Rutherglen, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Rutherglen VIC is 2,579 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Rutherglen is $722 per week ($37,544 per year). Median rent in Rutherglen is $250 per week ($1,083 per month). Rutherglen has a median age of 48 years, older than the national median of 38. Rutherglen has a population density of 21 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Rutherglen is England. The most common religion is No religion (42.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Italian. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rutherglen is $1,300.

There were 141 recorded offences in Rutherglen in 2025-25, a rate of 55 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (41 offences).

Population
2,579
Census 2021
Median income
$722/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$250/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
48years
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.

Rutherglen vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Rutherglen is $722 a week, 6% below the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 788th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $250 a week, $66 less than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 19.1% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 48, 5 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.
MeasureRutherglenTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$722/wk$767/wk −6%$766/wk
Household income$1,306/wk$1,687/wk −23%$1,637/wk
Rent$250/wk$316/wk −21%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,300/mo$1,723/mo −25%$1,733/mo
Median age4843 +5 yrs42
Rent share of household income19.1%19.1% +0.0 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 Rutherglen, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Rutherglen Population

2,579 residents at the 2021 Census.

Rutherglen Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$722/wk
$37,544 per year
Ranked 5,076 of 14,663
Median Rent
$250/wk
$1,083 per month
Ranked 6,115 of 14,663
Median Age
48years
10 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.

Rutherglen Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,306/wk
Median rent $250/wk
Rent to income 19.1%

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

Median rent in Rutherglen against your income

About $5,659 a month
Median rent $250/wk
Left after rent $1,056/wk
Rent share 19.1%

Rutherglen Schools

2
schools nearby
1
government
1006
avg ICSEA score
281
total students
Rutherglen Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 177 students
1007
ICSEA
St Mary's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 104 students
1004
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 Rutherglen, with a map

Rutherglen Map

Rutherglen, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Rutherglen, Victoria: 36.0639°S, 146.4840°E

Rutherglen Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (2)

People in Rutherglen

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.5% (1,249) Female 51.5% (1,326)

Population Density

21
people per km²
2,579 people · 124.6 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,816
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
2.5%
New Zealand
1.4%
Netherlands
0.6%
Germany
0.5%
Scotland
0.3%
South Africa
0.2%
Philippines
0.2%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Italian
0.3%
German
0.2%
Greek
0.1%
Filipino
0.1%
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

English
45.8%
Australian
42.5%
Irish
16.0%
Scottish
13.0%
German
6.2%
Italian
3.0%
Australian Aboriginal
2.0%
Dutch
1.4%
Chinese
0.7%
Maori
0.5%
Croatian
0.4%

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
42.3%
Catholic
22.4%
Anglican
16.8%
Not stated
5.4%
Uniting Church
5.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.9%
Christian (other)
1.2%
Lutheran
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.2%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
47.2% 1,010
Separated
3.7% 80
Divorced
11.3% 243
Widowed
7.0% 150
Never married
30.8% 659

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
36.4%
Couple: no children
34.6%
Couple: no children under 15
13.2%
One parent: children under 15
10.0%
One parent: no children under 15
5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
30.9%
2 persons
38.5%
3 persons
12.2%
4 persons
11.4%
5 persons
5.9%
6+ persons
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Rutherglen

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,044 occupied private dwellings in Rutherglen at the 2021 Census, 18.9% were rented, 42.6% owned outright and 34.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.1% 22 dwellings
Owned outright
42.6% 445 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
34.4% 359 dwellings
Rented
18.9% 197 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.8% 19 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
93.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
6.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.1%
2 bedrooms
15.7%
3 bedrooms
49.8%
4 bedrooms
29.3%
5 bedrooms
2.9%
6+ bedrooms
0.3%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.7%
$300-$449/mo
3.3%
$450-$599/mo
2.4%
$600-$799/mo
6.3%
$800-$999/mo
10.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
31.0%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
13.0%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
2.1%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.5%
1 vehicle
33.3%
2 vehicles
36.3%
3 vehicles
16.8%
4+ vehicles
10.1%

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

Work, income and education in Rutherglen

Employment

Employed full-time
35.3% 686 people
Employed part-time
20.0% 389 people
Unemployed
2.1% 41 people
Not in labour force
42.7% 830 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
23.2%
Managers
17.2%
Technicians & Trade Workers
15.1%
Community & Personal Service
13.2%
Clerical & Administrative
10.9%
Labourers
10.3%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
6.1%
Sales Workers
4.0%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.6%
$1-$149/wk
1.2%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
2.7%
$400-$499/wk
8.9%
$500-$649/wk
4.6%
$650-$799/wk
9.2%
$800-$999/wk
8.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.5%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
12.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.8%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.0%
$4,000+/wk
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.2%
$1-$149/wk
3.8%
$150-$299/wk
5.9%
$300-$399/wk
5.0%
$400-$499/wk
5.5%
$500-$649/wk
4.8%
$650-$799/wk
11.6%
$800-$999/wk
12.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
5.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.2%
$3,500+/wk
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
76.8%
Did not go to work
12.3%
Walked only
4.7%
Car (passenger)
4.1%
Truck
0.9%
Bicycle
0.7%
Other
0.6%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
47.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
25.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
18.7%
Year 9 or equivalent
8.9%

