Tongala VIC 3621
Tongala sits 222 km from Melbourne CBD in Victoria, around 2 hours 40 minutes by car. Census data records 1,973 residents with a median age of 41 and a median household income of $63,440 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population grew 2.4% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $200 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,127. The area shows high flood risk and high crime risk. 2 schools sit within the town boundary, and walkability is moderate.
Is Tongala a good town?
Tongala scores a D (28/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on prices, weaker on safety and community.
Mixed results
2 schools
Some car dependence
Walkability 43/100 · 222 km · 159 min drive to Melbourne
More affordable than most
Median $450K · More affordable than 86% of VIC
High flood risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 60/100 · Flood 87/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 2/10 · median age 41 · 1,973 residents
Liveability Rating
28 / 100 · Ranked #741 in VICEach bar is Tongala'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 Tongala?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
28 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataTongala's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $450,000, about 10% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$450,000
Based on 43 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 74 days — median across 13 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 5 sales $325K
- 3 bed 33 sales $472K
Land
$175,000
Based on 24 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Tongala are currently listed at around $419,000 on average. Based on 7 houses listed in the past six months.
$419K
7 houses listed in the last 6 months.
9 of the suburb's 744 dwellings (1.2%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Is Tongala safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Tongala sits in the moderate band, with 70 incidents recorded in 2026 — down roughly 11% on the prior year.
70 offences
11.4% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–202512 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the town 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 Tongala, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 235 students across 2 schools (avg 118)
- • Sectors: 1 Catholic, 1 Government
- • ICSEA 965-994, median 980 (around the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Tongala Primary School (140 students)
Primary
Walkability
Tongala is car-dependent on foot — at 43/100, most errands require a car.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Tongala.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 24%
- Premises covered
- 915
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
Campaspe: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this town alone — this town's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 4 small areas inside this town and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 3 different deciles — a narrow range, so the average describes the town closely.
Tongala is home to about 2,000 residents, with a median age of 41, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $63,000 a year, with unemployment at 4.5%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
1,973
Median Age
41
Median Household Income
$63,440/yr
Census Median Rent
$200/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,127/mo
Avg Household Size
2.4
Median Personal Income
$34,112/yr
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Unoccupied Dwellings
7.3%
Total Dwellings
744
Owner-Occupier Rate
76.9%
Houses
89.0%
Rental Stress
16.4%
Mortgage Stress
21.3%
Work From Home
13.5%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
6 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 10 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 164 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 86.1%
- English Spoken at Home
- 92.4%
- Employment Rate
- 56.1%
- Completed Year 12
- 25.1%
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.
27 residents (1.4%) 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.
3.7% of residents (68) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (62).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 1,853 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 $2,035 a year through Campaspe based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 95%
- Infrastructure and transport 3%
- Residential 1%
- 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 town around it — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Campaspe
In the year to August 2026, 264 new dwellings were approved across Campaspe. That mix is 259 houses and 5 units. Approvals are up 63.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Yorta Yorta Nation 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 Kyabram, 13.8 kmDry climate — hot summers, cold winters with occasional frost.
- Elevation
- 106 m
- above sea level, at the town centre
- Annual rainfall
- 436 mm
- 58 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 31.1°C
- 25 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 3.8°C
- 14 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the town 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
3 facilities within 5 km- 2.4 kmPrepared Animal and Bird Feed ManufacturingTop reported: Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10) · Carbon monoxide · Oxides of Nitrogen
- 2.5 km
- 2.6 kmMeat ProcessingTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
EV adoption
In postcode 3621, 0 of 2,281 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 0.7% (15 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 0.7%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3621, 568 rooftop-solar systems totalling 4.4 MW have been installed since 2001, against 966 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 18 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.
2 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3621 in 2025-26, rank 176 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 19, in 2008-09.
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 $450,000 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 Sam Birrell The Nationals
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sam Birrell | 35.6% | 64.4% | +35.6 |
| 2022 | Sam Birrell | 32.9% | 67.2% | -2.9 |
| 2019 | Damian Drum | 30.0% | 70.0% | -2.5 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact town's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Peter Walsh The Nationals
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Peter Walsh NP | 61.8% | 27.1% | 72.9% |
| 2018 | Peter Walsh NP | 60.3% | 26.1% | 74.0% |
| 2014 | Peter Walsh NP | 63.3% | 27.6% | 72.4% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this town's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Tongala?
Every figure above is a town 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 1,973 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 Tongala 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 Tongala
Is Tongala a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Tongala is moderate (60/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Tongala?
Tongala has no recorded bushfire history. Flood overlays cover a high share of it (87/100). These are town-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Tongala a good place to live?
Tongala has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of D (28/100), 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 Tongala?
Tongala, VIC had a population of 1,973 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Tongala, VIC?
The postcode for Tongala, VIC is 3621.
How far is Tongala from Melbourne?
Tongala is 222 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 159 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Tongala?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Tongala was $63,440 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 Tongala?
There are too few current rental listings in Tongala for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $200, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Tongala?
The median age of residents in Tongala was 41 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Tongala?
There are 2 schools inside the Tongala boundary: 2 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Tongala walkable?
Tongala scores 43/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it 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 Tongala?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Tongala, Kyabram (13.8 km away), summer days average 31.1°C, winter nights 3.8°C, 436 mm of rain a year over 58 rainy days, and 25 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Tongala?
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 Tongala belong to?
Tongala sits within the Campaspe local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Tongala?
The average residential rates bill through Campaspe is $2,035 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Tongala?
Across Campaspe, 264 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 63.0% 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 Tongala in?
Tongala sits within the federal Division of Nicholls, currently held by Sam Birrell (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.