Smythesdale, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Smythesdale VIC is 1,189 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Smythesdale is $717 per week ($37,284 per year). Median rent in Smythesdale is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Smythesdale has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. Smythesdale has a population density of 29 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Smythesdale is England. The most common religion is No religion (53.7% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Afrikaans. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Smythesdale is $1,430.

There were 66 recorded offences in Smythesdale in 2025-25, a rate of 56 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (33 offences).

Population
1,189
Census 2021
Median income
$717/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$300/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
39years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au), 2025-25.

Smythesdale vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Smythesdale is $717 a week, 7% below the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 802nd of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $300 a week, $16 less than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 18.1% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 39, 4 years younger than in the typical VIC suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureSmythesdaleTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$717/wk$767/wk −7%$766/wk
Household income$1,656/wk$1,687/wk −2%$1,637/wk
Rent$300/wk$316/wk −5%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,430/mo$1,723/mo −17%$1,733/mo
Median age3943 −4 yrs42
Rent share of household income18.1%19.1% −1.0 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Smythesdale, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Smythesdale Population

1,189 residents at the 2021 Census.

Smythesdale Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$717/wk
$37,284 per year
Ranked 5,153 of 14,663
Median Rent
$300/wk
$1,300 per month
Ranked 4,529 of 14,663
Median Age
39years
1 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,430/mo
Avg household size: 2.7 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Smythesdale Rent Prices & Affordability

18% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,656/wk
Median rent $300/wk
Rent to income 18.1%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Smythesdale against your income

About $7,176 a month
Median rent $300/wk
Left after rent $1,356/wk
Rent share 18.1%

Smythesdale Schools

1
schools nearby
1
government
993
avg ICSEA score
326
total students
Woady Yaloak Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 326 students
993
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Smythesdale, with a map

Smythesdale Map

Smythesdale, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in Smythesdale

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 54.3% (645) Female 45.7% (543)

Population Density

29
people per km²
1,189 people · 40.9 km²

Households

2.7
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,879
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
2.8%
Netherlands
0.7%
China
0.6%
Scotland
0.6%
New Zealand
0.4%
Croatia
0.3%
Philippines
0.3%
South Africa
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Afrikaans
0.3%
Cantonese
0.3%
Mandarin
0.3%
Vietnamese
0.3%
Arabic
0.0%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.0%
Other Chinese languages
0.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
44.1%
Australian
43.2%
Irish
13.1%
Scottish
11.0%
German
5.6%
Dutch
3.9%
Australian Aboriginal
2.8%
Italian
1.5%
Maltese
1.3%
Chinese
0.8%
Croatian
0.8%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
53.7%
Catholic
19.7%
Anglican
9.3%
Not stated
7.5%
Uniting Church
2.9%
Christian (other)
2.2%
Baptist
1.2%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.6%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
48.5% 457
Separated
4.5% 42
Divorced
11.0% 104
Widowed
3.5% 33
Never married
32.6% 307

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
46.0%
Couple: no children
28.1%
Couple: no children under 15
14.9%
One parent: children under 15
6.0%
One parent: no children under 15
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
19.3%
2 persons
35.9%
3 persons
14.9%
4 persons
18.1%
5 persons
7.1%
6+ persons
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Smythesdale

Housing Tenure

Of the 409 occupied private dwellings in Smythesdale at the 2021 Census, 4.4% were rented, 40.3% owned outright and 50.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.0% 4 dwellings
Owned outright
40.3% 165 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
50.9% 208 dwellings
Rented
4.4% 18 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.2% 9 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
98.3%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.2%
2 bedrooms
9.9%
3 bedrooms
46.0%
4 bedrooms
34.4%
5 bedrooms
4.2%
6+ bedrooms
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.0%
$450-$599/mo
2.5%
$600-$799/mo
8.0%
$800-$999/mo
7.5%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
27.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
26.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
14.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
9.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
1.8%
1 vehicle
16.3%
2 vehicles
41.8%
3 vehicles
21.0%
4+ vehicles
19.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Smythesdale

Employment

Employed full-time
39.6% 334 people
Employed part-time
21.0% 177 people
Unemployed
1.8% 15 people
Not in labour force
37.6% 317 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
28.7%
Professionals
16.1%
Community & Personal Service
14.1%
Clerical & Administrative
13.0%
Managers
10.4%
Labourers
9.0%
Sales Workers
5.4%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

