Hurstbridge is a semi-rural locality near Melbourne, in Nillumbik Council, with mainly mixed commercial and residential development.
The suburb is highly walkable compared with similar places, placing it among the highest-ranked semi-rural and lifestyle localities. Local amenities are a relative strength. Open-space access is better than in most comparable places. Reported crime is lower than in most comparable places. Reported offences have fallen 29% year on year. Trade-offs centre on weaker population growth and higher housing costs, with median house prices 8% above the peer median.
Hurstbridge is a better fit for people who value walkability and local amenities more than population growth.
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
The suburb is highly walkable compared with similar places
Local amenities are a relative strength
Reported crime is lower than in most comparable places
Open-space access is better than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
Population growth is a relative weakness
Housing costs a little more than in comparable places
What stands out
Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★★☆
Professionals★★★☆☆
Retirees★★★☆☆
Students★★★☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Hurstbridge compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$970k
-12% change
Median rent
$560/wk
Population (ERP)
3,498
+0.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.6%
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
#15
among Metro Melbourne · Established
Crime rate
12th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
44th
percentile in VIC
Rented dwellings
11%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
72nd
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
64.5/100 — Good
State standing
Top 3% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
199th in Australia
State rank
35th in VIC
Peer rank
#15 among Metro Melbourne · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#24 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
Data confidence
98%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
All types (Sep 2025)
$560
Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$970,000
Median price change
-11.8%
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
+0.1% annual · -3.0% over 5 years · 44th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.1%
5-year growth
-3.0%
Change in 1 year
+3
Change in 5 years
-110
Growth rank in VIC
44th 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 (~3,450), extrapolated at -0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
3,554
Median age
41
Median household income / week
$2,168
Dwelling vacancy
5.6%
Unoccupied private dwellings
72 of 1,288
Median monthly mortgage
$2,000
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$420
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
36.2% / 53.2% / 10.6%
Employment rate
67%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
26.7% / 1.8% / 54.3%
Walked or cycled to work
1.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,186 / 30 / 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.
30.4% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 22.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified30.4% · 29.2% VIC
Diploma qualified11.3% · 9.8% VIC
Trade / vocational22.2% · 14.2% VIC
Year 12 or below36.1% · 46.8% VIC
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies16.9%
Society and culture14.6%
Education13.3%
Management and commerce12.9%
Health11.6%
Architecture and building9.5%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 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)
$60,899
77th percentile in VIC · +4% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$66,452
78th percentile in VIC · +2% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
13.0%
54th percentile in VIC · -6% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$119,119
89th percentile in VIC · +88% vs Australia
Residents with business income
13.0%
70th percentile in VIC · +25% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3099 — 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
3,140
Taxpayers reporting net rent
410
Median net rent
-$1,584
Taxpayers reporting business income
404
Taxable income vs state median
+14%
Salary / wages vs state median
+14%
Rental investment vs state median
0%
Super vs state median
+48%
Business income vs state median
+18%
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
4.1% speak a language other than English at home; 12.2% born overseas
Language at home
3,337 English only · 142 other
Non-English at home
4.1%
Born overseas
425 (12.2%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
27 (0.8%)
Australian citizens
3,351
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
9
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
German6 · 14.6%
Greek6 · 14.6%
Spanish6 · 14.6%
Tagalog5 · 12.2%
French4 · 9.8%
Italian4 · 9.8%
Vietnamese4 · 9.8%
Croatian3 · 7.3%
