suburb.guide

VIC · Nillumbik Council

Christmas Hills, 3775

Population

365

Growth (1 yr)

0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

-2.1%

Median age

46

Median income

$2,285/wk

Employment rate

68.1%

University qualified

27.9%

Work from home

20.6%

Languages at home

1.2%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

47.1/100
Average

635th in VIC

Verified 88% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Hills
  • Rural living
What Christmas Hills is known for: Green suburb, Hills, Rural living

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Christmas Hills, VIC suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Christmas Hills, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/christmas-hills-vic

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Suburb profile

Christmas Hills is a semi-rural locality near Melbourne, in Nillumbik Council. It is close to the Yarra River and the Sugarloaf Reservoir.

Open-space access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked semi-rural and lifestyle localities. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, and green cover is an exceptional strength. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. Trade-offs centre on higher rents and weaker population growth, with median rents 10% above the peer median.

Christmas Hills is a better fit for people who value open space and socio-economic advantage more than lower rents.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Semi-rural locality · compared with semi-rural and lifestyle localities in Victoria (228)

Strengths

  • Open-space access is exceptionally strong
  • Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
  • Green cover is a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • Rents run above those in comparable places
  • Population has been growing more slowly than in comparable places, or declining

What stands out

  • Yarra River
  • Sugarloaf Reservoir
  • Dandenong Ranges
  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • StudentsInsufficient data
  • Budget buyersInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Christmas Hills compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$640/wk

Population (Census)

365

0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

11.3%

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

#166

among Country & regional · Mature

Crime rate

91st

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

12th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

9%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

10/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

71st

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
47.1/100 — Average
National rank
2620th in Australia
State rank
635th in VIC
Peer rank
#166 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#293 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
88%

Data sources & freshness

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

Housing

All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
$640

Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

Data sources & freshness

Population

Population growth

0.0% annual · -2.1% over 5 years · 12th percentile in VIC

Growth rates are from ABS Estimated Resident Population at SA2 level. Headcount uses 2021 Census when allocated ERP is too low relative to Census to display reliably.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
365
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$2,285
Dwelling vacancy
11.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
16 of 141
Median monthly mortgage
$2,167
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$353
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
40.3% / 50.8% / 8.9%
Employment rate
68.1%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
20.6% / 0% / 67%
Walked or cycled to work
0%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
126 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted 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

Qualifications

27.9% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 18.6% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified27.9% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified10.3% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational18.6% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below43.3% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Engineering and related technologies20.8%
  • Health16.1%
  • Management and commerce16.1%
  • Society and culture13.1%
  • Architecture and building10.7%
  • Education8.9%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

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

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$59,906

74th percentile in VIC · +2% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$63,464

67th percentile in VIC · -2% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
14.0%

63rd percentile in VIC · +1% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$101,933

79th percentile in VIC · +61% vs Australia

Residents with business income
12.0%

58th percentile in VIC · +15% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3775 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
2,596
Taxpayers reporting net rent
357
Median net rent
-$883
Taxpayers reporting business income
308
Taxable income vs state median
+12%
Salary / wages vs state median
+9%
Rental investment vs state median
+8%
Super vs state median
+27%
Business income vs state median
+9%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in VIC, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

1.2% speak a language other than English at home; 13.7% born overseas

Language at home
341 English only · 4 other
Non-English at home
1.2%
Born overseas
47 (13.7%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
3 (0.8%)
Australian citizens
335

Religion

61.6%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 61.6%, while Christianity accounts for 27.4%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion61.6%38.8%
Christianity27.4%40.9%
Other / not stated11%20.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic13.2%20.5%
Anglican8.8%6.5%
Uniting Church3.8%2.4%
Christian (not further defined)2.7%2.5%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

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

Crime & safety

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
19
Against the person
5
Against property
4
Rate per 1,000 residents
206.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 73 residents
State crime-rate percentile
91.3th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+137.5%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
42
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
456.52

Most common offence types

  • A232 Non-Fv Common Assault2
  • Other Crimes Against The Person2
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft2
  • E13 Resist Or Hinder Officer2
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order8

