Junortoun is a major regional centre in Victoria, in Greater Bendigo Council.
Reported crime is exceptionally low against comparable places. Reported offences have fallen 37% year on year, and socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked major regional centres, and population has been growing faster than in comparable places, and university qualifications are more common than in comparable places, with university qualifications 76% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on limited amenity for the price and thinner park access, with park access 78% below the peer median.
Junortoun is a better fit for people who value lower crime and socio-economic advantage more than amenity for the price.
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
Major regional centre · compared with major regional centres in Victoria (187)
Strengths
Reported crime is exceptionally low against comparable places
Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
Population has been growing faster than in comparable places
University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
Weaknesses
Buyers pay a premium despite relatively limited amenity access
Park access is thinner 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 Junortoun compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$857k
+8.8% change
Median rent
$475/wk
Population (ERP)
4,157
+2.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.5%
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
#11
among Country & regional · Emerging
Crime rate
10th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
89th
percentile in VIC
Rented dwellings
5%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
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
56.4/100 — Good
State standing
Top 19% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
909th in Australia
State rank
232nd in VIC
Peer rank
#11 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#54 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
87%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
$475
Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$857,000
Median price change
+8.8%
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
+2.2% annual · +13.6% over 5 years · 89th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.2%
5-year growth
+13.6%
Change in 1 year
+89
Change in 5 years
+496
Growth rank in VIC
89th 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 (~4,950), extrapolated at +3.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
3,862
Median age
43
Median household income / week
$2,170
Dwelling vacancy
4.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
61 of 1,362
Median monthly mortgage
$1,950
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$380
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
42.5% / 52.7% / 4.8%
Employment rate
61.5%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
17.8% / 0% / 67.9%
Walked or cycled to work
0.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,283 / 3 / 0 (+ 6 other)
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.
27% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 17.4% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified27% · 29.2% VIC
Diploma qualified10.7% · 9.8% VIC
Trade / vocational17.4% · 14.2% VIC
Year 12 or below44.8% · 46.8% VIC
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Health20.2%
Management and commerce18.9%
Engineering and related technologies14.8%
Education14.2%
Society and culture10.9%
Architecture and building7.1%
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)
$60,154
75th percentile in VIC · +2% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$64,192
69th percentile in VIC · -1% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
12.0%
39th percentile in VIC · -13% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$95,748
71st percentile in VIC · +51% vs Australia
Residents with business income
9.0%
7th percentile in VIC · -13% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3551 — 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
23,530
Taxpayers reporting net rent
2,876
Median net rent
-$1,480
Taxpayers reporting business income
2,137
Taxable income vs state median
+13%
Salary / wages vs state median
+10%
Rental investment vs state median
-8%
Super vs state median
+19%
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
4.5% speak a language other than English at home; 9.1% born overseas
Language at home
3,551 English only · 167 other
Non-English at home
4.5%
Born overseas
336 (9.1%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
19 (0.5%)
Australian citizens
3,627
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).
Urdu14 · 23.3%
Mandarin12 · 20%
Sinhalese10 · 16.7%
Punjabi6 · 10%
Italian5 · 8.3%
Tamil4 · 6.7%
Arabic3 · 5%
Greek3 · 5%
Religion
53.2%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 53.2%, while 39.7% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
39.7%
38.8%
Christianity
53.2%
40.9%
Other / not stated
7%
20.3%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
26.1%
20.5%
Anglican
10.5%
6.5%
Uniting Church
5.7%
2.4%
Baptist
3.7%
1.3%
Christian (not further defined)
2.3%
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)
66
Against the person
18
Against property
31
Rate per 1,000 residents
15.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 215 residents
State crime-rate percentile
9.9th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-45.5%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
60
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
14.43
Most common offence types
B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary5
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle6
B49 Other Theft5
Other Crimes Against The Person8
B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception11
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
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
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
Anne Caudle Campus (7.9 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%)
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
27° / 12°
Rainfall
115 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
21° / 8°
Rainfall
133 mm · ~17 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
13° / 4°
Rainfall
180 mm · ~22 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
19° / 7°
Rainfall
172 mm · ~22 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).
