Templestowe
Templestowe's most distinctive feature is its established wealth: median household income sits at the 82.3rd percentile, while 47.6% of homes are owned outright. At 46, the median age is 6 years above the national figure, helping explain the 62.3% share of four-bedroom-plus dwellings and slow 0.33% annual growth. Overseas-born residents account for 43.8%, 22.2 percentage points above national, giving Templestowe a different profile from nearby Doncaster's more urban setting. The 16.12 sq km suburb has 16,966 residents and a density of 1,052.6 people per sq km.
Population
16,966
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,163/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
67
Median House
$1.8M
October to December 2025
Buying in Templestowe is primarily a detached-house decision: 77.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 62.3% contain 4 or more bedrooms, supporting established families who value space. A $2,700 monthly mortgage represents 28.8% of household income, while the 47.6% outright ownership rate points to substantial equity in the area. Compared with nearby Doncaster, buyers will find a less apartment-oriented mix, so dwelling condition, land size and long-term holding costs deserve close attention.
For Buyers
Buying in Templestowe is primarily a detached-house decision: 77.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 62.3% contain 4 or more bedrooms, supporting established families who value space. A $2,700 monthly mortgage represents 28.8% of household income, while the 47.6% outright ownership rate points to substantial equity in the area. Compared with nearby Doncaster, buyers will find a less apartment-oriented mix, so dwelling condition, land size and long-term holding costs deserve close attention.
For Investors
Templestowe's investment case is selective rather than high-yield: 14.2% of households rent, weekly rent is $513 and vacancy is 7.2%. Development activity is material, with 63 applications in 12 months, including subdivisions and 2-storey dwellings. The profile is owner-heavy because the 14.2% renting share is lower than both the 47.6% outright ownership and 35.7% mortgage shares. Forecast growth is only 0.33% annually and is driven by overseas migration, so investors should favour adaptable housing and durable demand over speculative volume.
Development Activity
Total DAs
82
Last 12 Months
67
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1016.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Templestowe
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Serpell Primary School
Templestowe Park Primary School
Demographics
Templestowe combines an older, highly educated and internationally connected population. Median age is 46, which is 6 years above national, while 54.2% of residents hold a university qualification, 24.1 percentage points above national. Chinese is the largest named ancestry category at 4,059 people, followed by English at 3,099, Italian at 1,933 and Greek at 1,612. Mandarin is spoken by 1,035 residents and Cantonese by 544. Overseas-born residents comprise 43.8%, 22.2 points above national, helping explain the language mix, while household income ranks at the 82.3rd percentile. High residential stability also matters: 85.4% stayed at the same address and turnover was 14.6%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.6%
Houses
18.6%
Townhouse
3.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Templestowe's housing stock is built around larger detached homes: 77.6% are separate houses, 62.3% have 4 or more bedrooms and only 3.7% are apartments. Ownership is strong, with 47.6% owned outright, 35.7% mortgaged and 14.2% rented, which helps explain the established-wealth profile and 28.8% mortgage-to-income ratio. Compared with nearby Doncaster, the detached mix makes Templestowe a more land-led market, while the 18.6% semi-detached share adds some middle-density choice.
Mortgage / mo
$2,700
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $513.
$670
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $660 · units $595
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$781
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.2%
Unoccupied
445
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.3%
Couples with children
37.4%
Couples, no children
11.2%
Single parent
4,894
Total families
Economy & Employment
Templestowe's economic base is professional and service-led, consistent with household income at the 82.3rd percentile. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.2% with 967 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 15.2% and 853, Education at 9.6% and 537, Retail at 8.9% and 501, and Construction at 8.7% and 491. Professionals number 2,323 and managers 1,497, both higher than the local trades count of 734, helping explain the 54.2% university-educated share. Unemployment is 4.7% across a labour force of 8,155. The 38.1% work-from-home share helps explain why public transport use is only 2.4%, while 55.1% drive. All four SEIFA measures sit in deciles 9 or 10, above the national midpoint.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
8,155
Unemployed
385
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.0%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
56.8%
Employed
7,770
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.2%
Postgraduate
15.4%
Born Overseas
43.8%
Dwellings
5,715
Transport to Work
Livability suits households seeking space, schools and a quieter established setting. Two government primary schools operate locally, covering the primary sector, and exact enrolment zones should be checked because boundaries can cut across nearby streets. Travel is car-oriented: 55.1% drive, 2.4% use public transport and 0.8% walk or cycle, while 38.1% work from home, which can reduce daily commuting pressure. The crime rate is 32.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, including 361 property and deception offences and 97 crimes against the person, so household security remains relevant. SEIFA IRSAD and IRSD both sit in decile 9, above the national midpoint. With 2.8 people per household and 62.3% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms, Templestowe is better suited to families than compact apartment living.
Drive
55.1%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
38.1%
Population Forecast
+0.33%/yr
(+49 people/yr)
EstablishedTemplestowe is an established, slow-growth suburb rather than a rapid expansion market. Forecast annual growth is 0.33%, with overseas migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 7.9% over 10 years. The trajectory is Stable, and the gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 0, so future change is more likely to come through gradual household turnover and redevelopment than wholesale neighbourhood change. A shift reading of Early signs with a score of 24 points to some underlying pressure beneath the stable trajectory. Real income growth was 7.4% and rent growth was 25.0%, while 63 development applications in 12 months point to incremental infill rather than a 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
557
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
32.8
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 compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Templestowe a good suburb to live in?
Templestowe suits households wanting larger homes and an established setting. Median age is 46, 62.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, and IRSAD is in decile 9. Car dependence is high, with 55.1% driving and 2.4% using public transport.
What schools are in Templestowe?
Local government primary options include Serpell Primary School and Templestowe Park Primary School. There are 2 named primary schools in the suburb; families should check the exact enrolment zone, year-level availability and outside-school-hours arrangements before signing a contract.
Is Templestowe safe?
Templestowe recorded 557 offences, or 32.8 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 361 incidents, compared with 97 crimes against the person. Review recent street-level patterns and consider lighting, parking and home security for the specific property.
How is Templestowe's population changing?
Change is gradual: annual growth is forecast at 0.33%, the trajectory is Stable and wider-area population change is 7.9% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the median age of 46 and senior-share increase of 0.9 points suggest an aging profile rather than rapid youth-led expansion.
Which languages are commonly spoken in Templestowe?
Mandarin is the leading non-English language recorded, with 1,035 speakers, followed by Cantonese at 544 and Greek at 500. Overseas-born residents make up 43.8% of the population, 22.2 percentage points above national, so language access can matter when choosing services.
What development is occurring in Templestowe?
Development is mostly incremental, with 63 applications in 12 months. Recent examples include a 2-lot subdivision and construction of 2 two-storey dwellings. Check planning controls, proposed driveways and completion timing for the exact street because applications do not guarantee construction.
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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