suburb.guide

VIC · Swan Hill Council

Swan Hill, 3585

Est. population · Jun 2025

10,761

Growth (1 yr)

-0.3%

Growth (5 yr)

-4.7%

Median age

38

Median income

$1,390/wk

Employment rate

58%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$470,000

Languages at home

13.2%non-English

Most common: Punjabi, Vietnamese, Italian

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

47.6/100
Average

Top 42% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 100% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Excellent transport
  • National parks
  • Education hub
  • Heritage area
What Swan Hill is known for: Green suburb, Excellent transport, National parks, Education hub, Heritage area

Suburb profile

Swan Hill offers a slower established suburb life in Swan Hill Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. School and preschool provision is plentiful within the local area.

Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state.

Reported crime has been rising recently. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.

The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities compared with similar regional towns, though growth momentum remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Swan Hill snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

$470k

-3.3% change

Median rent

$430/wk

Population (ERP)

10,761

-0.3% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

8.8%

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

#38

among Country & regional · Established

Safety

87th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

3rd

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

3/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

22nd

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
47.6/100 — Average
State standing
Top 42% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
2486th in Australia
State rank
525th in VIC
Peer rank
#38 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#147 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
100%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Sep 2025)
$430
Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$470,000
Median price change
-3.3%

Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)

Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

10,761(June 2025)

-0.3% annual · -4.7% over 5 years · 3th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-0.3%
5-year growth
-4.7%
Change in 1 year
-34
Change in 5 years
-531
Growth rank in VIC
3th 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 (~10,800), extrapolated at +0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
11,186
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$1,390
Dwelling vacancy
8.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
417 of 4,762
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Employment rate
58%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
3,609 / 368 / 337 (+ 27 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)
1,750
Against the person
281
Against property
752
Rate per 1,000 residents
162.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 40 residents
State safety percentile
87.3th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+19.6%

Most common offence types

  • B43 Steal From A Retail Store110
  • B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception218
  • C32 Drug Possession137
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order279
  • E23 Breach Bail Conditions119

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
7
Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
944
Median ICSEA percentile
22th
School list
  • St Mary MacKillop CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1023 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 540 students · Top SEA quarter 14%View on My School →
  • St Mary's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1036 · 62th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 603 students · Top SEA quarter 18%View on My School →
  • Swan Hill Christian SchoolPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1017 · 55th percentile · LBOTE 30% · 29 students · Top SEA quarter 19%View on My School →
  • Swan Hill CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 944 · 22th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 747 students · Top SEA quarter 5%View on My School →
  • Swan Hill North Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 926 · 17th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 184 students · Top SEA quarter 4%View on My School →
  • Swan Hill Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 942 · 22th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 516 students · Top SEA quarter 7%View on My School →
  • Swan Hill Specialist SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 908 · 12th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 85 students · Top SEA quarter 3%View on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Swan Hill South Preschool Centrekindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

49 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Nalder Dr/Werrill St
  • Swan Hill North Primary School/Chapman St
  • Swan Hill Railway Station
  • Swan Hill Station
  • Swan Hill Station/Curlewis St

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

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

20 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Adams ParkPark
  • Apex ParkPark
  • Barry Steggall ParkPark
  • Feldtmann ParkPark
  • George Lay ParkPark
  • Gillian Day ParkPark
  • Greenham ParkPark
  • Guastalegname ParkPark
  • James Belsar ReservePark
  • Jaycee ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
101
Parks (OSM)
23

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

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
5
Nearest hospital
Swan Hill District Health (4.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
On site
  • AmcalPharmacy
  • Mallee PhysioPhysiotherapist
  • Swan Hill District HealthSplatt StreetHospital
  • Swan Hill Medical GroupClinic
  • Swan Hill Surgical PracticeDoctor

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
481
Participants per 1,000 residents
44.7

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

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
31° / 16°
Rainfall
72 mm · ~9 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
24° / 10°
Rainfall
87 mm · ~11 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
16° / 4°
Rainfall
94 mm · ~12 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
23° / 9°
Rainfall
91 mm · ~11 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).

