Ardeer
Ardeer's most telling number is not its $675,100 median house price but its crime rate of 105.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, well above the state average and a direct product of its IRSD decile 2 ranking, placing it among the most disadvantaged 20% of Australian suburbs. Nearly half the population (47.8%) was born overseas, which is 26.2 percentage points above the national figure, and overseas migration adds a net 237 residents annually, more than offsetting the internal outflow of 203 per year. The suburb is detached-house dominant at 76.8% separate dwellings, spread across 2.13 square kilometres in Melbourne's west.
Population
3,170
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,452/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$675K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $675,100 recorded in April-June 2024 sits 6.1% below the 2021 peak of $719,000, so buyers entering now are purchasing below that high watermark. The longer trend is more encouraging: prices have risen 104.6% since 2013 when the median was $330,000, a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% over 14 years. Mortgage repayments average $1,700 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.0%, which falls below the standard 30% stress threshold compared to many Melbourne suburbs. The stock is predominantly 3-bedroom homes at 60.2% of dwellings. Separate houses account for 76.8% of stock, giving buyers more choice of detached product than in higher-density suburbs of similar price.
For Buyers
The median house price of $675,100 recorded in April-June 2024 sits 6.1% below the 2021 peak of $719,000, so buyers entering now are purchasing below that high watermark. The longer trend is more encouraging: prices have risen 104.6% since 2013 when the median was $330,000, a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% over 14 years. Mortgage repayments average $1,700 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.0%, which falls below the standard 30% stress threshold compared to many Melbourne suburbs. The stock is predominantly 3-bedroom homes at 60.2% of dwellings. Separate houses account for 76.8% of stock, giving buyers more choice of detached product than in higher-density suburbs of similar price.
For Investors
With 35.5% of residents renting, Ardeer sits above the national average renter share, giving landlords a reliable tenant pool. Weekly rent of $340 against a $675,100 median implies a gross yield of roughly 2.6%, modest but in line with most Melbourne western suburbs at this price point. The vacancy rate of 7.9% is elevated, pointing to some softness in demand that investors should watch. Development activity is low at only 6 applications in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is minimal. Net overseas migration of 237 per year is the primary population driver, supporting sustained rental demand from new arrivals compared to suburbs reliant on slower natural growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+500.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ardeer iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mother of God School
Prep-6 · 107 students
Ardeer Primary School
Prep-6 · 139 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3 years younger than the national figure, consistent with the suburb's overseas-born population of 47.8%, which is 26.2 percentage points above the national average. The largest ancestry groups are English (474 residents) and Vietnamese (392), and the most common non-English languages are Punjabi (35 speakers), Polish (23) and Croatian (20), reflecting successive waves of migration. Buddhism (213 residents) and Islam (203) together represent a significant share alongside Christianity (1,343). University qualifications reach 34.5%, which is 4.4 percentage points above the national figure, a higher rate than the SEIFA decile 3 rank might suggest. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.8%
Houses
20.1%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into three roughly equal bands: 30.9% own outright, 33.6% carry a mortgage and 35.5% rent. The high renter share relative to outright owners reflects the suburb's position at the lower end of the income distribution, with household income at the 44.2nd percentile nationally. Separate houses dominate at 76.8% of dwellings, with semi-detached homes at 20.1% and apartments at just 0.6%. Three-bedroom homes account for 60.2% of the stock, four-bedroom plus at 13.7% and two-bedroom at 21.7%. House prices rose from $330,000 in 2013 to a peak of $719,000 in 2021 before easing to $675,100 in April-June 2024, a 6.1% correction from peak that keeps the suburb more accessible than surrounding areas with deeper price growth.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$698
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
98
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.0%
Couples, no children
2,174
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 18.1% of workers (159 people), followed by Education at 10.4% (91) and Construction at 9.7% (85). By occupation, Professionals lead at 298 workers but are closely followed by Clerical/Admin, Machinery/Drivers and Labourers, each around 160, reflecting a mixed blue-collar and white-collar workforce. The unemployment rate of 10.1% sits significantly above the national average, and the participation rate of 53.1% is low, in part because 858 residents are not in the labour force. SEIFA scores tell a consistent story: IRSAD decile 3 and IRSD decile 2 place Ardeer in the bottom quintile of disadvantage nationally, while the IEO decile of 5 indicates educational attainment sits closer to the national midpoint compared to the broader disadvantage measures.
