Longford
A 314.02 sq km rural locality with 1,489 residents, Longford combines very low density of 4.7 people per sq km with a housing stock that is 100% separate houses. The median age is 40, matching the national figure, while household size is 2.9 people, 0.4 above the national average. The profile is more mortgage-led than rental-led: 53.7% of homes have a mortgage, compared with 4.8% rented, and household income sits at the 75.7th percentile. Compared with Sale and Rosedale, Longford suits buyers seeking larger detached homes and a quieter rural setting, but daily transport is more limited. The 7.8% vacancy rate and 13.1% working-from-home share add flexibility, although 79.4% drive to work because the settlement covers a broad area.
Local council: Wellington
Population
1,489
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,024/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Longford is best suited to households prioritising detached space over apartment choice. Every recorded dwelling is a separate house, with 58.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 35.4% containing 3 bedrooms, so the stock is weighted toward larger homes rather than smaller formats. A median house price is not available, meaning buyers should rely on current comparable sales and finance checks rather than a single headline figure. The indicative mortgage payment is $1,625 per month, while weekly rent is $274. Mortgage costs equal 18.5% of household income and rent equals 13.5%, with neither marked as housing stress. Compared with smaller-lot markets, the trade-off is more space and privacy but greater dependence on a car, since 79.4% drive to work and only 0.5% use public transport. Families should confirm services, road times and school zones before committing.
For Buyers
Longford is best suited to households prioritising detached space over apartment choice. Every recorded dwelling is a separate house, with 58.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 35.4% containing 3 bedrooms, so the stock is weighted toward larger homes rather than smaller formats. A median house price is not available, meaning buyers should rely on current comparable sales and finance checks rather than a single headline figure. The indicative mortgage payment is $1,625 per month, while weekly rent is $274. Mortgage costs equal 18.5% of household income and rent equals 13.5%, with neither marked as housing stress. Compared with smaller-lot markets, the trade-off is more space and privacy but greater dependence on a car, since 79.4% drive to work and only 0.5% use public transport. Families should confirm services, road times and school zones before committing.
For Investors
Longford's investment case is income-led rather than high-turnover. Only 4.8% of occupied dwellings are rented, compared with 40.5% owned outright and 53.7% mortgaged, so the tenant base is relatively small. Weekly rent is $274 and vacancy is 7.8%, a higher vacancy setting than a tightly held market and a reason to model leasing downtime conservatively. Six development applications in the last 12 months indicate some activity, but not a large pipeline. The forecast trend is 1.36% annually and migration is labelled Balanced, so capital growth should not be underwritten as a one-direction story. Longford's 100% separate-house stock may appeal to family tenants, while 58.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. Compared with denser rental markets, investors should allow for maintenance on larger homes, resale depth and car dependence.
Development Activity
Total DAs
21
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-25.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Longford
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Longford Primary School
Demographics
Longford's population profile is older-leaning in trajectory but not older than the national median today: the median age is 40, with a 0.0-year difference from national levels. The overseas-born share is 9.0%, 12.6 percentage points below the national comparison, and university participation is 21.3%, 8.8 points below national. English ancestry is recorded for 644 people, followed by Irish at 175 and Scottish at 173, while 726 report no religion and 661 Christianity. Families remain important because 48.2% of families are couples with children and average household size is 2.9, 0.4 above national. Mobility is low, with 80.8% staying at the same address, which can support continuity but may reduce rapid demographic turnover. Compared with larger regional centres such as Sale, Longford is more Anglo-leaning and less internationally born, reflecting a smaller settlement pattern.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Longford has an unusually clear detached-house profile: 100.0% of recorded dwellings are separate houses, with 58.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 35.4% containing 3 bedrooms. Tenure is dominated by financed ownership at 53.7%, followed by outright ownership at 40.5%, while only 4.8% rent. The mortgage-to-household-income ratio is 18.5% and rent-to-income is 13.5%, with neither marked as housing stress. Vacancy is 7.8%, which is higher than a tightly supplied market and may give renters more choice while extending leasing periods for landlords. A median house price is unavailable, so price-to-income analysis cannot be reduced to a single ratio; buyers should compare recent sales with the $1,625 monthly mortgage indication. For buyers comparing Longford with Sale or Rosedale, the clearest distinction is its consistently detached stock, supported by low density of 4.7 people per sq km.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$274
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$791
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
42
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.2%
Couples with children
44.3%
Couples, no children
7.8%
Single parent
436
Total families
Economy & Employment
