Macedon
The town's median age of 44 is 4 years above the national figure, and household income sits at the 89.4th percentile. Compared with nearby Gisborne, Macedon presents a smaller, detached-home market with 2,073 residents, 40.1% working from home and 83.6% staying at the same address. Its 0.3% annual growth rate points to an established, slow-changing community rather than a fast expansion area.
Local council: Macedon Ranges
Population
2,073
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,353/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$1.0M
October to December 2025
Only a handful of houses sold here in this period, so this median can jump sharply from one quarter to the next for reasons that have nothing to do with the market. Treat it as a rough guide, not a settled price.
Four-plus-bedroom homes account for 50.7%, compared with 39.4% for three-bedroom stock, so the market suits families or buyers wanting office and guest space more than compact living. Monthly mortgage cost is $2,213, equal to 21.7% of household income, indicating limited mortgage stress. Prices have risen 112.2% since 2013 but sit 19.5% below the 2023 peak, giving buyers some relief from the high point. The large-home profile means maintenance and commuting costs should be assessed alongside the purchase price.
For Buyers
Four-plus-bedroom homes account for 50.7%, compared with 39.4% for three-bedroom stock, so the market suits families or buyers wanting office and guest space more than compact living. Monthly mortgage cost is $2,213, equal to 21.7% of household income, indicating limited mortgage stress. Prices have risen 112.2% since 2013 but sit 19.5% below the 2023 peak, giving buyers some relief from the high point. The large-home profile means maintenance and commuting costs should be assessed alongside the purchase price.
For Investors
Macedon's investor case is built more on owner-occupier depth than a large rental pool. Only 9.0% of households rent, while the weekly median rent is $371 and vacancy is 8.0%, suggesting tenants may have more choice and leasing conditions can be softer than in tighter markets. With 0 development activity recorded over 12 months and annual growth forecast at 0.3%, the suburb is better suited to patient, low-turnover ownership than a rapid redevelopment strategy. Migration is Balanced, compared with markets driven clearly by one source, so investors should prioritise property quality, access and long-term tenant appeal.
Schools in Macedon
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Alice Miller School
Macedon Primary School
Demographics
Macedon has an older, highly educated profile: the median age is 44, which is 4 years above the national figure, while 42.5% of residents hold a university qualification, 12.4 percentage points above the national rate. Household size averages 2.8 people, 0.3 above the national figure, consistent with its 49.0% couples-with-children share and 40.5% couples without children. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 842, 303 and 273, while 14.0% were born overseas, 7.6 points below the national rate. Compared with Gisborne, Macedon has a settled, Anglo-leaning profile, reinforced by 83.6% residential stability and 24.4% volunteering.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.5%
Houses
0.7%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Macedon's housing is overwhelmingly detached and owner-occupied: 96.5% of dwellings are separate houses, with 44.8% owned outright and 46.2% held with a mortgage. Renting accounts for just 9.0%, below the ownership shares and consistent with a stable, high-income market. Four-plus-bedroom homes make up 50.7%, compared with 39.4% for three-bedroom homes, so larger family stock dominates more than compact formats. This housing mix supports longer-term family occupation but narrows the entry-level buyer pool.
Mortgage / mo
$2,213
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$371
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$939
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.0%
Couples with children
40.5%
Couples, no children
10.4%
Single parent
576
Total families
Economy & Employment
Macedon combines strong household resources with a commuter-friendly employment pattern. Household income is $2,353 a week at the 89.4th percentile, while unemployment is 2.6% and participation is 63.9%. Education leads local industries at 16.1%, followed by Professional/Tech at 14.5%, Healthcare at 13.2%, Construction at 12.2% and Public Administration at 7.4%. Professionals number 330 and managers 186, compared with 131 trades workers, indicating a skilled workforce with practical construction capability. A 40.1% work-from-home rate is higher than the 1.7% public-transport share because dispersed employment and remote work reduce daily commuting. IRSAD decile 9 and IER decile 10 place socioeconomic standing above the national midpoint.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
1,034
Unemployed
27
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.1%
Part-time
37.5%
Participation
63.9%
Employed
1,007
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.5%
Postgraduate
12.5%
Born Overseas
14.0%
Dwellings
695
Transport to Work
Livability rests on space, remote-work flexibility and access to a small local school base. Macedon has 2 local schools, including 1 government primary school and 1 independent primary/secondary campus, so families should check enrolment zones and year-level availability against the exact address. Car travel is the norm, with 53.1% driving, compared with 1.7% using public transport and 1.8% walking or cycling; 40.1% work from home helps reduce daily commuting pressure. Safety records 82 offences, or 39.6 per 1,000 residents, while socioeconomic standing is above the national midpoint at IRSAD decile 9. With a median age of 44 and 24.4% volunteering, the suburb suits residents seeking a quieter, established setting more than high-intensity urban convenience.
Drive
53.1%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
40.1%
Growth Outlook
Growth in Macedon is measured rather than rapid. The forecast annual trend is 0.3%, while population change across the wider area is 10.6% over 10 years. The primary migration driver is Balanced, and the shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 6.7 percentage points and the working share down 6.0 points. That pattern suggests demand will favour established homes, low-maintenance options and local services more than high-volume new development. The forecast gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 0, although the shift indicator records Early signs and a score of 39, so pressure is present but not yet a clear suburb-wide transformation. Compared with faster-growth corridors, Macedon's 0.3% pace rewards patient planning.
Population trend: Macedon Ranges council area
Macedon sits in the Macedon Ranges council area. These are the council area's residents, not Macedon's.
Residents 2025
54,464
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
82
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
39.6
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 Macedon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Macedon a good suburb to live in?
Macedon suits buyers who value larger detached homes, a quieter setting and remote work. The median age is 44, 40.1% work from home and IRSAD is in decile 9, above the national midpoint. Compared with denser urban suburbs, daily life is more car-dependent, with 53.1% driving.
What schools are in Macedon?
Macedon has 2 local schools: Macedon Primary School, a government primary school, and Alice Miller School, an independent primary/secondary campus. Check the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability before buying, because school access can vary across a 38.97 sq km suburb.
Is Macedon safe?
Macedon recorded 82 offences, equal to 39.6 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 50 incidents, while drug offences and crimes against the person recorded 11 and 10 respectively. Check current local alerts for a timely address-level view.
Is Macedon good for property investment?
Investment suits a patient strategy rather than quick development. Renting is 9.0%, median rent is $371 a week and vacancy is 8.0%, while 0 development activity was recorded over 12 months. The 0.3% annual growth trend makes property selection and long-term tenant appeal important.
How is Macedon's population changing?
Macedon has 2,073 residents today. Growth is gradual, with a 0.3% annual trend and 10.6% population change across the wider area over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, including a 6.7-point rise in the senior share, so services for older households may become more important.
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).
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