Frankston North
A $597,600 median house price paired with household income in just the 21st percentile nationally is the defining tension in Frankston North, and it explains much of the rest. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 2 on three of four indexes, near the bottom of the advantage scale, while 93.3% of dwellings are separate houses on a 5.12 km2 footprint. Renters make up 46.4% of households, well above the owner-occupier share, and the crime rate of 145.2 per 1,000 residents runs high. The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, and university qualifications reach only 14.4%, which is 15.7 points below national.
Population
5,711
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,128/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$598K
Apr-Jun 2024
At $597,600 the median house price sits well below most of metropolitan Melbourne, which is the suburb's clearest draw for entry-level buyers. Prices have eased 2.0% from the 2022 peak of $610,000, but the long arc is strong: values rose 134.4% from $255,000 in 2013, a 6.3% compound annual rate over 14 years. The stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 93.3% separate houses and only 6.7% semi-detached, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 78.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, just under the 30% stress line despite incomes in the 21st percentile. That affordability cushion is real but thin, because it rests on low prices rather than high earnings.
For Buyers
At $597,600 the median house price sits well below most of metropolitan Melbourne, which is the suburb's clearest draw for entry-level buyers. Prices have eased 2.0% from the 2022 peak of $610,000, but the long arc is strong: values rose 134.4% from $255,000 in 2013, a 6.3% compound annual rate over 14 years. The stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 93.3% separate houses and only 6.7% semi-detached, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 78.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, just under the 30% stress line despite incomes in the 21st percentile. That affordability cushion is real but thin, because it rests on low prices rather than high earnings.
For Investors
Renters occupy 46.4% of dwellings, the largest tenure group, which gives landlords a deep local tenant pool against a low $597,600 entry price. Weekly rent of $315 implies a gross yield near 2.7%, higher than premium Melbourne suburbs where yields fall below 2%. The 9.2% vacancy rate is elevated and signals the market is not tight, so rent growth, not occupancy, drives returns; rents have climbed 34.0% over the measured period. Demand support comes from net overseas migration of 254 a year, partly offset by a net internal outflow of 76. Development is thin at 11 applications in 12 months, mostly easement and tree removals rather than new dwellings, so supply stays constrained and existing houses hold scarcity value.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
12
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 Frankston North iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Monterey Secondary College
7-12 · 462 students
Aldercourt Primary School
Prep-6 · 225 students
Mahogany Rise Primary School
Prep-6 · 148 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below national, a younger profile than most established suburbs, and the senior share rose only 1.9 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 21.8%, essentially in line with national at 0.2 points above. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,117), Scottish (525) and Irish (503), and the top non-English languages are Mandarin (27), Greek (18) and Arabic (16), a small immigrant mix. University qualifications at 14.4% run 15.7 points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce weighted toward trades and labouring rather than knowledge work. Average household size is 2.3, which is 0.2 below national, and couples with children (1,164 families) outnumber couples without children (807).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.3%
Houses
6.7%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renting: 46.4% rent, 28.0% carry a mortgage and 25.5% own outright. That renter majority, unusual for a detached-house suburb, reflects affordability that draws tenants priced out elsewhere. The stock is 93.3% separate houses with three-bedroom homes at 78.0%, so the housing is uniform family product rather than mixed density. The median house price climbed from $255,000 in 2013 to $597,600 by mid-2024, a 134.4% gain at a 6.3% compound annual rate, though it has slipped 2.0% from the 2022 peak of $610,000. Mortgage-to-income sits at 28.8% and rent-to-income at 27.9%, both below the 30% stress threshold, a rare case where owning and renting carry similar relative cost.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,408
Rent / wk
$315
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$575
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.2%
Unoccupied
218
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.5%
Couples, no children
3,749
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in hands-on sectors: Healthcare leads at 20.8% (247 workers), Construction follows at 13.9% (165) and Manufacturing at 10.0% (118), with Retail at 8.3% and Education at 7.8%. By occupation, Labourers (349) and Community or Personal service workers (292) top the list, while Professionals (192) trail, which aligns with the decile 2 to 3 SEIFA education and occupation scores. Unemployment runs at 9.9%, well above the national rate, and participation is low at 44.2% because 1,933 residents sit outside the labour force. The IER economic-resources index reads decile 2, reflecting the 21st-percentile household income, yet real incomes still grew 17.3% over the decade, a sign of slow improvement from a low base.
