Springvale
Springvale stands out because 69.6% of residents were born overseas, a share 48.0 percentage points above national, while the median age of 36 sits 4.0 years below national. Compared with nearby Clayton and Noble Park, its identity is more strongly defined by migration, established detached housing and busy local commerce. The trade-off is clear: a $855,000 median house price and 43.5% university attainment sit beside a 148.1 per 1000 crime rate, so buyers need to weigh access and culture against safety diligence.
Population
22,174
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,402/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
28
Median House
$855K
Apr-Jun 2024
For homebuyers, the $855,000 median house price is 3.6% below the Oct-Dec 2023 peak of $886,500, giving slightly better timing than late 2023. Separate houses still dominate at 69.5%, compared with 20.1% semi-detached homes and 9.0% apartments, so families seeking land have more choice than in denser inner suburbs. Three-bedroom homes make up 49.2% of stock, and mortgage costs absorb 28.8% of income because the typical $1,750 monthly mortgage is measured against a $1,402 weekly household income.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, the $855,000 median house price is 3.6% below the Oct-Dec 2023 peak of $886,500, giving slightly better timing than late 2023. Separate houses still dominate at 69.5%, compared with 20.1% semi-detached homes and 9.0% apartments, so families seeking land have more choice than in denser inner suburbs. Three-bedroom homes make up 49.2% of stock, and mortgage costs absorb 28.8% of income because the typical $1,750 monthly mortgage is measured against a $1,402 weekly household income.
For Investors
Springvale has a renter share of 41.7%, higher than the 24.5% mortgage-holder share and above the 33.7% owned-outright base, so the tenant pool is substantial. The current $357 weekly rent is supported by overseas migration, but a 7.8% vacancy rate means leasing risk is higher than in tighter markets. Development also matters: 27 applications in 12 months, mostly subdivision activity, can add competing supply because many established blocks are being split rather than replaced by high-rise stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
69
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+47.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Springvale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Killester College
7-12 · 993 students
St Joseph's School
Prep-6 · 527 students
Minaret College
Prep-12 · 2929 students
Spring Parks Primary School
Prep-6 · 263 students
Heatherhill Primary School
Prep-6 · 209 students
Demographics
Springvale is one of the more migrant-heavy suburbs in the area, with 69.6% born overseas and a 48.0 percentage point gap above national. University attainment is also high at 43.5%, 13.4 points above national, yet household income sits only at the 40.3 percentile because employment is spread across labouring, driving, service and professional roles. Vietnamese ancestry counts 5,113 residents and Chinese ancestry 4,882, while the median age of 36 is 4.0 years below national, supporting larger households of 2.9 people.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.5%
Houses
20.1%
Townhouse
9.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is still anchored by detached stock: 69.5% separate houses, 20.1% semi-detached dwellings and 9.0% apartments. The median house price has risen from $451,500 in 2013 to $855,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, an 89.4% gain and 4.7% CAGR over 14 years, but it is 3.6% below the $886,500 peak. Compared with the $1,402 weekly household income, the price-to-income ratio is about 11.7, so affordability is stretched even though rent stress and mortgage stress flags are both false.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,750
Rent / wk
$357
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$558
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
608
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.2%
Couples, no children
16,670
Total families
Economy & Employment
Springvale's economy is broad but not high-income, which explains the gap between 43.5% university attainment and the 40.3 household income percentile. Healthcare leads with 865 workers or 16.4%, followed by manufacturing at 608, retail at 515, professional and tech at 458, and hospitality at 395. Occupations tilt practical, with 1,874 labourers and 1,121 machinery or driver workers versus 1,469 professionals. SEIFA reinforces the pressure: IEO is decile 3, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 2.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
12,693
Unemployed
662
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
30.7%
Participation
50.7%
Employed
8,770
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.5%
Postgraduate
12.2%
Born Overseas
69.6%
Dwellings
7,158
Transport to Work
Daily life is practical and car-oriented because 79.9% drive to work, much higher than the 7.1% using public transport and 3.3% walking or cycling. School choice is solid across 6 local campuses with ICSEA scores from 929 to 1020; Killester College at 1020, St Joseph's School at 1008 and Minaret College at 998 provide Catholic and Independent anchors. Safety is the main constraint, with 3,284 recorded offences and a 148.1 per 1000 crime rate, while IRSAD decile 2 points to lower area advantage.
Drive
79.9%
Public Transport
7.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.95%/yr
(+233 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive, with the trend adding 0.95% or 233 people a year. The medium path moves from 24,477 people in 2026 to 25,641 in 2031, so planning demand should build gradually. Migration is the key contrast: overseas migration averages +902 a year while internal migration averages -508, making overseas migration the primary driver. Gentrification is only at a score of 26 with an Early signs stage, because population growth is being offset by local outflow and only partial housing change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+902
Net Internal / yr
-508
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal outflow -508/yr, Strong overseas inflow +902/yr, COVID recovered (-5% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
3,284
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
148.1
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 Springvale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Springvale a good suburb to live in?
Springvale can suit buyers who value established houses, schools and migrant food culture, with 69.5% separate houses and 6 local schools. The main caution is safety, as the crime rate is 148.1 per 1000 residents.
What is the median house price in Springvale?
The median house price in Springvale is $855,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 3.6% below the recent $886,500 peak in Oct-Dec 2023, but still 89.4% above the 2013 level of $451,500.
What schools are in Springvale?
Springvale has 6 local schools, led by Killester College with ICSEA 1020, St Joseph's School with ICSEA 1008 and Minaret College with ICSEA 998. The mix includes Catholic, Independent and Government options.
Is Springvale safe?
Springvale has a recorded crime rate of 148.1 per 1000 residents from 3,284 offences. Property and deception offences are the largest category at 2,032, so street-by-street checks and security matter.
Is Springvale good for property investment?
Springvale has investment demand signals, including 41.7% renters and a $357 weekly rent. The caution is a 7.8% vacancy rate and 27 recent development applications, which can increase leasing competition.
How is Springvale's population changing?
Springvale is forecast to grow by about 0.95% a year, equal to 233 people annually. The medium scenario reaches 25,641 people by 2031, driven mainly by +902 overseas migrants a year.
What languages are spoken in Springvale?
Springvale has a very high overseas-born share at 69.6%. Reported non-English language groups include Mandarin with 772 speakers, Canton with 688, Khmer with 529, Punjabi with 500 and Greek with 220.
Is there much development in Springvale?
Yes. Springvale recorded 27 development applications over 12 months, with recent examples including 2 lot subdivisions and VicSmart subdivision activity. This points to gradual infill rather than major tower-led change.
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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