Urban Centre · Area profile
Chiltern
7 km²
Daily life in Chiltern is characterized by a slower pace and an older population, where most residents live in detached houses. The typical resident is 49, making the area far older than the state and national averages. It is a stable community where many people own their homes outright and a high number of residents volunteer their time. While the population shrank by about a third since 2011, the town remains a very walkable place with easy access to local services.
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Chiltern is far older than most areas, with a typical age of 49 and over a quarter of residents aged 65 or more. The total population shrank by 34% since 2011, falling to 1,208 people.
The community is predominantly Australian and English in ancestry. Only 9.6% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for almost everyone here. Only 2% of residents use another language at home, a figure far below the national average.
The community is split almost evenly between Christians (45.6%) and those with no religion (45.4%). The proportion of people reporting no religion rose by 23 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 12.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the number of people who completed Year 12 rose 17 points since 2011.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,238, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 8.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 40.1% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are also well above the state average at 12.3%.
Chiltern has a strong spirit of service, with 19.6% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. This is consistent with a high number of former Defence Force members (6%).
Over a third of residents live alone, which is well above the state average. Typical households are small, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Housing is dominated by detached houses, with 91.6% of homes being separate dwellings. A high 43.5% of these are owned outright, far above the national average.
The town is heavily reliant on cars, as 65.4% of people drive to work and no one uses public transport to commute. Only 8.8% of the workforce works from home.
The population is very stable, with only 26.3% of people moving in the last five years. There were no recent arrivals from overseas recorded in 2021.
About 54.3% of adults are working or looking for work, with many employed in health care and social assistance. The unemployment rate is 4.3%, which is about the same as the national figure.
The area is very walkable, with nearly all homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. Most residents can also reach groceries, schools, and health services on foot within 15 minutes.