Heathcote
At 57, Heathcote's median age is 17 years above the national figure, making its 2,962 residents older than nearby Axedale and the larger Bendigo area. Compared with Bendigo, the smaller service-town setting provides more space but relies heavily on cars, with just 0.4% using public transport. An 18.6% vacancy rate and 53.0% outright ownership point to a settled but uneven housing market, while internal migration is supporting gradual change.
Local council: Greater Bendigo
Population
2,962
Median Age
57.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$946/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
49
Median House
$550K
October to December 2025
A $1,291 monthly mortgage and mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.5% indicate repayment pressure, especially for households near the 10.3 income percentile. The 53.0% outright ownership rate supports stability, but buyers should inspect vacancy, maintenance and resale depth before choosing a larger property.
For Buyers
A $1,291 monthly mortgage and mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.5% indicate repayment pressure, especially for households near the 10.3 income percentile. The 53.0% outright ownership rate supports stability, but buyers should inspect vacancy, maintenance and resale depth before choosing a larger property.
For Investors
Heathcote's rental case is shaped by a small renting cohort and high vacancy. Only 14.5% of households rent, and weekly rent is $255, but the 18.6% vacancy rate may weaken income reliability compared with a tighter rental market. Development activity reached 47 applications in 12 months, spanning outbuilding works and changes to food, drink and retail use, so local amenity may evolve without implying a large dwelling pipeline. Internal migration is the primary growth driver, while a 1.49% annual trend supports measured rather than speculative expansion. Investors should verify tenant depth, insurance and vacancy history before relying on headline yields.
Development Activity
Total DAs
60
Last 12 Months
49
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2350.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Heathcote
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Heathcote Primary School
Holy Rosary School
Demographics
Heathcote's median age of 57 is 17 years above the national figure, and the 2.0-person average household is 0.5 below the national average. That helps explain why couples without children make up 58.6% of families, while couples with children account for 25.0%. Only 14.0% of residents were born overseas, 7.6 percentage points below the national level; English ancestry totals 1,208 people and Irish ancestry 408. Christianity totals 1,293 people versus 1,196 reporting no religion. University attainment is 16.0%, 14.1 points below national, so compared with Bendigo, Heathcote has a more mature, lower-mobility household profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.3%
Houses
2.4%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached homes define Heathcote: 95.3% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 0.5% apartments and 2.4% semi-detached stock. The bedroom mix includes 50.8% three-bedroom homes, 21.3% with 4 or more bedrooms, 21.0% with 2 bedrooms and 6.9% with 0 or 1 bedroom. Ownership is relatively settled, with 53.0% owned outright and 30.8% mortgaged, while 14.5% are rented. Compared with earlier entry prices, the market is less forgiving, and the 31.5% mortgage-to-income ratio explains why some buyers may face stress.
Mortgage / mo
$1,291
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$255
Census 2021
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$490
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.6%
Unoccupied
287
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.0%
Couples with children
58.6%
Couples, no children
13.6%
Single parent
788
Total families
Economy & Employment
Heathcote's employment base is led by healthcare at 19.7% of industry jobs, followed by construction at 10.8%, manufacturing at 8.9%, education at 8.6% and public administration at 6.8%. The occupation mix is similarly practical, with trades numbering 171, professionals 155, labourers 142, managers 138 and clerical or administrative workers 99. Unemployment is 5.2% among a labour force of 1,056, while participation is 40.3% and full-time employment 52.6%, reflecting an older population and 1,249 people outside the labour force. Household income sits at the 10.3 percentile, lower than the national middle. IEO, IRSD and IRSAD are all in decile 3, versus IER decile 5, indicating weaker education and advantage measures than economic resources.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
1,056
Unemployed
55
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.6%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
40.3%
Employed
1,001
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.0%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
14.0%
Dwellings
1,250
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-dependent: 75.9% drive to work, compared with 0.4% using public transport and 2.7% walking or cycling; 18.1% work from home. Families have access to 2 local primary schools, one Government and one Catholic, but enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Safety needs practical due diligence: the recorded crime rate is 94.9 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 138, justice procedures at 79 and crimes against the person at 44. Compared with the other recorded offence categories, property-related incidents dominate. IRSAD, IRSD and IEO are all in decile 3, while IER is decile 5. The 16.4% volunteering rate and 22.6-person-per-square-kilometre density support local connection, though services are spread out.
Drive
75.9%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
18.1%
Growth Outlook
Growth in Heathcote is steady but age-led. The annual trend is 1.49%, with internal migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 24.3% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 4.0 percentage points, the working share has fallen 0.5 points and rent growth has reached 62.5%. The affordability measure rose from 42.3 in 2011 to 46.8 in 2021, indicating worsening conditions and higher pressure than the earlier measure. Gentrification is classified as Early signs with a score of 37, indicating selective reinvestment rather than wholesale change. Compared with a fast-expanding outer suburb, Heathcote's opportunity is incremental and service-led.
Population trend: Greater Bendigo council area
Heathcote sits in the Greater Bendigo council area. These are the council area's residents, not Heathcote's.
Residents 2025
126,568
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
281
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
94.9
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 Heathcote compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heathcote a good suburb to live in?
Heathcote suits buyers wanting a small, low-density town with detached housing, but it is less convenient for car-free living. The median age is 57, density is 22.6 people per square kilometre, and 75.9% drive to work. Compare exact streets for services, noise, crime and school access before committing.
What schools are in Heathcote?
Heathcote has 2 local primary schools: Heathcote Primary School in the Government sector and Holy Rosary School in the Catholic sector. Both are primary settings, so families should check the exact enrolment zone and confirm current year levels, places and transport for an address before signing a contract.
Is Heathcote safe?
Crime due diligence is important. The recorded rate is 94.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, including 138 property and deception offences, 79 justice procedures offences and 44 crimes against the person. Compare recent incidents by street and offence type, and assess lighting, access and insurance costs.
Is Heathcote good for property investment?
Investment may suit a long-hold strategy, but the rental signals are mixed. Weekly rent is $255 and only 14.5% of households rent, yet vacancy is 18.6%, which can reduce income reliability compared with a tighter market. Internal migration and a 1.49% annual growth trend are positives, while 47 development applications add activity without guaranteeing new dwellings.
How is Heathcote's population changing?
Heathcote is ageing while still recording regional growth. The median age is 57, the senior share has increased 4.0 percentage points, and the forecast trend is 1.49% annually, driven by internal migration. Population change across the wider area is 24.3% over 10 years, so growth is positive but shaped by older households and service demand.
What development is occurring in Heathcote?
Development activity reached 47 applications in the past 12 months, including outbuilding changes and a planning amendment involving food, drink and retail use. That points to ongoing local investment, but the examples do not establish a dwelling pipeline. Check permits, timing and infrastructure capacity for any specific project.
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).
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