Loch Sport
With a median age of 63 and a 69.7% vacancy rate, Loch Sport reads more like a holiday and retirement destination than a conventional suburb. The population of 1,021 spread across 84.29 sq km gives a density of just 12.1 people per km2, far below state and national norms. Household income sits in only the 1.8th percentile nationally, yet 69.3% of residents own their home outright, because most are retirees who paid off mortgages years ago rather than income-constrained renters. The IRSAD decile of 3 flags socioeconomic disadvantage, but the IER (economic resources) decile of 6 signals that physical assets, mainly property holdings, provide a buffer that income figures alone would miss.
Population
1,021
Median Age
63.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$674/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$342K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $341,500 (Apr-Jun 2024) is well below the Victorian state median, making Loch Sport accessible to buyers priced out of metropolitan markets. Prices climbed 105.7% since 2013 at a CAGR of 5.3% over 14 years, though they sit 18.7% below the Apr-Jun 2023 peak of $420,000. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.4%, with three-bedroom dwellings making up 51% of the mix and two-bedroom homes 30%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $700 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is a manageable 24.0%, below stress territory. The extreme 69.7% vacancy rate warrants careful due diligence because much of the dwelling stock is holiday accommodation rather than permanently occupied, which affects amenity availability and local services.
For Buyers
The median house price of $341,500 (Apr-Jun 2024) is well below the Victorian state median, making Loch Sport accessible to buyers priced out of metropolitan markets. Prices climbed 105.7% since 2013 at a CAGR of 5.3% over 14 years, though they sit 18.7% below the Apr-Jun 2023 peak of $420,000. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.4%, with three-bedroom dwellings making up 51% of the mix and two-bedroom homes 30%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $700 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is a manageable 24.0%, below stress territory. The extreme 69.7% vacancy rate warrants careful due diligence because much of the dwelling stock is holiday accommodation rather than permanently occupied, which affects amenity availability and local services.
For Investors
Loch Sport presents a mixed investment case. Weekly rent of $180 against a $341,500 median implies a gross yield of about 2.7%, low for a regional market, and the 69.7% vacancy rate is predominantly holiday-letting stock rather than structural rental vacancy. The permanent rental pool is tiny at 7.5% of dwellings. Population grew 28.1% over the past decade, and the medium forecast adds roughly 68 residents per year to the broader SA2 area through 2031. Net overseas migration averages 20 per year and internal migration contributes another 8, a balanced driver rather than a single-source surge. Development activity is minimal at just 3 planning permits in 12 months, so new supply is not a short-term risk, though the shallow tenant market limits rental income reliability compared to suburban benchmarks.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
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 Loch Sport iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Loch Sport Primary School
Prep-6 · 21 students
Demographics
The median age of 63 is 23 years above the national figure, making Loch Sport one of Victoria's oldest communities by age profile. The senior share has risen 8.2 points over the past decade while the working-age share fell 4.2 points, an aging trajectory that will increasingly shape demand for local services. Overseas-born residents account for 22.3%, roughly on par with national levels. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (486), Irish (135) and Scottish (117) dominate. Couples without children make up 67.5% of families, consistent with the retirement and post-family-stage profile. Average household size of 1.7 is 0.8 below the national average, another marker of older, smaller households. University qualifications at 13.6% are 16.5 points below the national rate, and the participation rate of 23.8% reflects how many residents are beyond working age.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.4%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Loch Sport's housing market is dominated by outright ownership: 69.3% own without a mortgage, compared to roughly 31% nationally, because the resident base is largely retired and debt-free. Only 23.2% carry mortgages and 7.5% rent. The stock is 99.4% separate houses with essentially no apartments or semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes account for 51% of stock and two-bedroom for 30%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 15.4%. Prices have more than doubled from $166,000 in 2013 to $341,500 in mid-2024, a CAGR of 5.3% over 14 years. The vacancy rate of 69.7% is the headline anomaly: most dwellings are holiday shacks or secondary properties left unoccupied for most of the year, a structural feature of coastal and lakeside towns rather than an indicator of oversupply or distress.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$700
Rent / wk
$180
HH Size
1.7
Personal Income / wk
$433
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
69.7%
Unoccupied
1,208
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
67.5%
Couples, no children
578
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is small and service-dominated. Healthcare leads at 16.6% of the employed workforce, followed jointly by Hospitality and Education at 12.6% each, then Construction at 8.6% and Utilities at 7.9%. By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers (43) are the largest group, ahead of Managers (35) and Professionals (25). Total unemployment is 20 people, an unemployment rate of 8.6%, higher than the Victorian average, though the denominator is a very thin labour force of 232. The participation rate of 23.8% reflects that 641 residents are not in the labour force, almost all retirees. Household income sits in the 1.8th percentile nationally and IRSAD decile is 3, indicating occupational and income disadvantage; however, the IER decile of 6 captures physical assets, with high outright ownership offsetting low wages.
