Kurunjang
At a $529,000 median house price, Kurunjang sits well below greater Melbourne, and that affordability is the through-line for almost everything else here. The housing stock is 93.9% separate houses with only 0.3% apartments, and 50.6% of dwellings carry three bedrooms while 45.1% have four or more, so this is a family-house market rather than an investor unit market. The IEO decile of 2 and IRSAD decile of 2 both rank in the bottom fifth nationally, yet 51.2% of households are paying off a mortgage, the classic mortgage-belt profile. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national median, but the forecast trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.4 points over the decade.
Population
10,711
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,550/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$529K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $529,000 median makes Kurunjang an entry point for owner-occupier families, and the buyer profile reflects that: 51.2% of households hold a mortgage versus 24.7% who own outright, so most residents are still paying the home down. Prices rose 84.3% from $287,000 in 2013 to today, a 4.5% CAGR over 14 years, but the latest figure is 3.8% below the 2022 peak of $550,000, meaning recent buyers caught a small correction. Stock skews large, with 45.1% of homes at four or more bedrooms and only 4.0% two-bedroom, suiting growing households over downsizers. Mortgage repayments of $1,517 a month consume 22.6% of income, below the 30% stress threshold, so affordability holds despite the borrowing-heavy tenure.
For Buyers
The $529,000 median makes Kurunjang an entry point for owner-occupier families, and the buyer profile reflects that: 51.2% of households hold a mortgage versus 24.7% who own outright, so most residents are still paying the home down. Prices rose 84.3% from $287,000 in 2013 to today, a 4.5% CAGR over 14 years, but the latest figure is 3.8% below the 2022 peak of $550,000, meaning recent buyers caught a small correction. Stock skews large, with 45.1% of homes at four or more bedrooms and only 4.0% two-bedroom, suiting growing households over downsizers. Mortgage repayments of $1,517 a month consume 22.6% of income, below the 30% stress threshold, so affordability holds despite the borrowing-heavy tenure.
For Investors
Kurunjang is a thin rental market by design, with just 24.1% of dwellings rented against 75.9% owner-occupied, so the tenant pool is shallow compared with inner Melbourne. Weekly rent of $321 on a $529,000 median produces a gross yield near 3.2%, higher than premium inner suburbs but unremarkable. The 5.5% vacancy rate is loose, signalling more supply than demand at the margin. Rents did grow 25.9% over the decade, ahead of capital values in percentage terms. Demand drivers are weak: net overseas migration adds only 82 a year while internal migration runs at -112, a net domestic outflow, and just 4 development applications were lodged in 12 months. The investment case rests on yield and affordability, not scarcity or growth momentum.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Kurunjang reads as a working-family suburb. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national median, and average household size of 2.8 sits 0.3 above national, consistent with couples raising children: 3,803 families have children versus 1,735 couples without. University qualifications at 19.5% run 10.6 points below the national rate, the clearest signal this is a trades-and-services population rather than a knowledge-economy one. Overseas-born residents at 24.7% are 3.1 points above national but the suburb is anglo-leaning, with English ancestry at 3,201 far ahead of Maltese (850), Irish (753) and Scottish (751). Punjabi (121) and Arabic (68) lead the non-English languages, a modest migrant layer over an Anglo-Celtic base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.9%
Houses
5.7%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure here is mortgage-dominated: 51.2% of households are paying off a loan, 24.7% own outright and only 24.1% rent, so two-thirds of owners still carry debt. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 93.9% separate houses, with apartments at a negligible 0.3% and 45.1% of dwellings holding four or more bedrooms. Prices climbed from $287,000 in 2013 to $529,000, an 84.3% rise and 4.5% CAGR over 14 years, though the current median is 3.8% under the 2022 peak. The IER decile of 5 sits mid-range nationally, higher than the IEO decile of 2, because home-owning families hold housing wealth even where education and occupation scores are low. Mortgage-to-income of 22.6% and rent-to-income of 20.7% both stay under the 30% stress line, so the high mortgage share is serviceable.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$321
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$702
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
207
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.5%
Couples, no children
8,895
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is built on hands-on industries. Healthcare leads at 15.8% (439 workers), followed by Construction at 13.8% (382), Education at 11.0% (305), Transport at 8.7% (240) and Retail at 8.0% (222), a blue-collar and care-economy mix rather than a professional one. Occupations confirm it: Clerical/Admin (692), Machinery operators/Drivers (660) and Community/Personal (626) outrank Professionals (513). That structure explains the IEO decile of 2, in the bottom fifth nationally. Full-time employment at 65.2% is solid, but the 7.8% unemployment rate runs above the national average and participation of 57.6% is comparatively low, partly because 2,724 residents are not in the labour force. Real income fell 4.1% over the decade, a worsening sign for local purchasing power.
