Metung
A median age of 60, a vacancy rate of 29%, and 58.4% of homes owned outright tell a coherent story: Metung is a sought-after coastal retirement destination where owner-occupiers dominate and a large share of dwellings sit empty for much of the year. With only 1,899 residents across 27.6 km2, the suburb operates at a density of 68.8 people per km2, far below state and national averages. The housing market doubled in price from $337,500 in 2013 to a peak of $905,000 before settling at $675,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, representing a 100% total gain over 14 years. Household income sits in the 26.4th percentile nationally, lower than typical coastal premium markets, because the retired base draws on savings and superannuation rather than wages.
Population
1,899
Median Age
60.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,219/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$675K
Apr-Jun 2024
The current median house price of $675,000 sits 25.4% below the Jan-Mar 2024 peak of $905,000, giving buyers entering now some cushion from the top of the cycle. Over 14 years the median has risen from $337,500, a 100% gain at a compound annual rate of 5.1%. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 97.9%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 52.6% and four-plus bedroom at 29.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. The high outright ownership rate of 58.4%, compared to the national average closer to 30%, reflects a buyer profile that prioritises paid-off lifestyle properties over leveraged investment.
For Buyers
The current median house price of $675,000 sits 25.4% below the Jan-Mar 2024 peak of $905,000, giving buyers entering now some cushion from the top of the cycle. Over 14 years the median has risen from $337,500, a 100% gain at a compound annual rate of 5.1%. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 97.9%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 52.6% and four-plus bedroom at 29.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. The high outright ownership rate of 58.4%, compared to the national average closer to 30%, reflects a buyer profile that prioritises paid-off lifestyle properties over leveraged investment.
For Investors
Metung presents a challenging rental investment case. The weekly rent of $346 against a $675,000 median implies a gross yield of around 2.7%, which is lower than most comparable VIC regional markets. The vacancy rate of 29% is the most significant concern, roughly 3 to 4 times higher than a healthy rental market, and reflects the high proportion of holiday homes and seasonal occupancy. Only 15.3% of dwellings are rented, compared to the national average above 30%. Development activity is modest at 4 applications in the past 12 months, primarily subdivisions. The suburb's investment case rests on long-term capital growth, given the 5.1% CAGR over 14 years, rather than rental income or high yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
14
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Metung iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Metung Primary School
Prep-6 · 47 students
Demographics
The median age of 60 is 20 years above the national median, making Metung one of the more age-advanced suburbs in Victoria. This aging profile is reinforced by a labour force participation rate of just 41.1%, well below the national rate, because most residents are retired. The overseas-born proportion of 18.8% is 2.8 points below the national average, consistent with the Anglo-leaning ancestry mix led by English (906), Scottish (265) and Irish (232). University qualifications reach 27.7%, which is 2.4 points below national. Average household size is 2.1, slightly below national, and 55.7% of families are couples without children, reflecting the predominance of empty-nesters and retirees. Volunteering stands at 21.6%, above typical suburban rates.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.9%
Houses
1.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses make up 97.9% of Metung's dwelling stock, one of the most detached-dominant profiles compared to most VIC suburbs. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 52.6%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 29.1%, and two-bedroom at 14.6%. Tenure tells the story of an owner-occupier haven: 58.4% own outright, 26.3% carry a mortgage, and only 15.3% rent. The price trajectory moved from a trough of $287,500 in 2014 up to a peak of $905,000 in Jan-Mar 2024, before retreating 25.4% to $675,000. Over the full 14-year period from 2013, the earliest recorded price of $337,500 has doubled, a 5.1% annual compound rate. The high vacancy rate of 29% confirms that a significant share of properties function as holiday or seasonal homes rather than permanent residences.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$346
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$617
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
29.0%
Unoccupied
329
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.7%
Couples, no children
1,446
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 22.2% of workers (111 people), followed by Construction at 11.2% and Education at 10.2%. Professional services and public administration each account for roughly 9% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is very low at 1.9%, but this reflects a small labour force: the participation rate of 41.1% means 799 residents are outside the labour force entirely, most due to retirement rather than inactivity. Full-time employment accounts for 51.3% of employed residents. By occupation, Managers (138) and Professionals (134) are the two largest groups, slightly above Community and Personal Service Workers (110). Household income sits in the 26.4th percentile nationally, lower than the suburb's house prices suggest, because retirement income sources are less visible in Census wage data.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.3%
Part-time
46.8%
Participation
41.1%
Employed
675
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.7%
Postgraduate
6.5%
Born Overseas
18.8%
Dwellings
804
Transport to Work
Car dependency in Metung is very high at 89.8% of workers driving, which is above the national norm and reflects the rural coastal setting with minimal public transport. Walking and cycling account for 4.4% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families with children rely on facilities in neighbouring towns. Crime recorded 33 incidents in the latest period, a rate of 17.4 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences (16 incidents) and crimes against the person (14 incidents) as the main categories. This crime rate is low compared to regional VIC averages, consistent with the low-crime-rate identity signal for the suburb. Only 5.7% of residents require daily assistance, and mortgage stress at 24.6% of income remains below the 30% threshold.
Drive
89.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
33
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
17.4
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 Metung compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metung a good suburb to live in?
Metung suits retirees and lifestyle buyers well, with 58.4% of homes owned outright, a crime rate of 17.4 per 1,000, and a low mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%. The median age of 60 is 20 years above the national median, signalling a strong retirement community. The trade-off is minimal services and no recorded schools within the suburb, plus a 29% vacancy rate from seasonal holiday homes.
What is the median house price in Metung?
The median house price was $675,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 25.4% from the peak of $905,000 in Jan-Mar 2024. Prices have grown at a compound annual rate of 5.1% over 14 years, doubling from $337,500 in 2013. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300.
What schools are in Metung?
No schools are recorded within the Metung suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb's median age of 60 and the 55.7% rate of couples without children reflect a resident base that is largely past school-age requirements. Families with children typically access schools in nearby towns.
Is Metung safe?
Metung recorded 33 incidents in the latest period at a rate of 17.4 per 1,000 residents, which is low relative to regional VIC benchmarks. Property and deception offences accounted for 16 incidents and crimes against the person for 14. The suburb is tagged as low-crime-rate, consistent with its retired, stable owner-occupier base.
Is Metung good for property investment?
The long-term capital growth case is solid, with a 5.1% compound annual growth rate over 14 years and 100% total price increase from 2013. However, the 29% vacancy rate and weekly rent of $346 against a $675,000 median imply a gross yield around 2.7%, which is low. Rental investment is difficult given only 15.3% of dwellings are currently rented.
How is Metung's population changing?
Metung's population of 1,899 is spread across 27.6 km2 at a density of 68.8 per km2. The suburb has a stable resident base with 77.9% of people having stayed over 5 years and a turnover rate of 22.1%. The aging profile, with a median age of 60 that is 20 years above the national figure, suggests ongoing retiree-led demand rather than family or working-age growth.
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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