Melrose Park
Household income at the 83rd percentile nationally combined with a median house price of $808,000 makes Melrose Park one of the more affordable high-income pockets along the Parramatta River corridor. The suburb's 2,059 residents are markedly well-educated at 52.1% university-qualified, which is 22 percentage points above the national average. Almost 42% were born overseas, running 20 points higher than national. At 1.28 km2 and a density of 1,612 residents per km2, the suburb is compact, with 65 development applications lodged in the past 12 months signalling active commercial and residential activity.
Population
2,059
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,182/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
84
Median House
$808K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $808,000 sits below the broader inner-west Sydney median, offering relative value in an income-strong postcode 2114. Prices rose from $796,000 in 2024 to $820,000 in 2025, a 3% gain. Separate houses form 64.4% of dwellings and apartments 30.6%, so buyers have a genuine choice between detached and higher-density stock. The most common dwelling type is 3-bedroom at 36.3%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 26.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.5%, below the 30% stress threshold despite prices above the state median in many outer areas. Outright owners (30.9%) and mortgagors (42.1%) together hold nearly three-quarters of stock, indicating an established owner base rather than a transient renter market.
For Buyers
The median house price of $808,000 sits below the broader inner-west Sydney median, offering relative value in an income-strong postcode 2114. Prices rose from $796,000 in 2024 to $820,000 in 2025, a 3% gain. Separate houses form 64.4% of dwellings and apartments 30.6%, so buyers have a genuine choice between detached and higher-density stock. The most common dwelling type is 3-bedroom at 36.3%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 26.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.5%, below the 30% stress threshold despite prices above the state median in many outer areas. Outright owners (30.9%) and mortgagors (42.1%) together hold nearly three-quarters of stock, indicating an established owner base rather than a transient renter market.
For Investors
Renters make up 27.0% of households, giving landlords a steady tenant pool in a suburb where weekly rent is $490. The vacancy rate of 7.8% is high relative to tight inner-Sydney norms and worth monitoring before committing, as it suggests supply has run ahead of rental demand. Development activity is active with 65 applications in 12 months, mostly commercial and retail alterations, pointing to economic vitality but not a wave of new rental stock. The 3% price gain from 2024 to 2025 is modest compared to peak Sydney growth cycles, so the investment case leans on the suburb's high-income demographic base and its position within the Parramatta River growth corridor rather than short-term capital gains.
Development Activity
Total DAs
234
Last 12 Months
84
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, signalling a working-age population rather than an aging one. University qualifications reach 52.1%, which is 22 percentage points above the national average, and overseas-born residents at 41.6% run 20 points higher than national norms. Chinese ancestry is the largest group at 440 residents, followed by English (394) and Irish (192), with Korean (164) also prominent. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (98 speakers), Korean (75) and Cantonese (51). Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above the national figure, consistent with a family-oriented suburb where couples with children (763 families) outnumber couples without children (411 families).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
64.4%
Houses
5.0%
Townhouse
30.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits reveal an owner-dominant market: 30.9% own outright, 42.1% hold a mortgage and 27.0% rent. The 42.1% mortgage rate is high, consistent with the mortgage-belt identity signal for this suburb. Separate houses dominate at 64.4%, with apartments at 30.6% and semi-detached dwellings at 5.0%. The bedroom profile skews towards families, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 36.3% and 4-plus bedroom at 26.1%. The median house price climbed 3.0% from $796,000 in 2024 to $820,000 in 2025, and the CAGR over the measured period is 3.0%. Rent-to-income at 22.5% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning tenants are not under rental pressure at $490 per week.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$490
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$973
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
63
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.4%
Couples, no children
1,759
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 14.5% of the local workforce (119 workers), followed by Professional and Technical services at 13.8% (113 workers) and Education at 10.5% (86 workers). Construction (9.3%) and Finance (8.3%) round out the top five, together accounting for more than half of all local employment. The occupation profile reflects the high education level: Professionals are the largest group at 334 workers, ahead of Managers (176) and Clerical/Admin (167). Full-time employment runs at 66.6% and the unemployment rate is 4.5%, both near national benchmarks. Household income at the 83rd percentile nationally signals that while the labour market is mainstream, residents earn well above average.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.6%
Part-time
28.9%
Participation
60.0%
Employed
955
Occupations
Top Industries
University
52.1%
Postgraduate
15.5%
Born Overseas
41.6%
Dwellings
745
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 85.8% of commuters driving, which is above the national norm and above most inner-Sydney suburbs with heavy rail access. Public transport use is only 3.9%, suggesting proximity to rail remains limited for most residents. Walking and cycling account for 4.6% of commutes, consistent with a low-density street network. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on institutions in surrounding postcode 2114 suburbs. The need-for-assistance rate is low at 3.2% (64 residents), and housing stress is absent on both the rental and mortgage measures. Volunteering at 14.5% is a reasonable community-participation indicator for a suburb where half the residents hold university qualifications.
Drive
85.8%
Public Transport
3.9%
Walk / Cycle
4.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Melrose Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melrose Park a good suburb to live in?
Melrose Park sits at the 83rd income percentile nationally with household weekly income of $2,182. University qualifications reach 52.1%, which is 22 points above the national figure. Housing stress is absent on both the rent (22.5% of income) and mortgage (27.5%) measures, making it financially comfortable for both owners and renters.
What is the median house price in Melrose Park?
The median house price is $808,000, with prices rising 3.0% from $796,000 in 2024 to $820,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $490 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.5%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Melrose Park?
No schools are recorded within the Melrose Park suburb boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in the broader postcode 2114 area, which includes surrounding suburbs. Despite the lack of local schools, 52.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 22 points above the national average.
Is Melrose Park safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Melrose Park in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is absent for both renters (rent-to-income 22.5%) and mortgagors (27.5%), and only 3.2% of the 2,059 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Melrose Park good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $490 against an $808,000 median gives a gross yield of roughly 3.2%, moderate by Sydney standards. The vacancy rate of 7.8% is elevated compared to inner-Sydney norms and warrants caution. Price growth of 3.0% from 2024 to 2025 is modest, though the suburb's position in the Parramatta River corridor and high-income demographic base provide medium-term support.
How is Melrose Park's population changing?
Melrose Park has a population of 2,059 in a compact 1.28 km2 area. The turnover rate is 40.2%, meaning a significant proportion of residents moved in within the past 5 years. The overseas-born share of 41.6% is 20 points above the national figure, linking the suburb to ongoing migration-driven demand.
What languages are spoken in Melrose Park?
About 41.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 20 points above the national average. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (98 speakers), Korean (75), Cantonese (51) and Arabic (21), reflecting the suburb's predominantly East and Southeast Asian migrant community alongside its English-ancestry base.
How much development is happening in Melrose Park?
There were 65 development applications lodged in the 12 months to mid-2026, high for a suburb of only 1.28 km2. Recent approvals include commercial alterations, food-and-drink premises and retail works, indicating economic rather than purely residential growth momentum.
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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