Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Buffalo River suburb profile
Buffalo River, VIC · Postcode 3737
This Buffalo River suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Buffalo River, VIC (postcode 3737). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Buffalo River with nearby suburbs.
Buffalo River at a glance
Population
285
Median rent
$130/wk
Household income
$1,421/wk
Median age
54
Buffalo River trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+9.2% over 10 years
Population
285
was 255 in 2016
+30 · +11.8%
Median rent
$130/wk
was $83/wk in 2016
+$47 · +56.6%
Household income
$1,421/wk
was $900/wk in 2016
+$521 · +57.9%
Median age
54
was 52 in 2016
+2 · +3.8%
Dig deeper: Buffalo River population growth · Buffalo River then and now
Buffalo River vs nearby & VIC
Median Census 2021 figures for Buffalo River, nearby suburbs (8), and the VIC state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-64.5% vs area
- Buffalo River$130/wk
- Nearby$300/wk
- VIC$366/wk
Household income
-21.6% vs area
- Buffalo River$1,421/wk
- Nearby$1,464/wk
- VIC$1,813/wk
Median age
+35% vs area
- Buffalo River54
- Nearby49.5
- VIC40
Personal income
-7.7% vs area
- Buffalo River$741/wk
- Nearby$770.5/wk
- VIC$803/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC.
Socio-economic profile
How Buffalo River compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Buffalo River sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 61,030.1
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 6995.9
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 61,037.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 5966.2
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Buffalo River on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Buffalo River, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Buffalo River people
- Population
- 285
- Median age
- 54
- Born overseas
- 9.8%
- Average household size
- 2.3
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Buffalo River income
- Median household income
- $1,421/wk
- Median personal income
- $741/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Buffalo River housing
- Median rent
- $130/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,733/mo
- Separate houses
- 88.2%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 44.9%
- Mortgaged
- 26%
- Rented
- 14.2%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 7.9%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Buffalo River work
- Employment to population
- 59.1%
- Unemployment rate
- 1.9%
- Year 12 or above
- 50.8%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3737)
Compare Buffalo River with nearby suburbs
Buffalo River in numbers
Buffalo River had 285 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 54, 32% above the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.3 people. 9.8% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 44.9% own their home outright, 26% are paying a mortgage, 14.2% rent. Separate houses make up 88.2% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $130/wk, 63% below the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,421/wk, 20% below the typical VIC suburb. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 6 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 11.8% (from 255 to 285). Median rent moved from $83/wk to $130/wk (+56.6%).
Buffalo River suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Buffalo River, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Buffalo River was $130/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Buffalo River, VIC?
- Buffalo River had 285 residents at the 2021 Census, up 11.8% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Buffalo River?
- Median household income in Buffalo River was $1,421/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Buffalo River?
- 14.2% of occupied homes in Buffalo River were rented, 44.9% were owned outright and 26% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Buffalo River suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Buffalo River. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology