Bellfield
At just 0.93 square kilometres with 1,996 residents, Bellfield packs in 2,144 people per km2, yet 74.7% of dwellings are separate houses rather than apartments. Household income sits at the 66.8th percentile nationally, above the median, yet 45.3% of residents rent rather than own, a higher renter share than most owner-occupied suburbs at this income level. University qualifications reach 47.2% of residents, which is 17.1 percentage points above the national average, pointing to a well-educated population that has not yet converted credentials into equity. A crime rate of 107.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, led by property and deception offences (94 of 215 total), is the clearest constraint on the suburb's liveability.
Population
1,996
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,845/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
No recent median sale price is recorded for Bellfield, so buyers must rely on comparable suburbs in the 3081 postcode area. What the data does show is that 74.7% of dwellings are separate houses, with 24.4% semi-detached and only 1% apartments, meaning the market skews toward traditional housing rather than high-rise. Bedroom mix leans toward three-bedroom homes at 49.1%, with four-plus at 21.3% and two-bedroom at 28.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, which at 28.8% of income stays below the 30% stress threshold, a better position than many inner-Melbourne suburbs. Outright owners are 22.3% and mortgage holders 32.4%, compared to a renter share of 45.3%, suggesting ownership transitions happen but the suburb retains a substantial renting cohort.
For Buyers
No recent median sale price is recorded for Bellfield, so buyers must rely on comparable suburbs in the 3081 postcode area. What the data does show is that 74.7% of dwellings are separate houses, with 24.4% semi-detached and only 1% apartments, meaning the market skews toward traditional housing rather than high-rise. Bedroom mix leans toward three-bedroom homes at 49.1%, with four-plus at 21.3% and two-bedroom at 28.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, which at 28.8% of income stays below the 30% stress threshold, a better position than many inner-Melbourne suburbs. Outright owners are 22.3% and mortgage holders 32.4%, compared to a renter share of 45.3%, suggesting ownership transitions happen but the suburb retains a substantial renting cohort.
For Investors
A renter share of 45.3% gives landlords a broad tenant base, and weekly rent of $375 attracts workforce renters rather than premium-market tenants. The vacancy rate of 8.7% is above average and warrants attention, as sustained high vacancy can compress rent growth and extend re-let periods compared to tighter Melbourne markets. Development activity is modest at 4 applications in 12 months, though one recent proposal covers a 28-apartment building, signalling higher-density infill is entering planning. Rent-to-income at 20.3% means tenants are not financially stressed, supporting low arrears risk. Healthcare (19.7% of the workforce) and Professional/Tech (12.0%) are the dominant employment sectors, providing a stable occupational base for tenant demand rather than reliance on a single cyclical industry.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Bellfield's median age of 36 is 4 years younger than the national figure, consistent with a suburb attracting younger renters and early-career professionals. University qualifications at 47.2% run 17.1 percentage points above the national average. Overseas-born residents reach 33.1%, which is 11.5 points above the national rate. English ancestry leads at 513 residents, followed by Irish (198), Chinese (160) and Scottish (144), with Arabic (46 speakers) and Greek (39) the most common non-English languages. Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above the national figure. Couples with children account for 638 families versus 329 couples without children, showing a family-oriented rather than singles-dominant population structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.7%
Houses
24.4%
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 74.7%, with semi-detached dwellings at 24.4% and apartments at just 1.0%, lower than comparable Melbourne inner-north suburbs. Three-bedroom dwellings are most common at 49.1%, followed by two-bedroom at 28.6% and four-plus at 21.3%. Tenure splits into renting at 45.3%, mortgage at 32.4% and outright ownership at 22.3%, skewing toward renting more than the national pattern. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,300 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, below the 30% stress benchmark, so buyers who convert from renting face a manageable step up. The vacancy rate of 8.7% is elevated relative to tighter Melbourne rental markets.
Mortgage / mo
$2,300
Rent / wk
$375
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$722
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.7%
Unoccupied
70
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.8%
Couples, no children
1,508
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the top employment sector at 19.7% (140 workers), followed by Professional/Tech at 12.0% (85), Education at 9.7% (69), Construction at 8.9% (63) and Retail at 6.9% (49). This distribution reflects a knowledge-and-services economy rather than manufacturing, consistent with the suburb's university qualification rate of 47.2%, which is 17.1 points above national. Professionals (289 residents) are the leading occupation group, followed by Managers (121) and Clerical/Admin (116). The unemployment rate of 7.3% is above typical metropolitan benchmarks, even as the full-time employment rate for those in work reaches 64.3%. Household income at the 66.8th percentile nationally sits above the median because the 57.8% participation rate leaves many residents outside the workforce.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.3%
Part-time
28.4%
Participation
57.8%
Employed
887
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.2%
Postgraduate
13.3%
Born Overseas
33.1%
Dwellings
726
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 84.2% of workers driving and only 6.4% using public transport, below the Melbourne average for inner-north suburbs. Walking and cycling account for 4.8% of commuters. No schools are recorded inside the Bellfield boundary, so families rely on schools in adjacent suburbs. The crime rate of 107.7 incidents per 1,000 residents is above average for Melbourne, with property and deception offences (94 incidents) accounting for the largest share, followed by justice procedures offences (62) and crimes against the person (44). Rent-to-income at 20.3% keeps tenants below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 28.8% does the same for owners, meaning housing affordability is manageable compared to many inner-Melbourne locations.
Drive
84.2%
Public Transport
6.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
215
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
107.7
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 Bellfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bellfield a good suburb to live in?
Bellfield suits renters and younger professionals: household income sits at the 66.8th percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is 28.8% (below the stress threshold), and university qualifications at 47.2% are 17.1 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are an above-average crime rate of 107.7 per 1,000 residents and high car dependency at 84.2%.
What is the median house price in Bellfield?
No recent median sale price is recorded for Bellfield in current data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, implying a purchase price well above $500,000 at current rates. Weekly rent averages $375. Buyers should check comparable sales in the broader 3081 postcode for pricing guidance.
What schools are in Bellfield?
No schools are recorded inside Bellfield's 0.93 km2 boundary in this dataset. Families use schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Heidelberg and Ivanhoe. Despite this, local education levels are high: 47.2% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 17.1 percentage points above the national average.
Is Bellfield safe?
The recorded crime rate is 107.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, above average for Melbourne. The 215 total recorded offences are led by property and deception offences (94 incidents), justice procedures offences (62) and crimes against the person (44). Property crime is the dominant risk.
Is Bellfield good for property investment?
A renter share of 45.3% provides a large tenant pool, and weekly rent of $375 is affordable relative to the 66.8th-percentile income base, supporting low rent arrears risk. However, the 8.7% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tighter Melbourne markets, which can slow re-letting. Development activity is modest at 4 applications in 12 months, so supply pressure is limited.
How is Bellfield's population changing?
No population forecast is available in the brief. The current population is 1,996 across 0.93 km2, with a residential stability rate of 77.7%, meaning most residents stayed in place over the prior year. Recent planning applications include a 28-apartment proposal, suggesting gradual densification of the suburb's 74.7% detached-house stock over time.
What languages are spoken in Bellfield?
About 33.1% of Bellfield residents were born overseas, which is 11.5 percentage points above the national rate. The most common non-English languages are Arabic (46 speakers), Greek (39), Mandarin (26) and Cantonese (23), reflecting a multicultural community alongside a predominantly English-speaking base of 513 English-ancestry residents.
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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