Sebastopol
A Ballarat satellite suburb of 10,194 people where the $401,000 median house price sits 16.5% below the 2022 peak of $480,000, one of regional Victoria's steeper post-pandemic corrections. SEIFA places Sebastopol at decile 1 across all four indices (IRSAD, IRSD, IEO, IER), the bottom 10% nationally on every measure. Household income at the 13.1 percentile is among the lowest in the state, and the crime rate of 129.7 per 1,000 residents runs well above the Melbourne metropolitan median. Despite these signals, outright ownership remains high at 29.7%, and only 10.7% of residents were born overseas, 10.9 points below the national average.
Population
10,194
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,013/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$401K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $401,000 median house price has fallen 16.5% from the 2022 peak of $480,000, erasing over two years of gains. Over 14 years, prices grew 65.7% from $242,000, compounding at 3.7% annually, below the Melbourne average. Detached houses dominate at 72.9%, with semi-detached at 27.0% and virtually no apartments (0.2%). Three-bedroom homes make up 56.4% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,133 are very low by state standards, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.8% sits below the 30% stress threshold. The rent-to-income ratio of 26.7% is also manageable. The 7.4% vacancy rate is moderately elevated, suggesting some softness in demand following the post-COVID regional migration pullback.
For Buyers
The $401,000 median house price has fallen 16.5% from the 2022 peak of $480,000, erasing over two years of gains. Over 14 years, prices grew 65.7% from $242,000, compounding at 3.7% annually, below the Melbourne average. Detached houses dominate at 72.9%, with semi-detached at 27.0% and virtually no apartments (0.2%). Three-bedroom homes make up 56.4% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,133 are very low by state standards, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.8% sits below the 30% stress threshold. The rent-to-income ratio of 26.7% is also manageable. The 7.4% vacancy rate is moderately elevated, suggesting some softness in demand following the post-COVID regional migration pullback.
For Investors
Renters make up 42.0% of households, above the national average, supplying a large tenant base. Weekly rent of $270 on a $401,000 median produces a gross yield of roughly 3.5%, significantly better than Melbourne metropolitan averages. The 7.4% vacancy rate is elevated but not unusual for regional Victoria post-2022. Only 10 development applications were lodged in 12 months, including a notable 10-lot subdivision, indicating sporadic rather than sustained supply. The price decline from $480,000 to $401,000 means investors are entering at a lower base than recent arrivals, potentially improving long-term returns. Capital growth at 3.7% CAGR over 14 years has trailed inflation-adjusted benchmarks.
Development Activity
Total DAs
37
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+157.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Sebastopol iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ballarat Christian College
Prep-12 · 406 students
St James' School
Prep-6 · 166 students
Phoenix P-12 Community College
Prep-12 · 1473 students
Sebastopol Primary School
Prep-6 · 98 students
Demographics
The cultural profile is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (4,305), Irish (1,243) and Scottish (1,109) account for over 65% of declared ancestry. Only 10.7% of residents were born overseas, 10.9 points below the national average. Non-English language speakers are minimal, with Punjabi (31) and Hindi (18) the largest groups. University qualifications at 18.5% run 11.6 points below the national average. The 2.1 average household size is below the national 2.5, and 28.8% of families are couples without children, reflecting a mix of retirees and single-person households. Christianity (3,955) strongly dominates religion, with Hinduism (80) the only other notable group. The 11.3% needing daily assistance (1,079 people) is well above the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.9%
Houses
27.0%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners at 29.7%, mortgage holders at 28.4% and renters at 42.0% give a renter-heavy split for a regional suburb. Semi-detached stock at 27.0% is high for a town of this size, indicating active subdivision of older blocks. Three-bedroom homes at 56.4% dominate, with four-plus at only 15.0% and two-bedroom at 24.5%. The price trajectory shows the 2022 boom and bust: from $242,000 in 2013, prices peaked at $480,000 in 2022 before falling to $401,000, a 16.5% correction. The trough of $235,500 in 2014 marks the pre-boom floor. Rent-to-income at 26.7% and mortgage-to-income at 25.8% are both below stress levels, making Sebastopol one of the few suburbs where neither tenure pathway triggers financial strain.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,133
