Trentham
At a median age of 56, Trentham's resident base is 16 years older than the national figure, the single most distinctive feature of this Macedon Ranges township. Only 1,382 people occupy 51 square kilometres at a density of 26.9 per km2, making it genuinely sparse by any state comparison. The median house price sits at $782,500, which is 34.8% below the suburb's own peak of $1.2 million recorded in early 2024. A 22.7% vacancy rate and 55.6% outright-ownership rate together signal a population that arrived long ago and largely stayed, with 76.9% of residents in the same address they occupied five years prior.
Population
1,382
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,489/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$782K
Apr-Jun 2024
The current median of $782,500 represents a 34.8% pullback from the $1.2 million peak hit in January to March 2024, giving buyers entering now a materially lower entry point than those who purchased at the top. Over the longer run, prices have grown 92% since 2013 from $407,500, a 4.8% CAGR across 14 years, which is modest but consistent. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, so purchase costs are manageable relative to local incomes. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.5%, with semi-detached at 3.4%, meaning apartment-style entry-level options are essentially absent. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.9% of dwellings.
For Buyers
The current median of $782,500 represents a 34.8% pullback from the $1.2 million peak hit in January to March 2024, giving buyers entering now a materially lower entry point than those who purchased at the top. Over the longer run, prices have grown 92% since 2013 from $407,500, a 4.8% CAGR across 14 years, which is modest but consistent. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, so purchase costs are manageable relative to local incomes. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.5%, with semi-detached at 3.4%, meaning apartment-style entry-level options are essentially absent. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.9% of dwellings.
For Investors
At 11.7%, the renter share is well below the VIC state average and the national norm, meaning the rental pool is thin. Weekly rent of $386 against a $782,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.6%, low for a regional town. The 22.7% vacancy rate is the clearest risk signal: a high proportion of dwellings are unoccupied, likely holiday homes or tree-change properties used intermittently rather than full-time rentals. Only 4 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, all subdivision certifications, so new supply is minimal. The 4.8% annualised price growth over 14 years shows the suburb rewards patient capital, but investors relying on rental income will find the current market thin compared to higher-density regional centres.
Development Activity
Total DAs
19
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+400.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Trentham iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Trentham District Primary School
Prep-6 · 85 students
Demographics
The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national median, making Trentham one of the older communities in VIC. University qualifications reach 37.8%, which is 7.7 percentage points above the national average, an unusually high rate for a small rural township. This combination of older age and high education aligns with the professional-retiree and tree-change profile common to the Macedon Ranges. Overseas-born residents account for 19.5%, 2.1 points below the national figure. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (644), Irish (288) and Scottish (213). Average household size is 2.2, 0.3 below national, consistent with the couples-without-children majority at 48.9% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.5%
Houses
3.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners account for 55.6% of dwellings, well above the national average, while mortgagees are at 32.8% and renters at just 11.7%. This tenure profile reflects a settled, long-term resident base rather than a transient rental market. The stock is 95.5% separate houses, 3.4% semi-detached, with virtually no apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 50.9% and four-plus bedroom homes 23.2%, giving an above-average proportion of larger family-sized stock. Price history shows the suburb peaked at $1.2 million in early 2024, then corrected 34.8% to $782,500 by mid-2024, versus the longer-run 2013 base of $407,500. Mortgage repayments average $1,733 per month and the rent-to-income ratio is 25.9%, both within comfortable ranges relative to local incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$386
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$723
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
22.7%
Unoccupied
163
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.9%
Couples, no children
995
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 16.8% (72 workers), ahead of Professional and Technical services at 13.6% (58) and Education at 10.5% (45). Construction and Public Administration each contribute around 10%, reflecting a diversified small-town employment mix rather than dependence on a single sector. By occupation, Professionals (156) and Managers (123) together are the two largest groups, consistent with the 37.8% university qualification rate, which is 7.7 points above the national average. The unemployment rate is 2.6% and the participation rate is 45.0%, low compared to younger suburbs because 496 residents are not in the labour force, driven by the older median age of 56. Volunteering reaches 28%, nearly double what would be expected nationally, signalling strong civic engagement among retired and semi-retired residents.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
41.2%
Participation
45.0%
Employed
528
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.8%
Postgraduate
11.9%
Born Overseas
19.5%
Dwellings
555
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced: 88.5% of residents drive to work, above both state and national averages, and public transport data is not recorded for this locality, reflecting the absence of rail services. Walking or cycling accounts for 8.6% of commuters, higher than many rural towns because the township core is compact. The recorded crime rate is 30.4 offences per 1,000 residents, based on 42 total offences, with property and deception offences (20) and crimes against the person (11) the two leading categories. This rate is low in absolute terms, though the small population means individual incidents move the per-1,000 figure noticeably. No schools are recorded inside the Trentham boundary in this dataset, so families depend on neighbouring townships. Volunteering at 28% is one of the strongest community participation rates in regional VIC.
Drive
88.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
42
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
30.4
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 Trentham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trentham a good suburb to live in?
Trentham suits older residents and those seeking a quiet rural lifestyle. The median age is 56, which is 16 years above the national figure. Car ownership is near-universal at 88.5%, public transport is limited, and no schools are recorded inside the boundary. Volunteering runs at 28%, well above the national average, reflecting an engaged community.
What is the median house price in Trentham?
The median house price is $782,500 as of April to June 2024, down 34.8% from the peak of $1.2 million recorded in January to March 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and weekly rent is $386. Long-run price growth from $407,500 in 2013 represents a 92% increase over 14 years.
What schools are in Trentham?
No schools are recorded inside the Trentham boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Macedon Ranges towns. Despite limited local schooling, 37.8% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 7.7 percentage points above the national average.
Is Trentham safe?
Trentham recorded 42 total offences in the latest period, giving a crime rate of 30.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences (20 incidents) were the most common, followed by crimes against the person (11). The absolute number is low, consistent with a small population of 1,382 across 51 square kilometres.
Is Trentham good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Prices have grown 92% since 2013, a 4.8% annual return, but the 22.7% vacancy rate and just 11.7% renter share mean rental income is limited. Weekly rent of $386 against a $782,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.6%. The suburb suits capital-growth investors with a long horizon rather than yield-seeking landlords.
How is Trentham's population changing?
Trentham has a stable, slowly aging population of 1,382 with low mobility: 76.9% of residents have stayed at the same address for five years. The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national figure. Only 4 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, all subdivision works, signalling minimal new residential 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), 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.
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