Koo Wee Rup
A 90.1% separate-house share and 79.8% car-driver rate define Koo Wee Rup as a detached, car-oriented township rather than an apartment market. Its population is 4,047 and median age is 34, which is 6 years below the national figure, supporting a relatively young family profile. Household income sits at the 63.1 percentile, while 53.7% of homes are mortgaged, so the suburb is firmly mortgage-belt in character. Compared with Pakenham, Koo Wee Rup feels smaller and more low-density; compared with Lang Lang, its 3.1% annual growth trend points to stronger current momentum. The 47.4% share of homes with 4 or more bedrooms also explains why families, trades workers and commuters are prominent.
Population
4,047
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,782/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$720K
October to December 2025
A typical mortgage payment is $1,811 monthly, and mortgage costs equal 23.5% of household income. With 53.7% of households paying a mortgage, affordability still depends on deposit size and commuting costs. The housing mix is practical for families: 90.1% separate houses and 47.4% with 4 or more bedrooms, compared with only 8.9% apartments. Buyers should compare newer estates with established streets because land, maintenance and access can shift value materially.
For Buyers
A typical mortgage payment is $1,811 monthly, and mortgage costs equal 23.5% of household income. With 53.7% of households paying a mortgage, affordability still depends on deposit size and commuting costs. The housing mix is practical for families: 90.1% separate houses and 47.4% with 4 or more bedrooms, compared with only 8.9% apartments. Buyers should compare newer estates with established streets because land, maintenance and access can shift value materially.
For Investors
Rental demand is a smaller part of the tenure mix, with 18.5% of homes rented and weekly rent at $320. That lower rental share can limit the pool of tenants, although a 5.9% vacancy rate gives investors a more balanced signal than a tight, near-zero vacancy market. Rent growth of 58.4% across the wider area has improved the income outlook, but the established market needs a property that competes on condition, parking and access. Only 2 development lodgements were recorded in 12 months, so the immediate pipeline looks modest compared with a major growth corridor. Internal migration is the primary forecast driver, and the 3.1% annual trend may support demand because incoming households often prioritise detached homes. Investors should stress-test maintenance and vacancy rather than assume growth alone will lift returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
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 Koo Wee Rup
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Koo Wee Rup Primary School
St John the Baptist's School
Koo Wee Rup Secondary College
Demographics
With 4,047 residents and a median age of 34, Koo Wee Rup is 6 years younger than the national comparison, while its average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 people higher. Families are central: couples with children account for 47.0% of households, compared with 34.8% couples without children. The population is relatively Anglo-leaning, led by English ancestry at 1,731 people, followed by Irish 406, Scottish 362 and Italian 245. Only 12.1% of residents were born overseas, 9.5 percentage points below the national comparison, and university attainment is 13.1%, 17 points below national. That profile aligns with the suburb's trades and service base, while 81.0% of residents stayed at the same address versus 19.0% turnover. Compared with larger Pakenham, its smaller-town identity is more apparent in the settled mobility pattern and ancestry mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.1%
Houses
0.7%
Townhouse
8.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Price movement has been strong over the long term but uneven recently. Tenure is weighted toward leveraged ownership: 53.7% of households have a mortgage, 27.0% own outright and 18.5% rent. The dwelling stock is family-sized, with 47.4% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 40.3% containing 3 bedrooms, while 90.1% are separate houses. Compared with an apartment-oriented market, Koo Wee Rup's value is tied more closely to land, storage and vehicle access; compared with nearby Lang Lang, its recent growth profile is the more important housing signal.
