VIC 3501 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Nichols Point

Household income at the 79th percentile nationally, yet a median house price of $731,000 and a 96% detached house rate tell the real story of Nichols Point: a large-lot, owner-occupier suburb on the Murray River fringe near Mildura where 88.6% of residents own their home. The suburb spans 24 km2 with just 1,723 people, giving a density of 71.6 per km2, far below the state average. Owner-occupiers dominate, with 39.8% owning outright and a further 48.8% carrying a mortgage. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 19.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold, indicating households carry debt they can comfortably service compared to most Victorian suburbs.

Nichols Point urban fabric map

Population

1,723

Median Age

40.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,087/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

2

Median House

$731K

Apr-Jun 2024

24.05 km²· 71.6 people/km²· Family income $2,398/wk

The median house price of $731,000 reflects a 131% rise from $316,500 recorded in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% over 14 years. Prices peaked at $880,000 in the January-March 2024 quarter and have since eased 16.9% to $731,000, creating a potential entry window for buyers compared to the peak. Over 96% of dwellings are separate houses and 54.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, so the typical purchaser is buying a large family home rather than a unit. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9% these remain below the 30% stress threshold. The low renter share of 11.4% signals that homebuyers, not investors, drive demand here.

For Buyers

The median house price of $731,000 reflects a 131% rise from $316,500 recorded in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% over 14 years. Prices peaked at $880,000 in the January-March 2024 quarter and have since eased 16.9% to $731,000, creating a potential entry window for buyers compared to the peak. Over 96% of dwellings are separate houses and 54.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, so the typical purchaser is buying a large family home rather than a unit. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9% these remain below the 30% stress threshold. The low renter share of 11.4% signals that homebuyers, not investors, drive demand here.

For Investors

Rental demand is thin in Nichols Point. Only 11.4% of dwellings are rented, compared to the broader VIC state norm, and the vacancy rate of 5.1% is elevated, meaning roughly 1 in 20 rentable properties sits empty. Weekly rent averages just $225, which against a $731,000 median produces a gross yield near 1.6%, low for a regional suburb. Development activity is minimal at 2 applications in the past 12 months, both subdivision permits rather than new dwelling construction, so supply growth is not a near-term pressure. The 6.2% price CAGR over 14 years is the more credible investment argument here, though the price correction of 16.9% from the January-March 2024 peak warrants caution on short-term timing.

Development Activity

Total DAs

10

Last 12 Months

2

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+100.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
2
Other
1

Schools in Nichols Point iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Nichols Point Primary School

ICSEA 995 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 382 students

Demographics

The median age is 40, matching the national figure exactly. Overseas-born residents account for just 7.3% of the population, which is 14.3 percentage points below the national average, making Nichols Point one of the more locally-born communities in VIC. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (722), Italian (191), Scottish (188) and Irish (154) lead the counts, with Italian also the only non-English language recorded at 21 speakers. University qualifications reach 25.0%, which is 5.1 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a regional workforce leaning toward trade and service industries. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above the national figure, reflecting the dominance of couples-with-children families, which account for 744 of 1,483 recorded families.

Age Distribution

0-14
23.5%
15-24
10.6%
25-44
22.5%
45-64
29.1%
65+
14.4%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
4.8%
2 bed
6.9%
3 bed
33.8%
4+ bed
54.4%

Dwelling Structure

96.0%

Houses

1.1%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 39.8% Mortgage 48.8% Rent 11.4%

Ownership is the defining tenure characteristic: 39.8% own outright and 48.8% hold a mortgage, leaving only 11.4% renting, well below the national renter share. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 96.0%, with semi-detached at 1.1% and no apartments recorded. Bedroom distribution skews large: 54.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 33.8% have 3, meaning the typical home is a sizeable family property. Prices have grown from $316,500 in 2013 to $731,000 in the most recent quarter, a 131% total return, but the 16.9% pull-back from the $880,000 peak in early 2024 is a current headwind. At a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9%, servicing costs remain manageable compared to metropolitan Victorian suburbs where that ratio often exceeds 30%.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,800

Rent / wk

$225

HH Size

2.9

Personal Income / wk

$885

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

5.1%

Unoccupied

31

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

10.8%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.9%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Italian
21

