Research
At a median house price of $1,900,000 and household income in the 96.6th percentile nationally, Research sits among Victoria's most exclusive small suburbs. The population of 2,695 across 9.61 square kilometres produces a density of just 280 people per km2, roughly 10 times less dense than typical Melbourne middle-ring suburbs. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 9 or 10, placing Research at the top of the national advantage distribution. The dominant housing story is detached houses at 98.6% of stock, 61% of which have four or more bedrooms, a profile that sets it apart from most high-income suburbs where apartments compete for space.
Population
2,695
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,876/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$1.9M
Apr-Jun 2024
The $1,900,000 median house price recorded in April-June 2024 represents an 8.5% compound annual growth rate from $605,500 in 2013, a 213.8% total gain over 14 years. Separate houses account for 98.6% of dwellings, a near-total dominance that removes the apartment option buyers encounter elsewhere. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 61% of the housing stock, which reflects large landholdings rather than density. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite the premium price, because household incomes rank in the 96.6th percentile nationally. Outright owners (46.6%) and mortgage holders (47.4%) are nearly even, suggesting a mix of long-established wealth and more recent high-income buyers.
For Buyers
The $1,900,000 median house price recorded in April-June 2024 represents an 8.5% compound annual growth rate from $605,500 in 2013, a 213.8% total gain over 14 years. Separate houses account for 98.6% of dwellings, a near-total dominance that removes the apartment option buyers encounter elsewhere. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 61% of the housing stock, which reflects large landholdings rather than density. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite the premium price, because household incomes rank in the 96.6th percentile nationally. Outright owners (46.6%) and mortgage holders (47.4%) are nearly even, suggesting a mix of long-established wealth and more recent high-income buyers.
For Investors
Research's investor profile is constrained by the numbers: weekly rent of $431 against a $1,900,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.2%, low even compared to other premium Melbourne fringe suburbs. Renters make up only 6% of households, the lowest tier nationally, leaving a thin tenant pool. The vacancy rate is 5.5%, elevated relative to tight Melbourne markets. Only 7 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, confirming that supply is stable and not a dilution risk. Net overseas migration contributes roughly 50 residents a year while internal migration removes about 71, so demand growth is modest. The investment case rests on capital preservation and long-run land appreciation rather than rental yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
11
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+600.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Research iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Eltham College
Prep-12 · 639 students
Research Primary School
Prep-6 · 219 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is explicitly aging: the senior share rose 5.4 points while the working-age share fell 2.7 points over the decade. University qualifications at 43.6% run 13.5 points above the national average, and professionals plus managers account for the two largest occupation groups. Only 14.3% of residents were born overseas, which is 7.3 points below the national rate, and ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic with English (1,108), Irish (390) and Scottish (365) as the top three groups. Average household size of 3.0 sits 0.5 above the national figure, consistent with the prevalence of large family homes and the couples-with-children household type (989 families).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.6%
Houses
1.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Price history shows a rise from $605,500 in 2013 to $1,900,000 in April-June 2024, a 213.8% gain at an 8.5% compound annual rate over 14 years. The current price equals the recorded peak, meaning no correction has occurred from the high. Tenure splits almost evenly between outright owners (46.6%) and mortgage holders (47.4%), with renters at just 6%, far below the national renter share. The stock is 98.6% separate houses, with semi-detached at 1.4% and no recorded apartment share, making Research one of the most detached-dominant markets anywhere. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 61%, which is consistent with the large lot sizes across the 9.61 km2 suburb. Rent-to-income sits at 15%, well below stress levels, for the small renting cohort.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,300
Rent / wk
$431
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,053
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
51
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.8%
Couples, no children
2,416
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction and Healthcare each employ about 16% of the local workforce (170 and 169 workers respectively), followed by Professional/Tech at 12.4% and Education at 12.2%. This breadth across knowledge and trades sectors reflects a suburb where residents are highly skilled across multiple fields. By occupation, Professionals (405) lead clearly, with Managers (287) second, together representing the majority of employed residents. Full-time employment runs at 60.6% and the unemployment rate is just 3.5%, below the national rate. The SEIFA suite is uniformly at the top: IRSD decile 10, IRSAD decile 10, IEO decile 9, and IER decile 10, all indicating high advantage with virtually no relative disadvantage. Real income grew 13.6% over the decade.