69 planning-related records
2021· 37 proposals
August 2021
Construction of a dwelling and outbuilding
108B ATLAS ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of an outbuilding
13 KARELLA COURT JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Subdivision of land into 11 lots, alteration of access to a road in a Transport Zone 2, removal of native vegetation
280-310 MCIVOR ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551In progress
Extension to existing shed
70 HOMEBUSH DRIVE JUNORTOUN 3551In progress
Use and Development of Land for Staged Retirement Village including Works in a Road Zone (Amendment to plans to include verandah)
167/336-380 MCIVOR ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
5 lot subdivision of land, alteration of access to a Transport Zone 2 Road; and native vegetation removal (two patches)
339-343 MCIVOR ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
Extension to Existing Dwelling and Construction of a Building Outside the Building Envelope
24 CASHENS ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use of land for keeping of racing pigeons
118C ATLAS ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551Lapsed
Construction of an outbuilding (Amended plans for design changes)
67 WILD DRIVE JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
Construction of a dwelling
LOT 7 WELLSFORD ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551In progress
Construction of an extension and replace alfresco roof
301 Somerset Park RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Lopping of One Native Tree
9 Popes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a shade house, green house and 2 sheds associated with a plant nursery
777 MCIVOR HIGHWAY JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of an outbuilding
53 TURNERS ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551Lapsed
Use and Development of Land for Staged Retirement Village including Works in a Road Zone (Amendment to plans to include verandah)
167/336-380 McIvor RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
Construction of an outbuilding
118 Atlas RoadWithdrawn
Construction of a Building associated with Existing Education Facility and Removal of Native Vegetation
10 ST VINCENTS ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a dwelling and outbuilding and the removal of vegetation
25 MANNING COURT JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of an outbuilding
1 Cockateal ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a steel framed canopy
8 Cockatoo DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and Development of Land for Staged Retirement Village including Works in a Road Zone. (Amendment to plans to include verandah to unit)
167/336-380 McIvor RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and development of land for a dwelling and outbuilding, removal of native vegetation and a variation of a restrictive covenant (shown on M050095D) to allow the dwelling to be constructed with lysaght cladding panels, hebel cladding panels and natural stone wall cladding
3 COCKATOO DRIVE JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and development of the land for a dwelling, outbuilding and swimming pool; removal of native vegetation; and variation of a restrictive covenant (shown on M050095D) to allow the dwelling to be constructed from Colorbond cladding
2 COCKATOO DRIVE JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
Construction of an outbuilding
67 Wild DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Non-Habitable Outbuilding
239 Turners RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
Use and Develop Land for Food and Drink Premises (Restaurant), Buildings and Works to Grandstand and Tower and Amendment to Permit to include on premises liquor licence (Amended plans to extend liquor licence red line area to include formerly licensed trackside cafe building)
646 McIvor HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and development for an emergency services facility (fire station) and removal of native vegetation
LOT RES1 POPES ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
Construction of an outbuilding
41A Popes RoadNo permit required
Development of the land for an outbuilding (shed)
35 Heritage CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a retaining wall to rear of swimming pool
74 Lanark DriveNo permit required
Development of the land for a dwelling
108E Atlas RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of an outbuilding
24 Tandarri RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works for the construction of a Dwelling.
133 McIvor Forest DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
Subdivide the land into 2 lots and removal of Sections (a) and (e) of Covenant AB415194Q (Amendment to BMP to increase building envelope size and change access)
8A Braeside DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a dwelling (amended plans to allow for design change)
3 Kenmore AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of an outbuilding
6 Braeside DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Catherine McAuley College - Proposed development of sporting facilities and associated infrastructure and removal of native vegetation at Catherine McAuley College.
10 ST VINCENTS ROAD JUNORTOUN 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 3 proposals
December 2020
Construction of dwelling and shed
23 Manning CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of sporting ovals and associated buildings
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
Bendigo
Member of Parliament
Lisa CHESTERS (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
120,088
Turnout (2025)
94.0%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+51.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 48.6%Labor 51.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 6.9 km away).
Coalition 52.0%Labor 48.0%
3.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +48.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
JunortounLabor 44.6% · Coalition 55.4% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
StrathfieldsayeLabor 50.2% · Coalition 49.8% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
StrathdaleLabor 50.0% · Coalition 50.0% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
KenningtonLabor 57.9% · Coalition 42.1% TPP (2025)4.8 km away
Bendigo EastLabor 48.2% · Coalition 51.8% TPP (2025)5.9 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%)