Monash
Households in Monash sit at the 82.3rd income percentile, while the suburb's median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure. With 5,644 residents and 86.4% of dwellings being separate houses, Monash is an established, owner-oriented part of Tuggeranong rather than an apartment-led market. Compared with nearby Wanniassa and Isabella Plains, its 81.9% same-address retention reinforces a settled profile. Growth is slow at -0.05% annually, while the 10.6 percentage-point rise in the senior share points to an aging trajectory.
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
4
Monash suits buyers seeking established family housing because 86.4% of homes are separate houses, with 45.9% containing 3 bedrooms and 42.1% containing 4 or more. Only 1.4% are apartments, so the suburb has a more traditional detached-house profile compared with apartment-oriented parts of Canberra. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,058 sits alongside weekly rent of $450, while mortgage and rent costs equal 22.0% and 20.8% of household income respectively. Both housing stress flags are false, supporting a comparatively manageable cost position for many established households.
For Buyers
Monash suits buyers seeking established family housing because 86.4% of homes are separate houses, with 45.9% containing 3 bedrooms and 42.1% containing 4 or more. Only 1.4% are apartments, so the suburb has a more traditional detached-house profile compared with apartment-oriented parts of Canberra. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,058 sits alongside weekly rent of $450, while mortgage and rent costs equal 22.0% and 20.8% of household income respectively. Both housing stress flags are false, supporting a comparatively manageable cost position for many established households.
For Investors
Monash presents a steady, established investment profile rather than a high-growth proposition. Renting households account for 19.4%, vacancy is 4.7%, and weekly rent is $450, creating a measurable tenant base without suggesting severe shortage. Rental growth of 13.9% is a positive signal, but the annual population trend is -0.05% and migration is classified as Balanced. Compared with faster-expanding corridors, returns are more likely to depend on property quality and tenant retention than rapid capital growth. Development activity is limited, with 3 applications in 12 months, including 2 dual-occupancy proposals.
Development Activity
Total DAs
27
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Monash
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Monash Primary School
Demographics
Monash has a mature family profile, with a median age of 43, an average household size of 2.5 and 44.1% of couples recorded as having children. Age is 3 years above the national comparison, while university attainment at 39.6% is 9.5 percentage points higher nationally. English ancestry is most common at 1,982 people, followed by Irish at 640 and Scottish at 564. Christianity accounts for 2,731 residents and no religion for 2,105. Overseas-born residents represent 25.8%, which is 4.2 percentage points above the national comparison, with Arabic, Punjabi and Mandarin among the leading additional languages.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.4%
Houses
12.3%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Monash's housing stock is dominated by detached homes because 86.4% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 12.3% semi-detached homes and only 1.4% apartments. The bedroom mix is family-oriented: 42.1% have 4 or more bedrooms, 45.9% have 3, and 11.0% have 2. Tenure is split between outright owners at 36.4%, mortgage holders at 38.1% and renters at 19.4%, indicating a substantial established-owner base. Compared with more unit-heavy Canberra districts, Monash offers fewer apartment-style options. Household income of $2,164 weekly sits at the 82.3rd percentile, while mortgage costs equal 22.0% of income.
Mortgage / mo
$2,058
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$450
Census 2021
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
44.1%
Couples with children
39.1%
Couples, no children
15.9%
Single parent
1,564
Total families
Economy & Employment
Monash's economy is strongly connected to Canberra's public-sector base: Public Administration accounts for 36.3% of employment, or 692 people, followed by Healthcare at 13.9% and Education at 9.7%. The occupation mix includes 722 professionals, 491 clerical and administrative workers and 450 managers, with 304 trades workers adding practical employment diversity. Unemployment is 3.7%, participation is 59.8%, and 1,750 residents work full time compared with 766 part time. All four SEIFA measures sit in decile 8, above the midpoint: education and occupation, economic resources, disadvantage and advantage. That upper-decile position contrasts with 1,644 people outside the labour force, partly reflecting Monash's older age profile.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
2,782
Unemployed
103
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.3%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
59.8%
Employed
2,679
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.6%
Postgraduate
10.4%
Born Overseas
25.8%
Dwellings
2,114
Transport to Work
Monash is most practical for households with access to a car: 76.0% travel as car drivers, compared with 3.8% using public transport and 2.6% walking or cycling. Working from home accounts for 11.2%, which may soften some commuting pressure. Local education access includes 1 government primary school, Monash Primary School; families should check enrolment zones and current places against the exact address. Compared with transit-oriented districts, daily life is more car dependent, but the detached housing pattern supports family routines. An IRSAD decile of 8 places Monash above the middle of the socioeconomic scale, while volunteering is 16.7% and need for assistance is 9.2%.
Drive
76.0%
Public Transport
3.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.6%
Work from Home
11.2%
Population Forecast
-0.05%/yr
(-3 people/yr)
EstablishedMonash is a slow-growth suburb with an annual trend of -0.05%, while migration is classified as Balanced. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 4.1%, indicating modest movement rather than rapid expansion. The forecast trajectory is Aging, supported by a 10.6 percentage-point increase in the senior share and a 6.0 percentage-point fall in the working-age share. Compared with emerging development areas, Monash has a gentrification score of 0 and is classified as Not gentrifying. Rental growth of 13.9% and an Improving affordability trend provide some positive momentum, but the overall outlook is more about gradual change than population-led transformation.
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 suits households seeking established detached housing, with 86.4% of homes being separate houses and a median age of 43. Its household income sits at the 82.3rd percentile, while 81.9% of residents stayed at the same address. Compared with apartment-led areas, it is quieter and more car dependent.
What is the median house price in Monash?
A reliable current median house price is not quoted for Monash. Buyers can still assess the market through its 86.4% separate-house share, 42.1% proportion of homes with 4 or more bedrooms and monthly mortgage figure of $2,058. Compared with unit-heavy suburbs, detached properties are the dominant local product.
What schools are in Monash?
Monash Primary School is the local government primary option identified in Monash. Families should check enrolment zones and current places against the exact address, since catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Compared with larger school clusters, Monash has 1 named local school and an average household size of 2.5.
Is Monash safe?
Check current ACT Police incident information and inspect the exact street before making a decision, because crime conditions can vary over time. Monash has 5,644 residents and an IRSAD decile of 8, which is above the middle of the socioeconomic scale, but that measure should not replace street-level safety checks.
Is Monash good for property investment?
Monash may suit investors prioritising established housing and rental stability over rapid growth. Weekly rent is $450, vacancy is 4.7% and rental growth is 13.9%, but annual population growth is -0.05% and migration is Balanced. Compared with high-growth corridors, performance is more likely to depend on property quality and tenant retention.
How is Monash's population changing?
Monash has 5,644 residents today, with the wider area's 10-year population change recorded at 4.1%. The annual trend is -0.05%, migration is Balanced and the trajectory is Aging. The senior share has risen by 10.6 percentage points, so compared with rapidly expanding suburbs, change is gradual and increasingly shaped by older households.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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