Chirnside Park VIC 3116
Chirnside Park is a suburb in Victoria, 40 km from Melbourne CBD, around 44 minutes by car. Population is 11,779; the median age is 38 and the median household income is $108,368 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 40% nationally. Population grew 19.3% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $443 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,167. The area shows high bushfire risk and high crime risk. All 2 schools within the suburb boundary rank above the state average, and walkability is low.
Is Chirnside Park a good suburb?
Chirnside Park scores a C (39/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on community, weaker on transit and safety.
Mixed results
2 schools · 2 above peer schools
Car-dependent
Walkability 22/100 · 40.5 km · 44 min drive to Melbourne
Around the state median
Median $950K
High bushfire risk
Fire 86/100 · Crime 70/100 · Flood 56/100
Advantaged
SEIFA decile 8/10 · median age 38 · 11,779 residents
Liveability Rating
39 / 100 · Ranked #584 in VICEach bar is Chirnside Park's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
How do you rate the liveability in Chirnside Park?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
39 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataChirnside Park's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $950,000, roughly 10% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$950,000
5% above its 6 neighbours (median $901,500)
Based on 268 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 19 days — median across 136 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 8 sales $741K
- 3 bed 116 sales $828K
- 4 bed 108 sales $1.05M
- 5 bed 28 sales $1.2M
Land
$1,132,500
Based on 14 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 38 days — median across 9 sales that recorded a listing period
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Chirnside Park are currently listed at around $858,000 on average. Based on 63 houses listed in the past six months.
$858K
63 houses listed in the last 6 months.
63 of the suburb's 4,071 dwellings (1.5%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Chirnside Park rent for around $750 a week on average, based on 20 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
$750/wk
10% above its 4 neighbours (median $680/wk)
20 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
21 rentals advertised against an estimated 615 rented homes (3.4%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025102 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 29% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3116.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$750/week ($39,000 a year) on a $858,000 median
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Short-Stay Rentals
8 active Airbnb listings: 8 whole homes and 0 rooms. Whole homes are about 0.2% of the suburb's homes.
Airbnb only, as at Jun 2026; other platforms are not included. Active means reviewed in the past 12 months. The share is against private dwellings at the 2021 Census.
Is Chirnside Park safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Chirnside Park sits in the high band, with 739 incidents recorded in 2026 — up about 7% on the prior year.
739 offences
6.6% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–202525 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 2 of them fatal
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Two schools serve Chirnside Park, and the cohort skews above peer-suburb performance. Chirnside Park Primary School and Oxley Christian College lead the pack.
- • 1,249 students across 2 schools (avg 624)
- • Sectors: 1 Government, 1 Independent
- • ICSEA 1040-1119, median 1080 (above the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Oxley Christian College (838 students)
Primary
Combined
Walkability
Chirnside Park is very car-dependent on foot — at 22/100, nearly all errands require a car. Within the suburb there are 3 supermarkets, 11 parks and 4 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Chirnside Park.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 160.0 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 102.4 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 54.1 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 0 min
- Span of service
- 16.9 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Chirnside Park.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 57%
- Premises covered
- 4,929
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Yarra Ranges: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 24 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 7 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Chirnside Park is home to about 11,800 residents, with a median age of 38, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $108,000 a year, with unemployment at 3.1%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
11,779
Median Age
38
Median Household Income
$108,368/yr
Census Median Rent
$443/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,167/mo
Avg Household Size
2.8
Median Personal Income
$44,304/yr
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Unoccupied Dwellings
4.6%
Total Dwellings
4,071
Owner-Occupier Rate
84.9%
Houses
97.9%
Rental Stress
21.3%
Mortgage Stress
24.0%
Work From Home
26.5%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
17 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 0 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 605 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 75.3%
- English Spoken at Home
- 82.8%
- Employment Rate
- 64.8%
- Completed Year 12
- 44.4%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
275 residents (2.3%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 10,974 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
9% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (539 of 6,136).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 4,074 people work here; 6,136 employed residents live here.
Mostly a place people commute from: 0.7 jobs per working resident. At least 34% of employed residents must work outside the suburb.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $2,161 a year through Yarra Ranges based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 66%
- Residential 19%
- Other and special use 8%
- Infrastructure and transport 4%
- Commercial 2%
- Industrial 1%
- Parks and recreation 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Yarra Ranges
In the year to August 2026, 416 new dwellings were approved across Yarra Ranges. That mix is 242 houses and 174 units. Approvals are down 57.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2008).
Registered Aboriginal Parties are appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage for their area. They are the body to contact about cultural heritage here.
