Mornington
Mornington's median age of 50 is 10 years above the national figure, making its aging-resident base the clearest signal. The suburb has 25,759 residents across 21.09 square kilometres, at a density of 1,221.2 people per square kilometre. Housing is detached-led, with 77.0% separate houses, yet 10.6% apartments and 11.2% semi-detached homes add variety. Compared with nearby Mount Martha and Mount Eliza, Mornington has a more mixed tenure profile: 41.9% own outright, 32.5% have a mortgage and 21.6% rent. Its 26.7% work-from-home share supports a settled lifestyle, while a 3.8% unemployment rate points to a relatively stable local base.
Population
25,759
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,451/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
31
Median House
$1.2M
October to December 2025
Separate houses account for 77.0% of stock, and 48.1% of homes have 3 bedrooms, making family-sized detached housing the main pathway. Apartments are 10.6% and semi-detached homes 11.2%, so buyers have fewer compact options than detached choices. Mortgage costs equal 31.8% of household income, flagged as stress, which makes deposit size and rate buffers more important than in a lower-cost market.
For Buyers
Separate houses account for 77.0% of stock, and 48.1% of homes have 3 bedrooms, making family-sized detached housing the main pathway. Apartments are 10.6% and semi-detached homes 11.2%, so buyers have fewer compact options than detached choices. Mortgage costs equal 31.8% of household income, flagged as stress, which makes deposit size and rate buffers more important than in a lower-cost market.
For Investors
Mornington's rental profile is smaller than its owner base: 21.6% of households rent, versus 41.9% owning outright, with weekly rent at $400. A 9.4% vacancy rate gives tenants more choice than a tightly constrained market, so investors should test leasing time and property condition rather than assume automatic rent growth. The 32 planning applications recorded over 12 months indicate a more active pipeline than a no-change setting, but the count alone does not establish how many new homes will result. Forecast migration is Balanced, which supports steady demand rather than a single growth source. Detached homes are 77.0% of stock, so family houses may align better with the suburb's established tenant base than small apartments.
Development Activity
Total DAs
81
Last 12 Months
31
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+55.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mornington
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Benton Junior College
Mornington Park Primary School
Mornington Primary School
St Macartan's School
Mornington Secondary College
Demographics
Mornington has a median age of 50, 10 years above the national figure, and its average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below the national comparison. That age profile helps explain the large 45.3% share of couples without children, while couples with children account for 37.1% and one-parent families 16.5%. English ancestry is reported by 11,788 residents, followed by Irish at 3,361 and Scottish at 3,261. Christianity has 11,810 adherents and no religion 11,697. Overseas-born residents are 22.3%, just 0.7 percentage points above the national figure, while university attainment is 29.5%, 0.6 points below national. Compared with nearby Mount Martha, Mornington's population is best read as established and older rather than high-turnover: 79.1% stayed at the same address and turnover was 20.9%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.0%
Houses
11.2%
Townhouse
10.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Mornington's price path is strong over the long run but recently off its high. Tenure is weighted toward ownership: 41.9% own outright and 32.5% carry a mortgage, compared with 21.6% renting. The dwelling mix is 77.0% separate houses, 11.2% semi-detached and 10.6% apartments; 48.1% have 3 bedrooms and 27.4% have 4 or more. Compared with nearby Mount Martha and Mount Eliza, the key housing issue is not lack of family stock but affordability, with mortgage costs at 31.8% of household income and the trend marked worsening.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $400.
$695
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $675 · units $535
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$740
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.4%
Unoccupied
1,090
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.8% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.1%
Couples with children
45.3%
Couples, no children
16.5%
Single parent
7,088
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mornington's employment base is led by healthcare at 20.2% of jobs, followed by construction at 14.6%, education at 13.0%, professional and technical services at 8.1%, and retail at 6.9%. That mix links local work to care, building, education and service demand, while occupations include 2,435 professionals, 1,707 trades workers and 1,674 managers. Unemployment is 3.8%, participation is 53.0% and full-time employment is 54.8%, so the lower participation rate reflects a sizable 9,071 people outside the labour force, consistent with a median age of 50. Weekly household income is $1,451 and sits at the 44.2 percentile. All four SEIFA measures are in decile 6: education and occupation, economic resources, disadvantage, and advantage/disadvantage. Compared with a higher-decile suburb, Mornington reads as middle-ground rather than affluent, despite stable employment.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
11,612
Unemployed
439
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.8%
Part-time
37.2%
Participation
53.0%
Employed
11,173
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.5%
Postgraduate
6.0%
Born Overseas
22.3%
Dwellings
10,474
Transport to Work
Mornington suits households that can rely on cars or work from home. The car-driver share is 65.8%, public transport is 1.0%, walking or cycling is 2.7%, and working from home is 26.7%, so daily convenience is more car-oriented than transit-oriented. Seven local schools span 5 government settings and 2 Catholic schools across primary, secondary and special education; check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb edges. The recorded crime rate is 81.8 offences per 1,000 residents, including 1,294 property and deception offences and 296 crimes against the person, so home security matters. IRSAD is in decile 6, matching the suburb's middle-range advantage profile. Compared with a transit-rich inner suburb, Mornington trades lower public transport use for more space, with 77.0% separate houses and 21.09 square kilometres.
Drive
65.8%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
26.7%
Population Forecast
+1.07%/yr
(+117 people/yr)
EstablishedMornington is an established market with a forecast annual growth rate of 1.07%, while the primary migration driver is Balanced. Population change across the wider area is 19.4% over 10 years, but the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share rises 7.7 percentage points and the working share falls 5.5 points. Affordability worsened from 49.9 in 2011 to 52.6 in 2021, helping explain why growth is steady rather than explosive. Gentrification is labelled Not gentrifying with a score of 15, although a separate shift signal records Early signs at 44. Compared with a younger, migration-led corridor, the combination of 1.07% annual growth and Balanced migration points to gradual renewal shaped by existing residents.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+88
Net Internal / yr
+69
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +19% since 2011, Net internal migration +69/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,108
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
81.8
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 Mornington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Mornington?
Mornington has 7 schools: 5 government and 2 Catholic, covering primary, secondary and special education. The mix is broader than a primary-only catchment, but families should compare enrolment zones with the exact address because boundaries can differ.
Is Mornington safe?
Recorded crime was 81.8 offences per 1,000 residents, including 1,294 property and deception offences and 296 crimes against the person. That rate should be compared with the exact street and property type, because suburb-wide figures can sit higher or lower than individual pockets.
Is Mornington good for property investment?
Mornington may suit a long-term investor, but the case is balanced rather than automatic. Weekly rent is $400, vacancy is 9.4%, renting is 21.6%, and 32 planning applications were recorded over 12 months. Compared with a tightly supplied rental market, vacancy may mean more leasing competition.
How is Mornington's population changing?
Mornington's population is changing gradually and becoming older. The current population is 25,759, wider-area population change is 19.4% over 10 years, annual growth is 1.07%, and the senior share has risen 7.7 percentage points. Compared with a younger growth corridor, the Aging trajectory and Balanced migration point to steadier change.
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.
Explore Mornington on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map