Jackass Flat
At 28, Jackass Flat sits 12 years below the national age comparison, yet its housing is overwhelmingly family-sized: 73.3% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 99.4% are separate houses. The suburb has 1,907 residents across 2.21 square kilometres, with household income at the 64.2nd percentile. Compared with denser parts of Bendigo, the detached format points to a mortgage-belt setting near Epsom, while a 6.28% forecast annual trend marks strong momentum. The mix suits households wanting space and car-based access, but buyers should allow for limited public transport, used by just 0.6%.
Local council: Greater Bendigo
Population
1,907
Median Age
28.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,805/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$645K
October to December 2025
That rise reflects sustained demand for detached stock: 99.4% of homes are separate houses and 73.3% contain four or more bedrooms. The typical mortgage payment is $1,515 a month, and mortgage costs equal 19.4% of household income, higher than the 18.8% rent-to-income share. Since 48.7% of occupied dwellings are mortgaged, affordability is workable for many households, though the large-home format can mean a higher upfront entry price than smaller-stock areas around Bendigo. Compare exact streets, block sizes and commute routes before buying.
For Buyers
That rise reflects sustained demand for detached stock: 99.4% of homes are separate houses and 73.3% contain four or more bedrooms. The typical mortgage payment is $1,515 a month, and mortgage costs equal 19.4% of household income, higher than the 18.8% rent-to-income share. Since 48.7% of occupied dwellings are mortgaged, affordability is workable for many households, though the large-home format can mean a higher upfront entry price than smaller-stock areas around Bendigo. Compare exact streets, block sizes and commute routes before buying.
For Investors
Investors get a $340 weekly median rent, with 34.1% of households renting. That renting share is higher than outright ownership at 17.2%, creating an established tenant pool, while the 7.2% vacancy rate means leasing conditions should be checked carefully. Demand is supported by 99.4% separate houses and a young median age of 28, because family-sized dwellings can attract longer-stay tenants. Seven development applications in 12 months indicate subdivision and building activity, including one application specifying a dwelling, which may expand supply over time. Migration is labelled Balanced, so the case rests more on local housing demand and infrastructure access than on a single migration channel. The long-run price CAGR is 4.3%, lower than the latest 6.28% annual growth trend, making entry timing important.
Development Activity
Total DAs
11
Last 12 Months
9
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
Demographics
Jackass Flat has a young, family-forming profile: the median age is 28, which is 12 years below the national comparison, while average household size is 2.9, or 0.4 above the national figure. Couples with children make up 46.3% of families and one-parent families 20.4%, helping explain the strong demand for four-bedroom homes. University attainment is 24.4%, 5.7 percentage points below the national comparison, and 15.0% of residents were born overseas, 6.6 points lower. English ancestry is recorded for 756 people, followed by Other at 278, Irish at 172 and Scottish at 166. Compared with older parts of Bendigo, the age profile is lower and more family-oriented, while no religion, at 1,089 people, is more common than Christianity at 634.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.4%
Houses
0.6%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is almost entirely detached and skewed to larger floorplans. Separate houses account for 99.4% of dwellings, with 73.3% containing four or more bedrooms and 24.8% having three bedrooms; only 0.6% are semi-detached. Tenure leans toward the mortgage belt: 48.7% are mortgaged, compared with 17.2% owned outright and 34.1% rented. Compared with denser Bendigo neighbourhoods, this stock profile favours families seeking space but reduces apartment-style entry options.
Mortgage / mo
$1,515
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$340
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$869
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.2%
Unoccupied
49
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.3%
Couples with children
30.7%
Couples, no children
20.4%
Single parent
534
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local industry at 30.2% or 190 workers, followed by Construction at 10.6% and 67, Education at 9.7% and 61, Manufacturing at 8.7% and 55, and Public Administration at 6.8% and 43. The occupation mix is broad: Professionals number 180, Community and Personal Services 164, Trades 145, Labourers 130 and Clerical and Administrative workers 93. Labour-force participation is 72.4%, unemployment is 5.1%, and full-time employment is 60.3%, combining strong workforce engagement with varied job types. SEIFA IEO ranks in decile 9, above IER decile 6, while IRSD is decile 6 and IRSAD decile 7. That gap suggests education and occupation advantages are higher than household resource outcomes, consistent with the mix of professionals, trades and labourers.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
1,009
Unemployed
51
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.3%
Part-time
31.4%
Participation
72.4%
Employed
958
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.4%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
15.0%
Dwellings
633
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 81.3% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.6% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling. Work-from-home accounts for 11.2%, but households should still test peak-time routes because local mobility is less flexible than in better-served Bendigo locations. Jackass Flat itself has 0 identified schools, so families need to check nearby catchments and exact-address enrolment rules before purchasing. The crime rate is 46.1 incidents per 1,000 people, with 37 property and deception offences, 35 crimes against the person and 12 justice-procedure offences. IRSAD sits in decile 7, while 5.2% need assistance and volunteering is 10.8%, giving a reasonably advantaged social setting alongside clear transport trade-offs.
Drive
81.3%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
11.2%
Growth Outlook
Jackass Flat has a forecast annual trend of 6.28%, higher than its 4.3% long-run house-price CAGR, making it a strong momentum story in the local housing cycle. The forecast type is established and the primary migration driver is labelled Balanced, so growth is not tied to one clearly dominant inflow. The area recorded a 4.9% Covid-era dip and remains 2.3% below its earlier recovery position, which helps explain why current momentum can coexist with an incomplete rebound. Seven development applications over 12 months, including subdivision and a dwelling permit, add a practical supply signal. Buyers should distinguish current price acceleration from longer-run performance when comparing Jackass Flat with Bendigo and Epsom.
Population trend: Greater Bendigo council area
Jackass Flat sits in the Greater Bendigo council area. These are the council area's residents, not Jackass Flat'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
88
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
46.1
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 Jackass Flat compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jackass Flat a good suburb to live in?
Jackass Flat can suit buyers wanting a young, family-oriented setting with detached housing: 73.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and the median age is 28. The trade-off is car dependence, with 81.3% driving and only 0.6% using public transport, so commute patterns matter.
What schools are in Jackass Flat?
There are 0 identified schools within Jackass Flat itself. Families should check nearby Bendigo-area options, school sectors and exact-address enrolment zones, because catchments can change across short distances.
Is Jackass Flat safe?
Safety is mixed rather than simple to summarise. The recorded rate is 46.1 incidents per 1,000 people, including 37 property and deception offences and 35 crimes against the person. Check recent, street-level information before deciding, especially when comparing nearby suburbs.
Is Jackass Flat good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking detached family housing, with a $340 weekly median rent and 34.1% renting. However, the 7.2% vacancy rate and 7 development applications in 12 months could affect leasing and future supply. Compare insurance, maintenance and leasing evidence with the 4.3% long-run price CAGR.
How is Jackass Flat's population changing?
The suburb has 1,907 residents today and a young median age of 28. The forecast annual trend is 6.28%, with migration described as Balanced. These indicators point to continued change, while the 7 development applications in 12 months and incomplete post-Covid recovery of -2.3% are worth tracking.
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).
Explore Jackass Flat on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map