Nhill
At a median house price of $320,000 with a 7.9% compound annual growth rate over 14 years, Nhill sits among the most affordable property markets in regional Victoria, yet affordability has actually improved since 2011, falling from 28.1% to 25.8% of income. The population of 2,401 is spread across 942 square kilometres, giving a density of just 2.5 persons per km2, far below both state and national averages. Household income falls in the 30.7th percentile nationally, reflecting the town's agricultural and healthcare base rather than knowledge-economy employment. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, and the senior share of residents grew 3.9 points over the decade, marking a consistent aging trajectory.
Population
2,401
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,296/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$320K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $320,000 (Apr-Jun 2024) represents a significant jump from $110,000 in 2013, a 190.9% rise over 14 years at a 7.9% CAGR, though the market remains far below the state median. Monthly mortgage repayments of $774 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 13.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable even on below-average household incomes. Separate houses dominate at 93.1% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 56.8% and four-plus bedroom homes at 22.2%. Outright ownership is high at 48.9%, above the national average, with only 27.4% carrying a mortgage, indicating a long-established owner base with limited recent buyer turnover. Entry-level buyers gain significant affordability compared to metropolitan alternatives.
For Buyers
The median house price of $320,000 (Apr-Jun 2024) represents a significant jump from $110,000 in 2013, a 190.9% rise over 14 years at a 7.9% CAGR, though the market remains far below the state median. Monthly mortgage repayments of $774 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 13.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable even on below-average household incomes. Separate houses dominate at 93.1% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 56.8% and four-plus bedroom homes at 22.2%. Outright ownership is high at 48.9%, above the national average, with only 27.4% carrying a mortgage, indicating a long-established owner base with limited recent buyer turnover. Entry-level buyers gain significant affordability compared to metropolitan alternatives.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $200 against a $320,000 median implies a gross yield of approximately 3.25%, higher than most metropolitan markets in Victoria. The 12.2% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling more supply than current demand can absorb and pointing to rental pricing pressure. The renter share of 23.7% is moderate, providing a tenant pool but not a deep one. Development activity is low at 8 applications in the past 12 months, mostly subdivisions, with no significant new dwelling supply entering the market. Net internal migration averages minus 42 per year, meaning more residents leave for other parts of Australia than arrive, while overseas migration adds 22 annually. Population is forecast to decline at 0.67% per year through to 2031, which limits rental demand growth. Returns here are yield-driven rather than capital-growth driven.
Development Activity
Total DAs
13
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+350.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Nhill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wimmera Lutheran College
Prep-12 · 647 students
St Patrick's School
Prep-6 · 56 students
Nhill College
Prep-12 · 239 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national median, placing Nhill among Australia's older regional communities. The senior share rose 3.9 points over the decade while the young adult share fell 3 points, consistent with the aging trajectory signal. Overseas-born residents account for 16.8% of the population, which is 4.8 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly locally-born community. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic: English (904), German (313) and Scottish (242) are the leading groups, with a notable German heritage thread reflecting historical Wimmera settlement patterns. University qualifications reach 20.4%, which is 9.7 points below the national average, consistent with a blue-collar and agricultural workforce. The average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, partly because 34.1% of families are couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.1%
Houses
6.1%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 93.1% of dwellings being separate houses, far above the national average. Apartments account for just 0.8% of stock. Three-bedroom homes are the modal type at 56.8%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 22.2%. Tenure is distinctly owner-heavy: 48.9% own outright, 27.4% carry a mortgage and only 23.7% rent, compared to the national renter share of around 30%. Price history shows a strong long-term trend: from $110,000 in 2013 to $320,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 190.9% rise. Rent-to-income sits at 15.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 13.8% is similarly low, meaning housing costs consume a smaller share of household income than the national average despite below-median incomes. The vacancy rate of 12.2% is high, suggesting the rental market has more available stock than tenants currently need.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$774
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$717
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.2%
Unoccupied
133
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.1%
Couples, no children
1,750
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 28.9% of jobs (190 workers), reflecting Nhill's role as a regional service hub for the Wimmera district. Agriculture is the second largest sector at 19.3% (127 workers), consistent with the surrounding dryland farming landscape. Education follows at 12.2% (80 workers), then Construction at 6.2% and Public Admin at 5.8%. By occupation, Labourers (230) and Managers (227) are almost equal in number, an unusual split that reflects both the manual agricultural base and the farm-owner managerial class. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 and IRSAD decile of 3 place Nhill in the bottom 30% nationally for socio-economic advantage, with an IEO decile of 4 for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 2.6% and the full-time employment rate is 66%, though the participation rate of 52.4% is below national norms, largely because 747 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older population profile.