Ancestry

English
722
Italian
191
Scottish
188
Irish
154
German
101
Ancestry NS
80

Household Composition

22.0%

Couples, no children

1,483

Total families

Economy & Employment

The local employment base of 810 workers spans five industries. Education leads at 16.2% (92 workers), Healthcare follows at 14.9% (85), and Construction at 12.8% (73). Manufacturing contributes 7.7% and Agriculture 7.6%, the latter reflecting the irrigated horticulture economy of the Sunraysia region that sits around Mildura. By occupation, Professionals (189) and Managers (163) are the two largest groups, higher white-collar shares than the industry mix might suggest. Unemployment is 2.8%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 68.5%. The participation rate of 63.0% is moderate. SEIFA decile scores are not available for this suburb, but household income in the 79th percentile nationally signals above-average economic standing for a regional VIC community.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

68.5%

Part-time

28.7%

Participation

63.0%

Employed

810

Occupations

Professionals 189
Managers 163
Clerical/Admin 110
Sales 84
Labourers 80
Community/Personal 78
Machinery/Drivers 43

Top Industries

Education 16.2%
Healthcare 14.9%
Construction 12.8%
Manufacturing 7.7%
Agriculture 7.6%

University

25.0%

Postgraduate

3.7%

Born Overseas

7.3%

Dwellings

571

Transport to Work

Car dependence is pronounced: 90.0% of residents drive to work, while only 1.0% use public transport and 3.4% walk or cycle. This is typical for a 24 km2 suburb with 71.6 residents per km2, where distances between destinations make active travel impractical compared to urban settings. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Mildura schools. The crime rate is 30.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 53 total incidents split across crimes against the person (22), property and deception offences (21) and justice procedure offences (10). Rent-to-income at 10.8% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs consume a smaller share of income than the national average. Only 3.8% of residents (63 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the suburb's median age of 40.

Drive

90.0%

Public Transport

1.0%

Walk / Cycle

3.4%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

53

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

30.8

Offence Categories

Crimes against the person
22
Property and deception offences
21
Justice procedures offences
10

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Nichols Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 23%
Household Income
Top 21%
Rent Level
Bottom 39%
Renters
Bottom 20%
Uni Educated
Top 47%
Public Transport
Bottom 15%
Born Overseas
Bottom 16%
Density
Top 28%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nichols Point a good suburb to live in?

Nichols Point suits buyers seeking large detached homes with low housing-cost stress. Household income sits at the 79th percentile nationally, mortgage repayments average $1,800 per month at a 19.9% mortgage-to-income ratio, and 88.6% of residents own their home. The main trade-off is high car dependence, with 90% driving to work and only 1% using public transport.

What is the median house price in Nichols Point?

The median house price is $731,000, recorded in the April-June 2024 quarter. Prices peaked at $880,000 in January-March 2024, an easing of 16.9% since then. Over 14 years from 2013, prices have risen 131% from $316,500, a compound annual growth rate of 6.2%.

What schools are in Nichols Point?

No schools are recorded inside the Nichols Point boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the neighbouring Mildura area. The suburb has 1,723 residents spread over 24 km2, and 25% of adults hold university qualifications, which is 5.1 percentage points below the national figure.

Is Nichols Point safe?

The recorded crime rate is 30.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 53 total incidents. The largest categories are crimes against the person (22 incidents) and property and deception offences (21 incidents). With 87.5% of residents remaining at the same address, the community shows strong residential stability compared to higher-turnover suburbs.

Is Nichols Point good for property investment?

The 6.2% price CAGR over 14 years is a positive signal, but the investment case has limitations. Weekly rent averages $225, implying a gross yield near 1.6% against the $731,000 median. The vacancy rate of 5.1% is elevated and only 11.4% of dwellings are rented, indicating thin rental demand. The 16.9% price decline from the $880,000 peak adds short-term uncertainty.

How is Nichols Point's population changing?

The current population is 1,723 across a 24 km2 area, giving a low density of 71.6 people per km2. Residential stability is high, with 87.5% of residents staying at the same address over the reference period. Recent development activity includes 2 subdivision applications, suggesting incremental lot creation rather than rapid expansion. The average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above the national figure.

What industries employ residents in Nichols Point?

Education is the largest employer at 16.2% of workers, followed by Healthcare at 14.9% and Construction at 12.8%. Agriculture accounts for 7.6%, reflecting the Sunraysia irrigated horticulture region around Mildura. Unemployment is 2.8%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 68.5%.

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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