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
1,057
Median ICSEA percentile
71th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
8
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
2
School list
  • Christmas Hills Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1057 · 71th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 9 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
  • Chirnside Park Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Christmas Hills Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Diamond Valley CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Kangaroo Ground Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Lilydale Heights CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Panton Hill Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • St Andrews Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Wonga Park Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Yarra Glen Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Yering Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

16 mapped amenities

1 libraries

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
5.48
Community(3)
  • Yarra Plenty Regional LibraryLibrary
  • Christmas Hills Primary SchoolSchool

    1409 Eltham-Yarra Glen Road

  • Christmas Hills Town HallTownhall
Sport & outdoors(5)
  • Christmas Hills Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Sugarloaf Reservoir ParkNature reserve
  • Warrandyte - Kinglake Nature Conservation ReserveNature reserve
  • Sports field
  • Sugarloaf Reservoir CircuitWalking trail
Entertainment(1)
  • Blue Wren TheatreTheatre
Other(4)
  • Christmas Hills North CFAFire station
  • Parking (4)
  • Post Box
  • Tennis CourtRecreation Ground

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

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

Sporting clubs

1 named sporting club in this suburb

  • Sugarloaf Sailing Club

    Sailing

Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap sporting clubs — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Geofabrik australia-latest.osm.pbf

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Sugarloaf Reservoir ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
60.4%
Woodland / forest cover
42.9%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
8
Parks (OSM)
2
Typical summer maximum
24°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Yarra Ranges Health (11.4 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
2
Participants per 1,000 residents
21.7

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
24° / 13°
Rainfall
155 mm · ~19 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 11°
Rainfall
186 mm · ~23 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
203 mm · ~25 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 9°
Rainfall
207 mm · ~26 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

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).

20 planning-related records

2021· 9 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct a swimming pool
    610 ONE TREE HILL ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Works associated with vegetation impact
    990 BUTTERMANS TRACK CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Lapsed
  • Buildings and works associated with a utility installation (UV disinfection facility and infrastructure), construction of fencing and associated vegetation removal
    40 SIMPSON ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Buildings and works to existing utility installation, and removal of native vegetation.
    40 SIMPSON ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct a shed
    40 SIMPSON ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct a balcony
    119 Wallace RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with a Telecommunications facility
    330 SKYLINE ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling
    29 SUGARLOAF TRACK CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct a shed
    38 SUGARLOAF TRACK CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 11 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Use and Development of the land to construct a dwelling, shed, carport, water tank and associated earthworks
    230 RIDGE ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    49 WALLACE ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Buildings and works to extend an existing shed
    156 MUIR ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct and install solar energy facilities, inverter building platforms, access roads and associated service infrastructure to generate and supply solar power to the existing water treatment facility (Winneke Treatment Plant), fencing and associated vegetation removal
    40 SIMPSON ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775NOD issued by a delegate
  • Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling
    919 Buttermans TrackPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Amendment - Buildings and works to construct an extension to an existing dwelling, driveway, and carport
    15 Moorool CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for a dwelling, outbuildings and the removal of native vegetation
    2 MUIR ROAD CHRISTMAS HILLS 3775In progress

  • May 2020

  • Removal of one tree
    40 Simpson RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Amendment - Use and development to construct a dwelling (Retrospective)
    55 O'Sheas RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • 2 Lot Subdivision
    230 Ridge RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to extend the existing dwelling and removal of native vegetation
    66 McKinnon TerracePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping. Flood cover uses inundation overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Casey
Member of Parliament
Aaron VIOLI (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
122,351
Turnout (2025)
94.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.5 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 52.9%Labor 47.1%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 11.3 km away).

Coalition 53.5%Labor 46.5%

0.7 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: 0.0 pp

Nearest polling places

  • Yarra GlenLabor 40.1% · Coalition 59.9% TPP (2025)5.8 km away
  • St Andrews (Casey)Labor 66.1% · Coalition 33.9% TPP (2025)7.1 km away
  • Wonga ParkLabor 37.7% · Coalition 62.3% TPP (2025)8.6 km away
  • Lilydale NorthLabor 47.7% · Coalition 52.3% TPP (2025)10.1 km away
  • Chirnside ParkLabor 45.5% · Coalition 54.5% TPP (2025)10.6 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)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
10/10

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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

This suburb ranks highly for

Compare with

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

More in Nillumbik Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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