San Remo
A median age of 52 and a 30.7% vacancy rate tell the story of San Remo before you look at anything else. The vacancy figure, more than four times what you see in metro VIC suburbs, confirms a large holiday-home stock that sits empty outside peak season. At 1,700 residents across 15.59 km2, the density is just 109 people per km2. House prices reached $989,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, having grown 141.3% since 2013, but the suburb sits at the 33.9th income percentile nationally, creating a meaningful affordability gap between what locals earn and what local property costs.
Population
1,700
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,337/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$990K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $989,500 in Apr-Jun 2024 represents a 141.3% rise from $410,000 in 2013, a CAGR of 6.5% over 14 years. The market peaked at $1,083,800 in Apr-Jun 2023 and is currently 8.7% below that peak, so buyers are entering at a discount compared to the 2023 high. Separate houses dominate at 82.9% of all dwellings, with 36.8% having 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting the holiday-house character. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 31.1%, above the standard stress threshold because household incomes rank at the 33.9th national percentile. Buyers should weigh the coastal lifestyle premium against income-to-price realities.
For Buyers
The median house price of $989,500 in Apr-Jun 2024 represents a 141.3% rise from $410,000 in 2013, a CAGR of 6.5% over 14 years. The market peaked at $1,083,800 in Apr-Jun 2023 and is currently 8.7% below that peak, so buyers are entering at a discount compared to the 2023 high. Separate houses dominate at 82.9% of all dwellings, with 36.8% having 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting the holiday-house character. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 31.1%, above the standard stress threshold because household incomes rank at the 33.9th national percentile. Buyers should weigh the coastal lifestyle premium against income-to-price realities.
For Investors
San Remo presents a contrasting picture for investors. Weekly rent of $301 against a $989,500 median implies a gross yield below 1.6%, making cash flow difficult to justify at current prices. The 30.7% vacancy rate is particularly notable, far higher than VIC metro benchmarks, and reflects a short-stay or holiday-home market rather than a year-round rental pool. Only 23.5% of dwellings are rented, while 48.8% are owned outright, meaning the rental market is thin. Development activity was just 7 applications in the past 12 months, all subdivision and planning permit work with no new dwelling construction recorded. Long-term capital growth has been strong at 6.5% CAGR, but buyers relying on rental income will need to account for structural vacancy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
19
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+200.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in San Remo iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
San Remo Primary School
Prep-6 · 148 students
Demographics
San Remo skews significantly older than the national average, with a median age of 52 compared to the national 40, a gap of 12 years. This aging profile is reinforced by a 40.9% share of couples with no children, a high proportion consistent with sea-change retirees and empty-nesters. University qualifications reach 26.0%, which is 4.1 percentage points below the national figure, and the overseas-born share of 16.8% is 4.8 points below national, reflecting an Anglo-dominant community where English, Irish and Scottish ancestries account for the three largest groups. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below the national figure, consistent with the older couples profile. The volunteering rate of 18.6% is relatively high, suggesting engaged long-term residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.9%
Houses
6.0%
Townhouse
11.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers without a mortgage dominate at 48.8%, nearly double the national outright-ownership rate, which reflects the older population holding debt-free assets. Mortgage holders account for 27.7% and renters 23.5%. The stock is strongly detached, with 82.9% separate houses and apartments at 11%, far below metro averages. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 43.6%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 36.8%. Prices grew from $410,000 in 2013 to $989,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 141.3% gain. The trough was $407,000 in 2014, and the market peaked at $1,083,800 before pulling back 8.7% to current levels. Rent-to-income at 22.5% remains below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting renters cope better than mortgage holders at 31.1%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,800
Rent / wk
$301
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$727
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
30.7%
Unoccupied
301
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.1% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.9%
Couples, no children
1,226
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 18.4% of workers (92 people), followed by Construction at 13.8% (69) and Education at 11.8% (59). Hospitality at 9.2% reflects the local tourism economy. By occupation, Professionals lead with 143 workers, followed by Managers at 116 and Clerical/Admin at 92. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, below the national average, but the labour-force participation rate is only 46.3%, significantly below national, because the large share of retirees and not-in-labour-force residents (596 people) pulls the figure down. Full-time employment covers 53.1% of workers. Household incomes rank at the 33.9th national percentile, lower than the high property prices suggest, pointing to retirees living on fixed incomes and investment returns rather than wages.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.1%
Part-time
43.8%
Participation
46.3%
Employed
646
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.0%
Postgraduate
4.3%
Born Overseas
16.8%
Dwellings
680
Transport to Work
San Remo is almost entirely car-dependent: 87.6% of residents drive to work and only 0.7% use public transport, one of the lowest rates in VIC. Walking and cycling accounts for 7.0%, reasonable for a low-density coastal area. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families depend on nearby towns for education. The crime rate is 75.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 52 incidents. Residents needing daily assistance account for 7.0% of the population (109 people), above national averages and consistent with the older median age of 52. Rent-to-income at 22.5% is comfortable for tenants, and the 15.59 km2 footprint gives residents low density at 109 people per km2.
Drive
87.6%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
7.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
128
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
75.3
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 San Remo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Remo a good suburb to live in?
San Remo suits retirees and sea-change buyers more than younger families. The median age is 52, which is 12 years above national, and 48.8% of residents own their home outright, signalling an established, debt-free community. There are no schools in the suburb boundary and public transport covers only 0.7% of commuters, so car ownership is essential.
What is the median house price in San Remo?
The median house price was $989,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 8.7% from the peak of $1,083,800 in Apr-Jun 2023. Since 2013 prices have risen 141.3% from $410,000, a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800.
What schools are in San Remo?
No schools are recorded inside the San Remo suburb boundary. Families with school-age children rely on institutions in neighbouring towns. The suburb has a median age of 52 and 40.9% of families are couples with no children, so school proximity is less central to most residents' decision-making than in family-oriented suburbs.
Is San Remo safe?
San Remo recorded 128 total crimes in the reference period, giving a rate of 75.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the most common category at 52 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 28. No SEIFA disadvantage decile is available, but the income percentile of 33.9 nationally suggests a lower-income area.
Is San Remo good for property investment?
Capital growth has been strong at 6.5% CAGR over 14 years, reaching $989,500. However, the 30.7% vacancy rate, the highest signal in this suburb's profile, reflects a significant holiday-home component. Gross rental yield is low given $301 weekly rent against a near-$1M median. Only 23.5% of dwellings are rented, so the long-term rental market is thin.
How is San Remo's population changing?
San Remo has a stable population of approximately 1,700 with a high resident retention rate: 70.1% of people stayed at the same address over the survey period, compared to 29.9% turnover. The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure and the aging profile is expected to deepen as the dominant retiree cohort grows older in place.
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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