Ivanhoe East
Household income in Ivanhoe East sits at the 97.1st percentile nationally, yet the suburb holds only 3,762 residents across 2.1 square kilometres, making it one of Melbourne's most exclusive pockets by both wealth and scale. All four SEIFA indexes land at decile 10, the top advantage tier. The median house price reached $2,549,000 in April-June 2024, nearly double the figure from a decade ago. University qualifications at 62.9% of residents run 32.8 points above the national figure, and the 45-year median age is 5 years older than national, pointing to an established, degree-holding, long-tenured resident base rather than a suburb in flux.
Population
3,762
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,977/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$2.5M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price was $2,549,000 in April-June 2024, up from $1,755,000 in October-December 2023 across three recorded quarters. The longer price history is more telling: from $1,310,000 in 2013 to the current figure is a 94.6% gain at a 4.9% CAGR over 14 years, though the market did pull back 11.3% from its peak of $2,875,000 in July-September 2023. Separate houses make up 76.7% of stock and 43.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers mostly compete for large family homes rather than apartments. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even at this price level, because household incomes are exceptionally high. Outright owners represent 45.4% of households, well above average, confirming the suburb is held predominantly by debt-free, long-standing owners.
For Buyers
The median house price was $2,549,000 in April-June 2024, up from $1,755,000 in October-December 2023 across three recorded quarters. The longer price history is more telling: from $1,310,000 in 2013 to the current figure is a 94.6% gain at a 4.9% CAGR over 14 years, though the market did pull back 11.3% from its peak of $2,875,000 in July-September 2023. Separate houses make up 76.7% of stock and 43.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers mostly compete for large family homes rather than apartments. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even at this price level, because household incomes are exceptionally high. Outright owners represent 45.4% of households, well above average, confirming the suburb is held predominantly by debt-free, long-standing owners.
For Investors
Rental demand in Ivanhoe East is limited rather than deep: only 19.8% of dwellings are rented, compared to national averages closer to 30%, and weekly rent of $451 against a $2,549,000 median implies a gross yield below 1%. The vacancy rate of 8.6% is elevated, signalling that finding tenants takes time in this price bracket. Development activity is low at 6 applications in the past 12 months, mostly subdivision and commercial works, so supply pressure is minimal. The stronger investment case rests on population dynamics: overseas migration nets 205 residents per year into the broader SA2 area, outweighing net internal outflow of 58 annually. Rent grew 34.6% over the study period, faster than many comparable suburbs, so while yield is thin, rental income has been rising in real terms.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+66.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ivanhoe East iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ivanhoe East Primary School
Prep-6 · 480 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 sits 5 years above the national figure, and the population trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.6 points while the young adult share fell 2.5 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents make up 22.3%, close to the national figure but 0.7 points above it. Ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,090), Italian (524) and Irish (436), with Scottish (361) also significant, a pattern consistent with the suburb's established, long-tenured character. University qualifications reach 62.9%, which is 32.8 points above the national average and among the highest in Melbourne. Professionals (769) and Managers (455) are the two largest occupation groups, and the full-time employment rate of 62.4% reflects a workforce-age cohort partially offset by the high share of retirees in the older population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.7%
Houses
1.9%
Townhouse
21.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is skewed toward long-term ownership: 45.4% own outright and 34.8% hold a mortgage, leaving renters at just 19.8%, well below the national average. This outright-owner majority reflects both the suburb's age profile and the decades of wealth accumulation typical of a decile 10 SEIFA area. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 76.7%, with apartments accounting for 21.4% and semi-detached at just 1.9%. Four-plus bedroom dwellings make up 43.3% of the housing mix, the single largest bedroom category, consistent with large family homes on established lots. Prices rose from $1,310,000 in 2013 to $2,549,000 in April-June 2024, a 94.6% increase, though the market peaked at $2,875,000 in mid-2023 before correcting 11.3%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold despite the high median price, because household incomes here rank at the 97.1st percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wk
$451
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,191
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.6%
Unoccupied
128
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.3%
Couples, no children
3,220