Mortgage / mo
$1,811
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$320
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$809
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
87
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.0%
Couples with children
34.8%
Couples, no children
16.3%
Single parent
1,090
Total families
Economy & Employment
Koo Wee Rup combines a practical employment base with mixed socioeconomic signals. Healthcare is the largest listed industry at 18.5% and 213 workers, followed by construction at 18.1% and 209, manufacturing at 9.9% and 114, education at 9.5% and 110, and other services at 6.1% and 70. The occupation profile reinforces that structure: trades lead at 399, ahead of labourers 268, clerical and admin 251, community and personal services 240, and machinery and drivers 236. Unemployment is 2.8% and labour-force participation 66.1%, while 60.7% of workers are full time. Household income ranks at the 63.1 percentile, above the midpoint, but the IEO decile is 3 versus an IER decile of 8. That gap suggests education and occupation are lower than economic resources, likely because established households can hold assets or earn through trades without high university participation. IRSD and IRSAD sit at deciles 6 and 5, indicating a middle range overall rather than a uniformly advantaged profile.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
2,067
Unemployed
58
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.7%
Part-time
32.2%
Participation
66.1%
Employed
2,009
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.1%
Postgraduate
1.7%
Born Overseas
12.1%
Dwellings
1,389
Transport to Work
Daily life is built around cars and local services. Public transport is used by just 0.5% of residents, compared with 79.8% who drive, while 13.9% work from home, so households should test commuting routes and parking needs before buying. Three local schools cover two primary options, one Catholic and one government, plus a government secondary college; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Recorded crime totals 256 incidents, or 63.3 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 141, followed by 61 crimes against the person. That rate should be read alongside street-level conditions and personal routines rather than the raw count alone. IRSAD is at decile 5 and need for assistance is 7.5%, while volunteering is 12.4%, giving the suburb a mid-ranked resource profile with visible community participation. Compared with a rail-connected suburb, Koo Wee Rup requires more planning around transport because car use is far higher than public transport use.
Drive
79.8%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
13.9%
Population Forecast
+3.1%/yr
(+390 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is active but not uniform. The forecast trend is 3.1% annually, with internal migration named as the primary driver, so demand is likely to come from households moving within Australia rather than from overseas migration. Across the wider area, population change is 52.9% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed. Gentrification is also labelled Active, with a score of 40 in the main forecast and 53 in the shift measure, alongside rent growth of 58.4%. Those signals point to rising interest and changing housing costs, but not a one-direction market because young share is down 0.6% and senior share is up 1.6%. Affordability is described as Stable, moving from 39.5% in 2011 to 39.3% in 2021. Compared with a purely new-estate story, only 2 development lodgements in 12 months suggest established streets and infill will matter as much as expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+37
Net Internal / yr
+445
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +445/yr, Accelerating: 15% → 63%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
256
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
63.3
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 Koo Wee Rup compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Koo Wee Rup a good suburb to live in?
Koo Wee Rup suits households wanting a detached, family-sized home and a quieter township setting. About 90.1% of dwellings are separate houses, 47.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and 79.8% of residents drive. Compared with a more rail-oriented suburb, daily life requires more car planning, but the median age of 34 and 12.4% volunteering rate support a family and community focus.
What schools are in Koo Wee Rup?
Koo Wee Rup has 3 local schools: 2 primary schools, including 1 Catholic and 1 government option, plus 1 government secondary college. The schools are St John the Baptist's School, Koo Wee Rup Primary School and Koo Wee Rup Secondary College. Check the exact enrolment zone and transport arrangements because local boundaries can differ from the suburb boundary.
Is Koo Wee Rup safe?
Safety should be assessed using both the rate and the type of offences. Koo Wee Rup recorded 256 incidents, equal to 63.3 per 1,000 residents, including 141 property and deception offences and 61 crimes against the person. Visit exact streets at different times and compare recent local conditions, because a suburb-wide rate does not describe every pocket.
Is Koo Wee Rup good for property investment?
It can suit a longer-term investor who accepts a smaller rental market and detached-house exposure. Renting accounts for 18.5%, weekly rent is $320 and vacancy is 5.9%, while only 2 development lodgements occurred in 12 months. Internal migration is the primary growth driver and the annual trend is 3.1%, but investors should compare maintenance, tenant appeal and vacancy risk rather than rely on price growth alone.
How is Koo Wee Rup's population changing?
Koo Wee Rup's wider-area forecast points to active growth rather than decline. The annual trend is 3.1%, population change across 10 years is 52.9% and internal migration is the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed, while gentrification is scored 40 and labelled Active. That combination suggests demand is rising, but age mix and affordability are changing unevenly rather than following a single pattern.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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