Unemployment
4.6%
Labour Force
2,466
Unemployed
114
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
45.3%
Part-time
46.1%
Participation
23.8%
Employed
212
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.6%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
22.3%
Dwellings
521
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high even by regional standards: 88.9% of workers drive, and 7.4% walk or cycle. No public transport data is recorded, consistent with a remote coastal location. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families travel to nearby towns for education. The crime rate is 86.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, above what simple national comparisons suggest, though in a small population even a few incidents push the rate disproportionately. IRSAD decile of 3 indicates relative disadvantage nationally. Volunteering is notable at 21%, well above typical suburban rates, and 13.1% of residents need daily assistance, which is above the national average, reflecting the older age profile. Rent-to-income at 26.7% and mortgage-to-income at 24.0% are both below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are proportionate to local incomes.
Drive
88.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.36%/yr
(+68 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 28.1% over the decade from 2011 to 2021, a substantial gain for a small community that reflects sea-change and tree-change migration from metropolitan areas. Annual growth is now trending at 1.36% with roughly 68 persons added per year to the broader SA2. The medium forecast projects the SA2 population reaching 5,453 by 2031, up from 4,993 in 2025. Migration drivers are balanced: net overseas arrivals average 20 per year and internal migration adds 8. The aging trajectory is the key structural shift, with the senior share rising 8.2 points. Gentrification is not occurring at the Loch Sport level, scoring just 9 on the gentrification scale, though affordability has improved from 39.3% in 2011 to 33.3% in 2021 as incomes have grown 16.1% in real terms.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+20
Net Internal / yr
+8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +28% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
88
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
86.2
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 Loch Sport compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Loch Sport a good suburb to live in?
Loch Sport suits retirees and sea-change buyers rather than families or career-focused residents. The median age is 63, some 23 years above the national figure, and 69.3% of residents own their homes outright. Services are limited with no schools recorded, car travel is essential, and household income sits in just the 1.8th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Loch Sport?
The median house price is $341,500 as of Apr-Jun 2024, well below the Victorian state median. Monthly mortgage repayments average $700 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.0%. Prices have risen 105.7% since 2013, though they remain 18.7% below the Apr-Jun 2023 peak of $420,000.
What schools are in Loch Sport?
No schools are recorded within the Loch Sport suburb boundary. Families rely on schools in nearby towns. University qualifications among residents stand at 13.6%, which is 16.5 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a largely retired population.
Is Loch Sport safe?
The recorded crime rate is 86.2 incidents per 1,000 residents across 88 total incidents. The largest categories are public order offences (28 incidents) and property and deception offences (27). In a small community of 1,021 residents, individual incidents have an outsized effect on the rate, so direct comparison with dense suburban benchmarks can be misleading.
Is Loch Sport good for property investment?
The investment case is niche. Weekly rent of $180 against a $341,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.7%, and permanent renters are only 7.5% of dwellings. The 69.7% vacancy rate reflects holiday letting, not structural demand. Prices have grown at a CAGR of 5.3% over 14 years. Best suited to long-hold buyers banking on coastal lifestyle demand.
How is Loch Sport's population changing?
Population grew 28.1% over the decade to 2021. The current population is 1,021 and annual growth trends at 1.36%, adding roughly 68 residents per year to the broader SA2. The key shift is demographic: the senior share rose 8.2 points and working-age share fell 4.2 points, driving an aging trajectory that will shape local service needs through 2031.
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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