Spotswood
Household income in the 91.8th percentile nationally and university qualifications at 51.9% of residents mark Spotswood as one of Melbourne's inner-west knowledge hubs, yet the suburb recorded a crime rate of 112.8 incidents per 1,000 people last measured period. These two facts coexist because Spotswood sits at the intersection of an older industrial waterfront and a wave of professional in-migration. The median age of 37 sits 3 years below the national average, and 65.7% of dwellings are separate houses in a suburb covering just 3.16 square kilometres, giving it a density that is high but still lower than most inner-ring apartment corridors. The median house price of $1,120,000 has climbed 64.7% since 2013, at a compound rate of 3.6% annually.
Population
2,820
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,460/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$1.1M
Apr-Jun 2024
The $1,120,000 median house price in Spotswood as of Apr-Jun 2024 sits well above most Melbourne suburbs but is 11.1% below the 2021 peak of $1,260,000, giving buyers a re-entry window compared to that top. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, so incomes at the 91.8th percentile nationally absorb carrying costs comfortably. The stock strongly favours houses at 65.7% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 30.8% and apartments at just 2.9%, which means apartment-style buyers will find slim pickings. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.4%, followed by two-bedroom at 24.4% and four-plus at 22.6%, reflecting a family-oriented housing mix rather than the studio-heavy stock typical of denser suburbs.
For Buyers
The $1,120,000 median house price in Spotswood as of Apr-Jun 2024 sits well above most Melbourne suburbs but is 11.1% below the 2021 peak of $1,260,000, giving buyers a re-entry window compared to that top. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, so incomes at the 91.8th percentile nationally absorb carrying costs comfortably. The stock strongly favours houses at 65.7% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 30.8% and apartments at just 2.9%, which means apartment-style buyers will find slim pickings. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.4%, followed by two-bedroom at 24.4% and four-plus at 22.6%, reflecting a family-oriented housing mix rather than the studio-heavy stock typical of denser suburbs.
For Investors
Spotswood's 32.9% renter share provides a steady tenant base, and weekly rent of $456 against a $1,120,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.1%, lower than the national average for detached houses but stable given the suburb's income profile. The vacancy rate of 9.6% is elevated and warrants attention: it suggests the rental market is softer than in comparable inner-west suburbs. Development activity shows 15 applications lodged in the past 12 months, including a 261-lot and 286-lot apartment subdivision as part of a staged estate, pointing to meaningful future supply in the medium term. Long-term capital growth has averaged 3.6% annually over 14 years, slower than some Melbourne corridors but consistent. Investors should weigh the high vacancy rate against the suburb's high-income tenant profile and infrastructure proximity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
22
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+750.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$880K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Spotswood iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Margaret Mary's School
Prep-6 · 159 students
Spotswood Primary School
Prep-6 · 289 students
Demographics
Spotswood's median age of 37 is 3 years below the national average, consistent with its professional in-migration pattern. University-educated residents reach 51.9%, which is 21.8 percentage points higher than the national figure, placing Spotswood firmly in the top tier of educational attainment for Melbourne's inner west. Overseas-born residents account for 23.9%, which is 2.3 points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (868 residents), Irish (370), Scottish (263) and Italian (234). Languages other than English include Greek (33 speakers), Croatian (23), Italian (23) and Mandarin (18). The average household size is 2.6, marginally above the national average, and couples with children (1,167 families) comfortably outnumber couples without children (558 families).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
65.7%
Houses
30.8%
Townhouse
2.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Spotswood's house prices have grown 64.7% since 2013 when the median was $680,000, reaching $1,120,000 by Apr-Jun 2024 at a compound annual rate of 3.6%. The 2021 peak was $1,260,000, and prices remain 11.1% below that level. Tenure splits into 27.6% who own outright, 39.4% with a mortgage and 32.9% renting, a profile that is mortgage-heavy compared with more established wealthy suburbs where outright ownership dominates. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 65.7%, with semi-detached contributing 30.8% and apartments just 2.9%, one of the lowest apartment shares of any inner-west suburb. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 49.4% of stock. Rent-to-income at 18.5% keeps tenants well below the stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 21.6% is comfortable relative to the 91.8th percentile income profile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,300
