Tarneit
Tarneit’s most distinctive feature is scale: 56,370 residents live across 38.19 square kilometres, with a median age of 30, 10 years below the national figure. The suburb is younger and more internationally born than Australia overall, with 60.3% born overseas, 50.6% university educated and average households of 3.4 people, 0.9 above the national average. Its 89.6% separate-house share and 58.1% mortgage tenure fit a mortgage-belt market. Compared with nearby Werribee and Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit is a newer, faster-growing choice, though buyers should weigh car dependence and ongoing construction.
Population
56,370
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,103/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
82
Median House
$675K
October to December 2025
Four-plus-bedroom homes account for 66.0% and separate houses 89.6%, so the stock fits larger households more than apartment-focused buyers. The mortgage figure is $1,950 monthly, and mortgage costs equal 21.4% of household income, with mortgage stress flagged false. A 3.4-person average household and 66.0% couples-with-children share reinforce the family fit. Buyers comparing Tarneit with Werribee or Hoppers Crossing should assess estate age, commute and future supply, not price alone.
For Buyers
Four-plus-bedroom homes account for 66.0% and separate houses 89.6%, so the stock fits larger households more than apartment-focused buyers. The mortgage figure is $1,950 monthly, and mortgage costs equal 21.4% of household income, with mortgage stress flagged false. A 3.4-person average household and 66.0% couples-with-children share reinforce the family fit. Buyers comparing Tarneit with Werribee or Hoppers Crossing should assess estate age, commute and future supply, not price alone.
For Investors
Tarneit’s investor case rests on tenant demand and scale rather than scarcity. Renting accounts for 30.1% of occupied homes, weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 5.6%, so investors should compare asking rents, incentives and vacancy carefully before assuming a tight market. Development activity is substantial, with 80 applications recorded over 12 months, which can expand supply and moderate near-term rent growth. The 89.6% separate-house share and 66.0% four-plus-bedroom mix suit family tenants, while 63.9% drive to work and only 4.4% use public transport, making roads and parking more important than apartment amenity. Growth is forecast at 6.27% annually, driven by internal migration, supporting demand but also signalling competition from new stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
208
Last 12 Months
82
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$827K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Tarneit
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Good News Lutheran College
Islamic College of Melbourne
Tarneit P-9 College
Barayip Primary School
Davis Creek Primary School
Demographics
Tarneit is younger and more internationally born than the national profile: median age is 30, 10 years below national, while 60.3% were born overseas, 38.7 percentage points above the national share. Indian ancestry is recorded for 15,199 residents, with Punjabi spoken by 4,960 people, followed by Hindi at 1,814 and Urdu at 1,502. Christianity, Hinduism and Islam count 15,879, 11,884 and 8,480 adherents respectively. University participation is 50.6%, 20.5 points above national, helping explain the strong professional presence alongside transport and trade work. Compared with nearby Werribee and Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit presents a newer, more recently settled demographic profile, while its 3.4-person average household is 0.9 above national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.6%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tarneit’s housing profile is strongly detached and family-sized. Separate houses make up 89.6% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 10.1% and apartments just 0.3%; 66.0% have four or more bedrooms, compared with 28.5% with three bedrooms. That is an 81.9% increase over the recorded period, with a 3.2% compound annual growth rate. Mortgage holders represent 58.1%, outright owners 9.9% and renters 30.1%, indicating a leveraged market where renters are higher than outright owners. Compared with Werribee and Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit’s newer detached stock is a key differentiator, but buyers should check estate-specific upkeep and future supply.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$380
Census 2021
HH Size
3.4
Personal Income / wk
$850
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
914
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
66.0%
Couples with children
21.5%
Couples, no children
10.8%
Single parent
14,117
Total families
Economy & Employment
Tarneit’s economy combines essential services with logistics and commuting-linked work. Healthcare is the largest listed industry at 16.4% or 3,089 workers, followed by Transport at 12.8% or 2,399, Professional/Tech at 9.1% or 1,720, Retail at 8.5% or 1,593 and Education at 7.3% or 1,372. Professionals number 5,154, while machinery/drivers account for 3,992, reflecting a broader occupational mix than a purely office-based suburb. Labour-force participation is 69.6%, unemployment 7.3% and full-time employment 60.1%. Household income sits at the 79.6th percentile nationally, while SEIFA IER reaches decile 8, above the IEO and IRSAD decile 6 results. That contrast suggests strong household earning capacity alongside mixed education and disadvantage conditions.