Unemployment
1.7%
Labour Force
4,294
Unemployed
71
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.6%
Part-time
35.9%
Participation
64.2%
Employed
1,366
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.6%
Postgraduate
11.2%
Born Overseas
14.3%
Dwellings
864
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 89.9% of residents drive to work, compared to a national average well below that level, because the low-density rural fringe setting makes public transport impractical. Only 3.2% use public transport. The crime rate of 13.4 incidents per 1,000 residents is low, with 36 total offences recorded, dominated by property and deception offences (22) and crimes against the person (6). The IRSAD decile 10 rating places Research in the top tier nationally for combined advantage and lack of disadvantage. Volunteering runs at 18.6% and only 3.9% of residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a healthy, established community. Schools in the brief show no entries for the suburb boundary, so families rely on surrounding Eltham and Diamond Creek institutions.
Drive
89.9%
Public Transport
3.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.1%/yr
(+7 people/yr)
EstablishedResearch is classified as an established suburb with slow growth. Annual population increase runs at 0.1%, adding roughly 7 people a year, and the 10-year population change was 5.0%, well below the national average. The medium forecast holds the population near 7,061 by 2031 from a current 7,039, an almost flat trajectory. Net internal migration removes about 71 residents annually while overseas migration adds 50, producing a small net outflow. The aging trajectory with a senior share delta of plus 5.4 points and working-age share delta of minus 2.7 points over the decade is pronounced. Gentrification score is 16, classified as not gentrifying, which fits a suburb already at the top of all national advantage indexes with no room to upgrade its socioeconomic profile.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+50
Net Internal / yr
-71
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
36
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
13.4
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 Research compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Research a good suburb to live in?
Research scores decile 10 on three of four SEIFA indexes (IRSD, IRSAD and IER) and decile 9 on IEO, placing it at the top of Australia's national advantage distribution. Household income sits in the 96.6th percentile nationally. The trade-offs are a $1,900,000 median house price, near-total car dependency at 89.9% of commuters, and limited local amenities in a low-density rural fringe setting.
What is the median house price in Research?
The median house price is $1,900,000 as of April-June 2024, equal to the all-time recorded peak. Prices have grown 213.8% from $605,500 in 2013, a compound annual rate of 8.5% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.5%, below the stress threshold due to high local incomes.
What schools are in Research?
No schools are recorded inside the Research suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb's 2,695 residents are highly educated, with university qualifications at 43.6%, which is 13.5 percentage points above the national figure. Families typically access schools in adjoining Eltham and Diamond Creek, both within a short drive given the 89.9% car commuter rate.
Is Research safe?
Research recorded 36 offences in the reference period, a rate of 13.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is low. The largest category was property and deception offences with 22 incidents. Crimes against the person totalled 6. The IRSD decile 10 rating places Research in the least-disadvantaged tier nationally, consistent with low crime risk.
Is Research good for property investment?
At $431 weekly rent against a $1,900,000 median, the gross yield is below 1.2%, low even compared to other premium fringe suburbs. The 6% renter share means tenant demand is thin, and the 5.5% vacancy rate is elevated. The suburb's 8.5% compound annual price growth over 14 years and decile 10 land scarcity signal long-run capital appreciation, but cash flow returns are weak.
How is Research's population changing?
Population growth is nearly flat at 0.1% annually, adding roughly 7 people a year. Over the past decade population grew 5.0%. Net internal migration removes about 71 residents annually while overseas arrivals add 50. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 5.4 points and the working-age share down 2.7 points over the decade, a trend forecast to continue to 2031.
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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