Tongala
At $493,800 the median house price in Tongala sits well below the Victorian state average, making it one of the more affordable ownership markets in the north-central irrigation district. The suburb spans 112 sq km with a population of only 1,973, giving a density of 17.6 people per km2, far lower than metropolitan benchmarks. Household income falls in the 26.4th percentile nationally, reflecting an economy anchored in healthcare (20.1% of workers) and agriculture (14.0%), two sectors that define the surrounding Campaspe Shire. Outright ownership at 37.4% is a notable feature, meaning a large share of residents carry no mortgage, an unusual position for a community with median incomes below the national average.
Population
1,973
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,220/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$494K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $493,800 (Apr-Jun 2024) reflects a market that has more than doubled since 2013 when it stood at $185,000, a compound annual growth rate of 7.3% over 14 years. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 55.8% of stock and 4-plus bedroom homes add another 26.2%, so buyers find predominantly family-sized houses rather than compact units. Separate houses make up 89.8% of all dwellings, a higher detached share than most Victorian country towns. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127 against median household income of $1,220 per week, putting the mortgage-to-income ratio at 21.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The price is currently at its historical peak, up from a trough of $165,000 in 2015, so buyers are not catching a discounted moment.
For Buyers
The median house price of $493,800 (Apr-Jun 2024) reflects a market that has more than doubled since 2013 when it stood at $185,000, a compound annual growth rate of 7.3% over 14 years. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 55.8% of stock and 4-plus bedroom homes add another 26.2%, so buyers find predominantly family-sized houses rather than compact units. Separate houses make up 89.8% of all dwellings, a higher detached share than most Victorian country towns. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127 against median household income of $1,220 per week, putting the mortgage-to-income ratio at 21.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The price is currently at its historical peak, up from a trough of $165,000 in 2015, so buyers are not catching a discounted moment.
For Investors
The rental market in Tongala is modest: weekly rent of $200 against a $493,800 median implies a gross yield near 2.1%, below typical country-town yields. The 6.8% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tight metropolitan markets, signalling that demand does not always absorb available rental stock. Renters account for 23.1% of households, a lower share than the national average, which limits the depth of the tenant pool. Development activity is minimal with only 1 planning permit lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a near-term pressure. The suburb's 7.3% CAGR over 14 years demonstrates long-run capital growth, though investors should weigh that against the current vacancy rate and thin population base of 1,973.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
1
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 Tongala iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Patrick's School
Prep-6 · 95 students
Tongala Primary School
Prep-6 · 140 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is roughly in line with the national figure, about 1 year above it, suggesting neither a particularly young nor old skew. University qualifications reach only 14.0% of residents, which is 16.1 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the blue-collar and agricultural occupational base. Overseas-born residents represent 8.2% of the population, 13.4 points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (792), Scottish (220) and Irish (194) are the top three groups. Average household size of 2.4 is marginally below the national figure. A volunteering rate of 19.1% is relatively high for a community this size, pointing to active civic participation in a small rural town.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.8%
Houses
6.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tongala's housing stock is almost entirely detached: 89.8% are separate houses and 6.6% semi-detached, with no measurable apartment presence. Tenure is split between outright owners (37.4%), mortgage holders (39.5%) and renters (23.1%), with outright ownership running higher than many comparable rural towns. The price history spans 14 years from $185,000 in 2013 to $493,800 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 166.9% rise, with a trough of $165,000 in 2015. The current price is at its historical peak. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.3% and rent-to-income at 16.4%, both below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs consume a manageable share of income whether renting or buying. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 55.8% of the stock.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,127
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$656
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
54
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.3%
Couples, no children
1,493
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the single largest employer at 20.1% of the workforce (105 workers), followed by agriculture at 14.0% (73 workers) and manufacturing at 12.1% (63 workers). This mix is characteristic of a regional service centre for surrounding farmland, where the local hospital or clinic anchors the employment base. The full-time employment rate of 61.6% and unemployment of 4.9% are broadly in line with state norms. By occupation, labourers (156) and managers (136) are the two largest groups, a pairing that reflects hands-on agricultural and food-processing work alongside farm owners and small business operators. Household income in the 26.4th percentile nationally means earnings are substantially lower than the Australian average, a direct consequence of industry mix rather than a tight labour market.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.6%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
53.4%
Employed
795
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.0%
Postgraduate
1.9%
Born Overseas
8.2%
Dwellings
737
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high even by rural standards: 87.2% of residents drive to work, well above the national average, reflecting the limited public transport in a 112 sq km suburb. No schools are recorded in the dataset for Tongala itself, so families rely on nearby towns for primary and secondary education. Crime records 118 incidents in the period, a rate of 59.8 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences (45 incidents) the leading category. Rent-to-income at 16.4% and mortgage-to-income at 21.3% are both below stress thresholds, easing financial pressure on households. Housing assistance needs are modest, with 9.2% of residents (170 people) requiring some daily help, consistent with the area's median age of 41.
Drive
87.2%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
118
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
59.8
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 Tongala compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tongala a good suburb to live in?
Tongala suits buyers and families who prioritise affordability and a quiet rural lifestyle. The $493,800 median house price is well below the Victorian average, and mortgage-to-income sits at a comfortable 21.3%. The trade-offs are high car dependency (87.2% drive to work) and income in the 26.4th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Tongala?
The median house price is $493,800 (Apr-Jun 2024), up from $185,000 in 2013, a 166.9% rise over 14 years at a 7.3% compound annual growth rate. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127, putting the mortgage-to-income ratio at 21.3%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Tongala?
No schools are recorded inside the Tongala suburb boundary in this dataset, so families typically travel to neighbouring towns in the Campaspe Shire for schooling. University qualifications among residents stand at 14.0%, which is 16.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the area's trade and agricultural workforce.
Is Tongala safe?
Tongala recorded 118 incidents over the period, a crime rate of 59.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences (45 incidents) are the leading category, followed by justice procedure offences (29) and crimes against the person (22). Context matters: small populations amplify per-capita rates, so absolute numbers are modest.
Is Tongala good for property investment?
Long-run capital growth is a positive signal: a 7.3% CAGR over 14 years brought prices from $185,000 to $493,800. However, weekly rent of $200 implies a gross yield near 2.1%, and the 6.8% vacancy rate is elevated. Minimal development activity (1 permit in 12 months) limits supply pressure but the small population of 1,973 constrains tenant demand.
How is Tongala's population changing?
Tongala's population stands at 1,973 and the suburb shows high residential stability: 82.5% of residents did not move in the past year, giving a turnover rate of just 17.5%. The demographics lean toward established households, with 37.4% owning outright and a median age of 41, which is close to the national figure.
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.
Explore Tongala on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map