Katunga
Agriculture accounts for 38.8% of local employment in Katunga, more than double any other sector, making this one of Victoria's most farm-dependent communities at 1,025 residents spread across 163.88 square kilometres. Population density sits at just 6.3 people per km2, far below state averages, yet the community maintains a strong ownership culture with 41.2% of households owning outright. Household income lands at the 47.1st percentile nationally, roughly average, which is notable given the remote setting. The crime rate of 25.4 incidents per 1,000 residents is low compared to metropolitan benchmarks, and housing affordability metrics are well below stress thresholds, with mortgage-to-income at 18.5%.
Population
1,025
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,505/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
The most recent recorded median house price for Katunga is $290,000, based on 2023 data, which is substantially lower than Victorian metropolitan medians. Price history shows the suburb peaked at $330,000 in 2019, declined to a trough of $92,000 in 2017, then recovered to $327,500 in 2022 before softening to $290,000. That gives a 10-year compound annual growth rate of 2.4%, below typical capital city benchmarks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,203, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.5% sits well below the 30% stress threshold. Detached houses make up 99.1% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes at 47.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 45.1%, reflecting the farm-family housing pattern common across the Goulburn Valley.
For Buyers
The most recent recorded median house price for Katunga is $290,000, based on 2023 data, which is substantially lower than Victorian metropolitan medians. Price history shows the suburb peaked at $330,000 in 2019, declined to a trough of $92,000 in 2017, then recovered to $327,500 in 2022 before softening to $290,000. That gives a 10-year compound annual growth rate of 2.4%, below typical capital city benchmarks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,203, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.5% sits well below the 30% stress threshold. Detached houses make up 99.1% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes at 47.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 45.1%, reflecting the farm-family housing pattern common across the Goulburn Valley.
For Investors
Katunga's vacancy rate of 14.9% is elevated compared to healthy market norms of around 3%, signalling limited rental demand relative to supply. Weekly rent of $240 against a $290,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, above typical metropolitan yields, but the high vacancy tempers that appeal significantly. Only 18.3% of households rent, lower than the national average, because the ownership culture is strong at 81.7% owner-occupied. Development activity recorded 4 planning applications in the past 12 months, including a 14-lot subdivision lodged in August 2025, which suggests some incremental land release is occurring. Investors should weigh the rural liquidity risk: price history over 10 years shows a 26.6% gain from $229,000 to $290,000, a modest return by national standards.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Katunga iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Katunga Primary School
Prep-6 · 95 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, which is unusual for a small rural community where aging profiles are more common. Overseas-born residents at 13.8% are 7.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry: English (359), Irish (102), and Scottish (102) are the three largest ancestry groups. University qualifications at 18.8% sit 11.3 points below the national rate, consistent with a workforce dominated by farm operators and labourers rather than knowledge workers. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national figure, driven by the high share of couples with children (329 families). Volunteering runs at 18.2%, indicative of community participation despite the low-density setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.1%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Katunga's housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 99.1%, with semi-detached at just 0.9% and effectively no apartments. This uniformity is typical of farming communities where land is abundant. Tenure splits into 41.2% owned outright, 40.5% mortgaged, and 18.3% renting, a pattern where outright owners and mortgage holders are near-equal, unlike metropolitan markets where renting is far more common. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 45.1% of dwellings, reflecting the family sizes needed on working farms. Prices ranged from $92,000 at the 2017 trough to $330,000 at the 2019 peak, a large swing that reflects thin transaction volumes rather than structural demand shifts. Rent-to-income at 15.9% is well below the 30% stress level nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,203
Rent / wk
$240
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$736
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.9%
Unoccupied
56
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.3%
Couples, no children
782
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture dominates the local economy at 38.8% of employment (114 workers), followed distantly by Healthcare at 18.0% (53 workers) and Manufacturing at 7.1% (21 workers). This concentration is higher than the national agricultural share and makes the local economy sensitive to commodity price cycles and drought conditions. Managers are the top occupation group at 138 workers, reflecting farm owner-operators, while Labourers follow at 103, consistent with farm hands and seasonal workers. The full-time employment rate is 64.8% and unemployment sits at 4.2%, close to national averages. Participation rate at 60.2% is moderate. The economic profile is typical of a Goulburn Valley dairy and irrigated farming district, where income volatility tracks seasonal conditions more than business cycles.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.8%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
60.2%
Employed
477
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.8%
Postgraduate
0.6%
Born Overseas
13.8%
Dwellings
328
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 80.1% of commuters driving, consistent with a rural area where public transport is essentially absent. Walking or cycling accounts for 11.5% of trips, which is notable for a low-density community and likely reflects short distances in the town centre. The crime rate of 25.4 incidents per 1,000 residents is low relative to metropolitan VIC figures, with only 26 total recorded offences across the suburb. Crimes against the person (12) and property offences (11) are the two main categories. No schools are recorded within the Katunga boundary in the dataset, so families rely on schools in nearby Numurkah or Cobram. Rent affordability is strong, with rent-to-income at 15.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold used nationally.
Drive
80.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
11.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
26
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
25.4
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 Katunga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Katunga a good suburb to live in?
Katunga suits buyers seeking affordable rural living with a strong ownership culture. With 81.7% of households owner-occupied, mortgage-to-income at 18.5% (well below the 30% stress threshold), and a crime rate of 25.4 per 1,000 residents, it is financially manageable and relatively safe. The trade-off is sparse services and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Katunga?
The most recent recorded median house price is $290,000 (2023 data). Prices peaked at $330,000 in 2019 and troughed at $92,000 in 2017, reflecting thin transaction volumes. Over 10 years the compound annual growth rate is 2.4%, from $229,000 in 2013 to $290,000 in 2023. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,203.
What schools are in Katunga?
No schools are recorded within the Katunga suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby towns such as Numurkah or Cobram. University qualifications among residents sit at 18.8%, which is 11.3 points below the national rate, consistent with the agricultural workforce profile.
Is Katunga safe?
Katunga recorded 26 total offences in the latest period, giving a crime rate of 25.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. Crimes against the person (12 offences) and property and deception offences (11 offences) are the two main categories. This rate is low compared to metropolitan Victorian suburbs, consistent with the suburb's identity signals of low-crime-rate.
Is Katunga good for property investment?
The gross yield is approximately 4.3% based on $240 weekly rent and a $290,000 median, above typical metropolitan yields. However, the vacancy rate of 14.9% is elevated, signalling weak rental demand. Only 18.3% of households rent, limiting the tenant pool. The 10-year CAGR of 2.4% is below most regional Victorian centres, so returns depend on finding tenants in a thin market.
How is Katunga's population changing?
Katunga's population stands at 1,025 across 163.88 km2. Residential stability is high, with 81.0% of residents remaining at the same address over the census period, compared to higher turnover in urban markets. The community turnover rate of 19.0% is low, suggesting long-term residents rather than transient demand. Recent development includes a 14-lot subdivision application lodged in 2025.
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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