Mount Dandenong
With only 1,271 residents across 7.94 square kilometres, Mount Dandenong is one of Victoria's smallest and most sparsely settled suburbs, yet its household income sits in the 77th percentile nationally. All four SEIFA indexes place it at decile 9, the second-highest advantage tier. The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, a signature of the long-settled, owner-occupier base where 40.8% own their home outright. University qualifications reach 37.7% of residents, which is 7.6 percentage points above the national average. The suburb is almost entirely detached houses, at 98.3% of dwellings, with negligible apartment stock.
Population
1,271
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,055/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$782K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price was $782,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, down from a 2022 peak of $1,045,000, meaning buyers are entering at 25.1% below the cycle peak. Over 14 years from 2013, prices compounded at 4.0% annually from $450,000. The dwelling stock is 98.3% separate houses, so buyers face very little apartment supply diluting the market. Four-bedroom-plus homes make up 40.5% of stock and three-bedroom homes 43.1%, which suits families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Compared to many metropolitan postcodes, the debt load here is manageable relative to the 77th-percentile household income.
For Buyers
The median house price was $782,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, down from a 2022 peak of $1,045,000, meaning buyers are entering at 25.1% below the cycle peak. Over 14 years from 2013, prices compounded at 4.0% annually from $450,000. The dwelling stock is 98.3% separate houses, so buyers face very little apartment supply diluting the market. Four-bedroom-plus homes make up 40.5% of stock and three-bedroom homes 43.1%, which suits families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Compared to many metropolitan postcodes, the debt load here is manageable relative to the 77th-percentile household income.
For Investors
The renter share is only 9.2%, well below state averages, which limits the landlord pool. Weekly rent sits at $415, and the vacancy rate of 11.3% is high, signalling that rental supply exceeds current demand. Net overseas migration averages 70 residents per year, but internal migration removes 146 annually, leaving the suburb in net population decline of roughly 27 persons per year. Development activity is minimal at 1 application in the past 12 months. Against a $782,500 median, $415 weekly rent implies a gross yield around 2.8%, low for the level of vacancy risk. Investors should note the population trajectory is declining rather than growing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
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 Mount Dandenong iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mount Dandenong Primary School
Prep-6 · 152 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5.0 years above the national figure, reflecting an aging resident base where the senior share grew 7.9 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 5.5 points. Only 19.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 2.0 percentage points below the national rate. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (588 residents), Scottish (202) and Irish (199) are the top three, with German (92) fourth. The volunteering rate of 22.7% is above typical suburban levels, consistent with an established, community-rooted population. Couples without children make up 30.8% of families, and average household size at 2.6 is just above the national norm.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.3%
Houses
1.7%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is notably settled: 40.8% own outright, above the national norm where mortgage holders typically outnumber debt-free owners. Those with a mortgage account for 50.0%, while renters are just 9.2%. The stock is 98.3% separate houses, making Mount Dandenong one of the most detached-dominant suburbs in Victoria. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 43.1% and four-plus bedrooms 40.5%. Prices peaked at $1,045,000 in 2022 and fell to $782,500 by Apr-Jun 2024, a 25.1% correction. The 14-year compound growth rate remains 4.0% annually from $450,000 in 2013. Rent-to-income sits at 20.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$415
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$858
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.3%
Unoccupied
59
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.8%
Couples, no children
1,042
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education is the dominant industry at 21.9% of workers (106 residents), with Healthcare second at 14.9% (72 workers) and Professional/Technical third at 11.0% (53 workers). Construction accounts for 9.1% and Manufacturing 7.9%. By occupation, Professionals lead with 201 workers, followed by Managers (113) and Clerical/Admin (65). Full-time employment reaches 62.8% of employed residents, and the unemployment rate is 4.5%. All four SEIFA indexes score at decile 9, placing the suburb in the top 20% nationally for both advantage and low disadvantage. Real incomes grew 8.4% over the decade, and the household income sits at the 77th percentile nationally.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
5,489
Unemployed
151
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.8%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
59.5%
Employed
597
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.7%
Postgraduate
10.3%
Born Overseas
19.6%
Dwellings
459
Transport to Work
Car dependence reaches 92.6% of workers driving, higher than metropolitan Melbourne averages, and only 1.1% use public transport, reflecting the hilly terrain and limited services. The crime rate of 38.6 per 1,000 residents covers 49 total offences, with property and deception offences the largest category at 23 cases, followed by public order offences (13 cases). The suburb ranks at decile 9 on IRSAD, above 80% of Australian suburbs for relative advantage. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on neighbouring areas. The need-for-assistance rate is 4.8%, moderate for a suburb with a median age of 45.
Drive
92.6%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.28%/yr
(-27 people/yr)
EstablishedMount Dandenong is losing population at 0.28% per year, roughly 27 persons annually, placing it below VIC growth norms for established suburbs. The SA2-level population sat at 9,613 in 2023 and 9,578 in 2024, and medium forecasts project a further fall to 9,495 by 2031. Internal migration is the main drag at minus 146 per year, partially offset by overseas migration of plus 70 annually. The gentrification score of 12 is in the not-gentrifying category, consistent with a suburb already at SEIFA decile 9 with little room to climb. Rent grew 33.3% over the period, and the 10-year population change of 0.5% confirms this is an established, slow-growth area rather than an emerging one.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+70
Net Internal / yr
-146
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -146/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
49
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
38.6
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 Mount Dandenong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Dandenong a good suburb to live in?
Mount Dandenong scores decile 9 on all four SEIFA indexes, placing it in the top 20% of Australian suburbs for advantage and low disadvantage. Household income sits in the 77th percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.4%, and outright ownership at 40.8% is high. The main trade-offs are high car dependence at 92.6% and a vacancy rate of 11.3%.
What is the median house price in Mount Dandenong?
The median house price was $782,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 25.1% from the 2022 peak of $1,045,000. Prices have grown at 4.0% annually from $450,000 in 2013 over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $415 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167.
What schools are in Mount Dandenong?
No schools are recorded inside the Mount Dandenong suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, 37.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 7.6 percentage points above the national figure, indicating a well-educated local population.
Is Mount Dandenong safe?
Mount Dandenong recorded 49 total offences, giving a crime rate of 38.6 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the most common at 23 cases, followed by public order offences (13 cases) and crimes against the person (6 cases). The suburb ranks at decile 9 on IRSD, the second-highest tier nationally for low disadvantage.
Is Mount Dandenong good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. At $782,500 median and $415 weekly rent, the gross yield is approximately 2.8%, which is low. The vacancy rate of 11.3% is above typical levels, and net internal migration runs at minus 146 per year, contributing to slow population decline of 0.28% annually. Capital growth over 14 years averaged 4.0% per year.
How is Mount Dandenong's population changing?
Population is declining at around 27 persons or 0.28% per year. The SA2 area recorded 9,613 residents in 2023 and 9,578 in 2024, and medium forecasts project 9,495 by 2031. Internal migration removes 146 residents annually, partially offset by overseas migration of plus 70 per year. The 10-year population change was only 0.5%.
What is the demographic profile of Mount Dandenong?
The median age is 45, which is 5 years above the national figure. The suburb is aging, with the senior share rising 7.9 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 19.6% of the population, 2.0 percentage points below the national rate. The volunteering rate of 22.7% is above typical suburban levels, reflecting a long-settled community.
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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