105 planning-related records

2021· 40 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Installation of signage on an existing premise in the Commercial 1 Zone
    46 NYAH ROAD SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Change of use to Community Services and waiver of car parking requirements in the General Residential Zone.
    63 MCCRAE STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Installation of Major Promotional Signage in Commercial 1 Zone
    155-167 CAMPBELL STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a garage associated with an education facility in the General Residential Zone
    2 MURLONG STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Telecommunications Facility (Satellite dish)
    77-89 CAMPBELL STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development associated with an existing place of assembly in the General Residential Zone.
    98-100 GRAY STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an agricultural building in the Farming Zone on land affected by the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay
    241 RIVER ROAD SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision in the General Residential Zone
    17 WERRIL STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an extension to an existing building within the Industrial 1 Zone
    1 WESTBROOK ROAD SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two dwellings on a lot in the General Residential Zone
    9B NARETHA STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two dwellings on a lot in the General Residential Zone
    6 MUNDARA STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of a Dwelling in the Farming Zone
    27 RIVER ROAD SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Development of five (5) dwellings in the General Residential Zone
    15 KIMBERLEY AVENUE SWAN HILL 3585NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Development of two dwelling in the General Residential Zone
    44 HARRISON CRESCENT SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two dwellings on a lot General Residential Zone.
    25 HARRISON CRESCENT SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land in the General Residential Zone
    24 EVERINGHAM STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use as Trade Supplies (Retail Premises) and Development of Hardstand for Trade Equipment and Plant Hire
    224 KARINIE STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with an existing motor vehicle sales and repairs in Commercial 2 Zone
    18 AERODROME ROAD SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land and removal of easement in the General Residential Zone.
    84 STRADBROKE AVENUE SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works in C1Z - Alignment of entrance to street frontage
    19 RUTHERFORD STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land in the industrial 1 zone
    255 KARINIE STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land in General Residential Zone
    1 BARNETT STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Development of a warehouse in the Industrial 1 Zone
    13 JENNINGS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Proposed workshop extension and construction of a new Class 10 storage shed and reduction of car parking
    169-171 CURLEWIS STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outbuilding associated with an existing dwelling in the Farming Zone on land affected by the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay.
    20 CORNELL LANE SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land in the General Residential Zone
    29 NARETHA STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land in the Farming Zone
    10 RIVER ROAD SWAN HILL 3585NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Development of a dwelling in the Farming Zone affected by the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay
    43 MAHER ROAD SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outbuilding in the Farming Zone
    57 RIVER ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Use and Development of Motor Vehicle Sales and a Childcare Centre;
    515 CAMPBELL STREET SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works in an Industrial Zone
    2-12 STRADBROKE AVENUEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development (external storage area) associated with an existing industry
    79 WILLIAMS ROAD SWAN HILL 3585Lapsed
  • Development of the Land (partial demolition) for Extension to Existing Child Care Centre in the Commercial 1 Zone affected by the Heritage Overlay and a waiver of the car parking requirement
    100 BEVERIDGE STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to an existing building and installation of signage in the Commercial 1 Zone
    234 CAMPBELL STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Installation of a domestic swimming pool within the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay
    74 DOUGLAS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Use and Development of the land for a Service Station, advertising signage and change of access to a road zone category 1.
    1-19 NYAH ROAD SWAN HILL 3585Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of the land associated with a retail premises and associated place of assembly, use of land for a licensed premises and reduction of car parking requirements in the Commercial 1 Zone.
    128 CURLEWIS STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outbuilding in Rural Living Zone
    140 WOORINEN ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Development of an outbuilding in Farming Zone
    57 DOUGLAS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two dwellings on a lot in the General Residential Zone
    9 HARRISON CRESCENTPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

4 active roadworks / incidents

  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 13/04/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Weekends 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.MCCALLUM STREET, CAMPBELL STREET12 Apr 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 13/04/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Weekends 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.CAMPBELL STREET, MCCALLUM STREET12 Apr 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 14/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM, Weekends 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.CAMPBELL STREET, MCCALLUM STREET13 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 14/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM, Weekends 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.MCCALLUM STREET, CAMPBELL STREET13 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated

Heritage

4 heritage places

  • PADDLE STEAMER GEMNH1742
  • SWAN HILL BRIDGENH0794
  • SWAN HILL PIONEER SETTLEMENTNH2409
  • SWAN HILL WATER TOWERNH2452

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
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 38.0 km away).

Coalition 71.3%Labor 28.7%

2.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +1.6 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Swan Hill WestLabor 29.0% · Coalition 71.0% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
  • Swan HillLabor 31.1% · Coalition 68.9% TPP (2025)4.7 km away
  • WoorinenLabor 22.4% · Coalition 77.6% TPP (2025)9.6 km away
  • BeverfordLabor 24.8% · Coalition 75.2% TPP (2025)14.7 km away
  • Lake BogaLabor 23.5% · Coalition 76.5% 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

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

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Swan Hill Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.