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
44.4%
Bachelor Degree
22.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.7%
Postgraduate Degree
6.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.5%
Certificate I/II
3.3%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
18.1%
Engineering
17.2%
Society & Culture
11.9%
Health
11.3%
Education
9.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
8.3%
Agriculture & Environment
8.0%
Architecture & Building
7.9%
Natural & Physical Sciences
4.4%
Creative Arts
1.9%
Information Technology
1.5%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
28.0%
Secondary: Government
23.0%
Primary: Catholic
14.0%
Vocational Education
13.4%
Pre-school
9.1%
Secondary: Catholic
6.2%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.1%
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
88.1%
Has need for assistance
7.6%
Need for assistance not stated
4.1%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
261
Asthma
135
Arthritis
129
Heart disease
90
Diabetes
84
Lung condition
70
Cancer
49
Stroke
41
Kidney disease
24
Dementia
15

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.8% 320
Did not provide
84.2% 1,699

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
24.2% 491
Not a volunteer
75.8% 1,537

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
4.2% 86
Never served
95.8% 1,946

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
28.8%
1 child
11.7%
2 children
29.1%
3 children
21.3%
4 children
7.6%
5+ children
1.6%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
4
1951: 1960
34
1961: 1970
39
1971: 1980
24
1981: 1990
19
1991: 2000
12
2001: 2010
26
2011: 2015
9
2017
3
2018
3
2019
5

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

Population Mobility

15.2%
moved in the last year
37.1%
moved in the last 5 years
3.3%
unemployment rate (Census)
56.4%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,060
Moved from VIC
160
Moved: same area (SA2)
134
Moved from NSW
62
Moved from QLD
8
Moved from overseas
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.0%
5: 14 hours
31.4%
15: 29 hours
16.3%
30+ hours
10.4%
Did not do domestic work
22.9%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
85.4%
Step family: no other children
7.5%
Blended family: no other children
5.9%
Other couple: children only
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Rutherglen Crime Statistics

141 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
41
Justice Procedures
28
Property Damage
22
Assault
19
Break & Enter
13
Public Order
9
Fraud
7
Drug Offences
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

Heywood
Income: $622/wk Rent: $180/wk $70/wk less rent
Tallangatta
Income: $637/wk Rent: $240/wk $10/wk less rent
Nathalia
Income: $628/wk Rent: $194/wk $56/wk less rent
Nhill
Income: $717/wk Rent: $200/wk $50/wk less rent
Numurkah
Income: $613/wk Rent: $210/wk $40/wk less rent
Terang
Income: $651/wk Rent: $225/wk $25/wk less rent
Wahgunyah
Income: $696/wk Rent: $230/wk $20/wk less rent
Warracknabeal
Income: $637/wk Rent: $180/wk $70/wk less rent

Suburbs near Rutherglen

The closest suburb to Rutherglen is Wahgunyah, 8.9 km away.

Wahgunyah
8.9 km away · income $696/wk · rent $230/wk
Corowa
13.4 km away · income $634/wk · rent $230/wk
Howlong
16.5 km away · income $673/wk · rent $290/wk
Chiltern
17.8 km away · income $682/wk · rent $260/wk

Compare Rutherglen

Frequently Asked Questions About Rutherglen

What is the population of Rutherglen VIC?

The population of Rutherglen VIC is 2,579 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 21 people per km². Rutherglen is ranked #2,672 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Rutherglen?

The median personal income in Rutherglen VIC is $722 per week, or $37,544 per year. The median household income is $1,306 per week. Family income is $1,816 per week. Rutherglen is ranked #5,076 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Rutherglen?

Median rent in Rutherglen VIC is $250 per week ($1,083 per month). Rent represents 19.1% of household income, which is considered affordable. Rutherglen ranks #6,115 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Rutherglen?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rutherglen 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 Rutherglen?

The median age in Rutherglen VIC is 48 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Rutherglen a good suburb to live in?

Rutherglen is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 2,579. The median income is $722/wk, which is below the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Melbourne Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 22217. All dollar figures in AUD.