Templestowe Lower
Nearly half of Templestowe Lower's residents own their homes outright at 47.8%, while 41.0% were born overseas and the median age is 45, 5.0 years above the national figure. The suburb's 14,098 residents sit in a detached-house market where 80.8% of dwellings are separate houses and 46.7% have four or more bedrooms. Compared with nearby Templestowe and Bulleen, it is best understood as part of the same established Manningham housing market rather than a new-growth estate. Turnover was 16.7%, reinforcing the suburb's settled character.
Population
14,098
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,920/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
79
Median House
$1.4M
October to December 2025
Four-bedroom-plus homes make up 46.7% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes 45.6%, so the stock suits families more than compact apartment buyers. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,500 monthly, and mortgage stress is flagged at 30.1% of household income because land-rich homes carry a large entry price. Outright ownership is 47.8%, higher than the 32.9% mortgage share, suggesting many established owners but a tougher path for first-home buyers.
For Buyers
Four-bedroom-plus homes make up 46.7% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes 45.6%, so the stock suits families more than compact apartment buyers. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,500 monthly, and mortgage stress is flagged at 30.1% of household income because land-rich homes carry a large entry price. Outright ownership is 47.8%, higher than the 32.9% mortgage share, suggesting many established owners but a tougher path for first-home buyers.
For Investors
Investors face a rental market with a $475 weekly median and 17.7% renting, so the tenant pool is smaller than the owner-occupier base. Vacancy is 6.8%, which can reduce leasing pressure and makes careful property selection more important. Development activity is substantial at 77 applications in 12 months, including permits for 2 and 3 dwellings, so townhouse supply may increase competition for older houses. Growth is forecast at 0.33% annually and is driven by overseas migration, pointing to steady rather than rapid demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
104
Last 12 Months
79
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+558.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Templestowe Lower
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Kevin's School
Templestowe Heights Primary School
Templestowe College
Demographics
Templestowe Lower has an older profile than the national average: its median age is 45, or 5.0 years higher, while the average household size is 2.7, 0.2 above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 41.0%, 19.4 percentage points above national, with Chinese ancestry numbering 2,979, Italian 1,707 and Greek 1,655. Mandarin is spoken by 686 residents, Greek by 554 and Cantonese by 390, supporting a multilingual local customer base. University attainment is 51.5%, 21.4 percentage points above national, consistent with 2,018 professionals and 1,091 managers. Compared with the national profile, the combination of age, education and overseas birth points to stable households; 83.3% stayed at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.8%
Houses
18.1%
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached family housing dominates, with 80.8% of dwellings separate houses, 18.1% semi-detached and only 1.0% apartments. Tenure is settled: 47.8% own outright, 32.9% have a mortgage and 17.7% rent. Four-bedroom-plus homes account for 46.7%, and three-bedroom homes 45.6%, so the stock supports families but leaves affordability under pressure, reflected in mortgage stress at 30.1% of household income.
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$475
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$758
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
370
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.7%
Couples with children
35.5%
Couples, no children
14.7%
Single parent
4,084
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 17.2% and 823 workers, followed by professional and technical services at 13.9% and education at 11.6%. Construction contributes 8.1%, while retail is 8.5%, giving the area a service-heavy base rather than dependence on one trade. Labour-force participation is 57.7%, unemployment is 5.1% and full-time employment is 57.8%. IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD all sit in decile 8, above the midpoint because professional employment and income are comparatively concentrated.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
6,768
Unemployed
344
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.8%
Part-time
36.1%
Participation
57.7%
Employed
6,424
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.5%
Postgraduate
14.4%
Born Overseas
41.0%
Dwellings
5,035
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 53.2% travel as car drivers, only 3.1% use public transport and 38.7% work from home, so access to a private vehicle matters in practical terms. Three nearby schools cover 2 primary schools and 1 government secondary college, across 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school; check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across the area. Crime is 29.2 offences per 1,000 residents, including 243 property and deception offences and 97 crimes against the person, so property security remains the main practical concern. SEIFA IRSAD is 1,071 in decile 8, above the midpoint, and volunteering is 13.6%, supporting an established civic base.
Drive
53.2%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
38.7%
Population Forecast
+0.33%/yr
(+49 people/yr)
EstablishedTemplestowe Lower is forecast as an established, slow-growth market, with annual growth of 0.33% and a Stable trajectory. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which fits the suburb's 41.0% overseas-born population, but the pace remains lower than rapid-growth corridors because the housing base is already mature. Population change across the wider area is 7.9% over 10 years, while rents have grown 25.0%. Gentrification signals are mixed: a score of 24 is classified as Early signs, while another measure labels the suburb Not gentrifying with a score of 0. Development activity reached 77 applications in 12 months, supporting gradual infill rather than a sudden population surge.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+188
Net Internal / yr
-8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
411
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
29.2
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 Templestowe Lower compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Templestowe Lower a good suburb to live in?
Yes, it suits households seeking larger homes and an established routine. Separate houses make up 80.8% of dwellings, the median age is 45, and IRSAD is in decile 8, above the national midpoint.
What schools are in Templestowe Lower?
Nearby choices include 2 primary schools and 1 government secondary college, with 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school across the local mix. The mix is broader than a single-sector area, but check the exact address against enrolment zones because access can differ between streets.
Is Templestowe Lower safe?
Recorded crime is 29.2 offences per 1,000 residents, with 411 total incidents. Property and deception offences account for 243 cases, compared with 97 crimes against the person, so home and vehicle security deserve attention.
Is Templestowe Lower good for property investment?
It can suit a long-term investor who accepts a high entry price and moderate growth. Median rent is $475 a week, vacancy is 6.8%, annual growth is forecast at 0.33% and 77 development applications were recorded in 12 months, pointing to steadier returns than a short-term speculative strategy.
How is Templestowe Lower's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 7.9% over 10 years, while the annual growth trend is 0.33% and the trajectory is Stable. Overseas migration is the primary driver, so change is more gradual than in a rapid-growth corridor.
What languages are spoken in Templestowe Lower?
Mandarin is spoken by 686 residents, Greek by 554 and Cantonese by 390. With 41.0% of residents born overseas, language diversity is higher than the national profile and relevant to local household and service needs.
What development is happening in Templestowe Lower?
Development activity reached 77 applications in 12 months, including permits for 2 and 3 new dwellings. This points to ongoing small-scale infill and more townhouse choice than a market with no recent approvals, rather than a single large project.
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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