Marshall
At a median age of 43, Marshall sits 3 years above the national average, and the suburb's aging trajectory explains much of its character. SEIFA scores place it in the 9th decile on all four indexes, signalling well-above-average advantage for a suburb of just 2,299 residents packed into 2.04 square kilometres. House prices reached $665,000 in April-June 2024, up 84.7% from $360,000 in 2013, a compounded annual growth rate of 4.5% over 14 years. Yet population has contracted 10% over the decade, running at -1.03% annually, so demand is driven by quality of life rather than population expansion. The dominant housing form is separate houses at 70.2%, and 35% of households own their home outright, reflecting a settled, established owner base.
Population
2,299
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,154/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$665K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $665,000 (April-June 2024) has risen from $550,000 just two quarters earlier in October-December 2023, a 20.9% jump in six months, though the suburb remains 2.5% below its 2022 peak of $682,000. Over 14 years the price grew 84.7% from $360,000, a 4.5% CAGR. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600, and with household income in the 22nd percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32% sits above the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers commit a substantial share of income. Separate houses account for 70.2% of stock with semi-detached at 28.7% and apartments a negligible 1.1%, so detached-home buyers face a well-supplied but tightly held market. The 35% outright-ownership rate exceeds what you would expect compared to many outer suburbs, indicating many residents have held properties long enough to discharge their mortgages.
For Buyers
The median house price of $665,000 (April-June 2024) has risen from $550,000 just two quarters earlier in October-December 2023, a 20.9% jump in six months, though the suburb remains 2.5% below its 2022 peak of $682,000. Over 14 years the price grew 84.7% from $360,000, a 4.5% CAGR. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600, and with household income in the 22nd percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32% sits above the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers commit a substantial share of income. Separate houses account for 70.2% of stock with semi-detached at 28.7% and apartments a negligible 1.1%, so detached-home buyers face a well-supplied but tightly held market. The 35% outright-ownership rate exceeds what you would expect compared to many outer suburbs, indicating many residents have held properties long enough to discharge their mortgages.
For Investors
A 28.7% renter share and weekly rent of $390 give landlords a reasonable tenant pool, but the vacancy rate of 9% is elevated compared to a healthy market benchmark of around 3%, indicating supply exceeds current tenant demand. Against the $665,000 median, $390 weekly rent implies a gross yield of roughly 3.1%. Development activity is low, with only 2 planning permits lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is minimal. Population is declining at -1.03% annually driven by natural increase as the primary migration mechanism, with net internal migration of -2 per year and zero net overseas arrivals, meaning external demand drivers are weak. Rent grew 76.1% over the period while real income fell 6.6%, a gap that puts upward pressure on future rent affordability but also caps tenant capacity to absorb further increases.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
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
Demographics
Marshall's median age of 43 sits 3 years above the national average, and the trajectory is firmly aging: the senior share rose 10.5 points while the young share fell 4.8 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 18.3% of the population, which is 3.3 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the suburb's Anglo-Celtic heritage. Ancestry is led by English (949), Irish (322) and Scottish (260), with Christianity as the dominant religion at 1,079 residents. University qualifications at 30.1% match the national rate exactly, so educational attainment is average rather than distinctive. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below the national figure, consistent with an older population of couples without children: 38.2% of families fall into that category.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.2%
Houses
28.7%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Marshall splits across three roughly even bands: 35% own outright, 36.3% carry a mortgage, and 28.7% rent. The 35% outright-ownership rate is notably high compared to many outer suburbs, reflecting long-held properties rather than recent churn. Separate houses dominate at 70.2%, with semi-detached dwellings at 28.7% and apartments at just 1.1%, making Marshall predominantly a house suburb. Bedroom distribution skews smaller: 39.6% of homes have 2 bedrooms and 38.4% have 3, while 4-plus bedroom homes account for only 21.2%. Prices have grown from $360,000 in 2013 to $665,000 in April-June 2024, a CAGR of 4.5%, with a peak of $682,000 in 2022 sitting 2.5% above the current level. Mortgage stress is present, with a 32% mortgage-to-income ratio above the 30% threshold, and renters face 33.8% rent-to-income, similarly in stress territory.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$625
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.0%
Unoccupied
95
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.8% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.0% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.2%
Couples, no children
1,499
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 27.4% of local workers (184 people), well above typical suburban concentrations, likely because Marshall sits within the Geelong healthcare catchment. Construction follows at 12.2% (82 workers) and Retail at 9.8% (66), with Education at 9.4% and Manufacturing at 6.7% rounding out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead at 182 workers, followed by Community and Personal Services at 153 and Clerical/Administrative at 100. Unemployment is 5.4%, slightly above average, with 51 people unemployed out of a labour force participation rate of 47.3%, which is below national norms because a large share of the older population is not in the labour force. The suburb sits at SEIFA decile 9 on IRSAD and IRSD, placing it in the top two deciles for advantage relative to VIC and national benchmarks.
