Yarra Junction
With 90% of residents driving to work and just 0.4% using public transport, Yarra Junction is one of Victoria's most car-dependent townships, sitting 55 km east of Melbourne in the Yarra Ranges. The median house price of $715,000 is supported by a household income at the 31st percentile nationally, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.9% that sits above the 30% stress threshold. Construction employs 20.3% of the local workforce, well above state averages, and 84.4% of residents stayed in the same address over the prior year, pointing to a settled, low-turnover community of 2,875 people across 17.52 km2.
Population
2,875
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,302/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$715K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price reached $715,000 in the April-June 2024 quarter, up from $685,000 in late 2023, though this remains 3.1% below the peak of $738,000 recorded in mid-2023. Over 14 years, prices grew 75.9% from $406,500, a compound annual growth rate of 4.1%, steady rather than spectacular compared to inner-Melbourne markets. Separate houses dominate at 79.9% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 44.5% and four-plus bedroom homes a notable 30.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.9% exceeds the 30% stress threshold because household incomes sit in the 31st percentile nationally. Outright owners at 38.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 42.9%, suggesting a mix of long-established families and newer buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $715,000 in the April-June 2024 quarter, up from $685,000 in late 2023, though this remains 3.1% below the peak of $738,000 recorded in mid-2023. Over 14 years, prices grew 75.9% from $406,500, a compound annual growth rate of 4.1%, steady rather than spectacular compared to inner-Melbourne markets. Separate houses dominate at 79.9% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 44.5% and four-plus bedroom homes a notable 30.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.9% exceeds the 30% stress threshold because household incomes sit in the 31st percentile nationally. Outright owners at 38.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 42.9%, suggesting a mix of long-established families and newer buyers.
For Investors
The rental market is thin, with only 18.7% of dwellings rented and weekly rent at $300. Against a $715,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 2.2%, below the typical investment benchmark of 4%. The vacancy rate of 5.0% is elevated and signals limited rental demand relative to supply. Development activity is minimal at 4 applications in 12 months, with recent activity focused on subdivisions rather than new dwelling construction. The suburb's mortgage-belt identity and low rental share mean the investment case rests on long-term capital growth at the historical 4.1% CAGR rather than yield, and buyers should factor in income levels in the lower third nationally when assessing tenant depth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Yarra Junction iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Little Yarra Steiner School
Prep-12 · 278 students
St Joseph's School
Prep-6 · 87 students
Yarra Junction Primary School
Prep-6 · 220 students
Upper Yarra Secondary College
7-12 · 736 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, consistent with an older, settled community profile. University qualifications reach 16.9%, which is 13.2 percentage points below the national average, while overseas-born residents at 13.4% are 8.2 points below national. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,238 residents), Irish (323) and Scottish (284). Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure exactly. Couples with children make up 901 families, the largest household type, and 555 couples have no children. Volunteering at 14.8% is a meaningful indicator of community participation, and only 9.8% of residents need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.9%
Houses
11.6%
Townhouse
3.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers dominate the housing market: 38.4% own their home outright and 42.9% carry a mortgage, leaving just 18.7% as renters, well below national rental averages. Separate houses account for 79.9% of stock, with semi-detached at 11.6% and apartments at just 3.5%, making this a detached-house market with little unit supply. Three-bedroom homes are the mode at 44.5%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 30.0%. The price trajectory shows growth from $406,500 in 2013 to $715,000 in mid-2024, with the peak of $738,000 in mid-2023 still not recovered. Mortgage stress is a practical reality: the 31.9% mortgage-to-income ratio exceeds the 30% threshold, while rent-to-income at 23.0% stays below the rental stress threshold of 30%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,800
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$613
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.2%
Couples, no children
2,120
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the dominant industry at 20.3% of employed residents (153 workers), reflecting the Yarra Ranges' active residential development scene. Healthcare follows at 13.7% (103 workers) and Education at 13.3% (100 workers), together making up over a quarter of local employment. Community and Personal services lead occupations at 165 workers, followed by Clerical/Admin at 155 and Managers at 151. Unemployment sits at 4.1% with 48 jobseekers, and the full-time employment rate of 60.0% indicates a mostly stable workforce. The participation rate of 49.8% is low, partly because 885 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 43. Weekly household income of $1,302 places the suburb in the 31st percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.0%
Part-time
35.9%
Participation
49.8%
Employed
1,111
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.9%
Postgraduate
3.1%
Born Overseas
13.4%
Dwellings
1,043
Transport to Work
Car dependency defines daily life in Yarra Junction: 90.0% of residents drive to work and only 0.4% use public transport, which is among the lowest public transport rates in Victoria. Walking and cycling account for 4.7% of commutes. Crime was recorded at 147 incidents, a rate of 51.1 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 70 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 48. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding Yarra Ranges townships. The vacancy rate of 5.0% suggests modest housing availability. Mortgage stress at 31.9% of income is a practical constraint for homeowners, though rent-to-income of 23.0% keeps renters below the stress threshold.
Drive
90.0%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
147
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
51.1
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 Yarra Junction compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yarra Junction a good suburb to live in?
Yarra Junction suits buyers seeking a detached-house lifestyle in the Yarra Ranges with a median house price of $715,000. The community is settled, with 84.4% of residents staying in the same address year to year and a low unemployment rate of 4.1%. The main trade-offs are heavy car dependence (90.0% drive to work), no recorded public transport use, and household incomes in the 31st percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Yarra Junction?
The median house price is $715,000 as of the April-June 2024 quarter. This is up from $685,000 in late 2023 but 3.1% below the peak of $738,000 recorded in mid-2023. Over 14 years from 2013, prices have grown 75.9% from $406,500, a compound annual growth rate of 4.1%.
What schools are in Yarra Junction?
No schools are recorded within the Yarra Junction suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Yarra Ranges townships. Locally, 16.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 13.2 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the area's trade and services employment base.
Is Yarra Junction safe?
Yarra Junction recorded 147 criminal incidents, a rate of 51.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 70 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 48. For context, the suburb's low turnover rate of 15.6% and stable employment (4.1% unemployment) are indirect indicators of community stability.
Is Yarra Junction good for property investment?
The investment case is primarily capital growth rather than yield. Weekly rent of $300 against a $715,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.2%, which is below typical investment benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 5.0% is elevated, and only 18.7% of dwellings are rented. The 14-year compound annual growth rate of 4.1% is the stronger argument for long-term holders.
How is Yarra Junction's population changing?
Yarra Junction has a population of 2,875 across 17.52 km2, with a density of 164.1 residents per km2. The suburb has a stable, low-turnover profile: 84.4% of residents stayed in the same address over the prior year and the turnover rate of 15.6% is low. The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, suggesting a gradually aging community.
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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