Castlemaine (Vic.)

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Following an examination of ABS demographic revisions for the wider region and fresh address records verified by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Castlemaine has a projected residency of approximately 7,306 in May 2026. This represents a contraction of 200 individuals (2.7%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 7,506 residents. The shift is calculated from a local population of 7,286, calculated by Districts using the ABS's latest ERP data release (June 2025) plus an additional 72 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This population level yields a density of 368 persons per square kilometer, offering considerable spatial capacity per resident and opportunities for future construction. Local population gains were mostly fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 58% of overall population increases in recent times.

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The suburb of Castlemaine holds an educated labor pool with strong representation in vital services, a jobless rate of just 3.3%, and relatively consistent job numbers over the prior year, based on Districts' compilation of regional statistical data. As of March 2026, 2,908 local citizens are employed, with the unemployment rate sitting 0.4% below the Regional Vic. average of 3.7%, though labor force participation is notably lower (47.0% compared to 61.1% in Regional Vic.). Census records indicate that a high 32.7% of employed residents worked from their homes, although this may reflect coronavirus pandemic lockdown restrictions.

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Tax data from the ATO aggregated by Districts for the 2023 financial year indicates that the suburb of Castlemaine has income levels below the national average. The median income for local taxpayers is $44,294, while the average income is $57,402, compared to Regional Vic. benchmarks of $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Incorporating Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since the 2023 financial year, current local estimates would stand at roughly $48,555 for the median and $62,924 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census places household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Castlemaine between the 7th and 22nd percentiles nationwide. The local income distribution shows that the $400 - 799 weekly bracket contains 27.9% of the community ( residents), unlike the wider region where the - range is largest at . Residents retain of their income after housing costs, though this ranks in the th percentile nationally, and the local SEIFA income score falls into the th decile.

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Housing configuration in the suburb of Castlemaine, according to the latest Census, was composed of 92.5% houses and 7.5% other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative housing), compared to 90.1% houses and 9.9% alternative dwellings in Regional Vic.. Outright home ownership in the suburb of Castlemaine was high at 50.5%, significantly exceeding the Regional Vic. level, while the remaining homes were mortgaged (25.5%) or rented (24.0%). The median monthly home loan repayment locally was $1,362, which is lower than the Regional Vic. average of $1,430, while the median weekly rent was $300, compared to $285 regionally. Nationally, mortgage repayments in the suburb of Castlemaine are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents sit well below the national median of $375.

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Families make up 57.0% of local households, consisting of 17.3% couples with offspring, 27.7% couples without children, and 11.5% single parents. Non-family households account for the remaining 43.0%, with single-person households representing 39.7% and group homes making up 3.2%. The median household size of 2.0 individuals is smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

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Residents in the suburb of Castlemaine exhibit educational qualifications that are considerably higher than broader regional markers, with 39.1% of those aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees compared to 21.7% in the Rest of Vic. and 25.4% in the SA4 region. This educational profile positions the community well for professional services and knowledge sector roles. Bachelor degrees are held by 22.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees (10.9%) and graduate diplomas (6.2%). Vocational and technical training is also common, with 26.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (14.9%).

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Public transport networks feature 42 active transit stops within the suburb of Castlemaine, which include train connections. These stops are served by 15 separate routes, supporting 531 passenger trips each week. Transport access is rated as good, with local residents living an average of 326 meters from their nearest transit stop. Being a mostly residential community, a majority of residents travel elsewhere for work, with private vehicles remaining the primary commute choice at 79%, followed by walking at 9% and cycling at 4%. The average number of vehicles is 1.0 per household, which is below the regional average. A high 32.7% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect the impact of pandemic lockdowns.

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The suburb of Castlemaine exhibits notable health difficulties based on Districts' evaluation of mortality data and the occurrence of chronic illnesses across both younger and older age brackets, alongside a low rate of private health coverage, which applies to approximately 50% of the population (~3,622 people). The national private health insurance rate is 55.7%.

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The suburb of Castlemaine registers lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens representing 83.2% of the population, Australian-born residents making up 84.5%, and English being the sole language spoken at home for 95.3%. Christianity is the leading religion, accounting for 28.8% of the community. However, the most distinct overrepresentation is observed in Judaism, which is practiced by 0.2% of the population compared to 0.1% across Regional Vic..

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The median age in the suburb of Castlemaine is 52 years, which sits well above the Regional Vic. median of 43 and the national average of 38. Compared to Regional Vic., the 75 - 84 age cohort is highly represented at 11.6% locally, whereas young adults aged 15 - 24 are underrepresented at 6.7%. The local concentration of residents aged 75 - 84 is also higher than the national figure of 6.1%. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age bracket has risen from 12.3% to 13.7% of the population, whereas the 55 to 64 group has fallen from 14.1% to 13.1%. Future population forecasts for indicate notable demographic shifts. The cohort aged + is expected to grow the fastest, rising by and adding residents to reach whereas contractions are projected for the to and to age groups.

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Castlemaine currently has an estimated 314 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 197 children aged 0-2 and 130 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 13% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 1% by 2041 (to approximately 316 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 572. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been low, with approximately 7.9 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the bottom 30% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.