Melville
A $557,000 median house price paired with household income in the 83rd percentile nationally is what makes Melville unusual, because the affordability and the affluence rarely sit together. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD and decile 9 on IRSAD, IEO and IER, the upper advantage tier, yet repayments stay manageable: mortgage-to-income runs at just 24.6%, below the 30% stress line. University qualifications reach 44.0%, which is 13.9 points above the national figure, and the stock is heavily detached at 77.7% across a compact 2.4 km2. The median age of 42 sits 2.0 years above national, and Education and Healthcare together employ over 31% of the workforce.
Population
6,204
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,183/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$557K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $557,000 median, Melville is genuinely affordable for a suburb carrying decile 9 advantage and 83rd-percentile household incomes, a rare combination in Perth's inner south. The stock suits families: 77.7% are separate houses and apartments make up only 3.3%, so buyers compete for detached homes rather than units. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 46.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes follow at 39.7%, leaving two-bedroom options scarce at 12.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,325, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite the established-wealth profile. Mortgage holders (45.1%) outnumber outright owners (39.2%), which points to a market of active family buyers rather than purely debt-free retirees.
For Buyers
At a $557,000 median, Melville is genuinely affordable for a suburb carrying decile 9 advantage and 83rd-percentile household incomes, a rare combination in Perth's inner south. The stock suits families: 77.7% are separate houses and apartments make up only 3.3%, so buyers compete for detached homes rather than units. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 46.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes follow at 39.7%, leaving two-bedroom options scarce at 12.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,325, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite the established-wealth profile. Mortgage holders (45.1%) outnumber outright owners (39.2%), which points to a market of active family buyers rather than purely debt-free retirees.
For Investors
A 15.7% renter share and weekly rent of $420 give landlords a modest tenant pool, and against the $557,000 median that rent implies a gross yield near 3.9%, healthier than premium Sydney or Melbourne suburbs. The 7.1% vacancy rate is workable rather than tight, reflecting the detached, owner-occupied character where only 3.3% of dwellings are apartments. Demand support is real: net overseas migration adds 258 residents a year and internal migration a further 71, both positive. Rent grew 16.7% over the period and the population is climbing 1.08% annually, so the investment case rests on steady capital growth and rising rents rather than high turnover. Development is quiet, with no applications recorded in the past 12 months, which limits new supply and protects existing values.
Schools in Melville iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Melville Primary School
K-6 · 670 students
Melville Senior High School
7-12 · 1398 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, and the profile is gently aging: the senior share rose 1.6 points while the working-age share fell 1.4 points. Overseas-born residents reach 23.4%, only 1.8 points above national, so the suburb is less migrant-heavy than most metro areas. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic and Italian, led by English (2,616), Irish (749), Scottish (664) and Italian (628), and the top non-English languages are Italian (30), Mandarin (22) and Portuguese (15). University qualifications at 44.0% run 13.9 points above national, signalling a well-educated base. Average household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national, and couples with children (2,321) outnumber couples without (1,135), consistent with a family-oriented suburb rather than a singles or downsizer market.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.7%
Houses
19.0%
Townhouse
3.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward active buyers: 45.1% carry a mortgage, 39.2% own outright and only 15.7% rent. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to a churn of family purchasers rather than long-held, debt-free wealth. The stock is 77.7% separate houses and 19.0% semi-detached, leaving apartments at just 3.3%, which keeps the market firmly detached and family-scaled. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 46.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes 39.7%, while two-bedroom options are scarce at 12.4%. The median house price of $557,000 stays affordable against 83rd-percentile household incomes. Mortgage-to-income at 24.6% and rent-to-income at 19.2% both sit well below the 30% stress threshold, a comfortable position that reflects how reasonable prices are relative to local earnings.
Mortgage / mo
$2,325
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$991
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
176
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.5%
Couples, no children
5,036
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in essential-service sectors: Education leads at 15.8% (375 workers), Healthcare follows at 15.6% (371) and Professional/Tech at 11.3% (269), with Construction at 8.9% and Mining at 7.4%. By occupation, Professionals (1,001) and Managers (553) account for the bulk of jobs, which aligns with the decile 9 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.9% and the full-time employment rate is 60.1%, while participation reads 65.7%, restrained because the aging profile leaves 1,420 residents not in the labour force. Real incomes grew 9.8% over the decade. The four SEIFA indexes cluster tightly at decile 9 to 10, with IER economic resources at decile 9, consistent with the comfortable mortgage-to-income position rather than any wealth anomaly.
Unemployment
1.4%
Labour Force
11,119
Unemployed
153
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.1%
Part-time
36.0%
Participation
65.7%
Employed
3,166
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.0%
Postgraduate
10.0%
Born Overseas
23.4%
Dwellings
2,304
Transport to Work
Melville leans heavily on cars, with 87.1% driving to work and only 5.4% taking public transport and 2.2% walking or cycling, above the national reliance on private vehicles. The suburb earns decile 10 on IRSD for relative disadvantage and decile 9 on IRSAD, both upper-tier scores, meaning very few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 20.3% and only 4.6% (275 people) need daily assistance despite the older median age of 42. Rent-to-income at 19.2% and mortgage-to-income at 24.6% both stay well below the stress line, keeping housing costs comfortable for residents. No schools are recorded inside the 2.4 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a trade-off for the compact, low-density residential setting.
Drive
87.1%
Public Transport
5.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.08%/yr
(+209 people/yr)
EstablishedMelville is expanding steadily, with annual population growth of 1.08% (about 209 persons a year), faster than the flat or declining trajectories common to established inner suburbs. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 258 residents a year, higher than the net internal migration of 71, though both are positive inflows. The gentrification stage reads Active with a score of 40, supported by a 12.9% population gain over the decade and an accelerating trajectory. Medium forecasts lift the surrounding SA2 population toward 20,305 by 2031 from 19,369 in 2025. Affordability improved from 48.8% in 2011 to 42.2% in 2021, a gain that runs counter to the rising costs typical of suburbs attracting this much migration, which keeps Melville accessible even as demand climbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+258
Net Internal / yr
+71
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal migration +71/yr, Strong overseas inflow +258/yr, Accelerating: 3% → 15%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Melville compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melville a good suburb to live in?
Melville scores decile 10 on IRSD and decile 9 on IRSAD, IEO and IER, the upper advantage tier, with household income in the 83rd percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 44.0%, 13.9 points above national, and housing stays affordable with a $557,000 median and a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 24.6%.
What is the median house price in Melville?
The median house price is $557,000, affordable for a suburb with 83rd-percentile household incomes. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,325, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Melville?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.4 km2 Melville boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 44.0%, which is 13.9 points above the national figure.
Is Melville safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Melville in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 4.6% of its 6,204 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Melville good for property investment?
Rent of $420 a week against a $557,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, healthier than premium eastern-state suburbs, and the 7.1% vacancy rate is workable. Net overseas migration of 258 a year and 1.08% population growth support steady demand and rising rents.
How is Melville's population changing?
Population is growing 1.08% annually, about 209 people a year, with a 12.9% rise over the decade. Overseas migration drives most of the gain at 258 residents a year, with internal migration adding 71. The profile is gently aging, with the senior share up 1.6 points.
What jobs and industries support Melville?
Education employs 15.8% of the workforce (375 workers) and Healthcare 15.6% (371), together over 31%, with Professional/Tech at 11.3%. Unemployment is low at 3.9% and Professionals (1,001) and Managers (553) lead by occupation, matching the decile 9 IEO score.
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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