suburb.guide

VIC · Murrindindi Council

Buxton, 3711

Est. population · Jun 2025

593

Growth (1 yr)

+0.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.4%

Median age

53

Median income

$1,367/wk

Employment rate

52.4%

Languages at home

2.1%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

33.1/100
Below average

967th in VIC

Verified 78% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • Green suburb
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Buxton is known for: National parks, Green suburb, Excellent transport, Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

Buxton is a regional smaller community in Murrindindi Council, oriented around local life rather than the metro orbit of Melbourne. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself.

Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Property prices are middling for the area: fair relative to what is nearby.

Reported crime has been falling recently. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.

Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus community and employment lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Buxton snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

593

+0.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

29.5%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#230

among Country & regional · Mature

Safety

42nd

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

46th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

5/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

46th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
33.1/100 — Below average
National rank
5030th in Australia
State rank
967th in VIC
Peer rank
#230 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#480 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

593(June 2025)

+0.2% annual · +2.4% over 5 years · 46th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.2%
5-year growth
+2.4%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
+14
Growth rank in VIC
46th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~600), extrapolated at +0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
591
Median age
53
Median household income / week
$1,367
Dwelling vacancy
29.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
96 of 325
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Employment rate
52.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
228 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
26
Against the person
0
Against property
9
Rate per 1,000 residents
43.8
State safety percentile
41.5th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-33.3%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage2
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2
  • B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2
  • C21 Cultivate Drugs2
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order14

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
997
Median ICSEA percentile
46th
School list
  • Buxton Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 997 · 46th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 40 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

5 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Buxton Rise/Maroondah Hwy
  • Buxton Rise/Maroondah Hwy
  • Buxton Rise/Maroondah Hwy
  • Buxton Rise/Maroondah Hwy
  • Retreat Rd/Buxton-Marysville Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

16 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 playgrounds · 1 petrol stations

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
Walkability proxy
8/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.69
Sport & outdoors(4)
  • Buxton Recreation ReservePark
  • Playground
  • BikemaniaSports field
  • Sports field
Other(9)
  • Buxton Trout & Salmon FarmAttraction

    2118 Maroondah Highway, Buxton

  • Bbq (2)
  • Drinking water (2)
  • CFAFire station
  • Fitness Station
  • ShellPetrol station

    2093 Maroondah Highway, Buxton

  • Picnic Table
  • Public toilets
  • Shelter (2)

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

3 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Black Range State ForestNature reserve
  • Buxton Recreation ReservePark
  • Buxton Silver Gum Nature Conservation ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
7
Parks (OSM)
1

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Alexandra District Health (27.0 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
13
Participants per 1,000 residents
21.9

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
25° / 12°
Rainfall
197 mm · ~25 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 9°
Rainfall
228 mm · ~28 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 5°
Rainfall
261 mm · ~33 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 7°
Rainfall
304 mm · ~38 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).

31 planning-related records

2021· 16 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Farm Building Development of land for an Agricultural Shed
    182 BUXTON-MARYSVILLE ROAD BUXTON 3711Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Single Dwelling Development of the land for the purpose of a dwelling and alteration of access to a road in a Road Zone
    2277 MAROONDAH HIGHWAY BUXTON 3711Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Single Dwelling Development of land for a dwelling
    14 WINDSOR COURT BUXTON 3711Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Dwelling (Alts & Adds) Development of the land for the purpose of alterations to an existing dwelling
    2427 MAROONDAH HIGHWAY BUXTON 3711Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Single Dwelling and Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of land for a dwelling
    15 WATERS PLACE BUXTON 3711Withdrawn

  • June 2021

  • Dwelling (Alts & Adds) Development of the land for the purpose of alterations to an existing dwelling
    1441 Maroondah HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of the land for the purpose of a garage
    2175 Maroondah HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Farm Building Development of a Farm Shed
    75 Williams LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of land for a shed
    62 Retreat RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of the land for the purpose of an outbuilding (shed)
    1560 Maroondah HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of the land for the purpose of an outbuilding (shed)
    5 Mareeba AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Farm Building Development of land for a shed
    20 Passings RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • More than one new dwelling but <10 Use and Development of a Second Dwelling
    360 SOUTH CATHEDRAL LANE BUXTON 3711Withdrawn

  • March 2021

  • Single Dwelling Development of the land for the purpose of a dwelling
    23 Waters PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Single Dwelling Development of land for the purpose of a dwelling
    10 Windsor CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Single Dwelling Development of the land for purpose of a dwelling
    20 Dyes LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 15 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Single Dwelling Development of land for a dwelling
    18 Windsor CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Single Dwelling Construction of a single dwelling
    20 Dyes LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Single Dwelling Use and development of the land for the purpose of a dwelling and removal of native vegetation
    55 Ismay WyndPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Single Dwelling Development of the land for the purpose of a dwelling
    17 Waters PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Single Dwelling Construction of a Dwelling
    42 Dyes LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Single Dwelling Development of land for the purpose of a dwelling
    3 Cameron ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Single Dwelling Development of the land for a dwelling
    7 Waters PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Dwelling (Alts & Adds) Alterations and additions to the existing dwelling
    62 Retreat RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Dwelling (Alts & Adds) Alterations and additions to a dwelling
    1546 Maroondah HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Single Dwelling and Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of a dwelling and an outbuilding
    5 Cameron ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Buildings and works (pergola)
    117 South Cathedral LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Subdivision - Residential (1-9 lots) Two (2) lot subdivision
    16 Aroona DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of the land for the purpose of a domestic outbuilding
    1 Waters PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Single Dwelling Use and development of the land for the purpose of a dwelling
    19 Elliot CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Single Dwelling Development of land for a dwelling
    9 Waters PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Indi
Member of Parliament
Helen HAINES (Independent)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
120,774
Turnout (2025)
92.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.4 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 56.7%Labor 43.3%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 28.0 km away).

Coalition 57.8%Labor 42.2%

1.2 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -4.6 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • MarysvilleLabor 45.5% · Coalition 54.5% TPP (2025)9.0 km away
  • TaggertyLabor 43.9% · Coalition 56.1% TPP (2025)12.7 km away
  • NarbethongLabor 35.3% · Coalition 64.7% TPP (2025)13.8 km away
  • ThorntonLabor 31.5% · Coalition 68.5% TPP (2025)21.0 km away
  • ToolangiLabor 53.4% · Coalition 46.6% TPP (2025)24.3 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Murrindindi Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.