Malvern
At $2,650,750 for a median house price across just 1.08 km2, Malvern ranks among South Australia's most expensive addresses, yet the price fell 14.9% from $3,115,000 a year earlier, making the trajectory as notable as the figure itself. Household income sits in the 94.4th percentile nationally, and 62.4% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 32.3 percentage points above the national average. The suburb runs 82.8% retained residents, indicating deep owner loyalty despite premium pricing. With a median age of 46, which is 6 years above the national median, Malvern has an established, professional profile where nearly half of all households own their home outright.
Population
2,713
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,655/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
57
Median House
$2.7M
Median 1Q 2026
The current median house price of $2,650,750 follows a 14.9% fall from the $3,115,000 peak recorded in the first quarter of 2025, which shifts the entry point meaningfully for buyers. Separate houses dominate at 79.9% of dwellings, with only 7.3% apartments and 12.7% semi-detached stock, so competition for detached homes is concentrated in a small suburb. Bedroom splits lean large: 39.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 39.0% have 3, compared to the national profile where smaller homes are more common. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,800, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners make up 49.4% of all households, well above typical levels, signalling that most existing residents carry no debt at all.
For Buyers
The current median house price of $2,650,750 follows a 14.9% fall from the $3,115,000 peak recorded in the first quarter of 2025, which shifts the entry point meaningfully for buyers. Separate houses dominate at 79.9% of dwellings, with only 7.3% apartments and 12.7% semi-detached stock, so competition for detached homes is concentrated in a small suburb. Bedroom splits lean large: 39.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 39.0% have 3, compared to the national profile where smaller homes are more common. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,800, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners make up 49.4% of all households, well above typical levels, signalling that most existing residents carry no debt at all.
For Investors
Rental demand in Malvern is limited by structure: only 19.3% of households rent, well below the national renter share, while weekly rent sits at $380. Against a $2,650,750 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 0.7%, among the lowest in South Australia. The vacancy rate of 6.8% adds further caution, sitting above what most investors consider healthy. Development activity remains moderate at 53 applications in the past 12 months, dominated by alterations, pool installations and carport works rather than new dwellings, consistent with an established suburb adding amenity rather than supply. With household income in the 94.4th percentile and 82.8% of residents staying put year to year, the area appeals to capital preservation buyers rather than income investors.
Development Activity
Total DAs
301
Last 12 Months
57
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+18.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national figure, placing Malvern firmly in the older end of the residential spectrum. University qualifications reach 62.4%, which is 32.3 percentage points above the national average, among the highest concentration of tertiary-educated residents in South Australia. Overseas-born residents account for 23.0% of the population, broadly in line with the national figure. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic in character, led by English (1,034 residents), Scottish (253) and Irish (243), with Italian (210) as the largest Southern European group. Couples with children make up 934 families while 617 are couples without children, reflecting a mix of established families and older couples whose children have left. The volunteering rate of 22.9% exceeds the national average, consistent with the high education and income profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.9%
Houses
12.7%
Townhouse
7.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure data shows 49.4% of households own outright, 31.3% carry a mortgage and 19.3% rent, a distribution that skews heavily toward debt-free ownership compared to national norms. The price history spans two data points: a peak of $3,115,000 in 1Q 2025 followed by $2,650,750 in 1Q 2026, a 14.9% correction over 12 months. Separate houses account for 79.9% of the 1.08 km2 suburb's dwellings, keeping the housing form predominantly detached in a small footprint. Room counts lean large, with 78.4% of dwellings having 3 or more bedrooms, higher than typical urban averages. Rent-to-income at 14.3% stays comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning tenants face no structural affordability pressure despite premium surroundings.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,800
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,117
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
71
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.8%
Couples, no children
2,298
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 23.1% of residents, followed by Professional and Technical services at 16.9% and Education at 10.0%, with Public Admin (6.9%) and Finance (5.7%) rounding out the top five. By occupation, Professionals (540 workers) and Managers (277) dominate, reflecting a white-collar workforce that aligns with household income in the 94.4th percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 3.9%, with a full-time employment rate of 59.0% among those working. Participation at 60.7% is moderated by the older median age of 46, which leaves 821 residents outside the labour force, many likely retired. Personal weekly income averages $1,117 and family weekly income reaches $3,311, both well above state and national medians.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
37.1%
Participation
60.7%
Employed
1,325
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.4%
Postgraduate
17.0%
Born Overseas
23.0%
Dwellings
981
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 81.5% of residents driving to work, above average nationally, while public transport use is 6.4% and walking or cycling accounts for 6.1%. The suburb recorded 148 total crimes in the reporting period, giving a rate of 54.6 per 1,000 residents; without a state or national benchmark in the brief, this figure should be compared against broader SA suburb crime data for context. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income at 24.4% and rent-to-income at 14.3% both sit below the 30% threshold. The need-for-assistance rate is 5.5% (146 residents), modest given the older median age of 46. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring areas, a common pattern in small inner suburbs of this size.
Drive
81.5%
Public Transport
6.4%
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
148
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
54.6
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Malvern compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malvern a good suburb to live in?
Malvern has household income in the 94.4th percentile nationally, a university qualification rate of 62.4% (32.3 points above national average), and 82.8% of residents choose to stay year to year. Housing stress is absent, with mortgage-to-income at 24.4% and rent-to-income at 14.3%, both well below the 30% threshold.
What is the median house price in Malvern?
The median house price is $2,650,750 as of 1Q 2026, down 14.9% from $3,115,000 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent averages $380 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,800, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%.
What schools are in Malvern?
No schools are recorded inside the Malvern suburb boundary in this dataset. At 1.08 km2, the suburb is compact and families rely on schools in neighbouring areas. The local adult population has a university qualification rate of 62.4%, which is 32.3 percentage points above the national average.
Is Malvern safe?
Malvern recorded 148 total crimes in the reporting period, a rate of 54.6 per 1,000 residents. As a wider indicator, household income in the 94.4th percentile and a low need-for-assistance rate of 5.5% (146 residents) point to a low-disadvantage area. Housing stress is absent at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%.
Is Malvern good for property investment?
The rental yield is low: weekly rent of $380 against a $2,650,750 median implies a gross yield near 0.7%, well below typical investor targets. The 6.8% vacancy rate and a renter share of only 19.3% limit tenant pool depth. The 14.9% price fall over the past 12 months adds short-term capital risk, making this a wealth-preservation rather than income-driven market.
How is Malvern's population changing?
Malvern has a population of 2,713 across 1.08 km2. Resident turnover is low at 17.2% annually, with 82.8% of residents staying in place. The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, and the suburb's identity signals point toward an aging, established owner base rather than active demographic churn.
How much development is happening in Malvern?
There were 53 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent samples include a verandah, a swimming pool and safety barrier, and a carport replacement, all performance-assessed works. Activity is focused on improving existing dwellings rather than adding new ones, consistent with an established suburb where 49.4% of households own outright.
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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