Melonba
A 60.8% overseas-born share is the clearest marker of Melonba's identity, sitting 39.2 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb has 1,439 residents, a median age of 31, and household income in the 96.4th percentile, so its young profile is paired with unusually strong earning capacity. Couples with children make up 65.4% of families and average household size is 3.3, which is 0.8 people above the national level. Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 99.1% separate houses. Compared with nearby Marsden Park and Schofields, Melonba is the more recently developing pocket because 96.7% residential turnover indicates a highly mobile population, while only 3.3% stayed at the same address.
Local council: Blacktown
Population
1,439
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,859/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
230
For buyers, Melonba is geared to households wanting space rather than compact stock. Separate houses account for 99.1% of dwellings, 89.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, and only 9.4% have 3 bedrooms, making the suburb more suitable for larger households than for downsizers or apartment seekers. The listed monthly mortgage figure is $2,835, while mortgage costs equal 22.9% of household income. Only 4.5% own outright and 87.0% carry a mortgage, so buyers need to plan for interest-rate changes. Household income sits at the 96.4th percentile, above the midpoint, which helps explain the focus on newer family homes. Compare settled sales by land size, build age and estate position before bidding because a single suburb-wide price point may not reflect each property.
For Buyers
For buyers, Melonba is geared to households wanting space rather than compact stock. Separate houses account for 99.1% of dwellings, 89.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, and only 9.4% have 3 bedrooms, making the suburb more suitable for larger households than for downsizers or apartment seekers. The listed monthly mortgage figure is $2,835, while mortgage costs equal 22.9% of household income. Only 4.5% own outright and 87.0% carry a mortgage, so buyers need to plan for interest-rate changes. Household income sits at the 96.4th percentile, above the midpoint, which helps explain the focus on newer family homes. Compare settled sales by land size, build age and estate position before bidding because a single suburb-wide price point may not reflect each property.
For Investors
Melonba's investment case rests on a small rental pool and continuing construction. Weekly rent is $600, vacancy is 2.3%, and just 8.5% of dwellings are rented, compared with 87.0% under mortgage. That mix can support tenant demand when new homes are delivered, but it also means the suburb is less established as a rental market than nearby areas with a larger investor base. Development activity is substantial, with 243 applications recorded in 12 months, including new houses, subdivisions and semi-detached dwellings. With 99.1% separate houses and 89.4% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms, the likely tenant pool is family-oriented rather than apartment-focused. Investors should stress-test borrowing against the $2,835 monthly mortgage figure and verify achieved rents because vacancy conditions can change as the construction pipeline completes.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2,267
Last 12 Months
230
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-15.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Melonba
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Melonba is younger and more internationally connected than Australia overall. Median age is 31, which is 9 years below the national figure, while 64.8% of residents hold a university qualification, 34.7 percentage points above the national rate. Overseas-born residents represent 60.8%, 39.2 points above the national share, with Indian ancestry at 421 people and Filipino ancestry at 258. Punjabi is the leading listed language at 105 speakers, followed by Guj at 49 and Hindi at 35. Hinduism accounts for 390 people and Sikhism 180, alongside Christianity at 510. Family formation is prominent: 65.4% of families are couples with children, and average household size is 3.3, 0.8 above the national level. Compared with nearby Marsden Park and Schofields, Melonba's young, migrant-majority profile and 96.7% turnover reflect a very new population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.1%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Melonba's housing stock is unusually concentrated in large detached homes. Separate houses comprise 99.1% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 0.9%, and 89.4% contain 4 or more bedrooms, versus 9.4% with 3 bedrooms and 1.2% with 2. The tenure pattern is equally clear: 87.0% are mortgaged, only 4.5% are owned outright and 8.5% are rented. This points to a newer mortgage-belt suburb where households are buying family space rather than trading into apartments. The listed monthly mortgage figure is $2,835, or 22.9% of household income, while weekly rent is $600. Compared with nearby Marsden Park and Schofields, the 99.1% house share reinforces Melonba's detached, estate-style format. Buyers should compare land size and build quality rather than rely on a single suburb-wide price point.
Mortgage / mo
$2,835
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $600.
