Malvern East
At $2,000,000 for houses and household income in the 90.3rd percentile, Malvern East reads as premium but not static: the latest median is 22.7% below the Oct-Dec 2023 peak. It is denser than much of the detached-house belt at 2,887.3 people per sq km, with 53.3% separate houses and 21.5% apartments. Compared with Malvern and Glen Iris, the suburb's Chadstone edge and 31.6% renting share add more mixed housing and tenant demand, while SEIFA IRSAD decile 10 confirms strong advantage.
Population
22,296
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,383/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
337
Median House
$2.0M
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers are paying for access, land and schools rather than a bargain. The median house price is $2,000,000, still 66.7% above 2013, but 22.7% below the Oct-Dec 2023 peak, so timing matters. Family housing has depth because 32.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 32.1% have 4 or more, while 53.3% are separate houses. Mortgage payments sit at 28.5% of income, below common stress thresholds, helped by household income of $2,383 a week. Compared with nearby Carnegie, the appeal is more house-and-garden than apartment-led.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are paying for access, land and schools rather than a bargain. The median house price is $2,000,000, still 66.7% above 2013, but 22.7% below the Oct-Dec 2023 peak, so timing matters. Family housing has depth because 32.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 32.1% have 4 or more, while 53.3% are separate houses. Mortgage payments sit at 28.5% of income, below common stress thresholds, helped by household income of $2,383 a week. Compared with nearby Carnegie, the appeal is more house-and-garden than apartment-led.
For Investors
The investment case is selective rather than yield-led. Renting accounts for 31.6% of households and median rent is $421 a week, but the 14.4% vacancy rate is a higher risk signal than the tenant share alone suggests. Rent-to-income is 17.7%, so tenant affordability is not stretched, while 82 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing renewal. Demand is helped by overseas migration of 608 people a year on average, but internal migration is -145, so investors need to price in turnover and competition from new or renovated stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
353
Last 12 Months
337
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+4714.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Malvern East iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lloyd Street Primary School
Prep-6 · 385 students
Malvern Primary School
Prep-6 · 563 students
St Mary's School
Prep-6 · 192 students
Malvern Valley Primary School
Prep-6 · 258 students
Demographics
Malvern East is educated, affluent and more internationally connected than the national profile. The median age is 38, which is 2.0 years below the national benchmark, while 62.3% have a university qualification, 32.2 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 30.5%, 8.9 points above national, with English, Irish, Chinese and Scottish ancestry prominent. Mandarin has 572 speakers and Greek 545, while household size is 2.5, equal to the national comparison, supporting both family and downsizer demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
53.3%
Houses
23.6%
Townhouse
21.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is expensive but has reset from its latest high. Across 15 quarters, the median moved from $1,200,000 in 2013 to $2,000,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 66.7% lift and 3.7% CAGR over 14 years. The peak was $2,587,500 in Oct-Dec 2023, so the latest price is 22.7% lower. Ownership is broad for a premium area: 36.4% own outright, 32.0% have a mortgage and 31.6% rent. The mix is split between 53.3% separate houses, 23.6% semi-detached homes and 21.5% apartments, giving more choice than a pure mansion suburb.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,944
Rent / wk
$421
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,060
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.4%
Unoccupied
1,403
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.8%
Couples, no children
16,928
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce skews high-skill compared with state and national averages, which explains the 90.3rd percentile household income. Healthcare employs 1,600 people, Professional/Tech 1,554, Education 1,047, Finance 820 and Retail 666. Professionals number 4,478 and managers 2,265, well above lower-skill occupational groups. Full-time work is 63.6%, participation is 63.5% and unemployment is 5.4%. SEIFA is very strong: IEO decile 10, IRSD decile 10 and IRSAD decile 10, while IER decile 8 is lower, likely reflecting retirees and non-working households in an affluent area.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
14,432
Unemployed
461
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.6%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
63.5%
Employed
11,255
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.3%
Postgraduate
19.0%
Born Overseas
30.5%
Dwellings
8,315
Transport to Work
Livability is anchored by schools, shopping access and socioeconomic strength, but car use remains high. Four local primary schools span ICSEA 1114 to 1180: Lloyd Street Primary leads at 1180 with 385 enrolments, Malvern Primary has 1163 and 563 enrolments, and St Mary's adds a Catholic option at 1158. Public transport commuting is 9.6%, below car driving at 78.9%, while 6.6% walk or cycle. Safety needs context: the crime rate is 102.9 per 1,000, with 1,716 property and deception offences out of 2,295 total. IRSAD decile 10 supports strong overall amenity.
Drive
78.9%
Public Transport
9.6%
Walk / Cycle
6.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.71%/yr
(+170 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive because Malvern East is an established suburb with limited broadacre supply. The trend forecast is 0.71% a year, or about 170 people annually, with the medium scenario rising from 23,845 in 2026 to 24,694 in 2031. Population change over 10 years is 9.3%, and COVID disruption has been absorbed after a 3.9% dip and 6.5% recovery. Migration is the driver: overseas migration averages +608 a year compared with internal migration of -145. The trajectory is aging, with seniors up 4.2 points, and gentrification is at score 25, stage Early signs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+608
Net Internal / yr
-145
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +14% since 2011, Net internal outflow -145/yr, Strong overseas inflow +608/yr, COVID recovered (-4% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,295
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
102.9
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 Malvern East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malvern East a good suburb to live in?
Yes, especially for households wanting premium schools, established streets and strong incomes. It has 4 local schools, IRSAD decile 10 and a median age of 38, although the 102.9 crimes per 1,000 rate means buyers should compare micro-locations.
What is the median house price in Malvern East?
The median house price is $2,000,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 22.7% below the Oct-Dec 2023 peak of $2,587,500, but still 66.7% higher than the 2013 median of $1,200,000.
What schools are in Malvern East?
Malvern East has 4 listed primary schools: Lloyd Street Primary, Malvern Primary, St Mary's School and Malvern Valley Primary. ICSEA scores range from 1114 to 1180, with both Government and Catholic options.
Is Malvern East safe?
Crime is a watch point, with 2,295 recorded offences and a rate of 102.9 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences dominate at 1,716 cases, so home security and street-by-street checks matter.
Is Malvern East good for property investment?
It can suit long-term, quality-focused investors more than yield hunters. Renting is 31.6% and rent is $421 a week, but vacancy is high at 14.4%, while 82 development applications indicate active renewal and supply.
How is Malvern East's population changing?
Population growth is modest, forecast at 0.71% a year or about 170 people annually. The medium scenario reaches 24,694 by 2031, with overseas migration of +608 a year offsetting internal migration of -145.
What languages are spoken in Malvern East?
Malvern East is more multilingual than the national profile, with 30.5% born overseas. Key languages include Mandarin with 572 speakers, Greek with 545, Canton with 150, Hindi with 116 and Italian with 112.
Is there much development in Malvern East?
Yes. There were 82 development applications over 12 months, mostly pointing to renovation, replacement and site upgrades rather than broad new estates. That activity fits a premium established suburb with a $2,000,000 median house price.
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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