Air Quality
This station does not measure fine particles (PM2.5).
PM10 averaged 15.5 µg/m³. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 2.
From the Mooroolbark monitoring station, 4.2 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Scoresby Research Institute, 15.6 kmModerate rainfall — hot summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 100 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 33.2 km
- Annual rainfall
- 777 mm
- 105 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 26.9°C
- 10 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 6.3°C
- 2 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
4 facilities within 5 km- 3.3 kmSewerage and Drainage ServicesTop reported: Total Nitrogen · Ammonia (total) · Total Phosphorus
- 3.7 kmSewerage and Drainage ServicesTop reported: Total Nitrogen · Ammonia (total) · Total Phosphorus
- 4.0 kmSpring and Wire Product ManufacturingTop reported: Carbon monoxide · Oxides of Nitrogen · Total Volatile Organic Compounds
- 4.7 kmOther Construction Material MiningTop reported: Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10) · Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide
EV adoption
In postcode 3116, 74 of 9,152 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.6% (240 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 3.4%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3116, 1,575 rooftop-solar systems totalling 10.1 MW have been installed since 2001, against 4,264 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 92 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
The separate First Home Buyer Duty Reduction (stamp-duty concession) runs alongside this grant.
3 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3116 in 2025-26, rank 155 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 69, in 2012-13.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
5 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb.
Land transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with State Revenue Office Victoria
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $10,000 — see what qualifies with State Revenue Office Victoria.
At $950,000 this is $200,000 above the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $10,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with State Revenue Office Victoria.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-26 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Aaron Violi Liberal
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Aaron Violi | 47.1% | 52.9% | -1.5 |
| 2022 | Aaron Violi | 48.5% | 51.5% | -3.1 |
| 2019 | Tony Smith | 45.4% | 54.6% | +0.1 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Nicole Werner Liberal — elected at the Aug 2023 by-election, after the results below
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ryan Smith LP | 51.3% | 45.9% | 54.1% |
| 2018 | Ryan Smith LP | 50.8% | 46.1% | 53.9% |
| 2014 | Ryan Smith LP | 56.9% | 38.4% | 61.6% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Chirnside Park?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 11,779 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Checking the whole city?
Suburbs to avoid in Melbourne There is no list of bad suburbs, but there are hazards the state measures and publishes — recorded crime, bushfire exposure, flood overlays and aircraft noise. Melbourne suburbs ranked on them, with what the numbers do and don't mean.Nearby suburbs
Croydon VIC 3136
Mooroolbark VIC 3138
Lilydale VIC 3140
Croydon North VIC 3136
Wonga Park VIC 3115
Coldstream VIC 3770
Compare Chirnside Park to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Chirnside Park
Is Chirnside Park a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Chirnside Park is high (70/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Chirnside Park?
Chirnside Park has a high recorded bushfire history (86/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). Flood overlays cover a moderate share of it (56/100). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Chirnside Park a good place to live?
Chirnside Park has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of C (39/100), ranked against other VIC suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Chirnside Park?
Chirnside Park, VIC had a population of 11,779 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Chirnside Park, VIC?
The postcode for Chirnside Park, VIC is 3116.
How far is Chirnside Park from Melbourne?
Chirnside Park is 40 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 44 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Chirnside Park?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Chirnside Park was $108,368 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Chirnside Park?
The median advertised rent in Chirnside Park is $750 a week for houses (20 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Chirnside Park?
The median age of residents in Chirnside Park was 38 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Chirnside Park at risk of bushfire?
Chirnside Park has a high recorded bushfire history (86/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the suburb relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
How are the schools in Chirnside Park?
There are 2 schools inside the Chirnside Park boundary: 2 above similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Chirnside Park walkable?
Chirnside Park scores 22/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the weather like in Chirnside Park?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Chirnside Park, Scoresby Research Institute (15.6 km away), summer days average 26.9°C, winter nights 6.3°C, 777 mm of rain a year over 105 rainy days, and 10 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Chirnside Park?
First-home buyers in VIC may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by State Revenue Office Victoria; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Chirnside Park belong to?
Chirnside Park sits within the Yarra Ranges local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Chirnside Park?
The average residential rates bill through Yarra Ranges is $2,161 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Chirnside Park?
Across Yarra Ranges, 416 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 57.0% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Chirnside Park in?
Chirnside Park sits within the federal Division of Casey, currently held by Aaron Violi (Liberal).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2026
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Air quality · 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- Short-stay rentals · Jun 2026
- State electorate · 2022
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.