Rent / wk
$270
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$606
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.4%
Unoccupied
350
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.8%
Couples, no children
7,029
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 24.7% of employment, followed by Construction at 11.4%, Education at 10.0%, Retail at 9.0% and Manufacturing at 7.4%. The healthcare dominance ties to Ballarat Base Hospital, the major regional employer. Community/Personal Service workers (665) lead occupations, with Labourers (589) close behind and Professionals (493) third, a blue-collar-leaning profile. The 7.4% unemployment rate runs above the national average, and the 47.7% participation rate is low. SEIFA decile 1 across all indices reflects the combination of low incomes (percentile 13.1), low educational attainment (IEO decile 1) and limited economic resources (IER decile 1). The 57.6% full-time rate among the employed is below the national average.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.6%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
47.7%
Employed
3,740
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.5%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
10.7%
Dwellings
4,398
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme at 89.2% driver share, with public transport at 1.2% and walking/cycling at 2.2%, reflecting limited bus services and no rail connection. Crime totalled 1,322 incidents at 129.7 per 1,000 residents, well above the Melbourne metropolitan median and consistent with SEIFA decile 1 disadvantage. Property offences (717) account for 54%, with justice procedures (270) and crimes against the person (214) following. Schools range from above-average to well below: Ballarat Christian College (ICSEA 1,058, Independent combined, 406 students) and St James' School (1,034, Catholic, 166 students) sit above 1,000, while Phoenix P-12 Community College (947, Government combined, 1,473 students) and Sebastopol Primary (901, Government, 98 students) fall well below the benchmark.
Drive
89.2%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,322
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
129.7
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 Sebastopol compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sebastopol a good suburb to live in?
Sebastopol is affordable at $401,000 median with manageable stress ratios (mortgage 25.8%, rent 26.7%). However, SEIFA decile 1 across all four indices and 129.7 per 1,000 crime rate place it among Ballarat's most disadvantaged suburbs. School quality varies: 2 above ICSEA 1,000 and 2 well below. Car dependence is high at 89.2% driver share.
What is the median house price in Sebastopol?
The median house price in Sebastopol is $401,000 as of April-June 2024, down 16.5% from the 2022 peak of $480,000. Over 14 years prices have grown 65.7% from $242,000, compounding at 3.7% annually. Monthly mortgage repayments sit at $1,133 and weekly rent is $270, with mortgage-to-income at 25.8%.
What schools are in Sebastopol?
Sebastopol has 4 schools. Ballarat Christian College (ICSEA 1,058, Independent combined, 406 students) and St James' School (1,034, Catholic, 166 students) score above the 1,000 benchmark. Phoenix P-12 Community College (947, Government combined, 1,473 students) is the largest but below average. Sebastopol Primary (901, Government, 98 students) also sits below benchmark.
Is Sebastopol safe?
Sebastopol recorded 1,322 offences at 129.7 per 1,000 residents, well above the Melbourne metropolitan median. Property and deception offences dominate at 717 incidents (54%), with justice procedures at 270 and crimes against the person at 214. SEIFA IRSD decile 1 and the 7.4% unemployment rate are consistent with the elevated crime pattern.
Is Sebastopol good for property investment?
Sebastopol's 42.0% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, and $270 weekly rent on $401,000 median produces roughly 3.5% gross yield, above Melbourne averages. However, prices have fallen 16.5% from the 2022 peak and the 7.4% vacancy rate is elevated. Only 10 DAs in 12 months suggest limited new supply. Capital growth at 3.7% CAGR over 14 years has lagged the state average.
How is Sebastopol's population changing?
Sebastopol's census population is 10,194. Only 10.7% were born overseas, 10.9 points below the national average. The suburb shows no gentrification signals (score 0). SEIFA decile 1 and the 11.3% needing daily assistance rate point to a population with above-average care needs. Semi-detached stock at 27.0% reflects past subdivision activity.
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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