Chiltern, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Chiltern VIC is 1,580 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Chiltern is $682 per week ($35,464 per year). Median rent in Chiltern is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Chiltern has a median age of 50 years, older than the national median of 38. Chiltern has a population density of 7.9 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Chiltern is England. The most common religion is No religion (46.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Tagalog. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Chiltern is $1,300.

There were 87 recorded offences in Chiltern in 2025-25, a rate of 55 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (28 offences).

Population
1,580
Census 2021
Median income
$682/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$260/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
50years
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.

Chiltern vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Chiltern is $682 a week, 11% below the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 919th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $260 a week, $56 less than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 19.9% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 50, 7 years older 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.
MeasureChilternTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$682/wk$767/wk −11%$766/wk
Household income$1,305/wk$1,687/wk −23%$1,637/wk
Rent$260/wk$316/wk −18%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,300/mo$1,723/mo −25%$1,733/mo
Median age5043 +7 yrs42
Rent share of household income19.9%19.1% +0.8 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 Chiltern, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Chiltern Population

1,580 residents at the 2021 Census.

Chiltern Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$682/wk
$35,464 per year
Ranked 5,799 of 14,663
Median Rent
$260/wk
$1,127 per month
Ranked 5,884 of 14,663
Median Age
50years
12 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,300/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Chiltern Rent Prices & Affordability

20% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,305/wk
Median rent $260/wk
Rent to income 19.9%

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

Median rent in Chiltern against your income

About $5,655 a month
Median rent $260/wk
Left after rent $1,045/wk
Rent share 19.9%

Chiltern Map

Chiltern, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Chiltern

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.9% (758) Female 52.1% (823)

Population Density

7.9
people per km²
1,580 people · 200.3 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,684
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
85+
Male Female

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

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
4.1%
Germany
0.9%
New Zealand
0.9%
Scotland
0.5%
Wales
0.4%
United States of America
0.4%
France
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

Tagalog
0.3%
German
0.2%
Nepali
0.2%
Italian
0.2%
Afrikaans
0.0%
Arabic
0.0%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.0%

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

Ancestry

Australian
46.2%
English
44.0%
Irish
12.5%
Scottish
10.8%
German
5.0%
Dutch
2.5%
Italian
1.6%
Australian Aboriginal
1.1%
Welsh
1.1%
French
0.8%
Polish
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
46.3%
Catholic
18.0%
Anglican
15.0%
Not stated
6.8%
Presbyterian and Reformed
3.6%
Uniting Church
3.5%
Christian (other)
1.7%
Christinty Jehvahs Witnses
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.3%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
46.0% 617
Separated
3.6% 48
Divorced
13.6% 183
Widowed
6.4% 86
Never married
30.4% 408

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
35.8%
Couple: no children
35.6%
Couple: no children under 15
16.8%
One parent: no children under 15
6.1%
One parent: children under 15
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
31.3%
2 persons
40.6%
3 persons
12.6%
4 persons
8.5%
5 persons
3.5%
6+ persons
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Chiltern

Housing Tenure

Of the 660 occupied private dwellings in Chiltern at the 2021 Census, 11.4% were rented, 43.9% owned outright and 40.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.2% 8 dwellings
Owned outright
43.9% 290 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
40.9% 270 dwellings
Rented
11.4% 75 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.7% 18 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
97.8%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.8%
2 bedrooms
15.0%
3 bedrooms
54.4%
4 bedrooms
23.2%
5 bedrooms
3.8%
6+ bedrooms
0.8%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.9%
$300-$449/mo
2.3%
$450-$599/mo
3.9%
$600-$799/mo
8.5%
$800-$999/mo
11.6%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
28.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
16.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
15.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
5.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
2.0%
1 vehicle
31.3%
2 vehicles
38.1%
3 vehicles
14.8%
4+ vehicles
13.8%

