Newington
Across 2.39 square kilometres, 1,844 residents live at a density of 770 people per square kilometre, with 84.5% of homes detached. That combination makes the suburb more house-focused and comparatively accessible than prestige-priced pockets, while 38.7% outright ownership supports stability. Compared with nearby Alfredton and Wendouree as search alternatives, Newington's compact footprint, 39 median age and 28.4% rental share give it an established, mixed-tenure profile. The 4.1% rise in senior share also points to an aging trajectory rather than a rapidly changing market.
Local council: Ballarat
Population
1,844
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,695/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$560K
October to December 2025
The typical mortgage repayment is $1,517 a month, equal to 20.7% of household income, so repayments are not flagged as mortgage stress. Housing is predominantly detached because 84.5% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 0.9% apartments and 14.2% semi-detached dwellings. The stock leans toward family layouts, with 51.2% three-bedroom and 27.3% four-bedroom-plus homes. Buyers prioritising space may find better alignment here than in the suburb's 0.9% apartment segment, while the 10.1% vacancy rate warrants checking street-level demand and resale competition.
For Buyers
The typical mortgage repayment is $1,517 a month, equal to 20.7% of household income, so repayments are not flagged as mortgage stress. Housing is predominantly detached because 84.5% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 0.9% apartments and 14.2% semi-detached dwellings. The stock leans toward family layouts, with 51.2% three-bedroom and 27.3% four-bedroom-plus homes. Buyers prioritising space may find better alignment here than in the suburb's 0.9% apartment segment, while the 10.1% vacancy rate warrants checking street-level demand and resale competition.
For Investors
Newington's investment case is income-led but not scarcity-led. Weekly rent is $315 and 28.4% of dwellings are rented, while vacancy is 10.1%, a high level compared with tightly supplied markets. That vacancy can soften rent competition because renters have more choice, so investors should model longer leasing periods rather than assume automatic growth. Rent growth is 8.3%, but only 9 development applications were recorded in 12 months, limiting evidence of a major construction wave. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may support tenant demand, although annual growth is just 0.54%. Compared with owner-occupier buyers, investors need to weigh the suburb's 20.7% mortgage-to-income context against a strategy based on $315 weekly rent.
Development Activity
Total DAs
13
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1000.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Newington's 39 median age is 1 year below the national comparison, but the suburb is moving older: senior share has risen 4.1 percentage points and 73.2% of residents stayed at the same address, compared with 26.8% turnover. University attainment is 49.5%, 19.4 points above the national figure, supporting a professional profile alongside 10.5% overseas-born residents, 11.1 points below national. English ancestry is reported by 772 people, followed by Irish at 382 and Scottish at 238; Christianity counts 870 and no religion 829. Smaller average households of 2.4 people, 0.1 below national, fit the 40.3% couples-without-children share. Compared with more migrant-heavy areas, Newington's profile is more Anglo-leaning.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.5%
Houses
14.2%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Newington's housing cycle is uneven. This makes current pricing lower than the recent high, although the long-run compound rate is 3.0%. Tenure is split between 38.7% outright ownership, 31.3% mortgages and 28.4% renting, so established owners sit alongside renters and newer borrowers. Separate houses account for 84.5%, compared with 14.2% semi-detached homes and 0.9% apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 51.2%, which helps explain the suburb's family-oriented demand more than a unit-led market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$315
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$802
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.1%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.2%
Couples with children
40.3%
Couples, no children
17.1%
Single parent
461
Total families
Economy & Employment
Newington's employment base is concentrated in essential services. Healthcare accounts for 29.0% of industry employment with 183 workers, followed by Education at 19.7% and 124, while Public Administration, Construction and Professional/Technical contribute 8.3%, 8.1% and 7.0%. That mix supports local resilience because health and education demand is less discretionary than some sectors. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 315, ahead of Managers at 117, Clerical/Admin at 101, Community/Personal at 97 and Trades at 83. The unemployment rate is 4.2% and participation is 60.4%, while household income of $1,695 weekly sits at the 59.5th percentile, higher than the midpoint. Compared with a lower-income market, this can support owner-occupier demand, but real income growth of -3.9% signals pressure on purchasing power.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
906
Unemployed
38
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
35.6%
Participation
60.4%
Employed
868
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.5%
Postgraduate
13.6%
Born Overseas
10.5%
Dwellings
696
Transport to Work
Daily life in Newington is car-oriented: 65.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 8.2% who walk or cycle, and 21.9% work from home. That pattern suits households with vehicles, so buyers without cars should test routes to work and services before committing. School access should be checked by exact address, including nearby options and enrolment zones, because catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Recorded crime totals 111 incidents, including 66 property and deception offences and 27 crimes against the person; property offences are higher than the person-offence count, so basic security remains relevant. At 2.39 square kilometres and 770 people per square kilometre, the setting is compact, while the 23.4% volunteering rate adds a useful community connection.
Drive
65.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
21.9%
Growth Outlook
Newington's growth profile is measured rather than explosive: the annual trend is 0.54%, below rapid-growth corridors, while population change across the wider area runs at 9.0% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is labelled Aging, with senior share up 4.1 percentage points, young share down 0.3 and working share down 3.5. This points to demand shaped more by established households and gradual turnover than by a surge of young arrivals. Gentrification is not currently indicated, with a score of 0 and a stage of Not gentrifying. The market also recorded an 8.3% Covid dip and remains 0.5% below its earlier level, so growth should be judged against a slower, established-suburb baseline rather than a boom cycle.
Population trend: Ballarat council area
Newington sits in the Ballarat council area. These are the council area's residents, not Newington's.
Residents 2025
122,661
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
111
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
60.2
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 Newington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Newington?
Families should check nearby school options, travel times and enrolment zones using the exact address before deciding. Catchments can cross suburb boundaries, and Newington's 2.39 square kilometre footprint does not remove the need to verify intake rules. Compared with larger outer areas, local trips may be shorter, but school access depends on the address.
Is Newington safe?
Recorded crime was 111 incidents, or 60.2 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 66 cases, compared with 27 crimes against the person, so property security deserves attention. Treat this as a reason to inspect the immediate street and building context rather than a guarantee of safety, especially when comparing homes across Newington.
Is Newington good for property investment?
Newington may suit an investor seeking an established house market, but the rental settings call for caution. Weekly rent is $315, vacancy is 10.1% and 28.4% of dwellings are rented. That vacancy is higher than a tightly supplied market, so leasing time and incentives should be stress-tested. Annual growth is 0.54%, while 9 development applications were recorded in 12 months.
How is Newington's population changing?
Newington has 1,844 residents today, while population change across the wider area is 9.0% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: senior share has increased 4.1 percentage points, young share has fallen 0.3 and working share has fallen 3.5. Growth runs at 0.54% annually and is driven primarily by overseas migration, so change is gradual compared with a rapid expansion suburb.
What is the rental market like in Newington?
Weekly rent is $315, with 28.4% of dwellings rented and a 10.1% vacancy rate. Rent growth is 8.3%, but vacancy is higher than in a tightly supplied market, so landlords should allow for competition when setting rent. Compared with buyers focused on capital growth, yield-focused investors need careful cash-flow testing.
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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