Middle Park
At $3,030,000 median house price on just 0.85 square kilometres, Middle Park sits among the most expensive and densest pockets in Melbourne. Household income lands in the 96.4th percentile nationally, and 65.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 35.8 percentage points above the national figure. The housing stock is dominated by semi-detached dwellings at 58.1%, with separate houses at a scarce 14.9%, driving prices up because detached supply is tightly constrained. The median resident age of 45 is 5 years above the national median, pointing to an established, high-income, older-skewing community that has largely paid off its properties, with 42.2% owning outright.
Population
4,000
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,836/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$3.0M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $3,030,000 in the April to June 2024 quarter places Middle Park well above the Melbourne metro median. Prices have grown from $1,587,500 in 2013 to the current level, a 90.9% rise over 14 years at a compound annual growth rate of 4.7%. The stock is skewed heavily toward semi-detached homes at 58.1%, with only 14.9% being separate houses, so buyers seeking a detached dwelling compete for a very limited pool. Three-bedroom homes are the modal type at 37.9% of dwellings, and four-plus bedroom homes account for 19.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,467 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.2%, below the 30% stress threshold even at this price point, because household incomes are in the 96.4th percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The median house price of $3,030,000 in the April to June 2024 quarter places Middle Park well above the Melbourne metro median. Prices have grown from $1,587,500 in 2013 to the current level, a 90.9% rise over 14 years at a compound annual growth rate of 4.7%. The stock is skewed heavily toward semi-detached homes at 58.1%, with only 14.9% being separate houses, so buyers seeking a detached dwelling compete for a very limited pool. Three-bedroom homes are the modal type at 37.9% of dwellings, and four-plus bedroom homes account for 19.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,467 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.2%, below the 30% stress threshold even at this price point, because household incomes are in the 96.4th percentile nationally.
For Investors
The renter share of 32.6% and weekly rent of $602 give landlords a steady tenant base, though against a $3,030,000 median the implied gross yield is under 1.1%, lower than most Melbourne suburbs. The 17.2% vacancy rate is high and reflects the apartment and holiday-adjacent bay character of parts of the suburb, where absentee ownership is common. Development activity is low at 9 applications in the past 12 months, mostly single-dwelling planning permits, consistent with an established streetscape where new supply is tightly restricted. The 90.9% price growth over 14 years and a CAGR of 4.7% support a capital-growth investment thesis more than a yield-driven one. Long-term holders benefit: 42.2% of residents own outright, above the national average, indicating most wealth here is accumulated rather than leveraged.
Development Activity
Total DAs
14
Last 12 Months
11
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 Middle Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Middle Park Primary School
Prep-6 · 393 students
Demographics
Middle Park residents skew older, with a median age of 45, which is 5 years above the national median. The overseas-born share of 25.5% is 3.9 percentage points above the national figure. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English at 1,458 residents leads, followed by Irish (672) and Scottish (472), with Greek (369) reflecting historical settlement patterns along the bay. University qualifications at 65.9% run 35.8 percentage points above the national rate, among the highest in Victoria. Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below the national figure of 2.5, consistent with a profile weighted toward established couples: 29.3% of families are couples without children and the one-parent family count is negligible.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
14.9%
Houses
58.1%
Townhouse
26.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Middle Park is distinctly wealth-oriented: 42.2% of households own outright, 25.2% carry a mortgage, and 32.6% rent. The outright-ownership share sitting above mortgage holders signals long-held, largely debt-free property rather than a market of recent entrants. The stock is 58.1% semi-detached, 26.5% apartments, and just 14.9% separate houses, making detached homes scarce relative to demand. Three-bedroom dwellings are the largest cohort at 37.9%, followed by two-bedroom at 33.2%. Prices have climbed from $1,587,500 in 2013 to $3,030,000 in mid-2024, a compound growth rate of 4.7% annually over 14 years. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2% and rent-to-income ratio of 21.2% both sit below standard stress thresholds, supported by incomes in the 96.4th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,467
Rent / wk
$602
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,430
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.2%
Unoccupied
338
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.3%
Couples, no children
3,147
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is concentrated in knowledge-economy sectors: Professional and Technical services lead at 22.7% of workers (358 people), Healthcare at 15.1% (237), Finance at 9.6% (151), Education at 9.0% (142), and Public Administration at 6.5% (103). By occupation, Professionals (820) and Managers (559) dominate, accounting for the majority of employed residents, consistent with the 65.9% university qualification rate that is 35.8 points above national. The unemployment rate is 4.0% and the full-time employment rate is 66.8%. The participation rate of 60.9% is below what the income would imply, because 1,091 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the older median age of 45 and the high share of retirees who own outright and no longer need income from employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.8%
Part-time
29.2%
Participation
60.9%
Employed
1,932
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.9%
Postgraduate
22.0%
Born Overseas
25.5%
Dwellings
1,633
Transport to Work
Port Phillip Bay access and a walkable street grid are reflected in the transport data: 15.2% of residents walk or cycle to work, well above the national average, while 79.7% drive. The crime rate of 78.8 offences per 1,000 residents is elevated compared to suburban Melbourne norms, driven predominantly by property and deception offences at 254 of 315 total incidents, a pattern typical of inner bayside suburbs where parked vehicles and unoccupied properties attract opportunistic incidents. Serious crimes against the person total 24, a low count relative to a population of 4,000. Volunteering participation reaches 22.5% and only 3.9% of residents need daily assistance, consistent with a healthy, professionally active community. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring South Melbourne and Albert Park.
Drive
79.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
15.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
315
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
78.8
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 Middle Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Middle Park a good suburb to live in?
Middle Park ranks among Melbourne's most prestigious bayside suburbs, with household income in the 96.4th percentile nationally and university qualifications at 65.9%, which is 35.8 points above the national average. The walkability rate of 15.2% and a low mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2% reflect a comfortable, amenity-rich environment. The main trade-off is a $3,030,000 median house price and a crime rate of 78.8 per 1,000 driven largely by property offences.
What is the median house price in Middle Park?
The median house price is $3,030,000 based on the April to June 2024 quarter. Prices have risen 90.9% from $1,587,500 in 2013 at a CAGR of 4.7% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,467 and weekly rent sits at $602, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 21.2%.
What schools are in Middle Park?
No schools are recorded inside the Middle Park boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 0.85 square kilometres, so families typically use schools in neighbouring Albert Park and South Melbourne. Locally, 65.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 35.8 points above the national figure, reflecting a highly educated household base.
Is Middle Park safe?
Middle Park recorded 315 total offences in the latest year, a rate of 78.8 per 1,000 residents. The large majority (254 incidents) were property and deception offences typical of inner bayside areas. Crimes against the person totalled 24, a low figure for a population of 4,000. Only 3.9% of residents need daily assistance, an indirect indicator of a low-disadvantage community.
Is Middle Park good for property investment?
The investment case in Middle Park rests on capital growth rather than yield. Weekly rent of $602 against a $3,030,000 median implies a gross yield under 1.1%, and the 17.2% vacancy rate signals some oversupply in the apartment segment. However, the 90.9% price gain over 14 years at a 4.7% CAGR, tight supply of only 14.9% separate houses, and household incomes in the 96.4th percentile nationally support long-term capital preservation and appreciation.
How is Middle Park's population changing?
Middle Park has a population of approximately 4,000 within 0.85 square kilometres, giving a density of 4,720 people per square kilometre. The resident base skews older at a median age of 45, which is 5 years above national, with 76.7% of residents staying in the same address over five years. Only 9 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating minimal new dwelling supply and stable rather than growing population.
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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