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

Work, income and education in Chiltern

Employment

Employed full-time
35.1% 420 people
Employed part-time
20.6% 247 people
Unemployed
2.8% 33 people
Not in labour force
41.5% 497 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
23.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
19.2%
Community & Personal Service
14.8%
Managers
13.3%
Clerical & Administrative
10.1%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
7.8%
Labourers
7.0%
Sales Workers
4.7%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.5%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
2.2%
$300-$399/wk
3.5%
$400-$499/wk
9.4%
$500-$649/wk
6.6%
$650-$799/wk
7.9%
$800-$999/wk
7.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.4%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.7%
$4,000+/wk
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.0%
$1-$149/wk
4.7%
$150-$299/wk
7.2%
$300-$399/wk
5.5%
$400-$499/wk
5.7%
$500-$649/wk
5.1%
$650-$799/wk
10.2%
$800-$999/wk
11.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.9%
$3,500+/wk
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
75.2%
Did not go to work
15.7%
Walked only
4.9%
Car (passenger)
3.1%
Truck
1.1%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
46.9%
Year 10 or equivalent
27.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
15.8%
Year 9 or equivalent
9.8%

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
47.7%
Bachelor Degree
20.0%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.1%
Postgraduate Degree
4.5%
Certificate I/II
3.3%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
20.7%
Society & Culture
16.6%
Health
13.9%
Management & Commerce
13.7%
Education
9.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.0%
Architecture & Building
5.6%
Agriculture & Environment
4.5%
Creative Arts
3.1%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.9%
Information Technology
2.7%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
25.1%
Secondary: Government
24.4%
Vocational Education
15.5%
Secondary: Catholic
11.4%
Primary: Catholic
11.1%
Pre-school
5.9%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.1%

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
87.7%
Has need for assistance
6.5%
Need for assistance not stated
6.1%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
180
Arthritis
89
Heart disease
64
Asthma
60
Lung condition
54
Diabetes
54
Cancer
45
Kidney disease
21
Stroke
21
Dementia
9

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.1% 186
Did not provide
84.9% 1,043

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
23.4% 289
Not a volunteer
76.6% 948

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
6.2% 77
Never served
93.8% 1,171

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
27.1%
1 child
12.3%
2 children
25.7%
3 children
21.7%
4 children
9.2%
5+ children
4.1%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
10
1951: 1960
18
1961: 1970
34
1971: 1980
48
1981: 1990
11
1991: 2000
10
2001: 2010
10
2011: 2015
19
2019
3

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

Population Mobility

7.7%
moved in the last year
28.5%
moved in the last 5 years
4.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
56.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,346
Moved from VIC
60
Moved: same area (SA2)
26
Moved from NSW
15
Moved from QLD
5

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.2%
5: 14 hours
31.0%
15: 29 hours
15.1%
30+ hours
11.8%
Did not do domestic work
22.9%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
81.6%
Step family: no other children
9.8%
Blended family: no other children
8.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Chiltern Crime Statistics

87 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
28
Assault
19
Justice Procedures
17
Property Damage
7
Break & Enter
7
Drug Offences
7
Fraud
1
Weapons
1

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 Chiltern

The closest suburb to Chiltern is Beechworth, 17.0 km away.

Beechworth
17.0 km away · income $767/wk · rent $300/wk
Rutherglen
17.8 km away · income $722/wk · rent $250/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiltern

What is the population of Chiltern VIC?

The population of Chiltern VIC is 1,580 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 7.9 people per km². Chiltern is ranked #3,329 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Chiltern?

The median personal income in Chiltern VIC is $682 per week, or $35,464 per year. The median household income is $1,305 per week. Family income is $1,684 per week. Chiltern is ranked #5,799 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Chiltern?

Median rent in Chiltern VIC is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Rent represents 19.9% of household income, which is considered affordable. Chiltern ranks #5,884 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Chiltern?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Chiltern VIC is $1,300. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Chiltern?

The median age in Chiltern VIC is 50 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Chiltern a good suburb to live in?

Chiltern is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 1,580. The median income is $682/wk, which is below the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.9% 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: 20551. All dollar figures in AUD.