VIC 3555 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Kangaroo Flat

Detached houses and lower prices define Kangaroo Flat more than inner Bendigo: 89.7% of dwellings are separate houses and the Apr-Jun 2024 median house price is $547,500. At 11,328 residents, it is older than the national profile by 4 years and lower income at the 21.4th household income percentile. Compared with nearby Golden Square and central Bendigo, it reads as a more suburban, car-based pocket with 88.7% driving to work and 1.6% using public transport. The trade-off is affordability with a higher crime setting, led by 1,350 recorded offences.

Kangaroo Flat urban fabric map

Population

11,328

Median Age

44.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,144/wk

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

55

Median House

$548K

Apr-Jun 2024

18.14 km²· 624.4 people/km²· Family income $1,466/wk

Homebuyers get conventional family housing at a lower entry point: the median house price is $547,500, with 89.7% separate houses and only 0.9% apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.1%, while 4-plus bedroom stock adds 22.2%, so the market suits buyers wanting space more than apartment choice. Mortgage payments absorb 26.2% of income, higher than rent's 24.9% but not flagged as stress, because the $1,300 monthly mortgage sits within local household incomes of $1,144 weekly.

For Buyers

Homebuyers get conventional family housing at a lower entry point: the median house price is $547,500, with 89.7% separate houses and only 0.9% apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.1%, while 4-plus bedroom stock adds 22.2%, so the market suits buyers wanting space more than apartment choice. Mortgage payments absorb 26.2% of income, higher than rent's 24.9% but not flagged as stress, because the $1,300 monthly mortgage sits within local household incomes of $1,144 weekly.

For Investors

Kangaroo Flat is a lower-rent, value-led investment market rather than a premium yield story. Renting households make up 28.8%, lower than the 39.8% owned outright share, so tenant depth is present but not dominant. The median rent is $285 per week and vacancy is 5.6%, which means leasing risk needs more attention than in tighter markets. Development is active but modest, with 19 applications in 12 months and several 2-lot subdivisions, supporting gradual renewal rather than a supply surge.

Development Activity

Total DAs

77

Last 12 Months

55

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+587.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
17
Other
13
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
10
New Dwelling
7
Garage / Carport / Shed
5
Tree Removal
3
Commercial / Industrial
3
Signage / Advertising
2

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

St Monica's School

ICSEA 1032 Primary Catholic

Prep-6 · 284 students

Crusoe 7-10 Secondary College

ICSEA 966 Secondary Government

7-10 · 925 students

Kangaroo Flat Primary School

ICSEA 908 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 313 students

Demographics

Kangaroo Flat skews older and more Australian-born than the national benchmark. The median age is 44, which is 4 years above national, while 11.9% were born overseas, 9.7 percentage points below national. University attainment is 19.6%, below national by 10.5 points, matching the suburb's practical workforce profile. English ancestry is the largest group at 4,935 people, followed by Scottish at 1,218 and Irish at 1,206. Household size averages 2.2, lower than national by 0.3.

Age Distribution

0-14
16.1%
15-24
9.9%
25-44
24.4%
45-64
22.2%
65+
27.5%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.0%
2 bed
17.8%
3 bed
57.1%
4+ bed
22.2%

Dwelling Structure

89.7%

Houses

9.4%

Townhouse

0.9%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 39.8% Mortgage 31.3% Rent 28.8%

Housing is heavily detached and owner-occupied compared with denser Bendigo pockets. Separate houses account for 89.7%, semi-detached homes 9.4% and apartments just 0.9%, so choice is broad for house buyers but narrow for unit buyers. Prices have lifted from $292,500 in 2013 to a $547,500 median in Apr-Jun 2024, an 87.2% rise across 14 years at a 4.6% CAGR. The latest price matches the peak, with 0.0% peak-to-latest decline, while tenure is split between 39.8% owned outright, 31.3% mortgaged and 28.8% renting.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,300

Rent / wk

$285

HH Size

2.2

Personal Income / wk

$638

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

5.6%

Unoccupied

278

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

24.9%

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

26.2%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Punjabi
51
Mandarin
26
Hindi
13