Unemployment
7.4%
Labour Force
4,659
Unemployed
347
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.2%
Part-time
25.7%
Participation
53.1%
Employed
1,253
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.5%
Postgraduate
9.8%
Born Overseas
47.8%
Dwellings
1,141
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced in Ardeer, with 86.4% of workers driving and only 5.3% using public transport, well below metropolitan Melbourne averages. The crime rate of 105.4 per 1,000 residents is high, with property and deception offences accounting for 185 of 334 total incidents, reflecting the suburb's IRSD decile 2 ranking compared to lower-disadvantage suburbs. IRSAD decile 3 and IEO decile 5 paint a mixed picture: economic disadvantage is real but educational attainment is closer to the national median. The volunteering rate of 8.3% is modest. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in surrounding areas. Rent-to-income at 23.4% and mortgage-to-income at 27.0% are both below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs alone are manageable relative to local incomes.
Drive
86.4%
Public Transport
5.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.43%/yr
(+34 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth is forecast at 0.43%, adding roughly 34 people per year, with medium projections putting the population at around 8,174 by 2031 compared to 7,955 in 2025. The suburb has not fully recovered from the COVID-era dip: the current population of 7,880 remains below the pre-COVID level of 8,183, still 3.8% off that peak. Overseas migration is the dominant growth engine at a net 237 arrivals annually, while internal migration runs at minus 203 per year as residents leave for other parts of Australia. Rent growth of 45.5% and real income growth of 37.3% over the decade show that affordability has tightened for tenants. The gentrification score of 10 points to no meaningful gentrification, consistent with IRSD decile 2 and the continued internal outflow.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+237
Net Internal / yr
-203
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -203/yr, Strong overseas inflow +237/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
334
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
105.4
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ardeer compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ardeer a good suburb to live in?
Ardeer offers affordable detached housing, with a $675,100 median price and mortgage-to-income at 27.0%. Trade-offs include a crime rate of 105.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, an unemployment rate of 10.1%, and an IRSAD decile 3 ranking placing it in the bottom third nationally for socioeconomic advantage. It suits buyers who prioritise space and price over amenity.
What is the median house price in Ardeer?
The median house price is $675,100 as of April-June 2024, down 6.1% from the 2021 peak of $719,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700. Weekly rent is $340. Since 2013 prices have risen 104.6% from $330,000, a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% over 14 years.
What schools are in Ardeer?
No schools are recorded within the Ardeer suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring western Melbourne suburbs. Locally, 34.5% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 4.4 percentage points above the national average.
Is Ardeer safe?
Ardeer recorded 334 total incidents in the latest crime data, a rate of 105.4 per 1,000 residents, which is elevated compared to the state average. Property and deception offences account for 185 of those incidents. The suburb's IRSD decile 2 ranking indicates high relative disadvantage, a factor correlated with higher crime nationally.
Is Ardeer good for property investment?
The renter share of 35.5% supports rental demand, and weekly rent of $340 implies a gross yield near 2.6% against the $675,100 median. Net overseas migration of 237 per year provides a steady tenant pipeline. The 7.9% vacancy rate and the 10.1% unemployment rate are caution flags, but low development activity of 6 applications in 12 months limits new supply pressure.
How is Ardeer's population changing?
Population grew from 7,692 in 2023 to 7,955 in 2025, a 10-year gain of 4.8%. Overseas migration of 237 net arrivals per year is the primary driver, offsetting internal outflow of 203 per year. Medium forecasts project 8,174 residents by 2031. The suburb has not returned to its pre-COVID peak of 8,183.
What languages are spoken in Ardeer?
With 47.8% of residents born overseas, 26.2 percentage points above the national figure, Ardeer is linguistically diverse. Non-English languages include Punjabi (35 speakers), Polish (23), Croatian (20), Italian (19) and Mandarin (18), reflecting multiple migration waves from Europe and Asia.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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