Median house price
$300k
+57% change
VIC · Buloke Council
Sea Lake, 3533
Est. population · Jun 2025
592
Growth (1 yr)
-0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
-4.4%
Median age
51
Median income
$883/wk
Employment rate
44.9%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$300,000
Languages at home
2.8%non-English
Most common: Nepali
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Sea Lake offers a slower smaller community life in Buloke Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Homes are relatively cheap compared with the wider market, which keeps entry costs lower.
Crime reports are up on the previous period. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Desirability sits below average overall, with community and employment the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Sea Lake snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
592
-0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
20.2%
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
#304
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
62nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
2nd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
37th
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
- 29.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5711th in Australia
- State rank
- 1100th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #304 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #595 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $300,000
- Median price change
- +57%
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
592(June 2025)
-0.5% annual · -4.4% over 5 years · 2th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.5%
- 5-year growth
- -4.4%
- Change in 1 year
- -3
- Change in 5 years
- -27
- Growth rank in VIC
- 2th 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 (~550), extrapolated at -0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 619
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $883
- Dwelling vacancy
- 20.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 67 of 331
- Median monthly mortgage
- $650
- Employment rate
- 44.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 251 / 9 / 0 (+ 5 other)
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)
- 41
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 21
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 69.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 69 residents
- State safety percentile
- 62th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +78.3%
Most common offence types
- A211 Fv Serious Assault2
- A232 Non-Fv Common Assault3
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle5
- B49 Other Theft9
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order9
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 978
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 37th
School list
- St Mary's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 993 · 43th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 39 students · Top SEA quarter 4%View on My School →
- Tyrrell CollegeCombined · Government · ICSEA 963 · 30th percentile · LBOTE 1% · 126 students · Top SEA quarter 10%View 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
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Newsagency/Best St
- Newsagency/Best St
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
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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Apex ParkPark
- Balmers Tank Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Beer GardenPark
- Lions ParkPark
- Sea Lake Travellers RestPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 33
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Sea Lake & District Hospital (3.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Sea Lake & District HospitalMcClelland AvenueHospital
- Sea Lake PharmacyPharmacy
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)
- 17
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 28.7
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
- 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
- 30° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 75 mm · ~9 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 87 mm · ~11 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 15° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 107 mm · ~13 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 111 mm · ~14 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).
6 planning-related records
2021· 2 proposals
April 2021
- Liquor licence and signage65 HORACE STREET SEA LAKE 3533Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Location of a transportable unit for workers accommodation and site office326 Sea Lake-Swan Hill RoadNo permit required
2020· 4 proposals
December 2020
- Construction of a second dwelling on a lot224 Sea Lake-Lascelles RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Installation of a cabin containing 4 self-contained rooms15 Best StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Construct and display a major promotion signSea Lake-Swan Hill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Construction of a hay shed296 Blue Allans 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
- 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
- Mallee
- Member of Parliament
- Anne WEBSTER (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,604
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -0.1 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 69.0%Labor 31.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 55.6 km away).
Coalition 78.9%Labor 21.1%
9.9 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -3.7 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- Sea LakeLabor 21.1% · Coalition 78.8% TPP (2025)4.5 km away
- WoomelangLabor 20.4% · Coalition 79.6% TPP (2025)30.2 km away
- ManangatangLabor 17.5% · Coalition 82.5% TPP (2025)48.1 km away
- Nyah WestLabor 23.4% · Coalition 76.6% TPP (2025)52.3 km away
- WoorinenLabor 22.4% · Coalition 77.6% TPP (2025)55.0 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.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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 Buloke Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.