Hampton East
Three facts define this bayside pocket: a $1,460,000 median house price, an 11.5% rental vacancy rate, and a crime rate of 90.9 per 1,000 residents that runs high for an advantaged area. Household income sits in the 73.3rd percentile nationally, and the suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD and decile 10 on IEO, the top advantage tier on two of four SEIFA indexes. University qualifications reach 47.7%, which is 17.6 points above the national figure. The unusual mix is a largely detached, established housing stock (57.1% separate houses) inside a compact 1.45 km2 footprint at 3,484 residents per km2, with a median age of 40 that matches the national median exactly.
Population
5,069
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,953/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$1.5M
Apr-Jun 2024
The $1,460,000 median sits well above most Melbourne suburbs, but timing matters here: prices have fallen 9.3% from the 2022 peak of $1,610,000, so buyers enter a market off its high. Over the longer run values rose 89.6% from $770,000 in 2013, a compound rate of 4.7% a year. The stock favours families, with 57.1% separate houses against 20.7% apartments, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 40.2% followed by two-bedroom at 31.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.7%, just above the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes in the 73.3rd percentile. Mortgage holders (35.4%) outnumber outright owners (28.8%), which signals a market of recent buyers carrying debt rather than long-settled owners.
For Buyers
The $1,460,000 median sits well above most Melbourne suburbs, but timing matters here: prices have fallen 9.3% from the 2022 peak of $1,610,000, so buyers enter a market off its high. Over the longer run values rose 89.6% from $770,000 in 2013, a compound rate of 4.7% a year. The stock favours families, with 57.1% separate houses against 20.7% apartments, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 40.2% followed by two-bedroom at 31.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.7%, just above the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes in the 73.3rd percentile. Mortgage holders (35.4%) outnumber outright owners (28.8%), which signals a market of recent buyers carrying debt rather than long-settled owners.
For Investors
A 35.8% renter share and weekly rent of $400 give landlords a steady tenant base, but the headline numbers temper the case. Against the $1,460,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 1.4%, low even by Melbourne standards, so the play is capital growth rather than income. The 11.5% vacancy rate points to real softness in the rental segment, which matters because apartments make up 20.7% of dwellings. Demand support comes mainly from net overseas migration of 313 residents a year, well above the net internal outflow of 97. Rent has grown 37.3% over the period, faster than the 9.3% fall in sale prices from peak, so yields are repairing. Development is light at 11 applications in 12 months, mostly two-lot subdivisions, which limits new supply and protects scarcity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
17
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+266.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, yet the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 3.3 points while the young share fell 4.0 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 31.4%, which is 9.8 points above national. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,653), Irish (544) and Scottish (475), with Chinese (293) the largest non-European group. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (80 speakers), Greek (73) and Russian (45). University qualifications at 47.7% run 17.6 points above national, which fits the professional workforce. Average household size is 2.4, which is 0.1 below national, consistent with a family-heavy profile where couples with children (1,754 families) outnumber couples without children (851, or 21.6% of families).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
57.1%
Houses
22.2%
Townhouse
20.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits three ways: 28.8% own outright, 35.4% carry a mortgage and 35.8% rent. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to a market of recent, debt-carrying buyers rather than long-held wealth. The stock is 57.1% separate houses, 22.2% semi-detached and only 20.7% apartments, so detached supply still dominates this 1.45 km2 suburb. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 40.2% and two-bedroom 31.3%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are 23.0%. The median house price reached $1,460,000 in the June 2024 quarter, down 9.3% from the 2022 peak of $1,610,000 but up 89.6% from $770,000 in 2013. Mortgage-to-income at 30.7% exceeds the stress threshold, while rent-to-income at 20.5% stays comfortable, a gap that shows how steep purchase prices are relative even to 73.3rd-percentile incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$921
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.5%
Unoccupied
268
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.7% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.6%
Couples, no children
3,935
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in knowledge and care sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 14.8% (285 workers), Healthcare follows at 14.5% (280) and Education at 11.5% (222), with Construction at 9.2% and Retail at 7.7%. By occupation, Professionals (770) and Managers (511) make up the largest groups, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is moderate at 5.0% and the full-time employment rate is 65.3%, while participation reads 60.3%, held down by 1,280 residents not in the labour force. Real incomes grew 20.3% over the decade. One anomaly stands out: the IER score for economic resources sits at decile 8 against decile 10 on advantage, because the 35.8% renter base lowers aggregate household wealth measures even in a high-income suburb.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
10,959
Unemployed
568
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.3%
Part-time
29.7%
Participation
60.3%
Employed
2,373
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.7%
Postgraduate
12.2%
Born Overseas
31.4%
Dwellings
2,045
Transport to Work
Car reliance is heavy at 85.6% of commuters driving, well above the national norm, while public transport carries just 5.7% and active travel 4.2%, a pattern that fits a low-density bayside grid. The suburb earns decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 9 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, so few residents face deprivation. The counterweight is safety: the crime rate of 90.9 per 1,000 is high for an advantaged area, driven by 276 property and deception offences out of 461 total, the kind of opportunistic property crime common near retail strips rather than violent offending, which sits lower at 62 cases. No schools are recorded inside the 1.45 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. Volunteering runs at 12.6% and 6.4% of residents need daily assistance.
Drive
85.6%
Public Transport
5.7%
Walk / Cycle
4.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+119 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is slow and steady: the population rises about 0.61% a year, or roughly 119 persons, and is up 7.8% over the past decade, classifying the area as established rather than expanding. Net overseas migration of 313 residents a year is the primary driver, offsetting a net internal outflow of 97, so growth depends on new arrivals more than local movers. The gentrification stage reads early signs with a score of 39, supported by the population gain since 2011, strong overseas inflow and a full recovery from the 2.7% COVID dip. Affordability improved from 49.1% in 2011 to 45.6% in 2021, an improving trend, though it stays high relative to most markets. Medium forecasts continue the trend upward through 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+313
Net Internal / yr
-97
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +10% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +313/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
461
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
90.9
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 Hampton East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hampton East a good suburb to live in?
Hampton East ranks decile 10 on IRSAD and decile 10 on IEO, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 73.3rd percentile and university qualifications at 47.7%, which is 17.6 points above national. The main trade-offs are a $1,460,000 median house price and a crime rate of 90.9 per 1,000.
What is the median house price in Hampton East?
The median house price is $1,460,000 as of the June 2024 quarter, down 9.3% from the 2022 peak of $1,610,000 but up 89.6% from $770,000 in 2013. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.7%.
What schools are in Hampton East?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.45 km2 Hampton East boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is highly educated, with university qualifications at 47.7%, which is 17.6 points above the national figure.
Is Hampton East safe?
The crime rate is 90.9 per 1,000 residents, high for an advantaged suburb, with 461 offences total. Most are property and deception offences at 276, while crimes against the person are far lower at 62. The suburb still scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage.
Is Hampton East good for property investment?
Rent of $400 a week against a $1,460,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.4%, low for Melbourne, and the vacancy rate is 11.5%. Net overseas migration of 313 a year supports demand, and rent grew 37.3% over the period, so returns lean on capital growth more than yield.
How is Hampton East's population changing?
The population grows about 0.61% a year, roughly 119 people, and is up 7.8% over the past decade. Net overseas migration of 313 residents a year is the main driver, offsetting a net internal outflow of 97. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 3.3 points.
What languages are spoken in Hampton East?
About 31.4% of residents were born overseas, 9.8 points above the national figure. English is dominant, with Mandarin (80 speakers), Greek (73), Russian (45) and Cantonese (24) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a modest but international resident mix.
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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