Unemployment
1.3%
Labour Force
156
Unemployed
2
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.2%
Part-time
34.4%
Participation
47.3%
Employed
885
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.1%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
18.3%
Dwellings
969
Transport to Work
Car dependence in Marshall is high, with 90% of residents driving to work compared to the national average, and public transport use at just 2.1% reflects limited transit options. Walking and cycling combined account for only 0.7% of commutes. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSAD (advantage) nationally, placing it well above the median for access to economic resources. The crime rate of 26.5 incidents per 1,000 residents is relatively low in absolute terms, with 61 total incidents recorded: 44 in property and deception offences, 12 against persons, and the remainder minor categories. No schools are recorded inside Marshall's boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The volunteering rate of 13.5% indicates moderate community participation, and 11.8% of residents (258 people) need daily assistance, a figure above the typical rate for a 9th-decile suburb and reflecting the older age profile.
Drive
90.0%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-1.03%/yr
(-3 people/yr)
EstablishedMarshall's population has contracted 10% over the decade, running at a trend of -1.03% per year or roughly 3 fewer residents annually. The medium forecast holds this trajectory steady through 2031, projecting a decline from around 283 residents in the modelled cohort to 269 by 2031. Internal migration is mildly negative at -2 per year and overseas migration is flat at zero net, so natural increase is the only driver of population change. The suburb is classified as not gentrifying, which is consistent with its 9th decile SEIFA scores: there is little room for further socioeconomic uplift from a high base. Affordability has worsened from 22% rent-to-income in 2011 to 33.8% in 2021, while real income contracted 6.6% over the same period, suggesting the housing cost burden increased faster than residents' capacity to absorb it.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Natural Increase
Net Overseas / yr
0
Net Internal / yr
-2
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
61
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
26.5
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 Marshall compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marshall a good suburb to live in?
Marshall scores in the 9th decile on all four SEIFA indexes, placing it in the top 10-20% nationally for advantage and low disadvantage. The crime rate of 26.5 per 1,000 is low, and 35% of households own their homes outright. The main trade-offs are high car dependence at 90% and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Marshall?
The median house price is $665,000 as of April-June 2024, up from $360,000 in 2013, a gain of 84.7% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600. The peak price was $682,000 in 2022, so current values remain 2.5% below that high.
What schools are in Marshall?
No schools are recorded inside Marshall's 2.04 square kilometre boundary in this dataset. Families in this suburb of 2,299 residents rely on schools in neighbouring Geelong-area suburbs. University qualifications among residents are at 30.1%, matching the national average.
Is Marshall safe?
Marshall recorded 61 total incidents, a crime rate of 26.5 per 1,000 residents, which is relatively low. The largest category is property and deception offences at 44 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 12. The suburb sits at SEIFA decile 9 on IRSD, consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Marshall good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $390 against a $665,000 median implies a gross yield of about 3.1%, modest but not negligible. The vacancy rate of 9% is elevated compared to a healthy 3% benchmark, suggesting current tenant demand lags supply. Population is declining at -1.03% annually with zero net overseas migration, which limits demand-side growth drivers.
How is Marshall's population changing?
Population has fallen 10% over the decade and is declining at -1.03% per year, or about 3 fewer residents annually. The suburb's age profile is aging, with the senior share rising 10.5 points over the decade. Medium forecasts project continued slow decline through 2031, with no significant reversal expected from migration.
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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