dependence with 94.9% driving to work and no schools within the suburb boundary.

What is the median house price in Hazelwood North?

No recent median house price data is available for Hazelwood North, reflecting low transaction volumes in this small locality of 1,552 residents. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,755, and rent averages $235 per week. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.9% is well below the 30% stress threshold compared to metropolitan markets.

What schools are in Hazelwood North?

No schools are recorded within the Hazelwood North boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers 66.6 km2 with a population of 1,552, so families travel to neighbouring towns such as Morwell or Traralgon for schooling. University qualifications are held by 22.3% of residents, which is 7.8 percentage points below the national figure.

Is Hazelwood North safe?

Hazelwood North recorded 48 total crime incidents, giving a rate of 30.9 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 22 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 11. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD nationally, placing it in the low-disadvantage tier, which is broadly consistent with a lower-crime profile.

Is Hazelwood North good for property investment?

The renter share of 2.7% is very low compared to national norms, limiting the rental market. Weekly rent of $235 is modest and the 4.9% vacancy rate is slightly elevated. Only 3 development applications were lodged in 12 months. Net internal migration runs at negative 257 per year for the area, so population growth relies on overseas arrivals of 394 per year rather than domestic demand.

How is Hazelwood North's population changing?

Annual population growth is just 0.2%, adding around 32 people per year, with a 10-year change of only 1.3%. The area recovered from a 7.2% COVID dip and sits 5.6% above that low. Medium forecasts project gradual growth to around 16,068 by 2031. Net internal outflow of 257 per year is offset by overseas arrivals of 394, keeping the population stable.

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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