$830
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $850 · units $560
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,266
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
2.3%
Unoccupied
10
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
65.4%
Couples with children
28.2%
Couples, no children
5.4%
Single parent
425
Total families
Economy & Employment
Melonba combines a high-income household base with strong participation in professional and essential-service work. Household income sits at the 96.4th percentile, while labour-force participation is 79.2% and unemployment is 2.8%. Healthcare leads local employment at 19.5% with 126 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 13.6% and 88, Finance at 10.4% and 67, Transport at 7.9% and 51, and Education at 7.6% and 49. The occupational mix is led by Professionals with 261 people, then Clerical/Admin at 122 and Managers at 89. Full-time employment is 72.2%, or 562 people, compared with 159 part-time workers. This profile is stronger than a low-participation outer suburb because high incomes and a 79.2% participation rate support mortgage capacity, although 50.8% working from home can reduce weekday local spending.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
800
Unemployed
22
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.2%
Part-time
20.4%
Participation
79.2%
Employed
778
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.8%
Postgraduate
19.1%
Born Overseas
60.8%
Dwellings
423
Transport to Work
Day-to-day life in Melonba is currently car-oriented, with 43.3% driving to work compared with 3.4% using public transport. Working from home is also common at 50.8%, which can soften peak commuting pressure but increases the value of nearby shops, parks and services. School access is still developing: 1 listed local school, Melonba Public School, is a government primary school. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address, since boundaries can cross estate edges. A suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so residents should review current NSW Police information before making a safety judgment. Need for assistance is 1.6%, or 23 people, while volunteering is 7.1%. Compared with a mature transport hub, Melonba currently has less public transport choice, so households should budget for car ownership and longer regional trips.
Drive
43.3%
Public Transport
3.4%
Walk / Cycle
N/A
Work from Home
50.8%
Growth Outlook
Melonba is still in an active build-out phase. Development activity reached 243 applications over 12 months, covering dwelling houses, subdivisions and semi-detached construction, a level that points to a busy residential pipeline. The current population is 1,439, while residential turnover is 96.7% and only 3.3% of residents stayed at the same address. Those figures point to a suburb where new households are continually replacing one another as estates fill, rather than a settled area with low churn. The 99.1% separate-house share and 89.4% prevalence of 4-plus-bedroom homes show that growth is being delivered mainly as family housing. Compared with established parts of Blacktown, Melonba's development intensity is higher, so road, retail, childcare and school capacity will be important as occupancy rises.
Population trend: Blacktown council area
Melonba sits in the Blacktown council area. These are the council area's residents, not Melonba's.
Residents 2025
449,385
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Melonba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melonba a good suburb to live in?
Melonba suits households seeking newer detached housing, with 99.1% separate houses and 89.4% containing 4 or more bedrooms. The median age is 31 and 60.8% of residents were born overseas. Compared with established suburbs, services and public transport are still developing, with 43.3% driving to work versus 3.4% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Melonba?
A current median house price is not stated, so buyers should compare recent settled sales rather than rely on asking prices. Housing is strongly family-focused, with 99.1% separate houses and 89.4% containing 4 or more bedrooms. The listed monthly mortgage figure is $2,835 and weekly rent is $600.
What schools are in Melonba?
Melonba has 1 listed local school: Melonba Public School, a government primary school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address because estate boundaries and school catchments can differ. The suburb has 1,439 residents and a young median age of 31, supporting demand for accessible primary education.
Is Melonba safe?
A current suburb crime rate is not stated. Melonba has 1,439 residents, and 1.6% of people are recorded as needing assistance, but residents should review current NSW Police incident data for the latest local pattern. Inspecting lighting, footpaths and activity around the exact property is also more useful than relying on a broad suburb comparison.
Is Melonba good for property investment?
Melonba may suit investors seeking family rental property, with weekly rent of $600, vacancy of 2.3% and 99.1% separate houses. However, only 8.5% of dwellings are rented, so the rental market is smaller than the mortgage market. A pipeline of 243 development applications means investors should monitor new supply and verify achieved rents.
How is Melonba's population changing?
Melonba has 1,439 residents and very high residential mobility, with 96.7% turnover and only 3.3% staying at the same address. The 243 development applications recorded over 12 months indicate continuing estate activity. Compared with a settled suburb, this pattern points to a younger population that is still being reshaped as new homes are occupied.
What languages are spoken in Melonba?
Punjabi is the leading listed language, spoken by 105 people, followed by Guj at 49, Hindi at 35, Urdu at 25 and Malayalam at 19. This reflects Melonba's 60.8% overseas-born share and its Indian and Filipino ancestry counts of 421 and 258. Language needs are therefore more varied than in a less internationally connected suburb.
What development is occurring in Melonba?
There were 243 development applications in the past 12 months. Examples include new dwelling houses, subdivisions, residential accommodation and semi-detached dwellings. This activity reinforces Melonba's role as a growing detached-house estate, where 99.1% of housing is separate and 89.4% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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