Strathmerton
At 178.91 square kilometres with just 1,072 residents, Strathmerton registers a density of 6.0 people per square kilometre, well below the national average, making it one of Victoria's more sparsely settled rural localities. The median house price of $330,000 sits far below the Victorian state median, yet the suburb has delivered a 98.8% price gain since 2013, roughly doubling in nominal terms. Employment is spread across Manufacturing (15.8%), Agriculture (15.4%) and Healthcare (15.4%) in almost equal thirds, which is unusual compared to metro areas dominated by a single sector. Household income sits at the 40.4th percentile nationally, reflecting a working-class, rural economy rather than a professional base.
Population
1,072
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,404/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$330K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $330,000 median house price in April-June 2024 sits well below the Victorian state median, giving first-home buyers meaningful purchasing power. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127, and the mortgage-to-income ratio stands at 18.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 97% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 3% and no recorded apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.9% of stock, and 4-plus bedroom properties make up 34.9%, giving buyers a predominantly family-sized pool. The price peaked at $432,500 in mid-2023 before settling 23.7% lower, so buyers are entering at a corrected level, not at the peak. Outright owners at 37% outnumber renters at 21.4%, indicating a settled ownership base.
For Buyers
The $330,000 median house price in April-June 2024 sits well below the Victorian state median, giving first-home buyers meaningful purchasing power. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127, and the mortgage-to-income ratio stands at 18.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 97% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 3% and no recorded apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.9% of stock, and 4-plus bedroom properties make up 34.9%, giving buyers a predominantly family-sized pool. The price peaked at $432,500 in mid-2023 before settling 23.7% lower, so buyers are entering at a corrected level, not at the peak. Outright owners at 37% outnumber renters at 21.4%, indicating a settled ownership base.
For Investors
Rental yield prospects are bolstered by a low $330,000 median and weekly rent of $210, producing a gross yield around 3.3%. However, the 9.5% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants scrutiny, suggesting supply may exceed local demand for rentals. The renter share is 21.4%, below average compared to typical regional towns, which limits the tenant pool. Only 3 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, all subdivision works with no new dwelling construction recorded, so supply pressure from new builds is minimal. Population stability is high, with 83% of residents remaining in the same address for 5 years, which reduces turnover risk for landlords. Investment fundamentals are modest rather than strong, with yield and capital growth balanced against the elevated vacancy rate.
Development Activity
Total DAs
11
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Strathmerton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Strathmerton Primary School
Prep-6 · 58 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, slightly younger than average for a rural Victorian locality. Residents born overseas account for 9.5% of the population, which is 12.1 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the predominantly Anglo-Celtic heritage. The top ancestries are English (481 residents), Irish (126), Scottish (104) and German (36), consistent with historic pastoral settlement patterns. University qualifications reach only 12%, which is 18.1 percentage points below national, indicating the workforce is oriented toward trade and labouring roles rather than professional or managerial careers. Average household size of 2.7 is marginally above the national figure. The volunteering rate of 21.2% is a notable signal of community engagement in a small rural setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.0%
Houses
3.0%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Housing tenure is split between outright owners (37%), mortgage holders (41.6%) and renters (21.4%), with owner-occupiers collectively comprising nearly 79% of dwellings. The rent-to-income ratio is 15%, well below the stress threshold, making renting accessible in this market. The price history shows a compound annual growth rate of 5.0% over 14 years, rising from $166,000 in 2013 to $330,000 in 2024. The peak of $432,500 in 2023 represented a sharp run-up followed by a 23.7% correction back to current levels. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant type at 52.9%, while 4-plus bedroom properties at 34.9% reflect the rural lifestyle preference for larger homes. At 97%, the separate house rate is among the highest you will find in Victoria, with virtually no apartment or medium-density stock.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,127
Rent / wk
$210
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$662
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.5%
Unoccupied
38
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.1%
Couples, no children
829
Total families
Economy & Employment
Three industries each employ roughly equal shares of the local workforce: Manufacturing (15.8%, 45 workers), Agriculture (15.4%, 44 workers) and Healthcare (15.4%, 44 workers). This three-way split is unusual compared to most regional areas where agriculture or services tend to dominate. Construction accounts for 9.5% and Retail for 7.4%. By occupation, Labourers (101) and Managers (95) are the two largest groups, reflecting the physical nature of manufacturing and farming work alongside farm ownership. Unemployment sits at 3.5%, lower than many rural towns, and the full-time employment rate is 63.3%. Household income at the 40.4th percentile nationally indicates modest earnings typical of a working rural economy rather than a professional centre.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.3%
Part-time
33.2%
Participation
58.0%
Employed
463
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.0%
Postgraduate
0.7%
Born Overseas
9.5%
Dwellings
364
Transport to Work
Car travel is the primary mode for 85.8% of residents, consistent with a rural area where public transport options are limited and destinations are spread across 178.91 square kilometres. Walking or cycling accounts for 8.7%, relatively high for a low-density rural locality, likely reflecting local trips within the town centre. No schools are recorded within the Strathmerton boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in nearby centres. The crime rate is 64.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 43 of the 69 total recorded incidents. Housing stress is low on both measures, with rent-to-income at 15% and mortgage-to-income at 18.5%, both well below stress thresholds compared to metropolitan areas. The 5.2% needing assistance rate is broadly in line with rural Victoria.
Drive
85.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
69
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
64.4
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 Strathmerton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strathmerton a good suburb to live in?
Strathmerton suits buyers and households who value affordable housing, space and a rural lifestyle. The $330,000 median house price is well below the Victorian state median, mortgage-to-income is a comfortable 18.5%, and housing stress is low. The trade-off is limited services and no schools recorded within the locality boundary, making car access to nearby towns essential.
What is the median house price in Strathmerton?
The median house price is $330,000 as of April-June 2024, down 23.7% from the 2023 peak of $432,500. Since 2013 the price has risen 98.8% from $166,000, a 5.0% compound annual growth rate over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127 and weekly rent averages $210.
What schools are in Strathmerton?
No schools are recorded within the Strathmerton locality boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children rely on schools in surrounding towns. The suburb's university qualification rate of 12% is 18.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and labouring occupational base.
Is Strathmerton safe?
Strathmerton recorded 69 incidents in the latest period, giving a crime rate of 64.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 43 incidents, followed by justice procedures offences at 13. Housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 18.5% and rent-to-income at 15%, both well below stress thresholds compared to typical urban benchmarks.
Is Strathmerton good for property investment?
The $330,000 median and $210 weekly rent produce a gross yield around 3.3%, reasonable for regional Victoria. The 9.5% vacancy rate is elevated and the renter share of 21.4% is below average compared to similar towns, limiting the tenant pool. The 14-year price CAGR of 5.0% shows steady appreciation, though the current price is 23.7% below the 2023 peak.
How is Strathmerton's population changing?
Strathmerton's current population is 1,072 across a 178.91 square kilometre area. Resident stability is high, with 83% of the population remaining at the same address over 5 years, indicating a settled rather than transient community. The turnover rate is 17% and no forecast data is available for the locality, so growth trajectories depend on broader regional employment trends.
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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