Lancefield
With 99.2% of dwellings being separate houses and just 11.2% of residents renting, Lancefield reads as one of the most owner-occupier dominated towns in regional Victoria. The population of 2,743 sits across 123.77 square kilometres, giving a low density of 22.2 people per km2, which partly explains why 91.5% of residents drive to work rather than using public transport. Household income lands at the 66.6th percentile nationally, above average but not affluent, while a median house price of $560,000 sits well below the Melbourne metropolitan median. The workforce profile leans toward construction at 15.8%, consistent with an area that builds rather than imports its housing stock.
Population
2,743
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,838/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$560K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $560,000 median house price recorded in Apr-Jun 2024 represents an 18.2% decline from the 2021 peak of $685,000, bringing prices back toward a more accessible range. Over the longer term, the median has risen 48.3% from $377,500 in 2013, a CAGR of 2.9% over 14 years, lower than major metro markets but positive in real terms. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the average buyer here faces lower financial strain compared to inner-city purchasers. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.2%, with 42.6% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms, making Lancefield practical for families needing space. Outright owners account for 38.8% and mortgage holders 50%, signalling an established community with moderate leverage.
For Buyers
The $560,000 median house price recorded in Apr-Jun 2024 represents an 18.2% decline from the 2021 peak of $685,000, bringing prices back toward a more accessible range. Over the longer term, the median has risen 48.3% from $377,500 in 2013, a CAGR of 2.9% over 14 years, lower than major metro markets but positive in real terms. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the average buyer here faces lower financial strain compared to inner-city purchasers. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.2%, with 42.6% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms, making Lancefield practical for families needing space. Outright owners account for 38.8% and mortgage holders 50%, signalling an established community with moderate leverage.
For Investors
The investment fundamentals at Lancefield are subdued because of the very thin rental market. Only 11.2% of residents rent, one of the lower renter shares compared to most Victorian suburbs, and weekly rent of $360 against a $560,000 median produces a gross yield around 3.3%, modest but above inner-city levels. Vacancy at 6.9% indicates limited rental demand, which limits yield upside and increases void risk. Development activity is minimal at 2 planning permits in the past 12 months, so no supply surge threatens values. The area has declined 18.2% from its 2021 peak, which means entry prices are more rational than at the height of the pandemic-driven regional surge. Investors targeting capital growth should note the 2.9% CAGR over 14 years, a slow-growth trajectory rather than a high-appreciation story.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-60.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lancefield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary's School
Prep-6 · 212 students
Lancefield Primary School
Prep-6 · 190 students
Demographics
Lancefield skews slightly older than average, with a median age of 41, matching the national figure closely at 1.0 year above it. The population is strongly Anglo-Celtic in ancestry, with English (1,109), Irish (448) and Scottish (350) as the three largest groups. Overseas-born residents account for just 11.3%, which is 10.3 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the town's distance from major migrant settlement areas. University qualifications reach 26.9%, which is 3.2 points below the national figure, in line with a regional workforce leaning toward trade and service occupations. Average household size is 2.6, marginally above national, consistent with the family-oriented housing stock of 4-plus bedroom homes. Volunteering is relatively high at 20.7%, suggesting strong civic engagement in this rural township.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.2%
Houses
0.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost uniformly detached, with separate houses at 99.2% and semi-detached at just 0.8%. Bedrooms skew large: 42.6% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 47.2% have 3 bedrooms, meaning small dwellings are rare. Tenure is dominated by ownership, with 38.8% owning outright and 50.0% on a mortgage, leaving just 11.2% in the rental market. The median house price has moved from $377,500 in 2013 to $560,000 at Apr-Jun 2024, a 48.3% gain over 14 years, though prices peaked at $685,000 in 2021 before correcting 18.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,766, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.2%, well below stress levels. Rent-to-income at 19.6% is also comfortable, below the 25% stress benchmark.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,766
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$771
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
74
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.9%
Couples, no children
2,302
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the dominant industry at 15.8% of local workers (141 people), higher than most Victorian suburbs and consistent with the town's growth and land-development character. Healthcare follows at 13.4% (120 workers) and Education at 13.0% (116 workers), meaning a third of workers are in public-service sectors. Public Administration accounts for 9.2% (82 workers) and Professional/Tech 6.5% (58 workers). By occupation, Professionals lead at 256, followed by Managers at 182 and Community/Personal services at 167. The unemployment rate is 3.3% and the full-time employment rate is 63.1%, both broadly in line with state averages. Household income at the 66.6th percentile nationally indicates a working-to-middle-income community rather than a high-earner concentration.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.1%
Part-time
33.6%
Participation
57.5%
Employed
1,234
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.9%
Postgraduate
5.6%
Born Overseas
11.3%
Dwellings
987
Transport to Work
Lancefield's daily life is overwhelmingly car-dependent, with 91.5% of residents commuting by car and only 1.1% using public transport, lower than most regional Victorian towns. This reflects both the low density of 22.2 people per km2 and the 123.77 km2 footprint. Crime recorded 105 total offences in the measurement period, a rate of 38.3 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 59. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the available dataset, so families rely on institutions in nearby areas. Housing stress is low by national comparison: mortgage-to-income sits at 22.2% and rent-to-income at 19.6%, both below stress thresholds. The need-assistance rate of 5.9% (154 residents) is within the typical regional range.
Drive
91.5%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
105
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
38.3
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 Lancefield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lancefield a good suburb to live in?
Lancefield suits buyers who want space and low housing stress. Mortgage costs consume 22.2% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold, and 99.2% of dwellings are separate houses, mostly with 3 or 4-plus bedrooms. The trade-off is heavy car dependence, with 91.5% of residents driving and public transport used by just 1.1%.
What is the median house price in Lancefield?
The median house price is $560,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024, down 18.2% from the 2021 peak of $685,000. Over the long term, prices have risen 48.3% from $377,500 in 2013, a CAGR of 2.9% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,766.
What schools are in Lancefield?
No schools are recorded inside the Lancefield suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area rely on schools in nearby towns. The local population has a university qualification rate of 26.9%, which is 3.2 points below the national average, consistent with a regional workforce profile.
Is Lancefield safe?
Total recorded offences numbered 105 over the measurement period, a rate of 38.3 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 59 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 26. This rate reflects a small regional town rather than a high-crime area.
Is Lancefield good for property investment?
Rental demand is thin, with only 11.2% of residents renting and a vacancy rate of 6.9%. Weekly rent of $360 against a $560,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.3%. Long-term capital growth averages 2.9% CAGR over 14 years, slower than major metro markets, making this a stability-oriented rather than high-yield investment.
How is Lancefield's population changing?
No formal population forecast data is available for Lancefield at the suburb level. The residential mobility rate shows 82.9% of residents stayed in the same dwelling over the prior year, indicating a stable and established community. Development activity is minimal at 2 planning permits in the past 12 months, suggesting limited near-term supply growth.
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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