Sheffield
Sheffield's standout feature is age: median 54, 14 years above the national marker, in a town of 1,602 across 61.06 sq km. It is much more detached than apartment-based markets, with 92.4% separate houses and density only 26.2 people per sq km. Compared with nearby Railton, Latrobe and Devonport, Sheffield reads as a quieter inland ownership market, with household income at the 11.8th percentile and 49.1% of homes owned outright.
Local council: Kentish
Population
1,602
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$970/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Without a reliable median house price figure, buyers should read affordability through carrying costs. Mortgage payments sit at $1,000 a month and rent at $200 a week, while mortgage costs take 23.8% of income and the stress flag is false. The stock suits house buyers more than unit seekers: 92.4% are separate houses, 52.4% have 3 bedrooms and 21.2% have 4 or more. The 49.1% outright ownership base and 18.6% turnover point to slower-moving streets.
For Buyers
Without a reliable median house price figure, buyers should read affordability through carrying costs. Mortgage payments sit at $1,000 a month and rent at $200 a week, while mortgage costs take 23.8% of income and the stress flag is false. The stock suits house buyers more than unit seekers: 92.4% are separate houses, 52.4% have 3 bedrooms and 21.2% have 4 or more. The 49.1% outright ownership base and 18.6% turnover point to slower-moving streets.
For Investors
Rental demand is limited rather than broad: 23.7% of homes are rented and median rent is $200 a week, so returns depend on purchase price discipline more than rent escalation. Vacancy is 8.7%, and there were 0 recorded developments over 12 months, which limits new supply pressure but also signals modest builder activity. Because population growth is 0.8% a year with a Balanced migration driver, investors should favour existing detached houses over speculative projects.
Demographics
Sheffield is older and more locally rooted than the national profile: median age is 54, 14 years above national, and only 14.6% were born overseas, 7.0 percentage points below national. University attainment is 17.8%, lower by 12.3 points, matching an economy with more trades, care and service work. English ancestry is the largest count at 695, followed by Scottish 174 and Irish 132, while No religion at 769 sits ahead of Christianity at 616.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.4%
Houses
7.1%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 92.4% separate houses and 7.1% semi-detached dwellings. The tenure mix is more settled than a typical rental market: 49.1% own outright, 24.9% have a mortgage and 23.7% rent. Carrying costs are modest in local income terms, with a $1,000 median monthly mortgage and mortgage to income at 23.8%, while rent to income is lower at 20.6%. Bedrooms cluster in family-sized stock, with 52.4% at 3 bedrooms and 21.2% at 4 or more.
Mortgage / mo
$1,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$200
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$515
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.7%
Unoccupied
62
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.5%
Couples with children
56.0%
Couples, no children
13.7%
Single parent
432
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local jobs at 18.3%, followed by Construction 10.1%, Education 9.5%, Hospitality 9.1% and Agriculture 8.2%. Occupations are practical: Trades count 99, Managers 83 and Labourers 81. Participation is 43.6% and unemployment 6.6%, which is shaped by the median age 54 and 652 people not in the labour force. SEIFA is uneven: IEO decile 2, IRSAD decile 2 and IRSD decile 3 sit below average, while IER decile 5 is higher, likely reflecting low debt and 49.1% outright ownership.
Unemployment
6.6%
Labour Force
609
Unemployed
40
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.9%
Part-time
38.0%
Participation
43.6%
Employed
569
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.8%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
14.6%
Dwellings
647
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-led: 75.1% drive to work, while 5.6% walk or cycle and 15.0% work from home. That suits a low-density layout of 26.2 people per sq km, but gives low-car households less flexibility than inner urban areas. No suburb-level crime rate is available, so residents should check current police and local reports. IRSAD decile 2 is below average, yet 22.8% volunteering and 81.4% residential stability support local connection.
Drive
75.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
15.0%
Growth Outlook
Growth is steady rather than high: annual trend is 0.8%, migration is labelled Balanced and the 10-year population change is 8.6%. The trajectory is Aging because senior share rose 6.8 points while young share fell 4.4 points. Rent growth of 27.8% and real income growth of 24.6% show pressure has lifted, but the gentrification score is 15 with stage Not gentrifying, lower than the shift signal score of 45 marked Active.
Population trend: Kentish council area
Sheffield sits in the Kentish council area. These are the council area's residents, not Sheffield's.
Residents 2025
6,866
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.3%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sheffield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sheffield a good suburb to live in?
Sheffield suits buyers wanting space and a slower pace: population is 1,602, density is 26.2 people per sq km and 92.4% of dwellings are separate houses. It is less suited to households needing frequent public transport because 75.1% drive to work.
What is the median house price in Sheffield?
A reliable suburb median house price is not available for Sheffield. Affordability is better read through costs: the median mortgage payment is $1,000 a month, median rent is $200 a week and 49.1% of homes are owned outright.
What schools are in Sheffield?
There are 0 schools within the Sheffield suburb boundary. Family demand is not absent: 28.5% of families are couples with children and 13.7% are one-parent families, within a population of 1,602.
Is Sheffield safe?
A suburb-specific crime rate is not available, so safety needs current police checks and local inspection. Sheffield has 1,602 residents, 81.4% stayed at the same address over the mobility period and 22.8% volunteer.
Is Sheffield good for property investment?
Sheffield can suit patient income investors rather than high-growth strategies. Median rent is $200 a week, 23.7% of homes are rented, vacancy is 8.7% and there were 0 recorded developments over 12 months.
How is Sheffield's population changing?
Sheffield's growth trend is modest at 0.8% a year, with migration labelled Balanced. The 10-year population change is 8.6%, while the trajectory is Aging as senior share rose 6.8 points and young share fell 4.4 points.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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