Maryborough
House prices nearly doubled from $194,000 in 2013 to $387,000 by mid-2024 (5.1% CAGR over 14 years), yet Maryborough remains among regional Victoria's most affordable towns. The crime rate of 144.5 per 1,000 residents is exceptionally high, more than double the state average, with property offences (467) and justice procedures (257) dominating. This rate partly reflects the small-town effect where a regional service hub concentrates incidents across a large area of 46.1 square kilometres. SEIFA decile 1 across all four indices confirms deep socioeconomic disadvantage.
Population
8,160
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$876/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$387K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $387,000 median house price sits 8.9% below the $425,000 peak reached in mid-2023, so buyers enter at a discount. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 54.9%, and 4-plus bedrooms at 18.7% provide family options. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,000 are among the lowest in Victoria, keeping mortgage-to-income at just 26.4%. Separate houses make up 87.4% of stock. Outright ownership is high at 45.8%, reflecting long-settled families who bought when prices were under $200,000. Turnover at 16.5% indicates moderate listing frequency. The large 46.1 sqkm area means properties range from town blocks to rural lifestyle holdings.
For Buyers
The $387,000 median house price sits 8.9% below the $425,000 peak reached in mid-2023, so buyers enter at a discount. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 54.9%, and 4-plus bedrooms at 18.7% provide family options. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,000 are among the lowest in Victoria, keeping mortgage-to-income at just 26.4%. Separate houses make up 87.4% of stock. Outright ownership is high at 45.8%, reflecting long-settled families who bought when prices were under $200,000. Turnover at 16.5% indicates moderate listing frequency. The large 46.1 sqkm area means properties range from town blocks to rural lifestyle holdings.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $240 against a $387,000 median produces roughly 3.2% gross yield. Vacancy at 8.9% is elevated, suggesting tenant options. The 28.8% renter share provides a moderate pool. Rents grew 50.0% over the decade, one of the steepest regional increases. Only 9 DAs in 12 months were lodged, but they include 10-lot and 6-lot subdivisions, signalling greenfield expansion. Internal migration adds +82/yr, the primary driver, while overseas arrivals are minimal (+17/yr). The gentrification score of 55 (Active stage) from shift data suggests the town is transitioning, though the actual gentrification score of 10 indicates this has not yet materialised in demographics.
Development Activity
Total DAs
21
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+12.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Maryborough iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Augustine's School
Prep-6 · 266 students
Highview College
7-12 · 463 students
Maryborough Education Centre
U, Prep-12 · 921 students
Demographics
The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, and university attainment at 15.8% is 14.3pp below the national average. English ancestry leads strongly at 3,747, followed by Scottish (935) and Irish (881). Only 9.4% were born overseas, 12.2pp below the national average, making it one of Victoria's most domestically-born communities. Average household size of 2.1 sits below the national 2.5. Labourers (477) are the top occupation, ahead of community/personal workers (443) and professionals (347). Christianity (3,759) is the dominant religion with minimal religious diversity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.4%
Houses
9.5%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
From $192,500 in 2015 (the trough), prices doubled to $387,000 by mid-2024. The peak of $425,000 in mid-2023 was followed by an 8.9% correction. The 99.5% gain from the 2013 baseline ($194,000) outpaces many metro suburbs in percentage terms. Outright ownership at 45.8% is the largest tenure group, well above the national average. Mortgage holders at 25.3% are low. The 87.4% detached house share reflects Maryborough's country-town character. Semi-detached at 9.5% and apartments at 1.7% are minimal. Couples without children (36.7%) and couples with children (27.6% of families) are the main household types.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,000
Rent / wk
$240
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$511
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.9%
Unoccupied
356
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.7%
Couples, no children
5,685
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 25.3% of employment (404 workers), the highest single-industry concentration in comparable regional towns. Manufacturing at 13.2% (210 workers) ranks second, reflecting the town's industrial heritage. Education (11.2%), retail (8.3%), and public administration (7.5%) round out the top five. Labourers (477) lead occupations, ahead of community/personal workers (443). Unemployment at 6.8% is above the national average, and participation at 39.4% is low, with 3,551 not in the labour force. SEIFA decile 1 across all indices confirms Maryborough sits in the most disadvantaged 10% of Australian areas.
Unemployment
8.1%
Labour Force
3,234
Unemployed
262
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.3%
Part-time
36.9%
Participation
39.4%
Employed
2,554
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.8%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
9.4%
Dwellings
3,625
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling captures 7.7% of commuters, above average for regional Victoria. Car dependence sits at 84.7%. Three schools serve the area: St Augustine's School (Catholic, ICSEA 1016, 266 students), Highview College (Independent secondary, ICSEA 1005, 463 students), and Maryborough Education Centre (Government combined, ICSEA 921, 921 students). The first two score near the national median, while the Education Centre sits well below. Crime at 144.5 per 1,000 is very high: property offences (467), justice procedure offences (257), and crimes against the person (227) are the main categories. Need-for-assistance at 11.9% is triple the national average.
Drive
84.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.34%/yr
(+28 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows slowly at 0.34% per year, adding about 28 people, below the national average. Internal migration at +82/yr is the primary driver, while overseas migration is minimal (+17/yr). The medium forecast projects 8,401 residents by 2031, up from 8,259 in 2026. Over the past decade, population grew 6.9%. The suburb is aging significantly: the senior share rose 5.9pp, higher than the state average, while the young share fell 2.1pp and the working-age share dropped 2.7pp. Affordability worsened from 41.3% to 47.0%, unusual for a disadvantaged town, driven by the 50.0% rent increase outpacing the modest 7.4% real income growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+17
Net Internal / yr
+82
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +82/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,179
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
144.5
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 Maryborough compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maryborough a good suburb to live in?
Maryborough sits in SEIFA decile 1 across all indices, the most disadvantaged 10% nationally. Crime at 144.5 per 1,000 is very high. However, housing is affordable at $387,000 median with mortgage stress at just 26.4%. Two of 3 schools score near the national ICSEA median.
What is the median house price in Maryborough?
The median house price is $387,000 as of mid-2024, down 8.9% from a $425,000 peak in mid-2023. Over 14 years, prices grew 99.5% from $194,000 in 2013 at a 5.1% CAGR. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,000.
What schools are in Maryborough?
Maryborough has 3 schools: St Augustine's (Catholic, ICSEA 1016, 266 students), Highview College (Independent secondary, ICSEA 1005, 463 students), and Maryborough Education Centre (Government combined, ICSEA 921, 921 students). The government school sits well below the national median.
Is Maryborough safe?
The crime rate of 144.5 per 1,000 residents is very high. Property offences (467 incidents) dominate, followed by justice procedures (257) and crimes against the person (227). Drug offences total 109. The rate partly reflects the hub effect of a regional service town.
Is Maryborough good for property investment?
Gross yield sits at roughly 3.2% ($240/week vs $387,000 median). Rents surged 50.0% over the decade. Vacancy at 8.9% is elevated. Recent DAs include 10-lot and 6-lot subdivisions, signalling new supply. Internal migration adds +82 people/yr. The SEIFA decile 1 profile limits premium pricing.
How is Maryborough's population changing?
Population grows slowly at 0.34% per year (+28 persons). Growth is driven by internal migration (+82/yr). The suburb is aging rapidly: the senior share rose 5.9pp over the decade while the working-age share dropped 2.7pp. The forecast projects about 8,400 residents by 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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