Moonee Ponds
Premium pricing meets high-density, apartment-friendly living in Moonee Ponds. Its 16,224 residents have a median age of 38, and household income sits at the 79.9th percentile nationally. Compared with nearby Essendon, Moonee Ponds has a more concentrated urban feel because apartments and services serve a small 4.36 sq km footprint. A 12.7% vacancy rate and 39.0% rental share add flexibility, although the premium entry price is above what many first-home buyers can manage.
Population
16,224
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,111/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
70
Median House
$1.7M
October to December 2025
A $2,167 monthly mortgage indicator and 23.7% mortgage-to-income ratio suggest the typical owner-occupier commitment is manageable, but not light. The dwelling mix broadens the choice beyond detached homes, with 44.7% separate houses, 39.3% apartments and 15.7% semi-detached homes. Compared with a detached-house search in nearby Essendon, apartments and two-bedroom homes, which account for 31.8% of dwellings, may provide a more accessible entry route. Four-plus-bedroom stock is only 19.5%, so larger households need to search selectively.
For Buyers
A $2,167 monthly mortgage indicator and 23.7% mortgage-to-income ratio suggest the typical owner-occupier commitment is manageable, but not light. The dwelling mix broadens the choice beyond detached homes, with 44.7% separate houses, 39.3% apartments and 15.7% semi-detached homes. Compared with a detached-house search in nearby Essendon, apartments and two-bedroom homes, which account for 31.8% of dwellings, may provide a more accessible entry route. Four-plus-bedroom stock is only 19.5%, so larger households need to search selectively.
For Investors
Moonee Ponds has a large tenant base, with 39.0% of households renting and a weekly rent of $400. The 12.7% vacancy rate is higher than a tight rental market, so investors should allow for leasing variability rather than assume uninterrupted occupancy. Demand has structural support from overseas migration as the primary growth driver, but 25.0% rent growth may also mean affordability limits future increases. Development activity is material, with 65 applications in 12 months, including a proposal for 3 dwellings on one site, which can add stock and competition. Compared with a low-vacancy suburb, the investment case depends more on purchase discipline, property presentation and tenant appeal than on scarcity alone. Separate houses, apartments and semi-detached homes at 44.7%, 39.3% and 15.7% provide several formats.
Development Activity
Total DAs
85
Last 12 Months
70
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+900.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Moonee Ponds
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Moonee Ponds Primary School
Moonee Ponds West Primary School
St Monica's Primary School
Demographics
Moonee Ponds is relatively educated and slightly younger than the national profile: 56.4% have university qualifications, 26.3 percentage points above the national comparison, while the median age is 38, or 2 years below national. Overseas-born residents account for 29.1%, 7.5 points above the national share, and the average household size is 2.2, 0.3 below national. English ancestry is most common at 4,377 people, followed by Italian at 2,658 and Irish at 2,100. Italian is the leading reported non-English home language with 371 speakers, ahead of Greek at 203 and Mandarin at 113. Compared with larger-household outer suburbs, the 43.8% couple-without-children share and 2.2 average household size point to a stronger downsizer, professional and apartment-living presence.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
44.7%
Houses
15.7%
Townhouse
39.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The latest figure is also the peak, so buyers are entering near the historical high rather than below it. Compared with a conventional detached-house market, the 44.7% separate-house share is modest: apartments represent 39.3% and semi-detached homes 15.7%. The bedroom profile reinforces that density, with 31.8% two-bedroom, 31.2% three-bedroom and 17.5% studio or one-bedroom dwellings. Tenure is split across 30.3% outright owners, 29.3% mortgage holders and 39.0% renters. Rent uses 18.9% of income and mortgages 23.7%, while weekly household income is $2,111.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $400.
