Panton Hill
With a median age of 48 and 83.9% of residents who have not moved in five years, Panton Hill is one of the most stable and established semi-rural communities in outer Melbourne. Household income sits in the 89.6th percentile nationally, yet the suburb spans 21 square kilometres at just 50 residents per km2, making it far less dense than comparable income-bracket suburbs closer to the city. SEIFA places Panton Hill in decile 10 on both IRSD and IER, the top tier nationally for low disadvantage and economic resources. That combination of wealth, stability and very low population density is unusual compared to most VIC suburbs, and explains why 99.1% of dwellings are detached houses.
Population
1,063
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,367/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median house price data is not available for Panton Hill due to the small transaction volume in this 1,063-person suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, reflecting comfortable serviceability relative to the 89.6th-percentile household income. Tenure strongly favours ownership: 45.8% own outright and 49.0% carry a mortgage, leaving only 5.2% renting, far lower than state or national averages. The housing stock is overwhelmingly large: 54.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 99.1% are separate houses, so buyers should expect almost no smaller or attached options. The stock composition reflects the rural-residential character of the area.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for Panton Hill due to the small transaction volume in this 1,063-person suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, reflecting comfortable serviceability relative to the 89.6th-percentile household income. Tenure strongly favours ownership: 45.8% own outright and 49.0% carry a mortgage, leaving only 5.2% renting, far lower than state or national averages. The housing stock is overwhelmingly large: 54.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 99.1% are separate houses, so buyers should expect almost no smaller or attached options. The stock composition reflects the rural-residential character of the area.
For Investors
The 5.2% renter share is well below the national average, limiting the tenant pool for residential investors. Weekly rent sits at $350, and the vacancy rate is 5.6%, above the 3% threshold that typically signals balanced supply. Rent has grown 28.2% over the measured period, which is strong, but the very low renter population means few properties actually change hands as investment stock. Development activity is minimal at just 1 application in the past 12 months, consistent with a low-growth, established area. Annual population change is -0.23%, and the medium forecast has the SA2 population declining from around 5,130 to 5,076 by 2031, so demand pressure from population growth is unlikely to support yields.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Panton Hill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Panton Hill Primary School
Prep-6 · 147 students
Demographics
The median age of 48 is 8.0 years above the national figure, placing Panton Hill firmly in an aging demographic trajectory, with the senior share rising 9.5 points over the decade while the young adult share fell 5.0 points. Only 12.9% of residents were born overseas, which is 8.7 percentage points below the national average, and the dominant ancestries are English (502 residents), Irish (170) and Scottish (125), giving the suburb a distinctly Anglo-Celtic character. University qualifications reach 32.4%, which is 2.3 percentage points above the national rate. Average household size is 2.9, slightly above the national level of 2.5, consistent with the couples-with-children profile where 310 families are couples with children and 246 are couples without.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.1%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Panton Hill's housing market is defined by large detached homes on substantial lots: 99.1% of all dwellings are separate houses, and 54.5% have 4 or more bedrooms, well above typical VIC suburban proportions. Tenure is heavily owner-oriented, with 45.8% owned outright and 49.0% under mortgage, compared to the much higher renter shares seen in most metropolitan suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.1%, below the 30% stress threshold and reflecting the strong household incomes at the 89.6th percentile nationally. Rent averages $350 per week and rent-to-income sits at just 14.8%, indicating renters are not under financial pressure. The 5.6% vacancy rate is slightly elevated, reflecting the limited rental demand in an ownership-dominated market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$915
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
21
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.4%
Couples, no children
899
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction (17.6%, 78 workers) and Healthcare (17.2%, 76 workers) are the two dominant industries, an unusual pairing that reflects both the semi-rural building activity and the older resident profile that drives healthcare demand. Professional and Technical services account for 11.8% (52 workers) and Education 10.4% (46 workers). By occupation, Professionals (130) and Managers (107) are the top two categories, consistent with the SEIFA IEO decile 8 score for education and occupation outcomes. Unemployment is low at 3.0% and the full-time employment rate is 62.1%. Real income growth reached 10.2% over the decade. The suburb scores IRSD decile 10 and IER decile 10, both in the top tier nationally for low disadvantage and strong economic resources.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
3,141
Unemployed
71
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.1%
Part-time
34.9%
Participation
60.3%
Employed
525
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.4%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
12.9%
Dwellings
352
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 92.4% of residents drive to work, well above the national average, which reflects the rural-residential layout across 21 square kilometres with limited public transport. Crime is very low at 10.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, below most metropolitan benchmarks, with property offences (8 incidents) the dominant category. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD, the top national tier for low disadvantage, and decile 9 on IRSAD overall advantage. Volunteering is notably high at 21.5% of residents, above the national average, which is typical of stable, established communities with strong social cohesion. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring areas. Housing stress is minimal: mortgage-to-income at 21.1% and rent-to-income at 14.8% are both well within comfortable ranges.
Drive
92.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.23%/yr
(-12 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is marginally negative at -0.23% annually, or roughly 12 fewer residents per year. The SA2-level population of around 5,130 in 2025 is projected to decline to approximately 5,076 by 2031 under the medium scenario, a gradual contraction rather than a sharp fall. The 10-year population change was only 1.5%, classifying this as a slow-growth, established suburb. The suburb has not fully recovered from a 3.8% COVID-era dip. Internal migration runs at a net loss of 46 residents per year, partly offset by overseas migration of 28 per year. The gentrification score is 0, consistent with an area that is already highly advantaged with no upward trajectory to capture, sitting at the top decile on multiple SEIFA measures.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+28
Net Internal / yr
-46
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
11
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
10.3
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 Panton Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panton Hill a good suburb to live in?
Panton Hill scores decile 10 on IRSD and IER, the top national tier for low disadvantage and economic resources. Household income sits in the 89.6th percentile nationally and the crime rate is just 10.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. The trade-offs are near-total car dependence (92.4% drive) and limited local services given the 50-residents-per-km2 density.
What is the median house price in Panton Hill?
A specific median house price is not available for Panton Hill due to low transaction volumes in this 1,063-person suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, suggesting strong borrowing capacity relative to the 89.6th-percentile household income. Weekly rent is $350 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.1%.
What schools are in Panton Hill?
No schools are recorded inside the Panton Hill suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring areas. The suburb has a university qualification rate of 32.4%, which is 2.3 percentage points above the national average, indicating a well-educated resident base.
Is Panton Hill safe?
Panton Hill recorded just 11 total incidents, a crime rate of 10.3 per 1,000 residents, which is low compared to most Melbourne suburbs. Property and deception offences accounted for 8 of those incidents. The suburb scores IRSD decile 10, the top national tier for low disadvantage, consistent with very low crime.
Is Panton Hill good for property investment?
The investment case is limited by a 5.2% renter share (well below national averages) and a 5.6% vacancy rate. Weekly rent of $350 has grown 28.2% over the measured period. Annual population is declining at -0.23% with the SA2 forecast to fall from 5,130 to around 5,076 by 2031, so demand-side pressure is low.
How is Panton Hill's population changing?
Population is declining slowly at -0.23% per year, equivalent to about 12 fewer residents annually. The suburb grew only 1.5% over 10 years and is trending toward further gradual decline, with the SA2 medium forecast reaching 5,076 by 2031. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 9.5 points over the decade.
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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