Unemployment
1.6%
Labour Force
3,275
Unemployed
54
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.0%
Part-time
31.4%
Participation
52.4%
Employed
1,041
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.4%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
16.8%
Dwellings
954
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 79.6% of commuters driving, while walking and cycling account for 14.1%, an unusually high active transport share for a regional town, likely reflecting the flat terrain and compact town centre. Public transport use is minimal at 0.6%, lower than the state and national averages, because limited services run in this part of the Wimmera. No schools are recorded in the suburb dataset, so families rely on facilities in surrounding areas. The crime rate is 50.0 incidents per 1,000 residents based on 120 total incidents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 56 incidents. The IRSAD decile of 3 places Nhill in the lower third nationally for socio-economic advantage. Volunteering is strong at 31.2%, well above the national average, indicating active community participation despite economic pressures. Only 8.6% of residents require daily assistance.
Drive
79.6%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
14.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.67%/yr
(-45 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is declining at 0.67% per year, equivalent to approximately 45 persons annually, and the 10-year change is minus 3.3%. Historical data shows the broader Nhill area at 6,764 in 2023 easing to 6,698 in 2025, and medium forecasts point to 6,389 by 2031. Net internal migration removes 42 residents a year on average, partially offset by 22 overseas arrivals annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver keeping decline from accelerating. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is classified as not gentrifying, meaning no upward pressure from lifestyle or amenity-driven in-migration. Rent grew 36% over the measurement period and real income grew 20.2%, both outpacing population growth, which shows existing residents have more spending power even as total numbers fall. Affordability improved from 28.1% in 2011 to 25.8% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+22
Net Internal / yr
-42
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
120
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
50.0
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 Nhill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nhill a good suburb to live in?
Nhill suits buyers seeking affordable regional living with low housing stress. Mortgage repayments average $774 per month, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 13.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The IRSAD decile of 3 places the area in the lower third nationally for socio-economic advantage, so expectations should be calibrated to a working-class regional town rather than a service-rich urban environment. Volunteering rates of 31.2% suggest a cohesive community.
What is the median house price in Nhill?
The median house price is $320,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024, up from $110,000 in 2013, a 190.9% rise over 14 years at a 7.9% compound annual growth rate. Weekly rent averages $200 and monthly mortgage repayments run $774, producing a rent-to-income ratio of 15.4% and mortgage-to-income of 13.8%, both well below stress levels.
What schools are in Nhill?
No schools are recorded within the Nhill suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the surrounding Hindmarsh Shire area. University qualifications among Nhill residents reach 20.4%, which is 9.7 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the agricultural and trades-oriented local workforce.
Is Nhill safe?
Nhill recorded 120 crimes in the reference period, a rate of 50.0 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 56 incidents, the largest category, followed by justice procedures offences at 32 and crimes against the person at 21. The IRSD decile of 3 places the area in the lower third nationally for relative disadvantage, which is typically associated with elevated crime rates compared to more advantaged areas.
Is Nhill good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $200 against a $320,000 median implies a gross yield of approximately 3.25%, higher than most Victorian metropolitan markets. However, the 12.2% vacancy rate signals oversupply in the rental market, and population is declining at 0.67% per year, limiting demand growth. The 14-year CAGR of 7.9% shows historical capital growth, but net internal migration of minus 42 per year is a headwind.
How is Nhill's population changing?
Nhill's population is declining at 0.67% annually, around 45 persons per year. The 10-year change is minus 3.3%, and medium forecasts project the broader area falling from 6,698 in 2025 to 6,389 by 2031. Overseas migration adds 22 residents per year, partially offsetting net internal outflow of 42 annually. The median age of 47, which is 7 years above national, will continue to rise on current trends.
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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