Milton
A median age of 55 tells the story of Milton before any other number does: the suburb sits 15 years above the national median, one of the most pronounced aging profiles on the South Coast. Despite that, the median house price reached $1,047,500 in the latest data, supported by owner-occupier dominance rather than investor activity. Household income falls in the 33rd percentile nationally, well below average, yet 53.6% of residents own their homes outright, a divergence explained by long-tenured, debt-free older owners. Development activity reached 47 applications in 12 months, signalling steady land and construction demand in a suburb spanning 16.48 square kilometres.
Population
1,801
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,325/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
51
Median House
$1.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The current median house price is $1,047,500, up 32.1% from $885,000 in 2024 to $1,168,750 in 2025, a sharp single-year move. Stock is heavily detached, with 90.2% separate houses, so buyers are competing for a dominantly freestanding product with very little apartment supply (2.4%). Bedroom composition skews large: 39.8% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 38.3% have three, which pushes the median price higher than income levels would typically support. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.2%, just above the standard 30% stress threshold. That pressure is meaningful given household income sits in only the 33rd percentile nationally, making entry-level affordability a genuine constraint compared to higher-income NSW markets.
For Buyers
The current median house price is $1,047,500, up 32.1% from $885,000 in 2024 to $1,168,750 in 2025, a sharp single-year move. Stock is heavily detached, with 90.2% separate houses, so buyers are competing for a dominantly freestanding product with very little apartment supply (2.4%). Bedroom composition skews large: 39.8% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 38.3% have three, which pushes the median price higher than income levels would typically support. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.2%, just above the standard 30% stress threshold. That pressure is meaningful given household income sits in only the 33rd percentile nationally, making entry-level affordability a genuine constraint compared to higher-income NSW markets.
For Investors
Rental conditions in Milton are tight by NSW regional standards. The renter share is 17.3%, modest against state averages, and weekly rent sits at $383. Against the $1,047,500 median that implies a gross yield around 1.9%, low for a regional market and lower than comparable South Coast towns. The vacancy rate of 10.6% is high, indicating meaningful oversupply in the available rental pool relative to tenant demand. Development activity of 47 applications in 12 months includes subdivision and seniors housing works, suggesting some structural change in land use, but net renter demand remains thin. Investors relying on yield rather than capital growth should weigh the 10.6% vacancy carefully before comparing Milton against tighter regional NSW markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
269
Last 12 Months
51
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+6.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Milton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 125 students
Milton Public School
K-6 · 823 students
Demographics
The median age of 55 is 15 years above the national figure, placing Milton firmly in the top tier of aged demographic profiles nationally. The overseas-born share is 14.2%, which is 7.4 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting a strongly Anglo-Celtic composition: English ancestry leads at 792 residents, followed by Irish (241) and Scottish (225). University qualifications reach 29.4%, close to the national average at just 0.7 points below. Average household size is 2.4, slightly below the national figure of 2.5, consistent with the dominance of couples without children (38.7% of families). The volunteering rate of 20.0% is above typical metro norms, which fits the older, community-embedded resident base that 77.0% residential stability over five years also indicates.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.2%
Houses
4.5%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupancy is the defining feature of Milton's housing market: 53.6% own outright and 29.1% hold a mortgage, leaving renters at just 17.3%, well below the national renter share. The tenure split reflects the aging resident base, where long-established owners have paid down debt over decades. Separate houses account for 90.2% of stock, apartments only 2.4%, making this one of the most detached-dominant housing markets in NSW relative to its size. Price growth was steep: from $885,000 in 2024 to $1,168,750 in 2025, a 32.1% rise. Rent-to-income sits at 28.9%, just below the 30% stress threshold, while mortgage-to-income at 30.2% crosses it, a sign that new buyers face more pressure than established owners who entered the market earlier.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$383
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$602
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.6%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.2% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.7%
Couples, no children
1,325
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employment sector at 16.6% of workers (81 people), above the share typical for small coastal towns, followed by Construction at 13.8% (67) and Professional/Technical at 11.9% (58). Education and Public Admin together account for a further 23.4%. Professionals lead by occupation (167 workers) ahead of Managers (109), giving the workforce a qualification-heavy profile that contrasts with the below-average household income in the 33rd percentile nationally. The full-time employment rate is 49.0% and unemployment is 2.8%, low by national standards. The participation rate of 42.0% is significantly below national norms because 726 residents are not in the labour force, a direct consequence of the suburb's aged demographic profile rather than economic hardship.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.0%
Part-time
48.2%
Participation
42.0%
Employed
624
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.4%
Postgraduate
7.6%
Born Overseas
14.2%
Dwellings
665
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 81.5% of residents drive to work, above national norms, which is expected for a regional suburb spanning 16.48 square kilometres with dispersed settlement. Walking and cycling account for 12.1% of commuters, relatively high for a non-metro area and consistent with a compact village core. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in surrounding Shoalhaven LGA towns. The need-for-assistance rate of 11.5% (197 residents) is above the national average, linked directly to the aged demographic where a median age of 55 brings higher care requirements. Housing stress indicators show mortgagors at 30.2% income commitment, above the stress threshold, while renters at 28.9% sit just below it, a moderate overall picture compared to inner-city NSW markets.
Drive
81.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
12.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Milton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milton a good suburb to live in?
Milton suits established owner-occupiers and those seeking a low-density, detached-house environment on the NSW South Coast. With 53.6% of residents owning outright and a 77% five-year stability rate, it has a settled community character. The main trade-offs are a high median age of 55, limited rental stock at 17.3%, and a 10.6% vacancy rate that suggests the area absorbs renters slowly.
What is the median house price in Milton?
The median house price is $1,047,500 based on the latest available data. Prices rose sharply from $885,000 in 2024 to $1,168,750 in 2025, a 32.1% increase. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and weekly rent is $383.
What schools are in Milton?
No schools are recorded inside the Milton suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Shoalhaven LGA centres such as Ulladulla and Berry. The local population has a university qualification rate of 29.4%, close to the national average.
Is Milton safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Milton in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the unemployment rate is low at 2.8% and 77.0% of residents have stayed in the suburb over five years, both consistent with a stable, low-transience community compared to higher-turnover urban areas.
Is Milton good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $383 against a $1,047,500 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, and the 10.6% vacancy rate is high, signalling more rental supply than active demand. The 32.1% price rise from 2024 to 2025 is striking, but it rests on two data points. Development applications reached 47 in 12 months, including subdivision work, suggesting some supply-side activity.
How is Milton's population changing?
The brief does not include a population growth forecast for Milton, but identity signals point to an aging, stable resident base. The median age of 55 is 15 years above national, 53.6% own outright with no mortgage pressure, and the 5-year stay rate of 77% is above average, all pointing to low turnover rather than population expansion.
How much development is happening in Milton?
There were 47 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including a subdivision, a seniors housing modification and multiple complying development certificates for pools and new structures. That activity level is notable for a suburb of 1,801 residents and 16.48 square kilometres, suggesting steady land-use change rather than a dormant market.
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.
Explore Milton on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map