Yarram
At a median age of 53, Yarram sits 13 years above the national figure, making it one of Gippsland's more distinctly older communities. Household income falls in just the 7.3rd percentile nationally, well below average, yet the median house price of $375,000 has nearly doubled since 2013, recording a 97.4% gain over 14 years. The suburb carries a SEIFA disadvantage score in decile 2, indicating significant relative disadvantage compared to most of Australia. A 14.1% vacancy rate points to a looser housing market than most regional Victorian centres, and affordability remains high by any state standard.
Population
2,136
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$889/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$375K
Apr-Jun 2024
With a median house price of $375,000 as of April-June 2024, Yarram is considerably more affordable than the VIC state median. That price represents a 97.4% gain from $190,000 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 5.0% over 14 years. The market peaked at $560,000 in April-June 2023 and has since corrected 33%, presenting an entry point for buyers comfortable with regional risk. Separate houses dominate at 85.1% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes at 54.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold.
For Buyers
With a median house price of $375,000 as of April-June 2024, Yarram is considerably more affordable than the VIC state median. That price represents a 97.4% gain from $190,000 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 5.0% over 14 years. The market peaked at $560,000 in April-June 2023 and has since corrected 33%, presenting an entry point for buyers comfortable with regional risk. Separate houses dominate at 85.1% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes at 54.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $225 against a $375,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.1%, higher than most Melbourne suburbs but modest for a regional town. The key risk is the 14.1% vacancy rate, well above the 3% national balance point, which signals longer void periods. The renter share is 23.0%, because 53.6% of residents own outright, the dominant tenure. Net migration adds roughly 36 people per year from balanced internal and overseas sources. With only 2 development applications in the past 12 months, new supply pressure is minimal, which provides some support for rents.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Yarram iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary's School
Prep-6 · 66 students
Yarram Primary School
Prep-6 · 127 students
Yarram Secondary College
7-12 · 277 students
Demographics
Yarram's median age of 53 is 13 years above the national median, with the senior share rising 3.9 points over the decade while working-age share fell 2.8 points. University qualifications reach 15.4%, which is 14.7 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the decile 3 IEO score for education and occupation. Just 11.6% of residents were born overseas, a gap of 10 percentage points below national. English-speaking ancestry dominates: English (915), Irish (241) and Scottish (230) are the three largest groups. The 20.3% volunteering rate is high, reflecting a community offsetting thinner public services through mutual support.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.1%
Houses
7.8%
Townhouse
4.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The owner-occupier share is high: 53.6% own outright and 23.4% carry a mortgage, leaving renters at 23.0%. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders by more than two to one reflects the older age profile and long tenure, with 84.1% of residents staying in the same address over the reference period. Stock is heavily detached at 85.1%, with three-bedroom homes leading at 54.7%. The price ran from $190,000 in 2013 to a peak of $560,000 in April-June 2023, then corrected 33% to $375,000. Rent-to-income at 25.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold, keeping housing broadly affordable for tenants.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wk
$225
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$523
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.1%
Unoccupied
151
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.8%
Couples, no children
1,466
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 21.9% of local workers, the largest sector, because Yarram District Health Service serves a wide South Gippsland catchment. Agriculture is second at 14.5%, reflecting productive dairy and beef country surrounding the town. Education follows at 11.2% and Retail at 8.1%. By occupation, Labourers (127) and Managers (123) lead, while Professionals number just 88, consistent with the below-national university rate. The unemployment rate of 6.5% exceeds the national average, and the participation rate of 41.8% is low because 863 residents fall outside the labour force. SEIFA disadvantage sits at decile 2 on both IRSD and IRSAD, placing Yarram in the bottom fifth nationally.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
2,133
Unemployed
68
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.0%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
41.8%
Employed
717
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
11.6%
Dwellings
926
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 79.9% of residents driving to work and only 1.5% using public transport, below typical regional VIC levels. Notably, 13.6% walk or cycle, higher than many similar-sized towns. The crime rate of 174.2 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated nationally, with property offences (110) and justice procedure offences (164) the dominant categories. IRSAD sits at decile 2, indicating high relative disadvantage. Need-for-assistance reaches 11.5% of residents, above the national average, consistent with an older, lower-income population. Rent-to-income at 25.3% stays below the stress threshold.
Drive
79.9%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
13.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.77%/yr
(+28 people/yr)
EstablishedYarram is adding around 28 people per year, a 0.77% annual rate, following 13.6% population growth over the decade. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 reaching 3,758 by 2031, up from 3,627 in 2025. Migration is balanced, with roughly 18 internal and 18 overseas net arrivals annually. Rents rose 46.7% while real income grew only 11.6% over the decade, a gap that has eroded affordability for renters faster than wages recovered. The aging trajectory means long-term demand will depend on replacement households rather than population expansion, and the gentrification score of 51 signals active but incomplete change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+18
Net Internal / yr
+18
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +16% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
372
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
174.2
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 Yarram compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yarram a good suburb to live in?
Yarram suits buyers seeking affordability in regional Gippsland. The median house price of $375,000 is well below state averages and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, below the stress threshold. The trade-offs include a SEIFA disadvantage decile of 2, a crime rate of 174.2 per 1,000 residents, and a 6.5% unemployment rate above the national average.
What is the median house price in Yarram?
The median house price is $375,000 as of April-June 2024. Prices peaked at $560,000 in April-June 2023, a 33% correction since. Since 2013, when the median was $190,000, prices have grown 97.4% over 14 years, equal to a compound annual growth rate of 5.0%.
What schools are in Yarram?
No schools are recorded in the suburb dataset for Yarram. The town serves as a regional hub for South Gippsland and has community schools in the broader district. University qualifications are held by 15.4% of residents, which is 14.7 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Yarram safe?
Yarram records 372 total offences, a rate of 174.2 per 1,000 residents, elevated relative to most Australian suburban benchmarks. The largest categories are justice procedure offences (164) and property and deception offences (110). SEIFA disadvantage sits at decile 2, which correlates with higher crime rates in comparable communities nationally.
Is Yarram good for property investment?
At $225 weekly rent against a $375,000 median, gross yield is roughly 3.1%, above most Melbourne suburbs. However, the 14.1% vacancy rate is well above the 3% balanced threshold, signalling longer void periods. Population is growing at 0.77% annually. The 33% correction from the 2023 peak creates a potential entry point, but high vacancy is the key risk.
How is Yarram's population changing?
Population grew 13.6% over the past decade and is adding around 28 people per year, a 0.77% annual rate. Migration is balanced, with roughly 18 internal and 18 overseas net arrivals each year. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 reaching 3,758 by 2031. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.9 points and working-age share down 2.8 points over the decade.
What industries employ people in Yarram?
Healthcare is the largest employer at 21.9% of the workforce. Agriculture follows at 14.5%, reflecting South Gippsland dairy and beef farming. Education accounts for 11.2% and Retail for 8.1%. The unemployment rate of 6.5% is above the national average, and the low participation rate of 41.8% reflects a median age of 53, placing many residents outside the labour force.
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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