Ancestry

English
4,935
Scottish
1,218
Irish
1,206
Ancestry NS
916
Other
808
German
447

Household Composition

31.7%

Couples, no children

8,077

Total families

Economy & Employment

The local economy leans toward essential services and trades, with healthcare the largest industry at 23.5%, followed by manufacturing at 11.3%, education at 9.9%, construction at 8.8% and retail at 8.5%. Occupations show the same pattern: labourers number 794, community and personal service workers 688 and professionals 672. Unemployment is 4.6% and full-time work is 60.4% of employed residents, but participation is 47.3% with 3,972 people not in the labour force. SEIFA ranks are lower: IEO decile 3, IER decile 3, IRSD decile 3 and IRSAD decile 2, reflecting lower advantage despite stable work bases.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
2
Disadvantage
3
Economic resources
3
Education & occupation
3

Full-time

60.4%

Part-time

35.0%

Participation

47.3%

Employed

4,286

Occupations

Labourers 794
Community/Personal 688
Professionals 672
Clerical/Admin 538
Sales 485
Managers 367
Machinery/Drivers 313

Top Industries

Healthcare 23.5%
Manufacturing 11.3%
Education 9.9%
Construction 8.8%
Retail 8.5%

University

19.6%

Postgraduate

4.1%

Born Overseas

11.9%

Dwellings

4,654

Transport to Work

Daily life is car-led: 88.7% drive to work, compared with only 1.6% using public transport and 2.2% walking or cycling. Schooling is a practical strength, with 3 local schools across an ICSEA range of 908 to 1032. St Monica's School leads the local ICSEA at 1032 with 284 enrolments, while Crusoe 7-10 Secondary College provides a government secondary option at 966 ICSEA and 925 enrolments. Safety is the main watchpoint, with 1,350 offences and a crime rate of 119.2 per 1,000 residents, higher than many family buyers would prefer. IRSAD decile 2 also ranks lower for overall advantage.

Drive

88.7%

Public Transport

1.6%

Walk / Cycle

2.2%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

1,350

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

119.2

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
712
Justice procedures offences
225
Crimes against the person
196
Other offences
101

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Kangaroo Flat compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 4%
Household Income
Bottom 21%
Rent Level
Top 44%
Apartments
Bottom 19%
Renters
Top 30%
Uni Educated
Bottom 36%
Public Transport
Bottom 27%
Born Overseas
Bottom 40%
Density
Top 18%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kangaroo Flat a good suburb to live in?

Kangaroo Flat can suit buyers wanting detached housing and Bendigo access, with 89.7% separate houses and a $547,500 median house price. It is car-dependent, with 88.7% driving to work, and safety needs checking street by street because the crime rate is 119.2 per 1,000 residents.

What is the median house price in Kangaroo Flat?

The median house price in Kangaroo Flat is $547,500 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is up from $292,500 in 2013, an 87.2% increase over 14 years, and the latest quarter also matches the recorded peak price.

What schools are in Kangaroo Flat?

Kangaroo Flat has 3 local schools: St Monica's School with ICSEA 1032 and 284 enrolments, Crusoe 7-10 Secondary College with ICSEA 966 and 925 enrolments, and Kangaroo Flat Primary School with ICSEA 908 and 313 enrolments.

Is Kangaroo Flat safe?

Kangaroo Flat has a higher safety watchpoint, with 1,350 recorded offences and a crime rate of 119.2 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences are the largest category at 712 incidents, so buyers should compare specific streets and property security.

Is Kangaroo Flat good for property investment?

Kangaroo Flat may suit value-focused investors, with a $547,500 median house price, $285 weekly median rent and 28.8% of households renting. The 5.6% vacancy rate is the key caution, because it can affect letting times and rent growth.

How is Kangaroo Flat's population changing?

Kangaroo Flat has a population of 11,328 and an older profile, with a median age of 44, which is 4 years above national. Housing demand appears steady rather than explosive, supported by 19 development applications in 12 months and recent median price growth to $547,500.

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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