Maribyrnong
Maribyrnong combines an inner-west setting with a population of 12,573 across 5.49 square kilometres, producing a density of 2,288.7 people per square kilometre. Its demographic profile is notably international and highly educated: 45.2% of residents were born overseas, 23.6 percentage points above the national comparison, while 55.1% have university qualifications, 25 points higher nationally. The median age is 36, four years below the national figure, although the suburb is moving along an aging trajectory. A 13.0% vacancy rate and crime rate of 138.4 offences per 1,000 residents are important trade-offs beside household incomes at the 75.6th percentile.
Population
12,573
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,020/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$1.3M
October to December 2025
Monthly mortgage payments are listed at $2,000, equal to 22.9% of household income, while the mortgage stress flag is false. Buyers have a mixed stock choice, with 33.7% separate houses, 31.3% semi-detached homes and 35.0% apartments. The 2 and 3-bedroom segments dominate at 32.7% and 33.9%, making the suburb more suited to couples, small families and downsizers than households seeking large lots.
For Buyers
Monthly mortgage payments are listed at $2,000, equal to 22.9% of household income, while the mortgage stress flag is false. Buyers have a mixed stock choice, with 33.7% separate houses, 31.3% semi-detached homes and 35.0% apartments. The 2 and 3-bedroom segments dominate at 32.7% and 33.9%, making the suburb more suited to couples, small families and downsizers than households seeking large lots.
For Investors
Maribyrnong presents a mixed rental case. Weekly rent is $396 and 38.2% of occupied dwellings are rented, but the 13.0% vacancy rate is high compared with a tight rental market, increasing the risk of longer leasing periods or rent competition between properties. Rent growth of 16.1% provides a positive historical signal, although that momentum needs to be weighed against current vacancy. Only 5 development applications were recorded in the latest 12 months, so the immediate pipeline appears modest rather than a major source of competing supply. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support rental demand, while the suburb's 1.7% annual growth trend is a more measured comparison point than a high-growth expansion cycle.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Maribyrnong
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Margaret's Primary School
Maribyrnong College
Demographics
Maribyrnong has a median age of 36, which is 4 years below the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.4 people, 0.1 below the national figure. The overseas-born share is 45.2%, or 23.6 percentage points above the national result, while university attainment is 55.1%, 25 points higher nationally. Chinese, Vietnamese, English and Italian ancestry groups are prominent, with counts of 1,974, 1,839, 2,089 and 1,023 respectively. Christianity accounts for 5,220 residents, no religion for 4,533 and Buddhism for 1,240. A 71.3% two-address stability rate indicates that most residents stayed, although turnover still reached 28.7%. Compared with nearby Footscray and Yarraville, households should assess the specific mix of cultural services, housing type and daily travel needs rather than relying on suburb labels alone.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
33.7%
Houses
31.3%
Townhouse
35.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Maribyrnong's long-term price performance is stronger than its latest peak position suggests. Tenure is divided between 25.9% owned outright, 34.7% with a mortgage and 38.2% rented. The built form is similarly mixed, with 33.7% separate houses, 31.3% semi-detached dwellings and 35.0% apartments. For buyers comparing Maribyrnong with Footscray or Yarraville, this varied stock can provide more format choice, but the median price remains the key affordability hurdle.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$396
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$980
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.0%
Unoccupied
756
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.0%
Couples with children
40.9%
Couples, no children
13.5%
Single parent
3,364
Total families
Economy & Employment
Maribyrnong's employment base is led by healthcare at 15.8% of workers, followed by professional and technical services at 11.1%, education at 10.6%, retail at 8.2% and public administration at 7.7%. This aligns with a sizeable professional workforce of 2,218 people and 1,150 managers, helping explain household income of $2,020 per week at the 75.6th percentile. Labour force participation is 71.2%, with 7,723 people in the labour force and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. Socioeconomic measures are favourable but uneven: IEO and IRSAD both rank in decile 8, IRSD is decile 7, while IER is decile 6. The gap suggests economic resources and education are stronger than employment outcomes for some households, despite the suburb's above-median income position.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
7,723
Unemployed
403
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.0%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
71.2%
Employed
7,320
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.1%
Postgraduate
15.9%
Born Overseas
45.2%
Dwellings
5,060
Transport to Work
Daily travel is more car-oriented than a transit-led inner suburb: 51.8% of residents drove a car, compared with 3.3% using public transport and 2.9% walking or cycling to work. The high work-from-home share of 37.9% reduces commuting pressure for some households, but car dependence remains relevant for regular trips. Two local schools provide both primary and secondary access: St Margaret's Primary School is Catholic, while Maribyrnong College is a government secondary school. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb edges. Safety requires attention, with 1,740 recorded offences and a rate of 138.4 per 1,000 residents; property and deception offences made up 1,344 cases. IRSAD sits in decile 8, above the middle of the 10 deciles, although street-level conditions still matter.
Drive
51.8%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
37.9%
Population Forecast
+1.7%/yr
(+238 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth across the wider area is running at 1.7% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The ten-year population change is 23.7%, a higher cumulative figure than the annual trend and a sign of sustained rather than sudden expansion. Maribyrnong is classified on an Aging trajectory: the senior share increased by 3.6 percentage points while the young share fell by 2.4 points. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 30, so redevelopment and demographic change are present but not yet advanced. Rent growth of 16.1% adds pressure to housing demand, while the area recovered from a 4.0% COVID dip with an 8.2% recovery. Overseas migration supports continued demand, but aging may moderate the pace compared with younger growth corridors.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+409
Net Internal / yr
-195
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +31% since 2011, Net internal outflow -195/yr, Strong overseas inflow +409/yr, COVID recovered (-4% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,740
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
138.4
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 Maribyrnong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maribyrnong a good suburb to live in?
Maribyrnong suits households seeking inner-west access, varied housing and strong education and income indicators. The median age is 36, university attainment is 55.1% and household income ranks at the 75.6th percentile. Trade-offs include a 13.0% vacancy rate, car-oriented travel and a crime rate of 138.4 per 1,000 residents.
What schools are in Maribyrnong?
Maribyrnong has at least 2 listed local schools covering different age groups and sectors. St Margaret's Primary School is a Catholic primary school, while Maribyrnong College is a government secondary school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address, because school boundaries can affect access.
Is Maribyrnong safe?
Safety varies by location and offence type. Maribyrnong recorded 1,740 offences at a rate of 138.4 per 1,000 residents, including 1,344 property and deception offences and 178 crimes against the person. Buyers and renters should compare the immediate street, building security and travel routes rather than relying only on the suburb-wide rate.
Is Maribyrnong good for property investment?
Maribyrnong has rental demand drivers including 38.2% renting, weekly rent of $396 and overseas migration as the primary growth driver. However, the 13.0% vacancy rate is high, so leasing conditions may be more competitive than in a tighter market. Rent growth reached 16.1%, while only 5 development applications were recorded in the latest 12 months.
How is Maribyrnong's population changing?
The wider area is recording 1.7% annual growth and 23.7% population change across 10 years, with overseas migration the primary driver. The demographic trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 3.6 percentage points and the young share fell 2.4 points. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 30.
What languages are spoken in Maribyrnong?
Maribyrnong has a strong overseas-born population at 45.2%, which is 23.6 percentage points above the national comparison. Recorded languages include Cantonese at 300 speakers, Mandarin at 279, Greek at 117, Italian at 115 and Hindi at 71. Chinese and Vietnamese ancestry counts are also high at 1,974 and 1,839.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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