VIC 3844 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Traralgon East

Household income lands at the 88.2nd percentile nationally, and 48.4% of residents own their homes outright, a signal of entrenched, debt-light wealth in a community where the median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure. The suburb spans 34.89 km2 at a low density of 51 residents per km2, with 100% detached housing and 61% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms. Low rental activity at 5.3% and a 92.7% car-driver rate confirm this is a rural-residential enclave rather than a typical suburb.

Local council: Latrobe (Vic.)

Traralgon East urban fabric map

Population

1,780

Median Age

46.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,306/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

14

Median House

$839K

October to December 2025

Only a handful of houses sold here in this period, so this median can jump sharply from one quarter to the next for reasons that have nothing to do with the market. Treat it as a rough guide, not a settled price.

34.89 km²· 51 people/km²· Family income $2,495/wk

Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold. All dwellings are separate houses, with 61% having 4 or more bedrooms and 36.3% having 3 bedrooms. At 46.4% of households carrying a mortgage and 48.4% owning outright, the community skews toward established rather than first-home buyers.

For Buyers

Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold. All dwellings are separate houses, with 61% having 4 or more bedrooms and 36.3% having 3 bedrooms. At 46.4% of households carrying a mortgage and 48.4% owning outright, the community skews toward established rather than first-home buyers.

For Investors

With only 5.3% of residents renting, the landlord market is narrow compared to regional averages. The vacancy rate of 4.9% is elevated, suggesting limited rental competition. Only 6 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, mostly planning permits for outbuildings and winery works rather than new residential supply, so there is no near-term pipeline dilution.

Development Activity

Total DAs

16

Last 12 Months

14

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Commercial / Industrial
7
Subdivision
3
Garage / Carport / Shed
2
Other
2

Demographics

The median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national figure, placing Traralgon East firmly in an aging-resident profile. The overseas-born share is only 9.7%, which is 11.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English at 701 residents leads, followed by Irish (212), Scottish (198), Italian (115) and German (92). University qualifications at 27.8% run 2.3 percentage points below the national figure. The average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above the national norm. About 14.2% of residents volunteer, and 4.2% need daily assistance, both consistent with a stable, community-oriented but modestly aging population.

Age Distribution

0-14
16.3%
15-24
11.5%
25-44
20.8%
45-64
32.0%
65+
19.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.0%
2 bed
2.6%
3 bed
36.3%
4+ bed
61.0%

Dwelling Structure

100.0%

Houses

0.0%

Townhouse

0.0%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 47.6% Mortgage 45.7% Rent 5.2% Other 1.5%

The housing profile is unusually homogenous: 100% of dwellings are separate houses, with zero apartments or semi-detached dwellings recorded. The bedroom distribution leans large, with 61% of homes at 4 or more bedrooms and 36.3% at 3 bedrooms, versus just 2.6% at 2 bedrooms. Tenure is tilted heavily toward ownership, with 48.4% owning outright and 46.4% carrying a mortgage, leaving only 5.3% renting. This compares to national renting rates typically around 30%, making tenants a rarity here. Mortgage stress is low at 17.0% of income, and rent-to-income sits at 17.3%.

Mortgage / mo

$1,700

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$400

Census 2021

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$915

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

4.9%

Unoccupied

32

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

17.3%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

17.0%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
701
Irish
212
Scottish
198
Italian
115
German
92
Dutch
88

Household Composition

45.4%

Couples with children

44.7%

Couples, no children

7.9%

Single parent

535

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads the local employment mix at 20.6% of workers (127 people), followed by Education at 12.2%, Utilities at 11.3%, Construction at 10.9% and Public Administration at 9.9%. The Utilities sector at 11.3% is notably higher than typical suburban averages, reflecting proximity to the Latrobe Valley's energy and industrial base. By occupation, Professionals top the list at 185 workers, then Clerical and Admin at 151, Managers at 130 and Community and Personal Service at 92. The unemployment rate is low at 2.7%, and the full-time employment rate of 64.4% is solid. Weekly personal income of $915 and family income of $2,495 place household income at the 88.2nd percentile nationally, above the vast majority of Australian households.

Unemployment

2.4%

Labour Force

982

Unemployed

24

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

59.2%

Part-time

32.8%

Participation

65.7%

Employed

958

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 185
Trades 174
Clerical/Admin 151
Managers 130
Community/Personal 92
Sales 92
Labourers 64
Machinery/Drivers 53

Top Industries

Healthcare 20.6%
Education 12.2%
Utilities 11.3%
Construction 10.9%
Public Admin 9.9%

University

27.8%

Postgraduate

5.0%

Born Overseas

9.7%

Dwellings

620

Transport to Work

Car dependence is near-total at 92.7% driving to work, with only 0.7% using public transport and 0.9% walking or cycling. This reflects the suburb's low-density rural-residential character spanning 34.89 km2 with no schools recorded in the local boundary. No schools are listed in the dataset, so families rely on facilities in the broader Traralgon area. The crime rate of 153.4 incidents per 1,000 residents includes 195 property and deception offences as the largest category, with 25 crimes against the person. Rent-to-income of 17.3% and mortgage-to-income of 17.0% both sit well below financial stress thresholds, and 42.2% of households are mortgage-free or owned outright, indicating strong housing security for the majority of residents.

Drive

78.3%

Public Transport

0.6%

Walk / Cycle

0.7%

Work from Home

15.5%

Growth Outlook

Recent permit activity includes subdivision and winery-related works, suggesting small-scale acreage development rather than mass residential expansion. The suburb's low density of 51 residents per km2 across 34.89 km2 limits organic population growth, and the stable 85.7% one-year resident retention rate points to a settled community with low turnover rather than a fast-growing area.

Population trend: Latrobe (Vic.) council area

Traralgon East sits in the Latrobe (Vic.) council area. These are the council area's residents, not Traralgon East's.

Residents 2025

79,112

Growth, 5 yr average

+0.6%/yr

2020 to 2025

Growth, last year

+0.8%

2024 to 2025

ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

273

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

153.4

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
195
Justice procedures offences
32
Crimes against the person
25
Drug offences
12

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Traralgon East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 23%
Household Income
Top 12%
Rent Level
Top 17%
Apartments
Bottom 0%
Renters
Bottom 24%
Uni Educated
Top 39%
Public Transport
Bottom 9%
Born Overseas
Bottom 28%
Density
Top 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Traralgon East a good suburb to live in?

Traralgon East offers low financial stress, with mortgage-to-income at 17.0% and household income at the 88.2nd percentile nationally. The median age of 46 and 85.7% one-year retention rate indicate a stable, established community. The main trade-offs are near-total car dependence at 92.7% and no schools within the suburb boundary.

What schools are in Traralgon East?

No schools are recorded within the Traralgon East suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Traralgon area. The local population includes 27.8% with university qualifications, which is 2.3 percentage points below the national figure.

Is Traralgon East safe?

The recorded crime rate is 153.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, totalling 273 incidents. Property and deception offences account for 195 of those, with 25 crimes against the person. Low mortgage stress (17.0% of income) and income at the 88.2nd percentile nationally suggest a financially secure community, which typically correlates with lower disadvantage-related crime.

Is Traralgon East good for property investment?

The rental pool is thin at only 5.3% of residents, and the 4.9% vacancy rate is elevated. The investment case depends more on capital growth than rental income.

How is Traralgon East's population changing?

Traralgon East has a small, stable population of 1,780 people across 34.89 km2. The 85.7% one-year resident retention rate signals low turnover, and only 14.3% of residents moved within the year. The median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national figure, pointing toward a gradually aging community rather than rapid growth.

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).

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