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. 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.
Local council: East Gippsland
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
$592K
October to December 2025
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
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 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.
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
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Metung Primary School
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
0.0%
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 high vacancy rate of 29% confirms that a significant share of properties function as holiday or seasonal homes rather than permanent residences.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$346
Census 2021
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
23.0%
Couples with children
68.7%
Couples, no children
8.7%
Single parent
587
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.
Unemployment
1.7%
Labour Force
769
Unemployed
13
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
45.8%
Part-time
43.5%
Participation
46.0%
Employed
756
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
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
68.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
23.5%
Growth Outlook
The suburb has a turnover rate of 22.1%, with 77.9% of residents having stayed over the prior 5 years, indicating a stable and committed owner base rather than speculative churn. With a population of only 1,899 and a density of 68.8 per km2 compared to state averages, organic population growth is constrained by the small land area and low renter share. Subdivision activity at 4 applications over the past year suggests limited near-term supply addition.
Population trend: East Gippsland council area
Metung sits in the East Gippsland council area. These are the council area's residents, not Metung's.
Residents 2025
49,669
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 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?
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), 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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