Seaholme
Fewer than 2,100 people live in Seaholme, a compact 0.95 km2 pocket west of Melbourne, yet median house prices reached $1,310,500 in mid-2024 after peaking at $1,525,000. Household income sits in the 81.7th percentile nationally, and the suburb is owner-dominated: 44.7% of residents own their home outright, well above the state average. The workforce is notably credentialed, with 43% holding university qualifications, which is 12.9 percentage points higher than the national figure. With 81.2% separate houses and a median age of 43, Seaholme reads as an established, equity-rich suburb where long-term owners have accumulated significant wealth.
Population
2,067
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,145/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$1.3M
Apr-Jun 2024
The $1,310,500 median house price in Apr-Jun 2024 is down 14.1% from the $1,525,000 peak recorded in Oct-Dec 2023, offering buyers some relief compared to the recent high. Over a 14-year period from 2013, prices grew at a 5.3% compound annual rate, roughly doubling from $640,000. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 81.2%, with semi-detached dwellings at 17.1% and apartments at just 1.0%. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.6% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 29.6%. Mortgage repayments average $2,200 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means typical buyers here are not financially stretched relative to their incomes.
For Buyers
The $1,310,500 median house price in Apr-Jun 2024 is down 14.1% from the $1,525,000 peak recorded in Oct-Dec 2023, offering buyers some relief compared to the recent high. Over a 14-year period from 2013, prices grew at a 5.3% compound annual rate, roughly doubling from $640,000. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 81.2%, with semi-detached dwellings at 17.1% and apartments at just 1.0%. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.6% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 29.6%. Mortgage repayments average $2,200 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means typical buyers here are not financially stretched relative to their incomes.
For Investors
Seaholme's rental market is modest in size: 22.9% of residents rent, paying a median $451 per week. Against the $1,310,500 median house price, that implies a gross yield near 1.8%, low by Melbourne standards. The vacancy rate of 6.6% is elevated and warrants scrutiny before purchasing for rental income. Development activity is quiet, with only 7 applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly subdivisions. The suburb's strength as an investment case rests on long-term capital accumulation: a 5.3% CAGR over 14 years and an income profile at the 81.7th percentile nationally signal sustained demand from owner-occupiers rather than a yield-driven rental market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$586K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Seaholme iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Seaholme Primary School
Prep-6 · 298 students
Demographics
Seaholme's median age is 43, which is 3 years above the national median, reflecting an older, settled population. Residents born overseas account for 26.7%, which is 5.1 percentage points above the national figure. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (656), Scottish (255) and Irish (242) are the three largest groups, with Italian (167) fourth. University qualifications stand at 43%, a figure that is 12.9 percentage points higher than the national average, consistent with a managerial and professional workforce. The average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure, and couples with children (724 families) outnumber couples without children (506), suggesting the suburb still attracts family formation despite its older overall median age.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.2%
Houses
17.1%
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure structure reflects accumulated wealth: 44.7% of residents own outright, compared to 32.3% with a mortgage and 22.9% renting. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders by a significant margin points to long-held, debt-free ownership rather than a market driven by recent buyers. Separate houses make up 81.2% of dwellings, with only 1.0% apartments, a figure far below Melbourne inner-ring norms. The price history shows a full cycle: $640,000 in 2013, rising to a $1,525,000 peak in Oct-Dec 2023, then easing to $1,310,500 by Apr-Jun 2024, a 14.1% correction from peak. Rent-to-income at 21.0% and mortgage-to-income at 23.7% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning neither renters nor buyers are under acute financial pressure.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,200
Rent / wk
$451
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$935
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.1%
Couples, no children
1,737
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education and Healthcare each account for 13.1% of local workers (97 people each), followed by Professional/Technical services at 11.9% and Construction at 11.1%. By occupation, Professionals (257) and Managers (194) are the two largest groups, together representing a workforce profile that sits well above the state average for white-collar employment. The unemployment rate is 3.8% and the full-time employment rate is 67.1%, with 640 residents employed full-time and 314 part-time. Income sits in the 81.7th percentile nationally, consistent with the professional-heavy occupation mix. The participation rate of 58.7% is somewhat below what incomes would suggest, reflecting the older median age of 43 and a pool of 572 residents not in the labour force.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.1%
Part-time
29.1%
Participation
58.7%
Employed
954
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.0%
Postgraduate
11.8%
Born Overseas
26.7%
Dwellings
788
Transport to Work
Seaholme is car-dependent: 87.2% of residents drive to work, while only 6.0% use public transport and 3.2% walk or cycle. The crime rate of 42.1 incidents per 1,000 residents covers 87 total recorded incidents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 47 cases. No schools are recorded within the 0.95 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. At 6.2% of residents (122 people) needing daily assistance, the figure is consistent with the older median age of 43. The volunteering rate of 14.8% and low rent-to-income ratio of 21.0% point to a stable, financially comfortable community where households are not under pressure, even if amenities require short trips to adjacent suburbs.
Drive
87.2%
Public Transport
6.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
87
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
42.1
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 Seaholme compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seaholme a good suburb to live in?
Seaholme suits established owner-occupiers well. Household income sits in the 81.7th percentile nationally, 44.7% of residents own their home outright, and neither renters nor mortgage holders face financial stress (rent-to-income 21.0%, mortgage-to-income 23.7%). The trade-offs are car-dependence at 87.2% and no schools within the 0.95 km2 boundary.
What is the median house price in Seaholme?
The median house price was $1,310,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 14.1% from the Oct-Dec 2023 peak of $1,525,000. Prices have still grown significantly from $640,000 in 2013, a 5.3% compound annual rate over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $451 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,200.
What schools are in Seaholme?
No schools are recorded within the Seaholme boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 0.95 km2, so families attend schools in neighbouring suburbs. Locally, 43% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 12.9 percentage points above the national average, indicating a highly educated resident base.
Is Seaholme safe?
Seaholme recorded 87 total incidents in the latest period, giving a crime rate of 42.1 per 1,000 residents. The largest category was property and deception offences (47 incidents), followed by crimes against the person (19). At a population of 2,067, the suburb is small and the absolute incident count is low.
Is Seaholme good for property investment?
The long-term capital growth record is solid: a 5.3% CAGR over 14 years from $640,000 to $1,310,500. However, gross rental yield is low, approximately 1.8% based on $451 weekly rent against the $1,310,500 median. The 6.6% vacancy rate is elevated and development activity is quiet at only 7 applications in 12 months, limiting short-term supply pressure.
How is Seaholme's population changing?
Seaholme's population is 2,067 across a 0.95 km2 footprint. The suburb has a low turnover rate of 18.8%, with 81.2% of residents having stayed in place over the census period, well above most comparable Melbourne suburbs. The median age is 43, which is 3 years above the national median, suggesting a gradually aging but stable residential base.
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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