Herne Hill
At 1.5 square kilometres with 3,507 residents, Herne Hill packs a density of 2,336 people per km2, yet 71.4% of dwellings are separate houses, a combination that signals a compact, established suburb where block subdivision has barely eroded the detached-housing character. The median house price of $695,500 sits well below the national median for metropolitan areas, while university qualifications at 36.0% run nearly 6 points above the national figure. Household income places the suburb at the 41.7th percentile nationally, below average in absolute terms but supported by a workforce anchored in healthcare and education, the two largest industries by far.
Population
3,507
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,420/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$696K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $695,500 median house price recorded for Apr-Jun 2024 is 9.1% below the 2022 peak of $765,000, giving buyers a meaningful discount compared to the cycle high. Price history shows strong long-run appreciation: the median has risen 98.7% from $350,000 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 5.0% over 14 years. The stock is dominated by 3-bedroom homes at 51.3%, with 4-plus bedroom at 13.6%, so most stock suits families rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2% sits below the 30% stress threshold, making ownership relatively accessible compared to most major capital suburbs. Outright owners at 27.5% and mortgage holders at 33.6% together form a majority, while 38.9% rent.
For Buyers
The $695,500 median house price recorded for Apr-Jun 2024 is 9.1% below the 2022 peak of $765,000, giving buyers a meaningful discount compared to the cycle high. Price history shows strong long-run appreciation: the median has risen 98.7% from $350,000 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 5.0% over 14 years. The stock is dominated by 3-bedroom homes at 51.3%, with 4-plus bedroom at 13.6%, so most stock suits families rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2% sits below the 30% stress threshold, making ownership relatively accessible compared to most major capital suburbs. Outright owners at 27.5% and mortgage holders at 33.6% together form a majority, while 38.9% rent.
For Investors
A 38.9% renter share gives Herne Hill a tenant pool above the national average, and weekly rent of $270 reflects the suburb's mid-market positioning. The 6.4% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling more supply than immediate demand in the rental segment. Development activity is low at 3 applications in the past 12 months, with no new dwelling approvals recorded in the samples, which limits near-term new supply risk but also signals limited capital works activity. Gross yield on the $695,500 median at $270 weekly rent approximates 2.0%, low by regional standards. The long-run capital story is stronger: 98.7% price growth since 2013 at 5.0% CAGR annually. Investors should weigh the high vacancy rate against the below-average household income, which caps rent growth potential.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Herne Hill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Clonard College
7-12 · 940 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, making Herne Hill a relatively younger suburb compared to the national profile. Overseas-born residents at 13.3% sit 8.3 points below the national rate, reflecting a predominantly locally-born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 1,413 residents, followed by Irish (609) and Scottish (497), with German at 201 rounding out the top groups. University qualifications reach 36.0%, which is 5.9 points above national, a gap explained by the high share of healthcare and education workers in the local workforce. Average household size is 2.1, marginally below the national figure, consistent with a mix of family and couples-without-children households. Couples with children (1,043 families) outnumber couples without (735).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.4%
Houses
9.9%
Townhouse
18.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Herne Hill's housing stock is detached-dominant: 71.4% separate houses, 18.7% apartments and 9.9% semi-detached. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.3% of all dwellings, confirming a family-oriented stock profile. Tenure splits to 27.5% owning outright, 33.6% on a mortgage and 38.9% renting, with renters representing the single largest group. The median house price of $695,500 peaked at $765,000 in 2022 and has since pulled back 9.1%. Long-run growth since 2013 is 98.7%, equivalent to a 5.0% CAGR over 14 years, above average for a suburb at the 41.7th household income percentile nationally. Mortgage stress is moderate: the 28.2% mortgage-to-income ratio and $1,733 monthly repayment stay below the 30% stress benchmark, and rent at 19.0% of income leaves tenants comfortable.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$270
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$870
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
109
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.0%
Couples, no children
2,535
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 21.6% of the workforce (300 workers), well ahead of Education at 13.8% (191) and Construction at 11.9% (165). This two-sector concentration in service industries explains why Professionals (449) and Community/Personal service workers (294) are the top occupation groups, with Clerical/Admin (242) and Managers (196) following. The unemployment rate is 4.2%, close to the state average, and full-time employment runs at 62.0% of employed residents. The participation rate of 64.8% is broadly in line with national norms. Volunteering sits at 14.8%, a modest community engagement level. All four SEIFA decile scores are unavailable in the dataset, so relative advantage cannot be placed precisely, but household income at the 41.7th national percentile indicates a below-average but not low-income area.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.0%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
64.8%
Employed
1,801
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.0%
Postgraduate
8.3%
Born Overseas
13.3%
Dwellings
1,597
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 88.9% of residents drive to work, and only 2.9% use public transport, below the national average for metropolitan suburbs. Walking and cycling together account for 3.0% of commuters. No schools are recorded within the Herne Hill boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Geelong local government area. Crime totals 196 offences, a rate of 55.9 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 107 of these. Crimes against the person represent 29 incidents, a relatively low share of total offending. Rent-to-income at 19.0% and mortgage-to-income at 28.2% both sit below stress benchmarks, meaning most residents are not financially strained by housing costs, a positive livability indicator compared to higher-cost metropolitan suburbs.
Drive
88.9%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
196
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
55.9
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 Herne Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Herne Hill a good suburb to live in?
Herne Hill suits families and professionals who value a detached-housing environment at a below-average price. The $695,500 median is accessible relative to major capital suburbs, mortgage-to-income at 28.2% stays below the 30% stress threshold, and university qualifications at 36.0% run nearly 6 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are high car dependency at 88.9% and a 6.4% rental vacancy rate.
What is the median house price in Herne Hill?
The median house price was $695,500 for the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, down 9.1% from the 2022 peak of $765,000. Long-run growth since 2013 is 98.7% at a CAGR of 5.0% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $270 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733.
What schools are in Herne Hill?
No schools are recorded inside the Herne Hill boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Geelong municipality. Despite the absence of local schools, 36.0% of Herne Hill residents hold university qualifications, which is 5.9 points above the national figure.
Is Herne Hill safe?
Total recorded crime is 196 offences, a rate of 55.9 per 1,000 residents. The largest category is property and deception offences at 107 incidents, followed by justice procedures offences (42) and crimes against the person (29). Drug offences account for 11 incidents, a low share of total offending.
Is Herne Hill good for property investment?
The long-run capital record is solid: 98.7% price growth from $350,000 in 2013 to $695,500 in 2024, a 5.0% annual CAGR. However, the 6.4% vacancy rate is elevated, and gross yield at $270 weekly rent against the median is roughly 2.0%. The 38.9% renter share provides a broad tenant base, but below-average household income at the 41.7th national percentile limits rent growth.
How is Herne Hill's population changing?
The current population is 3,507 across 1.5 km2 at a density of 2,336 per km2. Residential mobility is low, with 75.5% of residents staying at the same address over the five-year Census period, a turnover rate of 24.5%. The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, indicating a relatively younger population compared to the national profile.
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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