Unemployment
7.3%
Labour Force
27,846
Unemployed
2,031
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.1%
Part-time
32.9%
Participation
69.6%
Employed
25,815
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
50.6%
Postgraduate
19.6%
Born Overseas
60.3%
Dwellings
15,526
Transport to Work
Livability in Tarneit is strongest for households that value space, schools and road access. Ten schools are available locally, spanning government and Catholic sectors, with primary, secondary and P-9 options; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because they cut across estate boundaries. Car travel dominates at 63.9% of commuters, compared with 4.4% using public transport, while 25.6% work from home, so daily convenience depends heavily on trip purpose and location. Crime is recorded at 58.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, including 2,036 property and deception offences and 614 crimes against the person. SEIFA IRSAD is decile 6, while IER is higher at decile 8, pointing to solid relative economic resources but uneven social conditions. The 38.19 square kilometre footprint also means amenity varies across Tarneit more than a compact suburb.
Drive
63.9%
Public Transport
4.4%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
25.6%
Population Forecast
+6.27%/yr
(+1,202 people/yr)
High GrowthTarneit sits in a high-growth, rejuvenating phase. The forecast annual trend is 6.27%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 3,442.7% over 10 years. The trajectory label is Rejuvenating, supported by a 15.5-point increase in the young share and a 17.5-point fall in the senior share. Affordability moved from 87.0 in 2011 to 42.6 in 2021, so the affordability trend is marked Improving even as access has shifted materially. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, meaning growth is being driven more by incoming households and new suburban supply than by an established-area upgrade cycle. Compared with slower-maturing parts of the west, Tarneit’s main trade-off is momentum versus construction disruption.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+151
Net Internal / yr
+1,674
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
3,301
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
58.6
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 Tarneit compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tarneit a good suburb to live in?
Tarneit can suit families wanting a newer detached-home market, with 89.6% separate houses, 66.0% four-plus-bedroom homes and 10 local schools. Its median age of 30 is below the national figure, but car dependence is high at 63.9%, so the best fit depends on work and school travel.
What schools are in Tarneit?
Tarneit has 10 listed schools across government and Catholic sectors, including primary, secondary and P-9 options. Families should verify the exact enrolment zone because school access can vary by estate, and the suburb’s 38.19 square kilometres makes distance more important than a simple suburb-wide count.
Is Tarneit safe?
Crime is recorded at 58.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 3,301 total offences. Property and deception offences account for 2,036, compared with 614 crimes against the person. Review the exact street and recent local trends rather than treating a single suburb-wide rate as a complete safety judgement.
Is Tarneit good for property investment?
Tarneit can work for investors seeking family rental demand, with 30.1% renting, $380 weekly rent and 5.6% vacancy. The 6.27% annual growth forecast is above a low-growth setting, but 80 development applications may add competing stock. Detached houses comprise 89.6%, which supports a different tenant profile than apartment-led markets.
How is Tarneit’s population changing?
Tarneit’s population is 56,370 today, and the wider area’s forecast trend is 6.27% annually. Internal migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is labelled Rejuvenating and 10-year population change is 3,442.7%. The young share has risen 15.5 points and the senior share fallen 17.5 points, so growth is skewing younger than an ageing suburb.
What languages are commonly spoken in Tarneit?
Tarneit has a strong migrant-language profile: Punjabi is spoken by 4,960 residents, Hindi by 1,814, Urdu by 1,502 and Guj by 1,348. With 60.3% born overseas, the overseas-born share is 38.7 points above the national figure. English-language service access should still be checked for schools, health and government needs.
What development is happening in Tarneit?
Development activity is high, with 80 applications recorded over 12 months. Compared with a settled suburb, that pipeline can mean more future housing and changing streetscapes across different estates. Buyers should check the address, approval status and likely construction timing before relying on current conditions, especially when assessing noise, traffic and nearby amenity.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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