Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Mount Alexander Council
Metcalfe, 3448
Est. population · Jun 2025
200
Growth (1 yr)
+1.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.5%
Median age
52
Median income
$1,485/wk
Employment rate
53.5%
Languages at home
3.9%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
- National parks
- Green suburb
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Metcalfe is a quieter smaller community in Mount Alexander Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice.
Green space punches above what many comparable suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Housing sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average.
Reported crime has been rising recently. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
At a glance
Metcalfe snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
200
+1.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
21.4%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
37th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
69th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
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
Population
Estimated resident population
200(June 2025)
+1.0% annual · +7.5% over 5 years · 69th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.0%
- 5-year growth
- +7.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +2
- Change in 5 years
- +14
- Growth rank in VIC
- 69th 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 (~200), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 190
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,485
- Dwelling vacancy
- 21.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 98
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,450
- Employment rate
- 53.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 77 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 8
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 40
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 95 residents
- State safety percentile
- 36.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +100%
Most common offence types
- A721 Fv Harassment And Private Nuisance1
- A731 Fv Threatening Behaviour1
- B21 Criminal Damage1
- C23 Possess Drug Manufacturing Equipment Or Precursor1
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order3
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Metcalfe Nature Conservation ReserveNature reserve
- Metcalfe Recreation ReservePark
- Metcalfe Streamside ReserveNature reserve
- The CascadesPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Kyneton District Health Service (18.5 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 6
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.0
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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
- 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 (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Heritage
1 heritage place
- STRATFORD LODGENH0318
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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
- 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 18.9 km away).
Coalition 38.1%Labor 61.9%
10.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +61.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- ElphinstoneLabor 53.2% · Coalition 46.8% TPP (2025)9.3 km away
- TaradaleLabor 73.1% · Coalition 26.9% TPP (2025)9.3 km away
- MalmsburyLabor 64.3% · Coalition 35.7% TPP (2025)11.2 km away
- RedesdaleLabor 45.6% · Coalition 54.4% TPP (2025)11.5 km away
- ChewtonLabor 80.8% · Coalition 19.2% TPP (2025)15.6 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Mount Alexander Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.