Melton
A crime rate of 266.2 per 1,000 residents places Melton among the highest in metropolitan Melbourne, yet house prices have nearly doubled from $245,000 (2013) to $486,300, delivering a 5.0% CAGR over 14 years. Household incomes at the 15th percentile nationally and SEIFA scores uniformly at decile 1 confirm deep structural disadvantage. The population is essentially static, growing at just 0.04% per year (3 persons), with net internal migration negative at 106 people per year. What keeps Melton on the radar is price: at $486,300, it remains one of the most affordable detached-house suburbs within 50km of Melbourne's CBD.
Population
7,953
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,058/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$486K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $486,300 (Apr-Jun 2024) is roughly half Melbourne's metro median. Price history shows strong long-term growth: up 98.5% from $245,000 in 2013, though currently sitting 2.7% below the $500,000 peak (2022). Three-bedroom homes dominate at 64.6% of stock, with 4-plus at 21.6%. Mortgage-to-income at 28.4% approaches the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income matches at 28.4%, indicating affordability is tightening despite low absolute prices. With 11.4% of residents needing assistance (822 people), buyers should weigh social infrastructure carefully.
For Buyers
The median house price of $486,300 (Apr-Jun 2024) is roughly half Melbourne's metro median. Price history shows strong long-term growth: up 98.5% from $245,000 in 2013, though currently sitting 2.7% below the $500,000 peak (2022). Three-bedroom homes dominate at 64.6% of stock, with 4-plus at 21.6%. Mortgage-to-income at 28.4% approaches the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income matches at 28.4%, indicating affordability is tightening despite low absolute prices. With 11.4% of residents needing assistance (822 people), buyers should weigh social infrastructure carefully.
For Investors
The 35.6% renter share is substantial, but an 8.0% vacancy rate is a red flag, nearly double Melbourne's average. Weekly rent of $300 against a $486,300 median implies a gross yield of approximately 3.2%. Population growth is near-zero (0.04% annual), so tenant demand relies on turnover rather than inflow. Net internal migration is negative at 106 people per year, partially offset by overseas arrivals (93/year). With 16 development applications in 12 months and a subdivision already approved for 10 lots, modest infill is occurring, but capital growth has stalled since the 2022 peak.
Development Activity
Total DAs
34
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+60.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Melton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Muhammadiyah Australia College
Prep-9 · 182 students
St Dominic's School
Prep-6 · 369 students
Melton Primary School
Prep-6 · 507 students
Kurunjang Secondary College
7-12 · 873 students
Melton Secondary College
7-12 · 1433 students
Demographics
Melton's age profile matches the national median at 40. English ancestry dominates (2,288), followed by Irish (626) and Scottish (535), giving a predominantly Anglo heritage (8.4pp above national overseas-born rate). University education at 16.0% is 14.1 percentage points below the national average, the widest gap in this cohort. Household size of 2.4 is close to the national average. Christianity is the primary religion (3,593 adherents), with Islam (297) a distant second. Couples without children account for 23.6% of families, higher than the national average, reflecting an ageing population with fewer young families than a decade ago.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.2%
Houses
16.5%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Prices rose from a trough of $240,000 (2014) to a peak of $500,000 (2022), then pulled back 2.7% to $486,300 currently. The 14-year CAGR of 5.0% outperforms many outer Melbourne suburbs despite the recent softening. Detached houses comprise 83.2% of stock, with semi-detached at 16.5% and virtually no apartments. Ownership splits: 33.7% own outright, 30.7% carry mortgages, and 35.6% rent. The high outright ownership rate (vs. neighbouring new estates) reflects Melton's longer settlement history. Three-bedroom homes at 64.6% define the typology, built primarily in the 1970s-90s expansion.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$539
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
264
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.6%
Couples, no children
5,768
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 18.0% (266 workers), followed by Construction (12.7%, 187) and Education (9.9%, 146). The occupational profile is strongly blue-collar: Machinery/Drivers (410) tops the list, followed by Community/Personal (384) and Labourers (373). Unemployment at 10.4% is among the highest in metropolitan Melbourne, and the participation rate of 41.5% means more than half the working-age population is outside the labour force. All four SEIFA indices sit at decile 1, confirming Melton as one of the most economically disadvantaged suburbs in Victoria. Real incomes fell 2.1% over the decade.
Unemployment
15.2%
Labour Force
3,632
Unemployed
553
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.4%
Part-time
25.2%
Participation
41.5%
Employed
2,406
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.0%
Postgraduate
3.1%
Born Overseas
30.0%
Dwellings
3,025
Transport to Work
The crime rate of 266.2 per 1,000 residents is driven by property offences (1,154 incidents) and justice procedure breaches (383). Seven schools operate locally, with Muhammadiyah Australia College (Combined, Independent, ICSEA 1,052) the only one above the 1,000 benchmark. Melton Secondary College (ICSEA 944, 1,433 students) is the largest school. Public transport usage at 2.5% is very low, and 87% commute by car. The volunteering rate of 8.5% is below the national average. Melton has V/Line rail access, providing a regional connection to Melbourne's CBD.
Drive
87.0%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.04%/yr
(+3 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is forecast to reach approximately 8,087 by 2031, growing at just 0.04% annually (3 persons/year). The suburb experienced a COVID dip of 4.7% (from 8,359 to 7,966) and has not recovered, sitting 4% below pre-COVID levels. Net internal migration is negative at 106 people per year, offset by overseas migration of 93/year. The ageing trajectory shows seniors' share rising 6.2 percentage points and working-age share dropping 4.1pp. The gentrification score of 0 confirms no upgrading trend. Affordability has worsened from 50.3% to 55.8% (rent-to-income), despite low absolute prices.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+93
Net Internal / yr
-106
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -106/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,117
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
266.2
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 Melton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melton a good suburb to live in?
Melton offers detached housing at $486,300 median, roughly half Melbourne's metro price, making it accessible for first-home buyers. However, the crime rate of 266.2 per 1,000 is among the highest in metro Melbourne, unemployment sits at 10.4%, and SEIFA decile 1 scores indicate significant socioeconomic disadvantage.
What is the median house price in Melton?
The median is $486,300 (Apr-Jun 2024), up 98.5% from $245,000 in 2013 (5.0% CAGR over 14 years). The peak was $500,000 in 2022, so current pricing sits 2.7% below the high. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300.
What schools are in Melton?
Melton has 7 schools. Muhammadiyah Australia College (Combined, Independent, ICSEA 1,052, 182 students) leads. St Dominic's (Catholic, ICSEA 967, 369 students) and Melton Primary (Government, ICSEA 961, 507 students) are the main primaries. Melton Secondary College (ICSEA 944) is the largest with 1,433 enrolments.
Is Melton safe?
Melton's crime rate of 266.2 per 1,000 residents ranks among the highest in metropolitan Melbourne. Property and deception offences (1,154 incidents) account for over half of all crime. Crimes against the person totalled 332, and public order offences reached 127.
Is Melton good for property investment?
The gross rental yield is approximately 3.2% ($300/week rent on $486,300 median), modest but paired with strong long-term capital growth (5.0% CAGR over 14 years). The 8.0% vacancy rate is a concern, nearly double Melbourne's average. Population growth is near-zero at 0.04% annually, limiting demand-side pressure.
How is Melton's population changing?
Population is essentially flat, growing by 3 persons per year (0.04% annual). The COVID dip of 4.7% has not recovered, sitting 4% below 2019 levels. Net internal migration is negative at 106 people per year, with overseas arrivals (93/year) partially offsetting the outflow.
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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