Vermont South
An older, high-income household profile distinguishes Vermont South, where the median age is 46, 47.3% of residents were born overseas and household income sits at the 73rd percentile. Compared with nearby Burwood East and Forest Hill, the suburb is defined by established detached housing, with 88.3% of dwellings separate houses. The Chinese ancestry count of 3,596 and university-educated share of 52.8%, which is 22.7 percentage points above the national benchmark, help explain its strong professional and family orientation. Its population is 11,954 across 6.18 square kilometres, creating a suburban setting that is more settled than rapidly changing.
Population
11,954
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,944/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Median House
$1.6M
October to December 2025
Four-plus-bedroom homes account for 63.0% of dwellings, more than the 28.7% share of three-bedroom homes, while 88.3% are separate houses. This configuration supports families because larger blocks and detached homes dominate the stock. Mortgage costs are listed at $2,383 monthly, with mortgage payments equal to 28.3% of household income, below the stated stress threshold. Prices are only 0.6% below the Jul-Sep 2025 peak, so buyers should expect limited short-term relief.
For Buyers
Four-plus-bedroom homes account for 63.0% of dwellings, more than the 28.7% share of three-bedroom homes, while 88.3% are separate houses. This configuration supports families because larger blocks and detached homes dominate the stock. Mortgage costs are listed at $2,383 monthly, with mortgage payments equal to 28.3% of household income, below the stated stress threshold. Prices are only 0.6% below the Jul-Sep 2025 peak, so buyers should expect limited short-term relief.
For Investors
Vermont South has a relatively small rental pool, with 14.0% of households renting compared with 48.8% owning outright. Weekly rent is $496 and vacancy is 6.4%, giving tenants more choice than in a tightly constrained market, although the 31.9% rent growth measure indicates stronger rental pricing over time. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support rental demand because new arrivals often rent before purchasing. Development activity reached 14 applications in 12 months, including a proposed retirement village, so the investment story is more about steady established-demand fundamentals than a large construction pipeline.
Development Activity
Total DAs
20
Last 12 Months
15
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
Schools in Vermont South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Emmaus College
Livingstone Primary School
Weeden Heights Primary School
Vermont South Special School
Demographics
Vermont South is older and more university educated than the national profile: its median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national comparison, while 52.8% hold university qualifications, 22.7 percentage points higher nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 47.3%, which is 25.7 points above the national benchmark. Chinese ancestry is recorded for 3,596 people, followed by English at 2,527 and Irish at 802; Mandarin is spoken by 1,040 residents and Cantonese by 362. Average household size is 2.8, or 0.3 above the national comparison, because couples with children represent 48.5% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.3%
Houses
9.3%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is relatively entrenched: 48.8% own outright, 33.2% hold a mortgage and only 14.0% rent. Detached homes account for 88.3%, higher than semi-detached housing at 9.3% and apartments at 2.4%. This pattern reflects established wealth and keeps Vermont South more family-house focused than nearby higher-density areas.
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$496
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$715
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
281
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.5%
Couples with children
38.7%
Couples, no children
11.7%
Single parent
3,453
Total families
Economy & Employment
Vermont South has a professional, service-based economy, led by healthcare at 15.8% or 627 workers, professional and technical services at 13.1% or 520, and education at 12.2% or 486. Retail contributes 8.2% or 326 workers, while construction accounts for 7.0% or 280. Personal income is $715 weekly and household income is $1,944, placing households at the 73rd income percentile. SEIFA results are consistently strong, with IEO and IRSD in decile 8, IRSAD in decile 8 and IER in decile 9. The higher education and occupation result helps explain why the IER score ranks above the other three deciles, while unemployment remains 5.3%.
Unemployment
5.3%
Labour Force
5,702
Unemployed
303
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
37.5%
Participation
55.9%
Employed
5,399
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
52.8%
Postgraduate
17.1%
Born Overseas
47.3%
Dwellings
4,076
Transport to Work
Vermont South is practical for households that drive or work from home. Car driving accounts for 54.7% of transport use, while public transport is 2.7% and working from home is 38.1%; public transport use is therefore lower than car dependence because the suburb is predominantly detached and suburban. Four local schools cover 2 government primary schools, 1 Catholic primary/secondary college and 1 government special school, giving families a spread of sector and education types. Recorded crime was 557 offences, or 46.6 per 1,000 residents, led by 327 property and deception offences. IRSAD sits in decile 8, above the midpoint nationally, supporting the suburb's established socioeconomic profile.
Drive
54.7%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
38.1%
Population Forecast
+0.65%/yr
(+74 people/yr)
EstablishedVermont South has an established growth profile rather than a rapid expansion cycle. Compared with the 11.0% population change across the wider area over 10 years, the annual trend of 0.65% points to steadier near-term movement. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which may refresh demand without changing the suburb's mature housing character quickly. The broader shift trajectory is Mixed, with rent growth of 31.9% and affordability moving from 54.6% in 2011 to 53.5% in 2021. Gentrification signals are restrained: the current score is 14 and classified as Not gentrifying, although a separate shift score of 26 is labelled Early signs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+216
Net Internal / yr
-120
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +11% since 2011, Net internal outflow -120/yr, Strong overseas inflow +216/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
557
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
46.6
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 Vermont South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Vermont South?
Vermont South has 4 listed schools: 2 government primary schools, 1 Catholic primary/secondary college and 1 government special school. Families should check enrolment zones by address, as access can differ across the 6.18 square kilometre suburb.
Is Vermont South safe?
Recorded crime was 557 offences, equal to 46.6 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 327 incidents, while crimes against the person numbered 46, so normal home, vehicle and personal security precautions remain sensible.
How is Vermont South's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is recorded at 11.0% over 10 years, while the annual trend is 0.65%. Overseas migration is the primary driver and the trajectory is Mixed, suggesting gradual renewal rather than a rapid shift in the suburb's established household base of 11,954 residents.
What languages are spoken in Vermont South?
Vermont South has a substantial overseas-born population of 47.3%, which is 25.7 percentage points above the national comparison. Mandarin is spoken by 1,040 residents, Cantonese by 362, Greek by 196, Sinhalese by 110 and Italian by 92.
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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