Mount Eliza
Mount Eliza houses 18,734 people, with a median age of 45, five years above the national figure, and 91.8% of dwellings detached. Household income sits at the 92.8th percentile, helping explain why 45.8% own outright and 44.8% carry a mortgage. Compared with nearby Mornington, the key trade-off for buyers is a strongly established, family-sized housing market, with 58.2% of homes containing four or more bedrooms. Growth is slower at 0.41% annually, while 83.2% of residents stayed at the same address.
Population
18,734
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,547/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
28
Median House
$1.8M
October to December 2025
Separate houses account for 91.8% of dwellings and four-plus-bedroom homes 58.2%, while apartments represent only 4.4%. A mortgage is listed at $2,600 per month, with mortgage payments at 23.6% of household income. Compared with apartments, the stock strongly favours families seeking space, privacy and longer holding periods.
For Buyers
Separate houses account for 91.8% of dwellings and four-plus-bedroom homes 58.2%, while apartments represent only 4.4%. A mortgage is listed at $2,600 per month, with mortgage payments at 23.6% of household income. Compared with apartments, the stock strongly favours families seeking space, privacy and longer holding periods.
For Investors
Mount Eliza presents a low-rental-share, premium-house investment profile. Only 8.5% of dwellings are rented, compared with 45.8% owned outright and 44.8% mortgaged, so rental demand comes from a smaller tenure pool than owner occupation. Twenty-eight development applications were recorded in 12 months, which may add choice, although dwelling totals are not specified. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver, potentially supporting renter demand, while the detached mix can increase maintenance and land costs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
53
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+180.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mount Eliza
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Kunyung Primary School
Mount Eliza North Primary School
Mount Eliza Primary School
St Thomas More's School
Mount Eliza Secondary College
Demographics
Mount Eliza has an older, highly educated population: the median age is 45, five years above national, and 44.2% of residents hold a university qualification, 14.1 percentage points higher than national. Overseas-born residents account for 23.0%, only 1.4 points above national, while average household size is 2.8, or 0.3 above national. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry lead at 8,857, 2,427 and 2,390 people. No religion is recorded for 9,125 residents versus 8,253 identifying with Christianity. For buyers comparing nearby Mornington with Mount Eliza, the relevant trade-off is an older, university-heavy population and settled households, because 83.2% stayed at the same address and turnover was 16.8%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.8%
Houses
3.8%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Mount Eliza's housing market has climbed materially over the long run. Tenure is split between 45.8% outright ownership and 44.8% mortgages, with only 8.5% renting. That structure, plus 91.8% separate houses and 58.2% four-plus-bedroom dwellings, supports a family-oriented market. Compared with apartment-heavy locations, the 4.4% apartment share confirms that land and detached housing are the dominant purchase choices.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$512
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$966
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
428
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
52.6%
Couples with children
37.5%
Couples, no children
9.6%
Single parent
5,259
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mount Eliza's economic base is led by healthcare at 17.1% of employment, education at 13.5%, professional and technical work at 12.6%, construction at 11.6% and manufacturing at 6.9%. The occupational mix reinforces that pattern, with 2,524 professionals and 1,951 managers ahead of 1,110 clerical and administrative workers, 951 trades workers and 841 in sales. Unemployment is 3.3% and participation 62.1%, while household income ranks at the 92.8th percentile. SEIFA results are high: IEO decile 9, IER decile 10, IRSD decile 10 and IRSAD decile 10. IEO is the only measure below decile 10, while the other 3 reach the top decile, consistent with strong professional employment, management roles and household purchasing power.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
9,242
Unemployed
305
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
37.9%
Participation
62.1%
Employed
8,937
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.2%
Postgraduate
10.6%
Born Overseas
23.0%
Dwellings
6,275
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 53.8% drive to work, only 0.7% use public transport and 1.3% walk or cycle, while 40.4% work from home. That mix can suit households with cars and home offices more than commuters relying on frequent transit. Five local schools span primary and secondary levels, with 4 government schools and 1 Catholic primary, giving families a practical sector mix; enrolment zones should still be checked by address. Recorded crime was 657 incidents, or 35.1 per 1,000 residents, led by 350 property and deception offences. Socioeconomic advantage ranks in IRSAD decile 10, higher than the IEO decile 9, because education, occupation and income measures are strong.
Drive
53.8%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
40.4%
Population Forecast
+0.41%/yr
(+78 people/yr)
EstablishedMount Eliza is an established, slow-growth market, with forecast annual growth of 0.41% and population change across the wider area of 8.6% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, yet the shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.8 percentage points and the working share down 3.4 points. Affordability is labelled Stable, moving from 54.4 in 2011 to 53.0 in 2021, while rents grew 42.2%. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a shift score of 38 and stage Early signs, but the current status is score 0, Not gentrifying. Compared with high-growth corridors, the 0.41% pace points to gradual change because the suburb is already established and its housing stock is predominantly detached.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+192
Net Internal / yr
-130
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -130/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
657
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
35.1
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 Eliza compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Mount Eliza?
Five local schools span primary and secondary levels, with 4 government schools and 1 Catholic primary school. The mix includes Mount Eliza Secondary College, Kunyung Primary School, Mount Eliza North Primary School, Mount Eliza Primary School and St Thomas More's School. Check enrolment zones for the exact address.
Is Mount Eliza safe?
Recorded crime was 657 incidents, equal to 35.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 350, followed by crimes against the person at 119. These figures provide a safety reference to compare with current local reports, and households should check the exact street before deciding.
How is Mount Eliza's population changing?
Population change is gradual rather than rapid. Forecast annual growth is 0.41%, while population change across the wider area is 8.6% over 10 years. The primary driver is overseas migration, but the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.8 percentage points. That combination points to an established suburb with a slower, older growth profile.
What development is occurring in Mount Eliza?
Twenty-eight development applications were recorded over 12 months. The examples are planning permits, but dwelling counts and project costs are not stated for each application, so the total should not be treated as 28 new homes. Compare each proposal by status, scope and likely completion timing before making an investment or renovation decision.
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 Mount Eliza on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map