Moving to Rutherglen VIC 3685
What the official numbers say about living in Rutherglen — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Budget around $550,000 for a median house (based on 2024 sales). Sale prices moved up about 182% between 2014 and 2024.
Renting? The census median is $250 a week, against a median household income of $1,306 a week.
About 79% of homes are owner-occupied and 19% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Rutherglen grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,479 → 2,579 people).
Around 67% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Netherlands; most spoken languages besides English: Italian, German, Greek.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Rutherglen scores below the national average (decile 3 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (82% of workers), while 12% work from home.
Nearest airport: Corowa Aerodrome, 12.3 km north-west.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 237 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 3 schools · 5 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 5 parks — see them all on the Rutherglen profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Rutherglen Primary School 250 m · St Mary's Primary School 500 m · Rutherglen High School 1.3 km
Groceries: IGA 200 m
Parks and reserves: Lions Park 50 m · Gollings Square 200 m · Fig Tree Park 250 m · Memorial Park 400 m · Rutherglen Park 650 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Rutherglen, most often seen first: Australian Magpie · Pacific Black Duck · Common Starling · Magpie-lark · Welcome Swallow · Grey Teal.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Rutherglen, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherglen here | 2,579 | $550,000 | 3/10 | 5% |
| Wahgunyah | 1,061 | $540,000 | 3/10 | 20% |
| Corowa | 5,595 | — | 2/10 | 15% |
| Chiltern | 1,580 | $462,000 | 3/10 | 56% |
| Howlong | 2,997 | — | 2/10 | 9% |
| Barnawartha | 987 | — | 5/10 | 12% |
| Bundalong | 512 | $755,000 | 6/10 | 8% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Indigo — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Indi — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 3685 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Rutherglen profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
A house in Rutherglen has a median sale price of $550,000 (2024 sales). Renters pay a median $250 a week, and about 19% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,479 people to 2,579. It sits about 237 km from the Melbourne CBD in a straight line. Local government is Indigo council, and the federal seat is Indi.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Rutherglen vs Wahgunyah.
Nearby guides: Wahgunyah · Corowa · Chiltern · Howlong · Barnawartha · Bundalong.
Keep an eye on Rutherglen
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