Soldiers Hill
With 45.9% of residents holding university qualifications, Soldiers Hill sits 15.8 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Ballarat's most educated pockets relative to its income level. Household income ranks at only the 44.8th percentile nationally, so this is an educated but not wealthy suburb. The vacancy rate of 10.5% and a 39.9% renter share signal a rental-heavy market, and the crime rate of 131.9 per 1,000 residents is elevated, with property and deception offences accounting for 276 of 371 incidents recorded. These three signals, high education, moderate income and high rentals, point to a suburb whose demographic is shaped by proximity to Federation University and Ballarat's public sector workforce.
Local council: Ballarat
Population
2,813
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,461/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
22
Median House
$618K
October to December 2025
The stock is strongly detached: 84.5% of dwellings are separate houses, and 52.0% have 3 bedrooms with a further 18.7% at 4 or more. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,509, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. For buyers wanting established freestanding stock in Ballarat at a price lower than Melbourne suburbs, Soldiers Hill offers that combination, though the 10.5% vacancy rate and elevated crime rate should factor into decisions.
For Buyers
The stock is strongly detached: 84.5% of dwellings are separate houses, and 52.0% have 3 bedrooms with a further 18.7% at 4 or more. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,509, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. For buyers wanting established freestanding stock in Ballarat at a price lower than Melbourne suburbs, Soldiers Hill offers that combination, though the 10.5% vacancy rate and elevated crime rate should factor into decisions.
For Investors
A 39.9% renter share against weekly rent of $300 gives landlords a broad tenant pool, driven by the suburb's proximity to Federation University and Ballarat's healthcare and education employers. However, the 10.5% vacancy rate is high and signals supply exceeds current demand, so rental income is not guaranteed without competitive pricing. Seven development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, a low figure indicating limited new supply pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
31
Last 12 Months
22
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+450.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Soldiers Hill
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Macarthur Street Primary School
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure precisely, making Soldiers Hill unusually average in age terms. The university qualification rate of 45.9% runs 15.8 percentage points above national, pointing to a professional and public-sector resident base. Only 12.7% of residents were born overseas, which is 8.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born population with English, Irish and Scottish ancestry dominating at 1,205, 571 and 484 residents respectively. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national figure, consistent with the high share of couples without children at 28.7% of families. The volunteering rate of 19.6% suggests civic engagement above typical suburban norms, aligning with the education and community-sector occupational profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.5%
Houses
9.8%
Townhouse
5.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits with 30.4% owning outright, 29.8% on mortgages and 39.9% renting. The near-equal split between outright owners and mortgage holders, with renters forming the largest single group, reflects a suburb where long-term ownership coexists with a transient rental market. Separate houses make up 84.5% of stock, semi-detached 9.8% and apartments only 5.5%, so the suburb is overwhelmingly detached. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.0%, with 2-bedroom at 26.1% and 4-plus at 18.7%. Rent-to-income at 20.5% sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters are not financially squeezed despite the elevated vacancy rate.
Mortgage / mo
$1,509
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$842
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
146
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.5%
Couples with children
40.2%
Couples, no children
16.7%
Single parent
711
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 22.7% of workers (239 residents), followed by Education at 17.1% (180) and Professional/Tech at 9.6% (101). Public Administration employs 9.3% and Construction 7.0%, rounding out a workforce anchored in Ballarat's public and knowledge sectors rather than manufacturing. Professionals are the top occupation (470 residents), followed by Community and Personal service workers (198) and Managers (181), consistent with the healthcare and education industry split. The unemployment rate is 4.7% against a participation rate of 60.3%, and 823 residents work full-time compared to 520 part-time. SEIFA decile data is not available for this suburb, but the 44.8th-percentile household income and education-heavy occupational mix suggest mid-range economic advantage relative to national benchmarks.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
1,502
Unemployed
66
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.3%
Part-time
36.2%
Participation
64.2%
Employed
1,436
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.9%
Postgraduate
13.4%
Born Overseas
12.7%
Dwellings
1,238
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 82.0% of commuters driving, while only 1.6% use public transport. The 9.4% walking and cycling share is above average, possibly reflecting the compact 1.53 km2 footprint and proximity to Ballarat's central amenities. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby institutions. The crime rate of 131.9 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated compared to quieter outer suburbs, driven primarily by the 276 property and deception offences recorded. Rent-to-income at 20.5% and mortgage-to-income at 23.9% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to incomes, a positive liveability indicator. The 5.5% of residents needing daily assistance is at the national average, and housing stress by both metrics is absent.
Drive
60.2%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
6.9%
Work from Home
26.6%
Growth Outlook
The 25.4% turnover rate indicates one in four residents moved in the past five years, higher than a purely settled suburb, consistent with the student and rental character. Development activity at 7 applications in 12 months is low, meaning new supply is not a headwind for existing holders. No population forecast data is available in this brief, but the 2,813 residents across 1.53 km2 gives a density of 1,835 per km2, moderate for an inner Ballarat suburb.
Population trend: Ballarat council area
Soldiers Hill sits in the Ballarat council area. These are the council area's residents, not Soldiers Hill's.
Residents 2025
122,661
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
371
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
131.9
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 Soldiers Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Soldiers Hill a good suburb to live in?
Soldiers Hill suits residents who value a well-educated community and affordable housing relative to Melbourne. University qualifications reach 45.9%, which is 15.8 points above national. The main trade-offs are an elevated crime rate of 131.9 per 1,000 residents and a 10.5% vacancy rate, which signals high rental turnover. Housing costs are manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 23.9% and rent-to-income at 20.5%.
What schools are in Soldiers Hill?
No schools are recorded within the Soldiers Hill boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Ballarat suburbs. Despite no local schools, the suburb has a high university qualification rate of 45.9%, which is 15.8 percentage points above the national average, reflecting a well-educated adult population.
Is Soldiers Hill safe?
The crime rate is 131.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, driven by 276 property and deception offences out of 371 total incidents. This is elevated compared to quieter residential suburbs. Crimes against the person account for 38 incidents. Prospective residents should factor this into decisions, particularly regarding home security.
Is Soldiers Hill good for property investment?
The case is mixed. The 39.9% renter share provides a broad tenant pool, but the 10.5% vacancy rate indicates competitive conditions. Seven DA applications in 12 months means limited new supply pressure.
How is Soldiers Hill's population changing?
Soldiers Hill has a population of 2,813 across 1.53 km2, giving a density of 1,835 per km2. The 25.4% turnover rate means roughly one in four residents moved in the past five years, higher than settled owner-occupier suburbs. No forward population forecast is available, but the rental character and education sector employment suggest continued moderate churn rather than strong growth.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
Explore Soldiers Hill on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map