Monash
Despite sitting in the 82.3rd income percentile nationally, Monash carries a $605,000 median house price, modest for a Canberra suburb where household income runs to $2,164 a week. The explanation is the housing stock: 86.4% of dwellings are separate houses and only 1.4% are apartments, so this is a settled detached-housing pocket rather than a high-density growth area. SEIFA scores land at decile 8 across all four indexes, a solid advantage tier without the extremes of inner-city wealth. University qualifications reach 39.6%, which is 9.5 points above national, and the median age of 43 sits 3 years above the national figure, pointing to an aging, owner-occupier base.
Population
5,644
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,164/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$605K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $605,000 median, Monash is affordable relative to its 82.3rd-percentile household income, and the affordability ratio improved from 44.4% in 2011 to 41.1% in 2021. The stock suits families: 45.9% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 42.1% have 4 or more, while just 11.0% are 2-bedroom, because the suburb was built out as detached family housing at 86.4% separate houses. Owner-occupiers dominate, with 38.8% owning outright and 40.6% holding a mortgage, leaving only 20.6% renting. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,058, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers here face less repayment pressure than in more expensive Canberra markets.
For Buyers
At a $605,000 median, Monash is affordable relative to its 82.3rd-percentile household income, and the affordability ratio improved from 44.4% in 2011 to 41.1% in 2021. The stock suits families: 45.9% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 42.1% have 4 or more, while just 11.0% are 2-bedroom, because the suburb was built out as detached family housing at 86.4% separate houses. Owner-occupiers dominate, with 38.8% owning outright and 40.6% holding a mortgage, leaving only 20.6% renting. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,058, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers here face less repayment pressure than in more expensive Canberra markets.
For Investors
Investors find a thin rental segment in Monash: only 20.6% of dwellings are rented, against 38.8% owned outright and 40.6% under mortgage. Weekly rent of $450 on the $605,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, higher than premium suburbs but constrained by a small tenant pool. The vacancy rate of 4.7% is elevated for an owner-occupier area, signalling limited rental demand rather than scarcity. Development is minimal at 5 applications in 12 months, mostly dwelling alterations and dual-occupancy lease variations rather than new supply. With overseas migration adding 40 residents a year and internal migration removing 6, net demand is balanced but flat, so the case rests on steady yield rather than capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
26
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+25.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Monash iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Monash Primary School
K-6 · 414 students
Demographics
Monash skews older and family-oriented: the median age of 43 is 3.0 years above national, and the senior share rose 10.6 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 6.0 points, a clear aging trajectory. Average household size is 2.5, level with national, consistent with the 1,867 couples-with-children families that outnumber the 1,224 couples without. Overseas-born residents reach 25.8%, which is 4.2 points above national, and ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,982), Irish (640) and Scottish (564). The top non-English languages are Arabic (34), Punjabi (28) and Mandarin (27), a modest international mix. University qualifications at 39.6% run 9.5 points above the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.4%
Houses
12.3%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts firmly to owners: 38.8% own outright and 40.6% carry a mortgage, leaving renters at just 20.6%, a profile of established households rather than a churning market. The stock is 86.4% separate houses with apartments at only 1.4% and semi-detached at 12.3%, which keeps the market firmly detached and family-scaled. Bedrooms reflect that, with 45.9% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 42.1% having 4 or more. The median house price of $605,000 stays affordable against $2,164 weekly household income, and the affordability ratio improved from 44.4% to 41.1% across 2011 to 2021. Mortgage-to-income at 22.0% and rent-to-income at 20.8% both sit below the stress threshold, so housing costs absorb a smaller slice of income here than in dearer Canberra suburbs.
Mortgage / mo
$2,058
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,095
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.7%
Unoccupied
104
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.1%
Couples, no children
4,523
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is dominated by government, as expected in Canberra: Public Admin leads at 36.3% (692 workers), more than double the next sector, Healthcare at 13.9% (266), followed by Education at 9.7%, Professional/Tech at 9.1% and Construction at 8.0%. By occupation, Professionals (722), Clerical/Admin (491) and Managers (450) form the core, aligning with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.9% and the full-time employment rate is 69.6%. Participation reads 56.3%, held down because 1,644 residents sit outside the labour force, a function of the aging profile. The economic resources index (IER) scores decile 8, matching the other three SEIFA measures and reflecting stable, secure-income households.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
2,878
Unemployed
124
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.6%
Part-time
26.5%
Participation
56.3%
Employed
2,516
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.6%
Postgraduate
10.4%
Born Overseas
25.8%
Dwellings
2,114
Transport to Work
Monash is car-dependent, with 85.7% driving to work, while public transport carries just 4.3% and 3.0% walk or cycle, well below denser inner suburbs. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, a strong advantage tier, and decile 8 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, so few residents face deprivation. That said, 9.2% (502 people) need daily assistance, above what the suburb size suggests, reflecting the older median age of 43. Volunteering runs at 16.7%. No schools are recorded inside the 3.41 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Tuggeranong suburbs, a practical trade-off offset by the affordable $605,000 median and low 22.0% mortgage-to-income burden.
Drive
85.7%
Public Transport
4.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.05%/yr
(-3 people/yr)
EstablishedMonash is established and barely moving: annual population growth is -0.05%, roughly 3 fewer residents a year, and the 10-year change is just 4.1%. Medium forecasts ease the population from 5,644 toward 5,558 by 2031, so contraction rather than expansion is expected. The gentrification score reads 0, classifying the suburb as not gentrifying, which fits an area already at decile 8 advantage with stable, owner-occupier households. Migration is balanced, with overseas inflows of 40 a year offset by net internal outflow of 6. Rent grew 13.9% over the period while real income growth registered 0.0%, and affordability still improved from 44.4% to 41.1%, a sign that price pressure stayed contained in this slow-growth market.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+40
Net Internal / yr
-6
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Monash compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monash a good suburb to live in?
Monash scores decile 8 across all four SEIFA indexes, a strong advantage tier, with household income in the 82.3rd percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 39.6%, which is 9.5 points above national. It suits owner-occupier families, with an affordable $605,000 median house price and low 22.0% mortgage-to-income burden.
What is the median house price in Monash?
The median house price is $605,000, affordable relative to the suburb's $2,164 weekly household income. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,058, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Monash?
No schools are recorded inside the 3.41 km2 Monash boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Tuggeranong suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 39.6%, which is 9.5 points above the national figure.
Is Monash safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Monash in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a high tier, and 9.2% of its 5,644 residents need daily assistance, consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage area.
Is Monash good for property investment?
Rent of $450 a week against the $605,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, higher than premium suburbs, but only 20.6% of dwellings are rented, a thin tenant pool. The 4.7% vacancy rate and balanced migration of 40 overseas arrivals a year point to steady yield rather than capital growth.
How is Monash's population changing?
Population growth is -0.05% annually, about 3 fewer residents a year, with a 4.1% rise over 10 years. Medium forecasts ease the 5,644 population toward 5,558 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 10.6 points and the working-age share down 6.0 points over the decade.
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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