Unemployment
7.5%
Labour Force
6,648
Unemployed
498
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.2%
Part-time
27.0%
Participation
57.6%
Employed
4,398
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.5%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
24.7%
Dwellings
3,566
Transport to Work
Daily life in Kurunjang runs on the car, with 90.3% of commuters driving and only 2.3% using public transport, well below metro Melbourne, while walking or cycling at 0.6% is negligible. That car dependence is the defining livability constraint. On safety the picture is reasonable: the crime rate of 41.4 per 1,000 residents is moderate, with 443 total offences led by property and deception (163) and crimes against the person (134). The IRSAD decile of 2 places Kurunjang in the bottom fifth on socio-economic advantage, a function of low education and occupation scores rather than housing distress, since mortgage-to-income holds at 22.6%. Residential turnover of 18.9% is low, so 81.1% of residents stayed put, indicating a stable, rooted population.
Drive
90.3%
Public Transport
2.3%
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.49%/yr
(+180 people/yr)
EstablishedKurunjang is an established, slow-growth suburb. The ERP reached 12,082 in 2025 and medium forecasts project 13,543 by 2031, an annual rate of 1.49% or about 180 people a year, lower than fast-expanding greenfield fringe suburbs. Over the decade population grew 15.4%. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 82 net arrivals a year, but it is nearly cancelled by internal migration of -112, a net domestic outflow that caps momentum. The gentrification score of 5 reads as not gentrifying, with the suburb staying affordable rather than transforming. The trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.4 points while the young share fell 2.1 points over the decade, and affordability worsened from 42.7% to 45.6%, pointing to a settled population rather than a churning growth front.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+82
Net Internal / yr
-112
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +16% since 2011, Net internal outflow -112/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
443
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
41.4
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 Kurunjang compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kurunjang a good suburb to live in?
Kurunjang suits owner-occupier families who want affordable detached housing, with a $529,000 median and 93.9% separate houses. The trade-offs are an IRSAD decile of 2, in the bottom fifth nationally, and heavy car dependence with 90.3% driving and only 2.3% on public transport. The moderate crime rate of 41.4 per 1,000 and 81.1% resident retention point to a stable, settled community.
What is the median house price in Kurunjang?
The median house price is $529,000 (Apr-Jun 2024), up 84.3% from $287,000 in 2013, a 4.5% CAGR over 14 years. The current figure is 3.8% below the 2022 peak of $550,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and weekly rent is $321, putting gross rental yield near 3.2%.
What schools are in Kurunjang?
Our dataset records no schools with reported ICSEA data inside the Kurunjang boundary, so families typically rely on schools in adjoining parts of Melton. Education employs 11.0% of the local workforce (305 workers), the third-largest industry, but on-the-ground school choice generally means looking just beyond the 10.36 sq km suburb itself.
Is Kurunjang safe?
Kurunjang's crime rate of 41.4 per 1,000 residents is moderate, with 443 total offences. Property and deception offences account for 163, crimes against the person 134, and justice procedures offences 88. This is well below high-crime inner-city suburbs, and the low residential turnover of 18.9% supports a settled, stable environment.
Is Kurunjang good for property investment?
Kurunjang offers yield over growth: $321 weekly rent on a $529,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.2%, above premium inner suburbs. But the rental pool is thin at 24.1% renting, the 5.5% vacancy rate is loose, and demand is weak with net overseas migration of only 82 a year against internal outflow of -112. Capital growth was 4.5% CAGR over 14 years.
How is Kurunjang's population changing?
Population growth is slow at 1.49% per year, about 180 people, reaching 12,082 in 2025 with a medium forecast of 13,543 by 2031. The decade saw 15.4% growth. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.4 points and the young share down 2.1 points. Overseas migration adds 82 a year while internal migration runs at -112.
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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