$1-$149/wk
1.1%
$150-$299/wk
1.3%
$300-$399/wk
3.5%
$400-$499/wk
5.9%
$500-$649/wk
3.5%
$650-$799/wk
6.7%
$800-$999/wk
7.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
9.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
14.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.1%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.2%
$4,000+/wk
8.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
11.0%
$1-$149/wk
4.6%
$150-$299/wk
7.4%
$300-$399/wk
6.3%
$400-$499/wk
5.3%
$500-$649/wk
3.3%
$650-$799/wk
9.4%
$800-$999/wk
10.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.6%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.5%
$3,500+/wk
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
80.1%
Did not go to work
9.2%
Car (passenger)
5.6%
Truck
1.7%
Other
1.5%
Walked only
1.3%
Tram/Light Rail
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
46.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
21.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
21.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
10.6%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
55.0%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.1%
Bachelor Degree
15.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.1%
Postgraduate Degree
3.4%
Certificate I/II
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
21.9%
Management & Commerce
16.6%
Society & Culture
13.4%
Health
11.4%
Architecture & Building
9.6%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
8.2%
Education
6.4%
Information Technology
4.7%
Agriculture & Environment
3.8%
Creative Arts
2.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.1%
Secondary: Government
22.5%
Vocational Education
12.7%
Pre-school
12.3%
Primary: Catholic
7.4%
Secondary: Catholic
5.7%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
87.5%
Has need for assistance
6.1%
Need for assistance not stated
6.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
152
Asthma
69
Arthritis
60
Heart disease
36
Diabetes
34
Lung condition
20
Cancer
18
Stroke
15
Kidney disease
12

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
16.6% 145
Did not provide
83.4% 730

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
14.9% 130
Not a volunteer
85.1% 745

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
4.0% 35
Never served
96.0% 849

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
30.1%
1 child
12.2%
2 children
32.6%
3 children
19.9%
4 children
4.4%
5+ children
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

1951: 1960
13
1961: 1970
11
1971: 1980
13
1981: 1990
14
1991: 2000
6
2001: 2010
14
2011: 2015
7
2019
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

11.5%
moved in the last year
34.6%
moved in the last 5 years
2.3%
unemployment rate (Census)
60.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
958
Moved from VIC
96
Moved: same area (SA2)
13
Moved from NSW
7
Moved from WA
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.8%
5: 14 hours
29.1%
15: 29 hours
14.4%
30+ hours
13.0%
Did not do domestic work
22.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
84.7%
Step family: no other children
8.7%
Blended family: no other children
4.7%
Other couple: children only
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Smythesdale Crime Statistics

66 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
33
Property Damage
13
Assault
9
Fraud
5
Break & Enter
4
Justice Procedures
2

Total offences by year

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Smythesdale

The closest suburb to Smythesdale is Haddon, 6.6 km away.

Haddon
6.6 km away · income $790/wk · rent $400/wk
Ross Creek (Vic.)
8.2 km away · income $823/wk · rent $310/wk
Smythes Creek
9.4 km away · income $817/wk · rent $395/wk
Winter Valley
12.8 km away · income $921/wk · rent $390/wk
Bonshaw (Vic.)
13.0 km away · income $891/wk · rent $398/wk
Cardigan
13.4 km away · income $883/wk · rent $350/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Smythesdale

What is the population of Smythesdale VIC?

The population of Smythesdale VIC is 1,189 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 29 people per km². Smythesdale is ranked #3,722 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Smythesdale?

The median personal income in Smythesdale VIC is $717 per week, or $37,284 per year. The median household income is $1,656 per week. Family income is $1,879 per week. Smythesdale is ranked #5,153 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Smythesdale?

Median rent in Smythesdale VIC is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Rent represents 18.1% of household income, which is considered affordable. Smythesdale ranks #4,529 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Smythesdale?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Smythesdale VIC is $1,430. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Smythesdale?

The median age in Smythesdale VIC is 39 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Smythesdale a good suburb to live in?

Smythesdale is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 1,189. The median income is $717/wk, which is below the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 22299. All dollar figures in AUD.