Rainbow VIC 3424
Rainbow sits 404 km from Melbourne CBD in Victoria, around 4 hours 50 minutes by car. Census data records 672 residents with a median age of 56 and a median household income of $54,496 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the bottom 20% nationally. The locality fell 1.6% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $100 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $500. Rainbow is characterised by high bushfire risk and high flood risk. All 1 school within the locality boundary rank above the state average, and walkability is low.
Is Rainbow a good place to live?
Rainbow scores a D (14/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on prices, weaker on transit, safety, and community.
Mixed results
1 school · 1 above peer schools
Car-dependent
Walkability 4/100 · 403.7 km · 290 min drive to Melbourne
More affordable than most
Median $190K · More affordable than 99% of VIC
High bushfire risk
Fire 78/100 · Crime 40/100 · Flood 63/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 2/10 · median age 56 · 672 residents
Liveability Rating
14 / 100 · Ranked #860 in VICEach bar is Rainbow'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 Rainbow?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
14 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataRainbow's house market is moving lower: the median sale price reached $190,000, roughly 41% below where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$190,000
Based on 19 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
By bedrooms
- 3 bed 15 sales $180K
Land
$200,000
Based on only 7 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Is Rainbow safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Rainbow sits in the moderate band, with 21 incidents recorded in 2026 — down roughly 36% on the prior year.
21 offences
36.4% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–20254 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the locality carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
One school serve Rainbow, and the cohort skews above peer-suburb performance. Rainbow P-12 College leads the pack.
- • 109 students in one school (avg 109)
Combined
Walkability
Rainbow is very car-dependent on foot — at 4/100, nearly all errands require a car.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Rainbow.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 431
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
Hindmarsh: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
Rainbow is home to 672 residents, with a median age of 56 — noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Median household income runs at $54,000 a year, with unemployment at 7.4%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
672
Median Age
56
Median Household Income
$54,496/yr
Census Median Rent
$100/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$500/mo
Avg Household Size
2.1
Median Personal Income
$32,500/yr
Unemployment Rate
7.4%
Unoccupied Dwellings
32.2%
Total Dwellings
295
Owner-Occupier Rate
88.6%
Houses
94.2%
Rental Stress
9.5%
Mortgage Stress
11.0%
Work From Home
17.3%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 84.2%
- English Spoken at Home
- 87.8%
- Employment Rate
- 45%
- Completed Year 12
- 31.7%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
6.5% of residents (42) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (35).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 651 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
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,660 a year through Hindmarsh based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 86%
- Parks and recreation 13%
- Zones under 1% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the locality around it — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Hindmarsh
In the year to August 2026, 9 new dwellings were approved across Hindmarsh. Almost all of the pipeline is detached houses. Approvals are up 100.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2007).
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.
Climate & Setting
from Rainbow Post Office, 3.0 kmDry climate.
- Elevation
- 71 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Annual rainfall
- 347 mm
- 57 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- —
- Winter min (Jul)
- —
Elevation is the ground at the locality 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.
EV adoption
In postcode 3424, 0 of 920 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.1% (10 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.1%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3424, 183 rooftop-solar systems totalling 1.2 MW have been installed since 2001, against 433 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 8 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.
0 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3424 in 2025-26. The most was 14, in 2001-02.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
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 $190,000 this is under 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 2026-10-27 — 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 Anne Webster The Nationals
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Anne Webster | 31.0% | 69.0% | -0.1 |
| 2022 | Anne Webster | 31.0% | 69.0% | +3.3 |
| 2019 | Anne Webster | 33.8% | 66.2% | -3.6 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Emma Kealy The Nationals
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Emma Kealy NP | 58.9% | 28.4% | 71.6% |
| 2018 | Emma Kealy NP | 66.9% | 26.5% | 73.5% |
| 2014 | Emma Kealy NP | 54.1% | 28.7% | 71.3% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Rainbow?
Every figure above is a locality 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 672 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.
Nearby suburbs
Compare Rainbow to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Rainbow
Is Rainbow a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Rainbow is moderate (40/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Rainbow?
Rainbow has a high recorded bushfire history (78/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). Flood overlays cover a moderate share of it (63/100). These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Rainbow a good place to live?
Rainbow has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of D (14/100), 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 Rainbow?
Rainbow, VIC had a population of 672 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Rainbow, VIC?
The postcode for Rainbow, VIC is 3424.
How far is Rainbow from Melbourne?
Rainbow is 404 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 290 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Rainbow?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Rainbow was $54,496 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 Rainbow?
There are too few current rental listings in Rainbow for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $100, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Rainbow?
The median age of residents in Rainbow was 56 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Rainbow at risk of bushfire?
Rainbow has a high recorded bushfire history (78/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the locality 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 Rainbow?
There is 1 school inside the Rainbow boundary: 1 above similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Rainbow walkable?
Rainbow scores 4/100 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 Rainbow?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Rainbow, Rainbow Post Office (3 km away), 347 mm of rain a year over 57 rainy days over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Rainbow?
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 Rainbow belong to?
Rainbow sits within the Hindmarsh local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Rainbow?
The average residential rates bill through Hindmarsh is $1,660 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Rainbow?
Across Hindmarsh, 9 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 100.0% 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 Rainbow in?
Rainbow sits within the federal Division of Mallee, currently held by Anne Webster (The Nationals).
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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
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2026
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- 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.