Junortoun
With 99.3% of dwellings being separate houses and just 4.8% of residents renting, Junortoun sits at one extreme of the owner-occupier spectrum in regional Victoria. At a median age of 43, the suburb runs 3 years above the national average, and household incomes land in the 82.7th percentile nationally, well above the typical regional centre. The 60.2% share of four-plus bedroom homes signals family formation at scale rather than downsizer territory. Crime rates at 23.3 incidents per 1,000 residents are low, and 81.4% of residents had not moved in the previous 5 years, pointing to a stable, settled community.
Population
3,862
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,170/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$825K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $825,000 reflects the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, down 6.8% from a 2022 peak of $885,000. Over the longer term, prices grew from $490,000 in 2013 to current levels, a 68.4% gain over 14 years with a CAGR of 3.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is low compared to most metropolitan markets. The housing stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 99.3%, with 60.2% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, making this ideal for larger families. Semi-detached dwellings account for just 0.2% and there are effectively no apartments, so buyers face a market with very limited stock variety.
For Buyers
The median house price of $825,000 reflects the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, down 6.8% from a 2022 peak of $885,000. Over the longer term, prices grew from $490,000 in 2013 to current levels, a 68.4% gain over 14 years with a CAGR of 3.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is low compared to most metropolitan markets. The housing stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 99.3%, with 60.2% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, making this ideal for larger families. Semi-detached dwellings account for just 0.2% and there are effectively no apartments, so buyers face a market with very limited stock variety.
For Investors
The rental market in Junortoun is thin: only 4.8% of residents rent, compared to the national average of roughly 30%, which limits the tenant pool substantially. Weekly rent sits at $380, and with a median house price of $825,000, the implied gross yield is around 2.4%, below typical investment benchmarks. Vacancy is at 4.5%, elevated for a low-renter suburb, suggesting available rental properties sit empty longer. Development activity recorded 17 applications in the past 12 months, mostly single dwellings and subdivisions, indicating incremental rather than large-scale supply growth. The suburb's strong owner-occupier base and household income in the 82.7th percentile nationally provide demand stability, though the investor proposition depends entirely on long-term capital appreciation rather than rental yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
19
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+750.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 43 sits 3 years above the national average, reflecting an established, family-settled population. University qualifications reach 35.7%, which is 5.6 percentage points above the national figure, consistent with the white-collar occupational profile. Overseas-born residents make up just 9.1% of the population, 12.5 percentage points below national, the lowest diversity tier. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,662), Irish (643) and Scottish (501) are the three largest groups. The average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national average, driven by the high share of couples with children (1,707 family households). Couples without children account for 26.1% of households, and there are no single-parent families recorded in the data. Volunteering runs at 21.4%, above typical suburban rates.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.3%
Houses
0.2%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Junortoun's housing market is defined by long-term owner-occupancy. At 42.5%, the outright ownership rate is high, and 52.7% carry a mortgage, leaving only 4.8% as renters. This tenure profile is unusual by national standards, where renters typically account for closer to 30% of residents. Four-plus bedroom dwellings dominate at 60.2%, with three-bedroom homes at 25.5% and two-bedroom at 12.0%. The price history shows a rise from a 2015 trough of $417,500 to a 2022 peak of $885,000, then a moderate correction to $825,000. Mortgage stress is absent: the mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.8% and rent-to-income of 17.5% are both comfortably below stress thresholds. Housing stress is not a material concern here compared to most Australian markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$847
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
61
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
3,338
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 26.8% of the workforce (343 workers), more than double the share of the next sector. Education follows at 13.4% (172 workers) and Construction at 10.2% (131), with Public Admin at 9.0% and Professional/Tech at 5.5%. By occupation, Professionals lead with 534 workers, followed by Managers (264), Clerical/Admin (242) and Community/Personal services (226). The unemployment rate is 3.3%, below the national rate, and full-time employment runs at 59.5%. The participation rate of 59.8% sits at a moderate level, with 1,001 residents not in the labour force, partly explained by the older median age of 43. Personal weekly income of $847 and household weekly income of $2,170 reflect a professional workforce earning above regional averages.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.5%
Part-time
37.2%
Participation
59.8%
Employed
1,750
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.7%
Postgraduate
6.6%
Born Overseas
9.1%
Dwellings
1,292
Transport to Work
Car dependency is the defining transport reality here: 92.6% of residents drove to work, one of the higher rates compared to metropolitan suburbs, and public transport use is negligible at well under 2%. The suburb records 90 total crimes annually, giving a rate of 23.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, classified as low crime compared to the broader Greater Bendigo context. Property and deception offences account for 45 of the 90 incidents, with crimes against the person at 21. No schools are recorded within the Junortoun boundary in this dataset, so families depend on facilities in neighbouring Bendigo suburbs. The 18.6% residential turnover rate and 81.4% of residents who had not moved suggest a settled, low-churn population. Only 4.1% (152 people) need daily assistance, well below the national average for ageing suburbs.
Drive
92.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
90
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
23.3
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 Junortoun compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Junortoun a good suburb to live in?
Junortoun suits families seeking a low-density, owner-occupier setting near Bendigo. Household incomes sit in the 82.7th percentile nationally, crime is low at 23.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, and 81.4% of residents had not moved in the previous 5 years, pointing to strong community stability. The main trade-off is near-total car dependency, with 92.6% of residents driving to work.
What is the median house price in Junortoun?
The median house price is $825,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024. Prices peaked at $885,000 in 2022 and are currently 6.8% below that peak. Over 14 years from 2013, prices grew 68.4% from $490,000, a CAGR of 3.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.8%.
What schools are in Junortoun?
No schools are recorded inside the Junortoun boundary in this dataset. With 3,862 residents spread across 21.41 square kilometres, families rely on schools in adjacent Bendigo suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 35.7%, which is 5.6 percentage points above the national average, suggesting educational attainment is valued in the area.
Is Junortoun safe?
Junortoun recorded 90 total crimes in the most recent year, a rate of 23.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 45 of those, crimes against the person 21, and justice procedures offences 19. This rate is low compared to urban areas, consistent with the suburb's low-density, high-owner-occupier character.
Is Junortoun good for property investment?
The investment fundamentals are mixed. Weekly rent of $380 against a $825,000 median gives a gross yield of around 2.4%, below investment benchmarks. Only 4.8% of residents rent, far lower than the national average, limiting the tenant pool. Vacancy runs at 4.5%. Long-term capital growth of 3.8% CAGR over 14 years is the stronger argument for holding property here.
How is Junortoun's population changing?
Junortoun's population is 3,862 at a low density of 180.4 persons per km2. The suburb shows 17 development applications in the past 12 months, mostly individual dwellings and subdivisions, indicating steady but incremental growth. The stable residency rate of 81.4% who had not moved in 5 years and median age of 43, which is 3 years above national, point to an established, slowly ageing demographic rather than rapid expansion.
What industries employ residents in Junortoun?
Healthcare employs 26.8% of the workforce (343 workers), more than double the next sector. Education accounts for 13.4% (172 workers), Construction 10.2% (131), Public Admin 9.0% (115) and Professional/Tech 5.5% (70). By occupation, Professionals (534) and Managers (264) are the two largest groups, reflecting the suburb's above-national university qualification rate of 35.7%.
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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