Mount Helen
A suburb where 38.6% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 8.5 percentage points above the national average, Mount Helen reads more like a campus community than a typical outer Ballarat pocket. The 3,011-person suburb has a median age of 36, four years below the national figure, and household income sits in the 78.1st percentile nationally. With 94.6% of dwellings being separate houses and a median price of $633,500, it delivers owner-occupier density without the price tags of inner-city alternatives. A low crime rate of 28.9 incidents per 1,000 residents and a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 17.8% round out a picture of a financially comfortable, education-anchored community.
Population
3,011
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,076/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$634K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $633,500 (Apr-Jun 2024) sits well below most metropolitan benchmarks, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.8% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making entry accessible for buyers compared to capital city markets. Prices have risen 84.2% from $344,000 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% over 14 years. The peak of $760,000 was reached in Jan-Mar 2024, with the latest reading 16.6% below that peak, suggesting some post-peak moderation. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 94.6%, and 55.6% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting strong family-size bias. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600 and outright owners at 38.5% outnumber renters at 17.8%, which signals a stable, long-held ownership base.
For Buyers
The median house price of $633,500 (Apr-Jun 2024) sits well below most metropolitan benchmarks, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.8% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making entry accessible for buyers compared to capital city markets. Prices have risen 84.2% from $344,000 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% over 14 years. The peak of $760,000 was reached in Jan-Mar 2024, with the latest reading 16.6% below that peak, suggesting some post-peak moderation. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 94.6%, and 55.6% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting strong family-size bias. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600 and outright owners at 38.5% outnumber renters at 17.8%, which signals a stable, long-held ownership base.
For Investors
With only 17.8% of dwellings rented, Mount Helen is a low-rental suburb where investors compete for a thin tenant pool. Weekly rent of $345 against a $633,500 median implies a gross yield near 2.8%, below average compared to higher-rental suburbs. The vacancy rate of 4.3% is elevated, suggesting rental supply modestly exceeds current demand. Development activity is minimal with just 1 application in the past 12 months, pointing to a constrained supply pipeline. The dominant renter pressure comes from the nearby Federation University campus population, which keeps demand for smaller rentals seasonal. The 84.2% price growth over 14 years and 4.5% CAGR indicate steady long-run capital appreciation, making the investment case rest on growth rather than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mount Helen iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ballarat Steiner School
Prep-6 · 64 students
Demographics
Mount Helen skews younger than the national median, with a median age of 36 compared to the national figure of 40, a difference of 4 years. Overseas-born residents account for 11.5% of the population, which is 10.1 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly locally-born community with English, Irish and Scottish ancestry dominant. University qualifications reach 38.6%, running 8.5 points above national, consistent with proximity to Federation University. Average household size is 2.8, marginally above the national average. The workforce skews toward knowledge workers with Professionals (421) and Managers (204) leading by occupation. A volunteering rate of 19.2% and only 3.7% needing daily assistance point to a healthy, engaged community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.6%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership dominates tenure with 38.5% outright and 43.7% under mortgage, while renters account for just 17.8%, well below state and national norms. Separate houses make up 94.6% of stock, one of the more detached-house-heavy profiles in regional Victoria, with apartments at only 1.6%. Large homes prevail: 55.6% have 4 or more bedrooms and 38.9% have 3 bedrooms, leaving just 5.5% for smaller configurations. The median price of $633,500 has grown 84.2% since 2013, though the current reading sits 16.6% below the Jan-Mar 2024 peak of $760,000. Rent-to-income at 16.6% and mortgage-to-income at 17.8% place Mount Helen in low-stress territory compared to most VIC suburbs, supporting financial resilience among current occupiers.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wk
$345
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$808
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.3%
Unoccupied
45
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.9%
Couples, no children
2,420
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare and Education together account for 42.4% of the local workforce, Healthcare at 21.3% (219 workers) and Education at 21.1% (217 workers), driven by Federation University and nearby health facilities in the Ballarat corridor. Professional and Technical services add 9.7% (100 workers), with Construction at 8.6% and Public Administration at 7.8% rounding the top five. By occupation, Professionals (421) and Managers (204) hold the top two positions, consistent with the 38.6% university qualification rate that is above the national average. The unemployment rate is 5.0% with a participation rate of 61.2%, and 58.5% of employed residents work full-time. Full-time employment at 814 workers substantially exceeds part-time at 577, suggesting stable rather than casual employment structures.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.5%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
61.2%
Employed
1,391
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.6%
Postgraduate
10.1%
Born Overseas
11.5%
Dwellings
984
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 89.4% of commuters driving, with public transport and walking or cycling each at 1.3%, typical for a regional suburb without a rail link. Crime sits at 28.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences making up 59 of 87 total reported incidents, a low absolute number for a 3,011-person suburb. Housing stress is minimal with rent-to-income at 16.6% and mortgage-to-income at 17.8%, both well below the 30% stress benchmark compared to many urban VIC suburbs. The 19.2% volunteering rate is solid, and only 3.7% of residents need daily assistance. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Ballarat institutions, a common trade-off for outer pockets of the Ballarat municipality.
Drive
89.4%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
87
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
28.9
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 Mount Helen compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Helen a good suburb to live in?
Mount Helen offers strong livability indicators: household income in the 78.1st percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income at 17.8% and a low crime rate of 28.9 per 1,000 residents. University qualifications at 38.6% are 8.5 points above the national average. The main trade-off is high car dependency at 89.4% of commuters, with limited public transport access.
What is the median house price in Mount Helen?
The median house price is $633,500 as of Apr-Jun 2024. This is 16.6% below the Jan-Mar 2024 peak of $760,000. Long-run growth has been strong, up 84.2% from $344,000 in 2013. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 17.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Mount Helen?
No schools are recorded inside the Mount Helen suburb boundary in this dataset. Families draw on schools in neighbouring Ballarat suburbs. Despite this, education outcomes are strong locally: 38.6% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 8.5 percentage points above the national figure, partly reflecting proximity to Federation University.
Is Mount Helen safe?
Mount Helen recorded 87 total crimes in the latest period, giving a rate of 28.9 per 1,000 residents, which is low for a VIC suburb. The majority (59 incidents) were property and deception offences. Crimes against the person totalled 16, and drug offences just 4. The absolute numbers are modest for a population of 3,011.
Is Mount Helen good for property investment?
Long-run capital growth of 84.2% over 14 years and a 4.5% CAGR make the investment case, but yields are thin. Weekly rent of $345 against a $633,500 median implies a gross yield near 2.8%, and the 4.3% vacancy rate signals modest oversupply. Only 1 development application in 12 months limits new supply, which supports price stability but not rental growth.
How is Mount Helen's population changing?
Mount Helen has a population of 3,011 with a median age of 36, which is 4 years below the national median. The 75% retention rate indicates a stable, low-churn community. The suburb identity leans toward families and university-affiliated residents, with 55.6% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and household income in the 78.1st national percentile.
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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