Religion
59.4%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 59.4%, while Christianity accounts for 33.1%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
59.4%
38.8%
Christianity
33.1%
40.9%
Other / not stated
7.5%
20.3%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
14.4%
20.5%
Anglican
7.9%
6.5%
Uniting Church
2.9%
2.4%
Christian (not further defined)
2%
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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
64
Against the person
7
Against property
39
Rate per 1,000 residents
18.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 508 residents
State crime-rate percentile
12.1th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-44.3%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
52
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
14.87
Most common offence types
B21 Criminal Damage5
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle6
B49 Other Theft5
E21 Breach Family Violence Order13
B41 Motor Vehicle Theft6
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Hurstbridge Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1055 · 70th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 141 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
Learning Co-Operative SchoolPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1065 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 31 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Diamond Valley CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Doreen Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Hazel Glen CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Hurstbridge Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Panton Hill Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Wattle Glen 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
Victorian designated neighbourhood zones — Victorian Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
5 restaurants · 7 cafes · 1 pharmacies · 2 fast food · 1 bakeries · 2 places of worship · 12 playgrounds · 1 dog parks
Local character & venue list
Local character
Reasonably walkable — many shops and services reachable on foot or by bus
Great for outdoor family life — 11 parks mapped in suburb, 12 playgrounds nearby
Reasonable bus and transport access — 12 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 26 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
63/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
1.97
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
4.22
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.1
Food & drink(15)
Stoneground BakehouseBakery
Black ViceCafe
Bridge 2 Eden CafeCafe
Heart & Soul CafeCafe
Hurstbridge Deli & LarderCafe
Hurstbridge Fine Foods & DeliCafe
The Hurstbridge Post CafeCafe
Wild WombatCafe
Burke's Fish & ChipsFast food
Hursty Fish & ChipsFast food
Bridges RestaurantRestaurant
Henry Hurst's Pizza & PastaRestaurant
Hurstbridge Pizza & PastaRestaurant
Restaurant St. LawrenceRestaurant
Wok's N DumplingRestaurant
Shopping(9)
Hurstbridge LiquorBottle shop
IGA LiquorBottle shop
Hurstbridge Fine Meats and ProvidoreButcher
IGAConvenience store
The Bridge StoreConvenience store
Lettuce Inn Fruit & VegGreengrocer
Valley RuralHardware store
Hurstbridge Opportunity ShopOp shop
Everyday services(3)
Bendigo BankATM
Bendigo BankBank
Hurstbridge Post OfficePost office
Community(4)
Kindergarten (2)
Hurstbridge Primary SchoolSchool
961-989 Heidelberg-Kinglake Road
Hurstbridge HallTownhall
Health & services(4)
Hurstbridge Medical CentreClinic
Hurstbridge DentalDentist
Hurstbridge PharmacyPharmacy
Greencross VetsVeterinary
Sport & outdoors(46)
BBQ (2)
Diamond Creek TrailCycling route
Hurstbridge Dog ParkDog park
Drinking water (3)
Temple Ridge Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Anzac Memorial ParkPark
Dunstan Drive ReservePark
Fergusons PaddockPark
Gordon & Sheila Ferguson ParkPark
Hurstbridge Memorial ParkPark
Hurstbridge Public ReservePark
Hurstbridge Station GardensPark
Jaspers ParkPark
Melissa Close ReservePark
Park
Tulong Street ReservePark
Playground (12)
Metro Trains MelbournePublic toilets
Public toilets
Hurstbridge Bowling ClubSports centre
Hurstbridge Tennis ClubSports centre
Sports centre (4)
Ben Frilay OvalSports field
Hurstbridge Half-pipeSports field
Hurstbridge High OvalSports field
Hurstbridge Skate ParkSports field
Sports field
JB PoolsSwimming pool
Swimming pool
Entertainment(1)
The Anglers ClubTheatre
31 Cherry Tree Road, Hurstbridge
Transport(5)
2 bus stops · 3 train stations
Other(47)
Hurstbridge OsteopathyAlternative
Amore Beauty and LaserBeauty salon
Essentially You Body and SoulBeauty salon
Bench
Bicycle Parking
Hurstbridge Books, CDs and VideosBooks
Pickwick & SproutBooks
Hurstbridge Motor Body RepairsCar repair
Hurstbridge MotorsCar repair
R. & A. Saunders Automotive RepairsCar repair
Cattle Wash
Michelle's On MainClothes
Workin' ClobberClothes
EDN Dance CompanyDance
Hurstbridge Fire BrigadeFire station
Allwood GardensGarden
