Park Orchards
At a median age of 45 and with 84.8% of residents still living in the same house as five years ago, Park Orchards is one of Melbourne's most stable and established premium enclaves. Household income sits in the 98th percentile nationally, and 100% of dwellings are separate houses, 76.4% of them with four or more bedrooms. The median house price reached $2,405,000 in the April to June 2024 quarter, up from $952,500 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 6.8% over 14 years. Crime runs at just 21.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, and only 10 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, both figures consistent with a suburb that changes slowly by design.
Population
3,835
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,155/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$2.4M
Apr-Jun 2024
The $2,405,000 median house price places Park Orchards among the top tier of Melbourne's eastern suburbs, and every dwelling in the suburb is a separate house, so buyers are not competing across housing types. The price has risen 152.5% since 2013 from $952,500, a 6.8% compound annual rate, and as of April to June 2024 is still at its recorded peak. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 76.4% of stock, with three-bedroom homes at 22.1%, reflecting large family-oriented blocks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22%, below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes at the 98th percentile nationally absorb costs well. Half of all households own outright, with only 3.3% renting, a tenure profile that points to long-term wealth accumulation rather than investor-driven churn.
For Buyers
The $2,405,000 median house price places Park Orchards among the top tier of Melbourne's eastern suburbs, and every dwelling in the suburb is a separate house, so buyers are not competing across housing types. The price has risen 152.5% since 2013 from $952,500, a 6.8% compound annual rate, and as of April to June 2024 is still at its recorded peak. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 76.4% of stock, with three-bedroom homes at 22.1%, reflecting large family-oriented blocks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22%, below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes at the 98th percentile nationally absorb costs well. Half of all households own outright, with only 3.3% renting, a tenure profile that points to long-term wealth accumulation rather than investor-driven churn.
For Investors
The investment case for Park Orchards rests on capital appreciation rather than yield. Rent averages $601 per week against a $2,405,000 median, implying a gross yield below 1.3%, lower than most Melbourne submarkets. The vacancy rate of 4.9% is elevated relative to typical residential benchmarks, partly because only 3.3% of dwellings are rented at all, leaving a very thin tenant pool. Population grows at 0.2% annually, adding roughly 33 people per year, and overseas migration drives 172 net arrivals annually while internal migration trends net negative at minus 14 per year. Development activity is low, with just 10 applications in 12 months, mostly extensions and vegetation works, so new supply is not a meaningful risk. The 6.8% CAGR over 14 years is the primary argument for entry, though the price base is already very high compared to state and national medians.
Development Activity
Total DAs
14
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Park Orchards iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Park Orchards Primary School
Prep-6 · 338 students
St Anne's School
Prep-6 · 231 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is accelerating, with the senior share up 4.5 points and the working-age share down 2.8 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 48.7% of residents, 18.6 percentage points above the national average, one of the highest rates in Melbourne's east. Average household size is 3.2, which is 0.7 above the national figure, consistent with the large-family character of the four-plus bedroom stock. Only 18.5% of residents were born overseas, 3.1 points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,543), Irish (455) and Scottish (400) are the top three groups, with Italian (378) the largest non-British ancestry. The 21.7% volunteering rate also exceeds typical Melbourne suburban rates.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every recorded dwelling in Park Orchards is a separate house, with no apartments or semi-detached homes in the dataset, making it one of the few suburbs in Melbourne where detached housing is the complete market. The split between four-plus bedroom homes (76.4%) and three-bedroom homes (22.1%) confirms large-footprint family homes dominate. Outright ownership at 50% is high, with 46.7% carrying a mortgage and only 3.3% renting. The median house price rose from $952,500 in 2013 to $2,405,000 by April to June 2024, a 152.5% total gain at a 6.8% annual compound rate. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 22% and rent-to-income is 19%, both below stress thresholds, a pattern that reflects incomes in the 98th percentile nationally rather than low housing costs.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wk
$601
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$958
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.8%
Couples, no children
3,482
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce skews toward high-earning professional occupations: Professionals (550 workers) and Managers (431) together account for the largest occupational groups, well above the national average share. Top industries are Healthcare at 16.4% (230 workers), Construction at 16.0% (225) and Professional and Technical services at 14.5% (204), followed by Education at 11.7%. The full-time employment rate is 57.6% and the unemployment rate sits at 4.5%, with a participation rate of 62.6%. SEIFA scores place the suburb in decile 9 for IRSAD (relative advantage and disadvantage) and decile 9 for IEO (education and occupation), while the IER (economic resources) score reaches decile 10, the highest tier, reflecting the wealth embedded in fully owned large properties. Real income grew 2.8% over the decade, modest but positive.