Rent / wk
$456
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,229
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.6%
Unoccupied
113
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.4%
Couples, no children
2,286
Total families
Economy & Employment
Spotswood's workforce clusters in knowledge and essential-services industries: Healthcare leads at 14.6% (176 workers), followed by Professional and Technical services at 13.8% (167 workers), Education at 11.6% (140), Public Administration at 10.0% (120) and Construction at 9.7% (117). This mix is distinct from the suburb's earlier industrial profile, reflecting the professional in-migration of the past decade. By occupation, Professionals (520 workers) are the largest group, followed by Managers (307) and Clerical and Admin (194). Full-time employment runs at 71.1% and the unemployment rate is 4.7%, close to the national average. Household income at the 91.8th percentile nationally means residents earn substantially more than typical Melbourne households, underpinning the suburb's transition from working-class origins to a knowledge-economy base.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.1%
Part-time
24.2%
Participation
68.3%
Employed
1,451
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.9%
Postgraduate
13.3%
Born Overseas
23.9%
Dwellings
1,051
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high in Spotswood, with 82.5% of residents driving to work, above the inner-Melbourne average, and only 7.5% using public transport. Walking and cycling account for 4.9%, reflecting some active-transport infrastructure alongside the Yarra River corridor. The crime rate of 112.8 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated, with property and deception offences accounting for 232 of 318 total recorded incidents, far higher in volume than crimes against the person (37). Rent-to-income at 18.5% and mortgage-to-income at 21.6% mean neither renters nor owners face typical housing stress, a meaningful comfort indicator compared with many inner-city suburbs. Volunteering participation stands at 13.6%, and 4.0% of residents require daily assistance (108 people), consistent with a relatively young and able population at a median age of 37.
Drive
82.5%
Public Transport
7.5%
Walk / Cycle
4.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
318
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
112.8
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 Spotswood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spotswood a good suburb to live in?
Spotswood suits professionals and families well. Household income sits in the 91.8th percentile nationally, university qualifications reach 51.9% of residents (21.8 points above national) and the median age of 37 is 3 years below the national average. The main trade-off is a crime rate of 112.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, driven largely by property offences.
What is the median house price in Spotswood?
The median house price in Spotswood is $1,120,000, recorded for Apr-Jun 2024. This is 11.1% below the 2021 peak of $1,260,000. Prices have grown 64.7% since 2013 when the median was $680,000. Weekly rent averages $456 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,300.
What schools are in Spotswood?
No schools are recorded inside the Spotswood suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, Spotswood has a highly educated resident base, with 51.9% holding university qualifications, which is 21.8 percentage points above the national average.
Is Spotswood safe?
Spotswood recorded 318 total incidents in the latest crime data, giving a rate of 112.8 per 1,000 residents, which is elevated compared with lower-crime Melbourne suburbs. The majority (232 incidents) were property and deception offences. Crimes against the person were lower at 37 incidents, and public order offences totalled 22.
Is Spotswood good for property investment?
Spotswood offers 3.6% compound annual price growth over 14 years, from a $680,000 median in 2013 to $1,120,000 in 2024. The 32.9% renter share supports tenant demand, but the 9.6% vacancy rate is elevated. Large-scale apartment subdivisions in planning may increase future supply and affect capital growth prospects.
How is Spotswood's population changing?
Spotswood's population is 2,820 across 3.16 square kilometres. The suburb has a high stability rate, with 75.4% of residents not having moved in the five years prior to the census, indicating low turnover. The young median age of 37 (3 years below national) and high professional workforce suggest continued in-migration of knowledge workers.
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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