Garden (14)
Bridges NurseryGarden Centre
Hurstbridge Garden SuppliesGarden Centre
Oku DenGift
The Little Speckled HenGift
Wilde BunchGift
Grave Yard
Hurstbridge Hair DesignHairdresser
Salon VieHairdresser
Nature's HarvestHealth Food
Hurstbridge Pony ClubHorse Riding
Information
Phayao Thai MassageMassage
Hurstbridge NewsagencyNewsagent
Play EducateOccupational Therapist
828 Heidelberg - Kinglake Road, Hurstbridge
Outdoor Seating (4)
Parking (59)
Parking Space (38)
Picnic Table (2)
Hurstbridge Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
St Peter's Catholic ChurchPlace of worship
Hurstbridge Police StationPolice
Australia PostPost Box
Born Again CollectablesSecond Hand
Shelter (5)
Allwood Neighbourhood HouseSocial Facility
AraluenSocial Facility
12 Hurstbridge - Arthurs Creek Road
Phoenix Sound StudiosStudio
1048 Heidelberg - Kinglake Road, Hurstbridge
KCM TravelTravel Agency
Waste Basket
Hurstbridge Mini SkipsWaste Transfer Station
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
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
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
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Hurstbridge Uniting Church
St Peter's Catholic Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
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.
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%)
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
80 planning-related records
2021· 40 proposals
September 2021
Buildings and works to construct a carport and outbuilding, removal of one tree and relocate water tank
18 VALLEY VIEW ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Withdrawn
Buildings and works to construct an addition to dwelling
734 HEIDELBERG-KINGLAKE ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works for dwelling extension and construction of carport
42 ACACIA ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to extend the existing dwelling
54 BINGLEY AVENUE HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of one dead native tree
ARTHURS CREEK ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a verandah and deck
110 BOYDS ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of one (1) tree
MEANDER ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099In progress
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding (garage)
2 CAROLINE CRESCENT HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling, retaining walls and earthworks and removal of one tree
11 PINNAROO CLOSE HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding (replacement of the existing studio)
19 FAIRDELL CRESCENT HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
Removal of 1 dead native tree
19 DUNSTAN DRIVE HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of 1 dead native tree
CURTAIN ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of one tree
89 KENDALLS LANE HURSTBRIDGE 3099Lapsed
Amendment - Buildings and works to alter and extend the existing dwelling
61-63 Meander RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of one dead tree
CARLYLE CLOSE HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling
12 BAMBARA ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Withdrawn
Buildings and works to construct a shed (outbuilding) and additions to the dwelling
1080 HEIDELBERG-KINGLAKE ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099NOD issued by a delegate
Removal of 1 dead native tree
TAYLOR ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of 1 native tree
MEANDER ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
Buildings and works to extend the existing dwelling
155 ARTHURS CREEK ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a shed/garage
27 WATTLETREE ROAD HURSTBRIDGE 3099Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
To establish a primary and secondary school on the site to cater for P to 8 with a student number of 40. This will require the addition of two portables initially which will be located on the north east boundary of the property where there is currently no vegetation.
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
McEwen
Member of Parliament
Rob MITCHELL (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
117,921
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+0.9 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 45.2%Labor 54.8%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 5.3 km away).
Coalition 34.8%Labor 65.2%
10.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
HurstbridgeLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
Wattle GlenLabor 63.5% · Coalition 36.5% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
Panton HillLabor 52.1% · Coalition 47.9% TPP (2025)4.1 km away
Diamond Creek EastLabor 54.7% · Coalition 45.3% TPP (2025)4.5 km away
Diamond CreekLabor 59.8% · Coalition 40.2% TPP (2025)5.0 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.
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%)