Miners Rest
A suburb where 98.9% of dwellings are separate houses and household income sits at the 74.4th percentile nationally stands out in the Ballarat fringe. Miners Rest, VIC (3352) has a population of 3,829 with a median age of 33, which is 7 years below the national figure, signalling a young, family-oriented base. Just 8.4% of residents were born overseas, compared to 21.6% nationally, giving this area a distinctly Anglo-Celtic character. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 1 places the suburb among the most disadvantaged nationally on relative socio-economic advantage, a counterpoint to the above-average household income of $1,983 per week.
Population
3,829
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,983/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$612K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price is $612,500 as at Apr-Jun 2024, up from $330,000 in 2013, a rise of 85.6% over roughly 14 years at a 4.5% compound annual growth rate. Prices have eased 4.3% from the peak of $640,000 reached in Jul-Sep 2023, which may present a buying window for purchasers who missed the peak. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 98.9%, with four-plus bedroom homes at 52.8% and three-bedroom homes at 44.6%, making this a strong family market rather than a unit or downsizer destination. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold and lower than typical for metropolitan areas.
For Buyers
The median house price is $612,500 as at Apr-Jun 2024, up from $330,000 in 2013, a rise of 85.6% over roughly 14 years at a 4.5% compound annual growth rate. Prices have eased 4.3% from the peak of $640,000 reached in Jul-Sep 2023, which may present a buying window for purchasers who missed the peak. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 98.9%, with four-plus bedroom homes at 52.8% and three-bedroom homes at 44.6%, making this a strong family market rather than a unit or downsizer destination. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold and lower than typical for metropolitan areas.
For Investors
Renters make up just 16.9% of residents, well below the national average, limiting tenant demand. Weekly rent averages $360 and the vacancy rate is 4.0%, which is elevated compared to most tightly held fringe suburbs and suggests careful stock selection is needed. Over the decade, rent has grown 44.4%, a meaningful increase though yields remain modest against a $612,500 median. Overseas migration adds a net 91 residents per year while internal migration removes 56, resulting in modest net population growth of around 98 persons annually at 0.63%. The suburb recorded 6 development applications in the past 12 months, predominantly single dwellings and garages, indicating low-density incremental growth rather than large-scale subdivision.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+133.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Miners Rest iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Miners Rest Primary School
Prep-6 · 353 students
Demographics
The median age of 33 sits 7 years below the national figure, driven by a strong couples-with-children cohort: 1,684 families with children compared to 792 couples without. Average household size is 2.8, slightly above the national average of 2.5. Overseas-born residents are just 8.4%, which is 13.2 percentage points below the national rate, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic with English (1,653), Irish (522) and Scottish (447) leading. University qualifications reach 25.9% of residents, which is 4.2 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the suburb's blue-collar and trades character. Volunteering sits at 13.9% and 5.1% of residents require daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.9%
Houses
0.7%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Miners Rest is almost entirely detached houses at 98.9%, with just 0.7% semi-detached and 0.5% apartments, a ratio that stands above almost all metropolitan suburbs. Bedrooms skew large: 52.8% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 44.6% have three, matching the family demographics. Tenure leans heavily toward mortgage holders at 59.3%, with outright owners at 23.8% and renters at 16.9%. From a 2013 base of $330,000 the median reached $612,500 by Apr-Jun 2024, peaking at $640,000 in Jul-Sep 2023. Rent-to-income sits at 18.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress line, while mortgage-to-income at 17.7% is similarly manageable relative to household income at the 74.4th national percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$927
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.0%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.8%
Couples, no children
3,321
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 22.4% (306 workers), followed by Education at 12.7% (174), Construction at 11.8% (162), Manufacturing at 8.7% (119) and Public Administration at 8.6% (117). By occupation, Professionals lead with 356 workers, then Community/Personal Service at 293, Clerical/Admin at 254, Managers at 233 and Labourers at 221. Unemployment is low at 2.4% and the full-time employment rate is 64.9%, with 71.4% participation. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 2 places the suburb in the bottom 20% nationally on relative disadvantage, sitting below the state average despite household income at the 74.4th percentile nationally, a divergence explained partly by lower educational attainment and limited local commercial amenity.
Unemployment
6.6%
Labour Force
7,429
Unemployed
492
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.9%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
71.4%
Employed
2,003
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.9%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
8.4%
Dwellings
1,314
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 91.3% driving to work, compared to the national average, and public transport use is just 0.6%, reflecting the suburb's distance from rail and limited bus frequency. Walking and cycling account for 2.2% of commuters. Crime totals 141 incidents, giving a rate of 36.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences are the largest category at 62 incidents, followed by justice procedures offences at 39 and crimes against the person at 31. The IRSAD decile of 1 ranks this suburb among the most disadvantaged nationally on the combined advantage-disadvantage index, though the low housing-stress ratios and strong employment participation suggest residents manage costs well within their income levels.
Drive
91.3%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.63%/yr
(+98 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is growing at 0.63% per year, adding roughly 98 persons annually, and grew 7.9% over the prior decade. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 area reaching approximately 16,239 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding a net 91 residents per year, while internal migration produces a net outflow of 56. The gentrification score sits at 41 with an early-signs stage, supported by real income growth of 14.2% over the decade and rent growth of 44.4%, though the IRSAD decile 1 floor and limited commercial development constrain how far this can move. Affordability remained stable, shifting from 39.4% in 2011 to 40.5% in 2021, which is consistent with the mortgage-belt character of the suburb.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+91
Net Internal / yr
-56
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
141
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
36.8
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 Miners Rest compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Miners Rest a good suburb to live in?
Miners Rest suits families seeking space at a lower price point than Ballarat's inner suburbs. Household income sits at the 74.4th national percentile and mortgage-to-income is just 17.7%, well below stress levels. The trade-off is high car dependence at 91.3% and an IRSAD decile 1 rating, meaning limited local commercial services compared to more advantaged suburbs.
What is the median house price in Miners Rest?
The median house price is $612,500 as at Apr-Jun 2024, down 4.3% from the peak of $640,000 in Jul-Sep 2023. Since 2013, prices have grown 85.6% from $330,000, a CAGR of 4.5% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $360 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,517.
What schools are in Miners Rest?
No schools are recorded inside the Miners Rest boundary in this dataset. Families in the suburb typically access schools in neighbouring Ballarat suburbs. The local population has university qualifications at 25.9%, which is 4.2 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting its predominantly trades and healthcare workforce.
Is Miners Rest safe?
Miners Rest recorded 141 total crimes in the reference year, a rate of 36.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 62 incidents, the largest category. Justice procedures offences total 39 and crimes against the person total 31. The suburb's low disadvantage in practical terms (low housing stress, 2.4% unemployment) is a positive indicator.
Is Miners Rest good for property investment?
The median of $612,500 with $360 weekly rent implies a gross yield around 3.1%, modest but above many inner-city benchmarks. Price growth of 85.6% since 2013 at a 4.5% CAGR shows long-run capital gains. The 4.0% vacancy rate is elevated for a fringe suburb, so investors should target the dominant four-plus bedroom family stock rather than smaller dwellings. The 16.9% renter share is lower than national averages, limiting tenant pool depth.
How is Miners Rest's population changing?
Miners Rest is growing at 0.63% per year, adding around 98 people annually. Over the prior decade population rose 7.9%. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 91 arrivals per year, offset by net internal outflow of 56. The broader SA2 area is forecast to reach roughly 16,239 residents by 2031 under medium projections.
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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