Montrose
A 41-year median age, 6,900 residents and household income at the 79th percentile point to a settled, relatively resourced foothills market. Montrose has a strong mortgage-belt profile: 52.0% of dwellings are mortgaged, while 92.1% are separate houses and 45.4% contain four or more bedrooms. Compared with nearby Lilydale and Mooroolbark, that mix reads as a lower-density, detached-house setting. Overseas-born residents account for 14.9%, 6.7 percentage points below the national comparison, aligning with an Anglo-leaning identity and a slower 0.34% annual growth trend.
Population
6,900
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,088/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$975K
October to December 2025
Mortgage costs are higher than rent-to-income at 17.5%, but mortgage stress is not flagged. The family orientation follows from the housing mix: 92.1% separate houses, 45.4% with four or more bedrooms and 43.7% with three bedrooms. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Montrose provides more detached-house choice, while apartments make up only 4.0% of dwellings.
For Buyers
Mortgage costs are higher than rent-to-income at 17.5%, but mortgage stress is not flagged. The family orientation follows from the housing mix: 92.1% separate houses, 45.4% with four or more bedrooms and 43.7% with three bedrooms. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Montrose provides more detached-house choice, while apartments make up only 4.0% of dwellings.
For Investors
Montrose has a small rental pool because only 8.6% of dwellings are rented, compared with 36.7% owned outright and 52.0% mortgaged. The median rent is $365 a week and vacancy is 4.9%, so investors should test achievable rent carefully rather than assume scarcity will support any asking price. Rent growth of 59.1% is a positive income signal, but the wider growth trend is only 0.34% annually and the trajectory is Stable. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver. Only 2 planning permits were lodged in 12 months, indicating limited visible supply growth compared with larger development corridors.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Montrose
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Billanook Primary School
Montrose Primary School
Demographics
Montrose has a median age of 41, one year above the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.8, or 0.3 above the national figure. Couples with children make up 52.6% of families, while couples without children account for 35.4%, supporting demand for three and four-plus-bedroom homes. English ancestry is recorded for 2,987 residents, followed by Scottish at 782 and Irish at 765. No religion is the largest response at 3,651, ahead of Christianity at 2,802. The university-educated share is 28.3%, 1.8 percentage points below national, and overseas-born residents are 14.9%, 6.7 points below. With 85.8% staying at the same address, turnover is lower than in a highly mobile suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.1%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
4.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is mortgage-heavy: 52.0% mortgaged, 36.7% owned outright and 8.6% rented. Separate houses account for 92.1%, compared with 4.0% apartments and 4.0% semi-detached dwellings. The 45.4% four-plus-bedroom share is higher than the 43.7% three-bedroom share, reinforcing a family-oriented, land-demanding market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$365
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$855
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
121
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
52.6%
Couples with children
35.4%
Couples, no children
11.4%
Single parent
1,907
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is Montrose's largest listed industry at 18.9% and 447 workers, followed by healthcare at 16.7% and 395, education at 12.1% and 285, manufacturing at 9.1% and 215, and professional or technical work at 7.1% and 168. Trades lead occupations with 693 people, narrowly above professionals at 683, while clerical and administrative work counts 478 and managers 448. Labour participation is 64.7%, full-time employment is 57.9% and unemployment is 3.1%, supporting household earning capacity. SEIFA results are positive but uneven: education and occupation decile 6 is lower than economic resources decile 9, while IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 7 rank above the midpoint. That gap suggests established wealth is stronger than formal education measures alone.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
3,589
Unemployed
110
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.9%
Part-time
35.4%
Participation
64.7%
Employed
3,479
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.3%
Postgraduate
5.3%
Born Overseas
14.9%
Dwellings
2,322
Transport to Work
Montrose suits residents who drive or work from home because 66.7% travel as car drivers, only 0.8% use public transport and 27.2% work from home. Local schooling includes 2 government primary schools, giving families nearby primary options; exact enrolment zones and secondary pathways should be checked for each address. The crime rate is 31.4 offences per 1,000 residents, with 217 total offences, including 93 property and deception offences and 43 crimes against the person. Socioeconomic conditions rank above the midpoint, with IRSAD decile 7 and IER decile 9, which supports livability for established households. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, daily errands here are more car-dependent.
Drive
66.7%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
27.2%
Population Forecast
+0.34%/yr
(+17 people/yr)
EstablishedMontrose is a slow-growth, established market: the annual trend is 0.34%, while population change across the wider area is 12.4% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver and the trajectory is Stable, pointing to gradual expansion rather than a rapid surge. Affordability worsened from 42.1% in 2011 to 47.7% in 2021, alongside 59.1% rent growth. The shift assessment gives gentrification a score of 72 and stage Advanced, although the current gentrification status is score 0, Not gentrifying. Compared with high-growth corridors, only 2 planning permits in 12 months indicate limited visible development activity.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+39
Net Internal / yr
-85
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
217
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
31.4
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 Montrose compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Montrose?
Montrose has 2 government primary schools: Billanook Primary School and Montrose Primary School. Families should confirm catchments and secondary pathways for each address, because enrolment zones can affect access even between nearby properties. School sector and year-level availability should be checked before purchasing.
Is Montrose safe?
Montrose recorded 217 offences at a rate of 31.4 per 1,000 residents. The largest categories were property and deception offences at 93, justice procedures offences at 61 and crimes against the person at 43. Buyers should compare current local conditions at street level and review the exact address before deciding.
Is Montrose good for property investment?
Montrose may suit investors seeking a predominantly owner-occupied, detached-house market, but the rental pool is small at 8.6%. Median rent is $365 a week, vacancy is 4.9% and rent growth is 59.1%. Only 2 planning permits were lodged in 12 months, while annual growth is a slower 0.34%.
How is Montrose's population changing?
Montrose has 6,900 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 12.4% over 10 years, while the annual growth trend is 0.34% and the trajectory is Stable. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, indicating gradual change rather than a rapid population surge.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), 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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