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in the highest-paying professional sectors: Healthcare leads at 18.4% (285 workers), followed by Professional and Technical services at 17.0% (263) and Education at 11.7% (181), with Finance at 7.4% (115) and Construction at 6.9% (107). By occupation, Professionals (769) and Managers (455) together dominate, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score measuring education and occupation advantage. Unemployment sits at 3.5%, below most comparable Melbourne suburbs, and the participation rate of 62.8% reflects a workforce partly reduced by the older demographic. Real incomes grew 20.4% over the decade, above typical inflation, reinforcing the household income figure at the 97.1st percentile nationally. All four SEIFA deciles score 10, the top tier, with no anomaly between the IEO and IER scores, confirming that both occupation-level advantage and economic resources are aligned.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
8,170
Unemployed
175
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.4%
Part-time
34.1%
Participation
62.8%
Employed
1,921
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.9%
Postgraduate
20.2%
Born Overseas
22.3%
Dwellings
1,357
Transport to Work
Transport mode is heavily car-dependent: 81.8% of residents drive to work, compared to a far lower national share, while public transport accounts for just 5.4% and walking or cycling for 7.9%. This reflects the suburb's low-density, established character rather than poor infrastructure, as residents at the 97.1st income percentile tend to prefer car travel. No schools are recorded inside the Ivanhoe East boundary in this dataset, so families draw on institutions in adjacent Ivanhoe and surrounding suburbs. Safety is relatively strong: the crime rate of 35.9 incidents per 1,000 residents is driven mostly by property and deception offences (91 of 135 total incidents), with crimes against the person numbering just 8, a low figure. Rent stress is absent at a rent-to-income ratio of 15.1%, and mortgage stress is also absent at 23.3%, both well below the 30% threshold. The volunteering rate of 18.6% indicates community engagement above typical levels.
Drive
81.8%
Public Transport
5.4%
Walk / Cycle
7.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.86%/yr
(+114 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth in the SA2 area runs at 0.86% per year, adding roughly 114 people annually, and the 10-year change of 12.4% (or 14% since 2011 per gentrification signals) puts the area above the national average for established middle-ring suburbs. The medium forecast projects the broader population rising from 13,188 in 2025 to around 13,867 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, averaging 205 net arrivals per year, while internal migration runs at a net outflow of 58 per year, a pattern common to high-cost suburbs where affordability drives younger residents to relocate. The gentrification score of 25 reads as early signs, supported by strong overseas inflow and post-COVID population recovery from a 2.4% dip to full recovery at 4.4% above the pre-COVID low. The affordability ratio improved from 44.9% in 2011 to 40.7% in 2021, a modest improvement, though the trajectory is aging rather than gentrifying in the classical sense.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+205
Net Internal / yr
-58
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +14% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +205/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
135
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
35.9
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 Ivanhoe East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ivanhoe East a good suburb to live in?
Ivanhoe East ranks at decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income at the 97.1st percentile. University qualifications reach 62.9%, which is 32.8 points above the national figure. The main trade-off is a high median house price of $2,549,000 and a car-dependent layout with limited public transport at 5.4% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Ivanhoe East?
The median house price was $2,549,000 in April-June 2024, up 94.6% from $1,310,000 in 2013 at a 4.9% CAGR over 14 years. The market peaked at $2,875,000 in mid-2023 and has since corrected 11.3%. Weekly rent averages $451 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $3,000.
What schools are in Ivanhoe East?
No schools are recorded inside the Ivanhoe East boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Ivanhoe and surrounding suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 62.9% holding university qualifications, which is 32.8 points above the national figure.
Is Ivanhoe East safe?
The crime rate is 35.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 135 total incidents recorded. The dominant category is property and deception offences at 91 incidents, while crimes against the person total just 8. The suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier nationally, consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Ivanhoe East good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $451 against a $2,549,000 median implies a gross yield below 1%, and a vacancy rate of 8.6% means finding tenants takes time. The stronger case is capital growth: prices rose 94.6% over 14 years at a 4.9% CAGR. Overseas migration adds 205 net residents per year to the broader area, supporting long-term demand.
How is Ivanhoe East's population changing?
Annual growth runs at 0.86% per year, adding roughly 114 people annually, with a 10-year change of 12.4%. The population profile is aging: the senior share rose 5.6 points over the decade. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver at 205 net arrivals per year, while net internal outflow runs at 58 per year.
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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