Unemployment
1.8%
Labour Force
9,073
Unemployed
166
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.6%
Part-time
37.9%
Participation
62.6%
Employed
1,890
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.7%
Postgraduate
11.0%
Born Overseas
18.5%
Dwellings
1,157
Transport to Work
Residents here are almost entirely car-dependent: 91.3% drive to work and only 2.0% use public transport, well below the Melbourne average. This reflects the suburb's low-density eastern-fringe location with limited bus routes rather than poor quality of life. The crime rate of 21.9 per 1,000 residents is low by Melbourne standards, with property offences (48 incidents) accounting for the largest share of the 84 total incidents recorded. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSAD nationally, placing it among the least disadvantaged areas in Australia. No schools are recorded within the Park Orchards boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding suburbs such as Ringwood and Donvale. The need-for-assistance rate of 3.1% (117 residents) is low, and housing stress measures are below standard thresholds for both renters and mortgagees.
Drive
91.3%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
0.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.2%/yr
(+33 people/yr)
EstablishedPark Orchards grows slowly but consistently, with a current annual rate of 0.2%, adding about 33 residents per year. The population of 3,835 sits above the pre-COVID level of 16,777 at the broader SA2 level, having recovered fully from a 2.2% COVID dip. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population reaching approximately 16,961 by 2031, implying continued slow expansion. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.5 points and the young-adult share falling 1.6 points over the prior decade. Affordability has remained stable from 2011 to 2021, not trending worse, which differentiates it from suburbs where relative unaffordability accelerated. The gentrification score of 10 out of 100 indicates the suburb is not gentrifying, because it is already fully established at the top of the market.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+172
Net Internal / yr
-14
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
84
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
21.9
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 Park Orchards compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Park Orchards a good suburb to live in?
Park Orchards ranks in SEIFA decile 9 nationally on both the IRSAD and IEO indexes, placing it among the least disadvantaged and most educated areas in Australia. Household income sits in the 98th percentile nationally, the crime rate is low at 21.9 per 1,000 residents, and 84.8% of residents have lived there for five or more years, reflecting strong resident satisfaction. The main trade-offs are near-total car dependence (91.3% drive) and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Park Orchards?
The median house price is $2,405,000, recorded in the April to June 2024 quarter, which is also the historical peak. Prices have risen 152.5% since 2013 when the median was $952,500, a compound annual growth rate of 6.8% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22% is below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Park Orchards?
No schools are recorded within the Park Orchards suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby suburbs such as Ringwood, Donvale and Doncaster East. The local adult population is highly educated, with 48.7% holding university qualifications, which is 18.6 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Park Orchards safe?
Park Orchards recorded 84 total crime incidents in the latest period, giving a crime rate of 21.9 per 1,000 residents, which is low by Melbourne standards. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 48 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 20. The suburb scores SEIFA decile 9 on IRSD, the index of relative disadvantage, consistent with a very low-disadvantage area.
Is Park Orchards good for property investment?
The 14-year capital growth rate of 6.8% per year and a total price gain of 152.5% since 2013 are strong arguments for long-term holding. However, gross rental yield is below 1.3% with weekly rent at $601 against a $2,405,000 median, and the vacancy rate of 4.9% is elevated. Only 3.3% of dwellings are rented, so the market is illiquid for landlords. Returns depend heavily on continued capital appreciation rather than income.
How is Park Orchards's population changing?
Population is growing at 0.2% annually, adding roughly 33 residents per year. The suburb fully recovered from a 2.2% COVID dip, and medium forecasts project the broader SA2 area reaching 16,961 residents by 2031. The demographic trend is aging, with the senior share up 4.5 points and the working-age share down 2.8 points over the decade. Overseas migration adds 172 net residents annually, while internal migration runs at minus 14 per year.
What is the typical household profile in Park Orchards?
The average household size of 3.2 people is 0.7 above the national figure, reflecting the family-oriented character of the suburb. Couples with children account for 1,449 families compared to 723 couples without children, and there are no one-parent families recorded. The 4-plus bedroom housing stock at 76.4% matches this profile. The volunteering rate of 21.7% is also above typical suburban levels.
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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