Longford's employment base is anchored by healthcare, which accounts for 20.1% of listed industry employment and 104 workers, followed by construction at 15.4% and 80, education at 13.3% and 69, public administration at 11.4% and 59, and mining at 6.9% and 36. Professionals number 160, trades 155 and managers 110, showing a mix of skilled service, practical and supervisory work. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, participation is 67.0% and full-time employment is 57.0%, while household income ranks at the 75.7th percentile. SEIFA is mixed: education and occupation is decile 3, economic resources decile 6, relative disadvantage decile 4 and advantage/disadvantage decile 3. That gap suggests household resources are stronger than formal education and occupation measures alone. Compared with the national midpoint, income is above average, but the lower education decile may limit access to some professional pathways.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
783
Unemployed
24
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.0%
Part-time
34.1%
Participation
67.0%
Employed
759
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.3%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
9.0%
Dwellings
495
Transport to Work
Longford is a car-oriented rural settlement. About 79.4% of workers drive, compared with 0.5% using public transport, while 2.4% walk or cycle and 13.1% work from home. That pattern makes private vehicle access important for employment, shopping and appointments, especially across a 314.02 sq km area. One local government primary school, Longford Primary School, provides the in-suburb school option; families should check enrolment zones and travel arrangements against their exact address. Recorded crime totals 63 offences, including 20 crimes against the person and 15 property or deception offences, equating to 42.3 offences per 1,000 residents. Compared with transit-rich suburbs, convenience depends more on driving, while an IRSAD decile of 3 places Longford below the middle of the socioeconomic advantage scale. Volunteering is 20.3%, which can help sustain local connections as the population ages.
Drive
79.4%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
13.1%
Growth Outlook
Longford's growth outlook is positive but measured. The forecast annual trend is 1.36%, and migration is classified as Balanced, so expansion is not being attributed to a single inflow source. Population change across the wider area is 28.1% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 8.2 percentage points, the young share has fallen 3.4 points and the working share has fallen 4.2 points. That combination points to demand for accessible homes, health services and lower-maintenance options as the resident mix matures. Gentrification signals remain limited, with a score of 9 and a stage of Not gentrifying, compared with a neighbourhood undergoing rapid reinvestment. A separate shift indicator records Early signs at 34, so the message is mixed rather than uniformly static. Growth should therefore be judged by steady 1.36% momentum and service capacity, not a speculative redevelopment story.
Population trend: Wellington council area
Longford sits in the Wellington council area. These are the council area's residents, not Longford's.
Residents 2025
46,551
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
63
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
42.3
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 Longford compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Longford a good suburb to live in?
Longford suits households seeking detached space, quieter surroundings and a semi-rural lifestyle. The area has 1,489 residents, 100% separate houses and 79.4% car commuting. It is less suited to people wanting frequent public transport, because only 0.5% use it and services are spread across 314.02 sq km.
What is the median house price in Longford?
A current median house price is not available for Longford. Buyers should compare recent sales by land size, condition and bedroom count, then test repayments against the indicative $1,625 monthly mortgage figure. The housing profile is entirely separate houses, with 58.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Longford?
Longford Primary School is the local government primary option identified within the suburb. Families should confirm enrolment zones, year-level availability and travel arrangements for the exact address. The detached-house profile includes 35.4% 3-bedroom homes and 58.7% with 4 or more bedrooms, which may suit family households.
Is Longford safe?
Longford recorded 63 offences, equal to 42.3 offences per 1,000 residents. The largest categories included 20 crimes against the person, 15 property and deception offences, 12 justice procedures offences and 11 public order offences. Safety can vary by street and time, so buyers should compare current local crime information before deciding.
Is Longford good for property investment?
Longford has a mixed investment case. Weekly rent is $274, vacancy is 7.8% and only 4.8% of dwellings are rented, so the tenant pool is smaller than in many rental-oriented markets. The forecast trend is 1.36% annually with Balanced migration, while 6 development applications indicate some but not extensive activity.
How is Longford's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 28.1% over 10 years, with a forecast annual trend of 1.36% and Balanced migration. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased 8.2 percentage points, while the young share has fallen 3.4 points. This supports demand for health services and accessible housing.
How do people usually travel from Longford?
Longford is primarily car dependent, with 79.4% driving to work compared with 0.5% using public transport. A further 2.4% walk or cycle and 13.1% work from home. Because the locality covers 314.02 sq km, households should assess vehicle costs, road connections and travel times before moving.
What type of housing is common in Longford?
Separate houses account for 100.0% of recorded dwellings. Larger homes dominate, with 58.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 35.4% containing 3 bedrooms. Ownership is mainly mortgaged at 53.7%, while 40.5% is owned outright and 4.8% is rented, creating a lower-rental profile than many urban markets.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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