Unemployment
7.5%
Labour Force
13,477
Unemployed
1,006
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
25.5%
Participation
44.2%
Employed
1,867
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.4%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
21.8%
Dwellings
2,141
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near total: 87.9% of commuters drive, only 4.5% use public transport and 1.7% walk or cycle, well above the national reliance on cars and consistent with the low-density 1,116 residents per km2 layout. The suburb scores decile 2 on IRSAD and IRSD, near the bottom of the advantage and disadvantage scales nationally, and 14.3% of residents (725 people) need daily assistance. Crime is the headline concern, with 145.2 offences per 1,000 residents and 829 total incidents, led by property and deception offences (341) and crimes against the person (186). No schools are recorded inside the 5.12 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Frankston suburbs, a practical trade-off for the area's affordability.
Drive
87.9%
Public Transport
4.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.6%/yr
(+151 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is modest at 0.6% a year, and the suburb is classified as established rather than expanding, with a 9.3% rise over the past decade. The 5,711 residents are growing chiefly through overseas migration, which adds about 254 people a year to the wider area against a net internal outflow of 76. The gentrification score reads 14 out of a low range, stage not gentrifying, despite early signals such as a 12% population rise since 2011 and the strong overseas inflow. Affordability improved from 47.2% in 2011 to 43.8% in 2021, a slow gain, while rents rose 34.0% over the period. The trajectory reads mixed: the young-resident share fell 0.5 points while the senior share rose 1.9 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+254
Net Internal / yr
-76
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +254/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
829
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
145.2
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 Frankston North compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frankston North a good suburb to live in?
Frankston North offers affordability, with a $597,600 median house price well below most of Melbourne and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, under the stress line. The trade-offs are real: it scores SEIFA decile 2 on three indexes and carries a high crime rate of 145.2 per 1,000 residents.
What is the median house price in Frankston North?
The median house price is $597,600 as of the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, down 2.0% from the 2022 peak of $610,000. Over the longer run prices rose 134.4% from $255,000 in 2013, a 6.3% compound annual growth rate. Weekly rent averages $315.
What schools are in Frankston North?
No schools are recorded inside the 5.12 km2 Frankston North boundary in this dataset, so families typically rely on schools in neighbouring Frankston suburbs. The resident profile is younger than average, with a median age of 37, which is 3.0 years below the national figure.
Is Frankston North safe?
Crime is a genuine concern, with 829 total offences and a rate of 145.2 per 1,000 residents, high by Victorian standards. The most common category is property and deception offences at 341 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 186. The suburb scores SEIFA decile 2 for relative disadvantage.
Is Frankston North good for property investment?
Rent of $315 a week against a $597,600 median gives a gross yield near 2.7%, higher than premium Melbourne suburbs below 2%. A 46.4% renter share supplies a deep tenant pool, but the 9.2% vacancy rate is elevated, so returns lean on rent growth, which ran 34.0% over the period.
How is Frankston North's population changing?
The population of 5,711 is growing about 0.6% a year, a 9.3% rise over the decade, and is classified as established rather than fast-growing. Net overseas migration of 254 a year is the main driver, offset by a net internal outflow of 76 residents annually.
How much development is happening in Frankston North?
Only 11 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, low activity that keeps housing supply constrained. The recent samples are minor works such as easement removals and tree removals rather than new dwellings, consistent with a built-out detached suburb where 93.3% of homes are separate houses.
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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