Median house price
$1.01M
0.0% change
VIC · Yarra Ranges Council
Sassafras, 3787
Est. population · Jun 2025
866
Growth (1 yr)
+0.1%
Growth (5 yr)
-3.7%
Median age
47
Median income
$2,147/wk
Employment rate
64.1%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$1,012,500
Languages at home
7.4%non-English
Most common: Italian, Japanese, German
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Café precinct
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Sassafras sits up in the Yarra Ranges Council hills, a smaller community where elevation and tree cover define the mood. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Food and coffee punch above the usual for metro suburbs, giving the suburb a lived-in social scene.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
Crime reports are up on the previous period. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because growth momentum lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Sassafras snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
866
+0.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
10.5%
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
#33
among Metro Melbourne · Mature
Safety
42nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
45th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
39th
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
- 40.0/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3761st in Australia
- State rank
- 750th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #33 among Metro Melbourne · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #368 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $1,012,500
- Median price change
- 0%
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 4th Quarter 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
866(June 2025)
+0.1% annual · -3.7% over 5 years · 45th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.1%
- 5-year growth
- -3.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- -33
- Growth rank in VIC
- 45th 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 (~850), extrapolated at -0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 970
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $2,147
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 42 of 399
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 64.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 354 / 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)
- 38
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 12
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 43.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 162 residents
- State safety percentile
- 41.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +22.6%
Most common offence types
- B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary4
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle3
- E19 Other Justice Procedures Offences2
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order17
- Other Crimes Against The Person4
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 982
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 39th
School list
- Sherbrooke Community SchoolCombined · Government · ICSEA 982 · 39th percentile · LBOTE 1% · 95 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Sassafras Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1055 · 70th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 29 students · Top SEA quarter 24% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Olinda Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 964 · 31th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 13 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Sassafras PreschoolMount Dandenong Tourist Roadkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
12 public transport stops in this suburb
- Colehurst Cres/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
- Prince St/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
- Sassafras PS/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
- Sherbrooke Community School/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
- The Crescent/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
115 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
4 restaurants · 3 cafes · 3 playgrounds · 15 swimming pools · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 12 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 19 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 3.09
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 7.22
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.06
Food & drink(7)
- Ripe CafeCafe
376-378 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras
- Sassafras CafeCafe
Unit 1 391 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras
- Storehouse SassafrasCafe
Unit 3 372 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras
- Dine DivineRestaurant
345 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras
- FortnumsRestaurant
395 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- King Henry Arts CafeRestaurant
320 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras
- Miss Marple's TearoomRestaurant
382 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
Community(4)
- Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve HallCommunity centre
- Sassafras PreschoolKindergarten
394 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- Sassafras Primary SchoolSchool
399 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- Sherbrooke Community SchoolSchool
311-313 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
Sport & outdoors(21)
- Ferny Creek Recreation ReservePark
- Sassafras Village GreenPark
- AdventuresPlayground
- Playground
- The NessiePlayground
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (15)
Transport(8)
8 bus stops
Other(39)
- Smits and BitsAntiques
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (4)
- Daisy BootsBooks
385 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- CachetsBoutique
- Creswick Natural FibersClothes
383 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- From DustClothes
Unit 2 372 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras
- Quirky and the JaksterClothes
- Seven PagesClothes
355 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- Sassafras CoConfectionery
383 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- Drinking water
- Sassafras - Ferny CreekFire station
21 Clarkmont Road
- Ferny Creek Horticultural Society Ornamental GardernsGarden
- Chojo Feature TreesGarden Centre
365 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- Oracle of SassafrasGift
353 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- The Wise PossumGift
- Community - Arthur Streeton and LongacresInformation
- Community - SunnysideInformation
- Community - This land, our landInformation
- Information (26)
- ngurrak barring | RidgeWalkInformation
- Node: CommunityInformation
- Colehurst Crescent ReserveNature Reserve
- Nature Reserve
- Sassafras G163 Bushland ReserveNature Reserve
- Parking (6)
- Bluestone CandlesPerfumery
- SOAKPerfumery
Unit 4 372 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras
- Picnic Table
- Australia PostPost Box
- Sassafras Post OfficePost office
Unit 2 391 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras
- Public toilets
- Node: CommunityShelter
- Shelter (2)
- Tea LeavesTea
380 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- TelstraTelephone
- Geppetto's WorkshopToys
371 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- Waste Basket (2)
- Simply SassyYes
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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Colehurst Crescent ReserveNature reserve
- Ferny Creek Recreation ReservePark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
- Sassafras G163 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Sassafras Village GreenPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 19
- 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
- Angliss Hospital (4.9 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)
- 25
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 28.9
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
- 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
- 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 (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).
26 planning-related records
2021· 14 proposals
September 2021
- Buildings and works to extend and alter an existing dwelling73 THE CRESCENT SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a carport and verandah4-6 WANNAWONG ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling, construct an outbuilding/studio and decking5-7 HETHERSETT ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling429 MT DANDENONG TOURIST ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Lapsed
July 2021
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling28 HETHERSETT ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Use of the land for an Art and Craft Centre, sale and consumption of liquor and display of advertising signage320 MT DANDENONG TOURIST ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Withdrawn
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling4 YARILLA ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling and extend an existing outbuilding associated vegetation removal10-12 HETHERSETT ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787NOD issued by a delegate
- Buildings and works to extend an existing deck and construct a spa53 RANGE ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding, earthworks greater than 1 metre and vegetation removal11 Woodlands AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Buildings and works to construct a deck5 Alice StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Boundary re-alignment4 Chudleigh CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Boundary re-alignment4 Chudleigh CrescentWithdrawn
- Buildings and works to construct a replacement dwelling, associated vegetation removal and earthworks13 COLEHURST CRESCENT SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 12 proposals
December 2020
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling294 Mt Dandenong Tourist RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Buildings and works to construct a garage4 Chudleigh CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a carport31 Hethersett RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Amending the internal layout, increasing the footprint of the Restaurant and increasing the external shelter to the North of the building.201 Ferndale RoadWithdrawn
- Buildings and works to extend and alter existing dwelling290 Mt Dandenong Tourist RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding33 THE CRESCENT SASSAFRAS 3787Lapsed
May 2020
- Buildings and works to extend existing dwelling21 Alice StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling3 Panteg RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to extend existing dwelling21 Alice StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling, construct an outbuilding and earthworks exceeding 600mm333 Mt Dandenong Tourist RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding2 Aurora RiseLapsed
January 2020
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling16 Clarkmont RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
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
- 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 4.7 km away).
Coalition 35.0%Labor 65.0%
17.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- SassafrasLabor 65.1% · Coalition 34.9% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- OlindaLabor 63.0% · Coalition 37.0% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Ferny CreekLabor 67.1% · Coalition 32.9% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
- KallistaLabor 69.4% · Coalition 30.6% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- Mount DandenongLabor 61.3% · Coalition 38.7% TPP (2025)3.8 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)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Yarra Ranges Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.