Mallacoota
At a median age of 59, Mallacoota's resident base is 19 years older than the national median, making it one of Victoria's most pronounced retirement-coastal communities. Only 1,183 people occupy a 243.84 km2 footprint, giving a density of just 4.9 per km2, far below coastal towns of comparable property values. Despite household incomes sitting at the 13.9th percentile nationally, the median house price reached $700,000 in mid-2024, reflecting demand from lifestyle buyers and sea-changers rather than local wage earners. A volunteering rate of 42.4% underscores the community-active character of a small, stable town where 82.7% of residents stayed put between census periods.
Population
1,183
Median Age
59.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,031/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$700K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $700,000 median house price (Apr-Jun 2024) represents a 145.6% gain from $285,000 in 2013, equivalent to a 6.6% compound annual growth rate over 14 years, stronger than many regional VIC markets over the same period. The peak reached $767,500 in Jan-Mar 2024 before settling back 8.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,148, and mortgage costs represent 25.7% of income for mortgage-holders, below the 30% stress threshold. The overwhelming majority of stock (93.4%) is separate houses, with semi-detached homes at just 4.0%, giving buyers a clear detached-house market rather than a mixed format. Three-bedroom homes are the modal type at 49.4%, with four-plus bedroom at 20.7%.
For Buyers
The $700,000 median house price (Apr-Jun 2024) represents a 145.6% gain from $285,000 in 2013, equivalent to a 6.6% compound annual growth rate over 14 years, stronger than many regional VIC markets over the same period. The peak reached $767,500 in Jan-Mar 2024 before settling back 8.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,148, and mortgage costs represent 25.7% of income for mortgage-holders, below the 30% stress threshold. The overwhelming majority of stock (93.4%) is separate houses, with semi-detached homes at just 4.0%, giving buyers a clear detached-house market rather than a mixed format. Three-bedroom homes are the modal type at 49.4%, with four-plus bedroom at 20.7%.
For Investors
Vacancy at 29.8% is far above the typical 3-5% benchmark because many dwellings are holiday homes rather than long-term rentals. Weekly rent averages $221 and only 17.0% of dwellings are rented, so the tenant pool is shallow and gross yield against the $700,000 median falls below 2%. Development is minimal at 2 applications in 12 months, both subdivision permits with no new dwellings, so supply dilution is not a risk. The investment case rests on capital growth: a 6.6% compound annual gain over 14 years, from $285,000 in 2013 to $700,000 in mid-2024, driven by lifestyle demand rather than population expansion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mallacoota iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mallacoota P-12 College
Prep-12 · 126 students
Demographics
The median age of 59 is 19 years above the national figure, and only 482 residents are not in the labour force partly through retirement, consistent with the retired coastal profile. Overseas-born residents make up 17.9%, which is 3.7 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the strongly Anglo-Celtic character: English (556), Scottish (185) and Irish (167) are the top three ancestries. University qualifications reach 27.2%, which is 2.9 percentage points below the national rate. Average household size is 2.0, half a person below the national average of 2.5, consistent with a couples-without-children dominant profile where 48.7% of families are couples with no children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.4%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership patterns stand apart from national norms: 62.8% own outright, nearly double the national rate, while only 20.2% carry a mortgage and 17.0% rent. This debt-free concentration reflects the retiree base. Prices climbed 145.6% from $285,000 in 2013 to $700,000 in mid-2024, though thin transaction volumes caused a sharp dip to $210,000 in Oct-Dec 2023 before recovery. Separate houses make up 93.4% of stock, three-bedroom homes lead at 49.4%, and rent-to-income at 21.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold for the small renter cohort.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,148
Rent / wk
$221
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$591
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
29.8%
Unoccupied
213
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.7%
Couples, no children
747
Total families
Economy & Employment
With a participation rate of 41.2%, well below state and national averages, the labour force is constrained by the retired majority. Of 417 employed residents, Education leads at 16.8% (52 workers), Healthcare follows at 13.2% (41 workers), then Construction at 11.6% and Hospitality at 9.4%, a profile typical of a small coastal service economy. Unemployment is just 3.0%. Household weekly income of $1,031 places Mallacoota in the 13.9th percentile nationally, reflecting pension and part-time income rather than low wages per se. Labourers (86), Managers (83) and Professionals (82) are the top three occupational groups.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
45.8%
Part-time
51.2%
Participation
41.2%
Employed
417
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.2%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
17.9%
Dwellings
501
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 73.7%, but 20.9% walk or cycle to work, above the national average, because the town core is compact within a large 243.84 km2 area. Public transport use is just 1.0%, reflecting the remote location with no rail connection. The crime rate is 49.0 per 1,000 residents based on 58 incidents, with property offences (20) and crimes against the person (18) the leading categories. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on neighbouring areas. The volunteering rate of 42.4% is notably above state and national norms, a practical signal of community cohesion in a town of only 1,183 residents.
Drive
73.7%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
20.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
58
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
49.0
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 Mallacoota compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mallacoota a good suburb to live in?
Mallacoota suits retirees and lifestyle seekers well: 62.8% of residents own their homes outright and the volunteering rate of 42.4% is above state norms. The trade-off is limited services, minimal public transport, and no schools within the suburb boundary. The median age of 59 is 19 years above national, reflecting its appeal as a retirement and coastal living destination.
What is the median house price in Mallacoota?
The median house price was $700,000 in Apr-Jun 2024. Prices have risen 145.6% since 2013 when the median was $285,000, equivalent to a 6.6% compound annual growth rate over 14 years. The peak was $767,500 in Jan-Mar 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,148.
What schools are in Mallacoota?
No schools are recorded within the Mallacoota suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children rely on schools in nearby towns. At 27.2% university qualification rate, adult education levels are slightly below the national average by 2.9 percentage points.
Is Mallacoota safe?
The recorded crime rate is 49.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 58 total incidents. Property and deception offences account for 20 incidents and crimes against the person 18 incidents. The low population of 1,183 means small absolute numbers, and 82.7% of residents stayed in place between census periods, indicating a stable community.
Is Mallacoota good for property investment?
Long-term capital growth has been solid at 6.6% per year over 14 years, but rental conditions are challenging. Vacancy runs at 29.8%, well above the typical 3-5% investment benchmark, because many dwellings are holiday homes. Weekly rent averages just $221 against a $700,000 median, implying a gross yield below 2%. Only 17.0% of dwellings are rented, limiting the tenant pool.
How is Mallacoota's population changing?
Population stability is high, with 82.7% of residents having stayed in the same location between census periods and turnover at 17.3%. The current population is 1,183. The median age of 59 is 19 years above the national figure, indicating the community is aging rather than growing, with 482 residents not in the labour force.
What is the employment situation in Mallacoota?
The labour force participation rate is 41.2%, well below state averages, because a large share of residents are retired. Of those working, 417 are employed, split between 191 full-time and 226 part-time. Unemployment is low at 3.0%. Top industries are Education (16.8%), Healthcare (13.2%) and Construction (11.6%), typical of a small service-oriented coastal town.
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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