$575
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $750 · units $550
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,113
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.7%
Unoccupied
996
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.4%
Couples with children
43.8%
Couples, no children
11.1%
Single parent
4,165
Total families
Economy & Employment
Moonee Ponds has an educated, service-led economy. Healthcare accounts for 16.0% of employment, followed by Professional/Tech at 15.6%, Education at 12.0%, Public Administration at 8.9% and Construction at 7.1%. Professionals number 3,438 and managers 1,666, supporting household income of $2,111 a week, at the 79.9th percentile nationally. Labour-force participation is 70.2%, unemployment is 3.8% and full-time employment is 63.6%, indicating a stronger employment base than a weak-labour-market profile. SEIFA results are uneven: IEO and IRSAD both sit in decile 9, and IRSD is also decile 9, while IER is only decile 5. That middle economic-resources result is lower than the other area-advantage measures, so prosperity is substantial but not uniform across households. The mix of professional, health and education work supports resilience because demand is not tied to one industry.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
9,811
Unemployed
377
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.6%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
70.2%
Employed
9,434
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.4%
Postgraduate
17.1%
Born Overseas
29.1%
Dwellings
6,854
Transport to Work
Daily life suits residents who value central access and a compact setting. Public transport is used by 7.6% of residents, car driving by 38.6%, walking or cycling by 5.1%, and working from home by 46.0%, so commute patterns are mixed rather than transit-only. Families have access to 3 nearby primary schools: 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, since boundaries can cut across suburb streets. Safety needs attention: the recorded crime rate is 99.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, including 1,066 property and deception offences out of 1,615 total, making lighting, locks and secure parking practical considerations. IRSAD sits in decile 9, above the national midpoint, which supports access to resources, although a high-access suburb is not automatically low-crime. Compared with a car-dependent outer suburb, the compact 4.36 sq km area and mixed travel profile can make errands easier.
Drive
38.6%
Public Transport
7.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
46.0%
Population Forecast
+1.39%/yr
(+249 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is positive but established rather than explosive. The annual trend is 1.39%, and overseas migration is the primary driver, giving the suburb an external-demand tailwind. Population change across the wider area is 19.9% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is labelled Declining young: the young share fell 2.8 percentage points and the senior share rose 1.6 points. Rent growth of 25.0% signals strong demand, although affordability improved from 41.9% in 2011 to 35.9% in 2021. Gentrification is at an Early signs stage with a score of 34. Compared with a no-growth established suburb, the 1.39% annual trend is constructive, but the ageing mix means future momentum will rely more on overseas migration and housing adaptation than on a growing young cohort.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+350
Net Internal / yr
+5
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +27% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +350/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 19%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,615
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
99.5
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 Moonee Ponds compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Moonee Ponds?
Moonee Ponds has 3 local primary schools: 2 government schools, Moonee Ponds Primary School and Moonee Ponds West Primary School, plus 1 Catholic school, St Monica's Primary School. Check the exact enrolment zone and current intake rules because school access can vary by address.
Is Moonee Ponds safe?
Crime requires attention rather than a blanket yes or no. The recorded rate is 99.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 1,066 property and deception offences within 1,615 total offences. Secure parking, lighting and building access are worth checking, especially around busy activity areas.
Is Moonee Ponds good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking an established inner suburb, but the numbers call for selectivity. Rent is $400 per week, renting households represent 39.0%, vacancy is 12.7% and 65 development applications were recorded over 12 months. The higher vacancy rate means leasing assumptions should be stress-tested.
How is Moonee Ponds's population changing?
Population change is positive but the age mix is shifting. The wider-area trend is 1.39% a year, with overseas migration the primary driver and 19.9% growth over 10 years. The trajectory is Declining young, with the young share down 2.8 points and senior share up 1.6 points.
Is Moonee Ponds changing through development?
Development activity is noticeable, with 65 applications in 12 months. One recent proposal sought 3 dwellings on a site, while other applications covered fences and a side dwelling. Buyers should inspect overlays, trees, construction impacts and nearby approvals because added supply can affect outlook and parking.
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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