Macleod
Macleod's $1,200,000 median houses a population where 52.1% hold university qualifications (22.0 points above national), yet the suburb retains a distinctly multicultural character with Italian (1,109 residents) ranking 4th in ancestry and Italian (100 speakers) as the second non-English language. The 14-year price CAGR of 4.5% from $647,500 has delivered an 85.3% total gain, though a slight 3.2% retreat from the $1,240,000 peak signals cooling. Crime sits at 36.4 per 1,000, with property offences (210) accounting for 58% of total incidents. With Professionals (1,712) dominating the workforce and Healthcare (18.2%), Education (14.3%) and Professional/Tech (13.9%) as the top three employers, this is a knowledge-economy suburb.
Population
9,892
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,966/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$1.2M
Apr-Jun 2024
The $1,200,000 median sits 3.2% below the $1,240,000 peak, a modest correction. Over 14 years from $647,500, the CAGR of 4.5% demonstrates consistent appreciation. Houses dominate at 76.7%, with semi-detached at 20.1% providing a townhouse alternative. Three-bedroom homes (47.6%) lead stock, followed by four-bedroom (28.6%) and two-bedroom (21.0%). Mortgage-to-income at 27.0% is below the stress threshold. The suburb has one school, Macleod College (ICSEA 1,073, 545 students), a combined-level institution scoring above the national benchmark. The 82.3% residency stability rate indicates a settled community that retains residents.
For Buyers
The $1,200,000 median sits 3.2% below the $1,240,000 peak, a modest correction. Over 14 years from $647,500, the CAGR of 4.5% demonstrates consistent appreciation. Houses dominate at 76.7%, with semi-detached at 20.1% providing a townhouse alternative. Three-bedroom homes (47.6%) lead stock, followed by four-bedroom (28.6%) and two-bedroom (21.0%). Mortgage-to-income at 27.0% is below the stress threshold. The suburb has one school, Macleod College (ICSEA 1,073, 545 students), a combined-level institution scoring above the national benchmark. The 82.3% residency stability rate indicates a settled community that retains residents.
For Investors
Renters at 23.6% sit slightly below the national average. Median weekly rent of $396 against a $1,200,000 median yields roughly 1.7% gross, placing Macleod firmly in capital-growth territory. The vacancy rate of 7.5% is moderate. The 14-year CAGR of 4.5% and 85.3% total price gain provide the growth case. With 13 DAs in 12 months, development activity is modest. The crime rate of 36.4 per 1,000 is moderate, and property offences (210) may deter some tenants. The 17.7% turnover rate means about 1 in 6 residents move within 5 years, providing moderate rental demand turnover.
Development Activity
Total DAs
16
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+550.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Macleod iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Macleod College
Prep-12 · 545 students
Demographics
University qualifications at 52.1% are 22.0 points above the national average, reflecting a highly educated resident base. Italian ancestry (1,109) ranks prominently alongside English (3,082) and Irish (1,158), a pattern that distinguishes Macleod from purely Anglo-Celtic suburbs. With 26.3% born overseas (4.7 points above national), the suburb is moderately multicultural. Mandarin (171 speakers) leads non-English languages, followed by Italian (100), Cantonese (60) and Greek (59), a mix of old European and new Asian migration. Average household size of 2.5 matches national, and couples with children (3,511) outnumber couples without (1,953). The median age of 41 is 1 year above national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.7%
Houses
20.1%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership dominates: 38.8% own outright and 37.7% carry mortgages, with renters at 23.6%. Houses at 76.7% form the majority, complemented by semi-detached at 20.1% (a notable townhouse share) and apartments at 3.1%. Three-bedroom homes (47.6%) are the most common, with four-bedroom (28.6%) and two-bedroom (21.0%) providing options. The median peaked at $1,240,000 before settling to $1,200,000 (down 3.2%). Over 14 years from $647,500, the 85.3% total gain (CAGR 4.5%) demonstrates steady appreciation. Mortgage-to-income at 27.0% and rent-to-income at 20.1% are both below stress thresholds.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,296
Rent / wk
$396
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$908
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
310
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.5%
Couples, no children
7,958
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (18.2%, 697 workers), Education (14.3%, 548) and Professional/Tech (13.9%, 535) together employ 46.4% of the workforce, creating a diversified knowledge-economy base. Public Admin (9.1%) and Construction (8.0%) follow. Professionals (1,712) dominate occupations, more than double the next group (Managers, 796). Unemployment at 4.6% is slightly above national, and the participation rate of 60.4% is reasonable. The SEIFA data is unavailable for Macleod, but income indicators (73.9th percentile), education levels and the occupation mix are consistent with upper-middle advantage, comparable to neighbouring suburbs in Melbourne's north-east.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.1%
Part-time
31.3%
Participation
60.4%
Employed
4,693
Occupations
Top Industries
University
52.1%
Postgraduate
15.7%
Born Overseas
26.3%
Dwellings
3,849
Transport to Work
Car dependency at 84.4% is typical for middle-ring Melbourne, with public transport at 7.7% and walking/cycling at 3.0%. Macleod College (ICSEA 1,073, 545 students) provides combined primary-secondary education above the national benchmark. Crime at 36.4 per 1,000 is moderate, with property offences (210) dominant and crimes against the person at 50. The volunteering rate of 15.1% is reasonable. While SEIFA data is unavailable, the 52.1% university rate, 73.9th percentile income and low mortgage stress (27.0%) all indicate above-average livability consistent with Melbourne's established north-east.
Drive
84.4%
Public Transport
7.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
360
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
36.4
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 Macleod compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Macleod a good suburb to live in?
Macleod suits professional families: 52.1% university qualifications, $1,200,000 median, mortgage stress at 27.0% (below threshold), and Macleod College (ICSEA 1,073) above benchmark. Italian heritage adds cultural character. The 82.3% residency stability signals a settled community. Crime at 36.4 per 1,000 is moderate for metro Melbourne.
What is the median house price in Macleod?
The median is $1,200,000 (Apr-Jun 2024), down 3.2% from the $1,240,000 peak. Over 14 years, prices grew from $647,500, an 85.3% gain (CAGR 4.5%). Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,296 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.0%. Median weekly rent is $396.
What schools are in Macleod?
Macleod has 1 school: Macleod College, a combined-level government school with ICSEA 1,073 and 545 students. It sits 73 points above the national benchmark of 1,000. Families seeking broader choice must look to neighbouring suburbs like Rosanna or Greensborough.
Is Macleod safe?
Macleod's crime rate is 36.4 per 1,000 residents, moderate for metro Melbourne. Property and deception offences (210) account for 58% of incidents, followed by justice procedures (59) and crimes against the person (50). The 76.5% owner-occupier share and low unemployment (4.6%) are factors associated with neighbourhood stability.
Is Macleod good for property investment?
Macleod is a capital-growth market: gross yield is just 1.7% ($396/week on $1,200,000), and the 23.6% renter share limits the tenant pool. The 14-year CAGR of 4.5% provides the historical growth case. Only 13 DAs in 12 months means minimal new supply. The 3.2% correction from peak may present an entry window.
How is Macleod's population changing?
Macleod is stable: 82.3% of residents stayed over 5 years (turnover 17.7%). Recent development applications include dual-occupancy permits, signaling gentle densification. With 52.1% university qualifications and Italian (1,109) as a prominent ancestry group, the suburb retains its established professional and multicultural character. The median age of 41 is 1 year above national.
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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