Strathmore Heights
With 83.7% separate houses on just 0.69 square kilometres, Strathmore Heights is one of Melbourne's most concentrated detached-housing pockets. Household income sits at the 74.2nd percentile nationally, supported by a workforce skewed toward professionals, managers and clerical workers. The IRSD decile of 10 and IRSAD decile of 9 place the suburb among the least disadvantaged communities in Australia. Just 1,047 residents live here, meaning individual property transactions move the median noticeably, as seen in the quarter-by-quarter swing between $910,000 and $1,050,000 across early 2024.
Population
1,047
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,975/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$910K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price reached $910,000 in the April to June 2024 quarter, down from a peak of $1,100,000 in July to September 2023, sitting 17.3% below that peak. From 2013 the earliest recorded price was $621,000, representing a 46.5% gain over roughly 14 years at a CAGR of 2.8%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 60.9% of all dwellings, with four-plus bedrooms at 31.7%, so buyers wanting space will find reasonable stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, below the common 30% stress threshold. Outright owners make up 45.2% of households, well above the national average, signalling long-held owner-occupier wealth rather than a heavily leveraged buyer pool.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $910,000 in the April to June 2024 quarter, down from a peak of $1,100,000 in July to September 2023, sitting 17.3% below that peak. From 2013 the earliest recorded price was $621,000, representing a 46.5% gain over roughly 14 years at a CAGR of 2.8%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 60.9% of all dwellings, with four-plus bedrooms at 31.7%, so buyers wanting space will find reasonable stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, below the common 30% stress threshold. Outright owners make up 45.2% of households, well above the national average, signalling long-held owner-occupier wealth rather than a heavily leveraged buyer pool.
For Investors
Rental demand is thin by inner-Melbourne standards: only 16.8% of households rent, compared to broader metropolitan averages above 30%. Weekly rent of $448 against a $910,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.6%, which is lower than typical investment-grade benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 7.1% is elevated, suggesting rental supply exceeds current demand in this small suburb. Overseas migration drives net population growth at roughly 93 arrivals per year while internal migration runs negative at minus 7, so the long-term tenant pool grows slowly. Just 1 development application was recorded in the past 12 months, confirming a tightly held, low-turnover market where capital growth rather than rental income is the primary investment thesis.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, reflecting an established owner-occupier community with fewer young renters. University qualifications reach 36.1%, which is 6.0 percentage points above the national average, consistent with the suburb's SEIFA IEO decile of 9 for education and occupation outcomes. English (312), Italian (127) and Irish (121) are the leading ancestries, giving the suburb an Anglo-Celtic and southern-European character. Overseas-born residents account for 19.8%, which is 1.8 percentage points below the national figure. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national figure, consistent with the high share of couples with children, who make up 379 of the 900 families recorded.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.7%
Houses
16.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 83.7%, with semi-detached dwellings filling the remaining 16.3%. No apartments are recorded, making this one of the most detached-dominant suburbs in Melbourne compared to the broader metropolitan profile. Tenure splits strongly toward ownership: 45.2% own outright, 38.0% hold a mortgage and only 16.8% rent. The price history shows a trough of $621,000 in 2013, a peak of $1,100,000 in mid-2023 and a latest reading of $910,000, placing the current price 17.3% below peak but still 46.5% above the long-run starting point. Mortgage stress appears contained, with mortgage-to-income at 25.3% and rent-to-income at 22.7%, both below the 30% stress line.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$448
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$815
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
28
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.3%
Couples, no children
900
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs the largest share of local workers at 15.0% (56 people), followed by Education at 12.6% (47) and Construction at 10.2% (38). Public Administration and Manufacturing account for 9.6% and 8.8% respectively. By occupation, Professionals (99), Clerical and Admin (85) and Managers (83) are the top three groups, which aligns with the SEIFA IEO decile 9 score for workforce education and income. The unemployment rate is 6.2%, above the low figures typical of decile 9 to 10 suburbs, partly because the participation rate of 58.2% is modest, with 303 residents not in the labour force. Real incomes grew 18.3% over the decade, and the IRSD decile of 10 confirms very limited material deprivation across the community.
Unemployment
1.4%
Labour Force
6,301
Unemployed
87
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
32.9%
Participation
58.2%
Employed
465
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.1%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
19.8%
Dwellings
368
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 92.2% of commuters driving, compared to Melbourne's broader average well below 80%, because the suburb has limited direct rail access. Only 2.7% use public transport and 2.3% walk or cycle. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD and decile 9 on IRSAD, placing it among the lowest-disadvantage postcodes nationally. Crime totals 43 incidents recorded, giving a rate of 41.1 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 26 incidents. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby institutions in Strathmore and Essendon. The volunteering rate of 11.6% and only 5.5% of residents needing assistance point to a self-sufficient, stable community.
Drive
92.2%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.68%/yr
(+72 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 11.0% over the decade and is forecast to reach approximately 10,945 by 2031 on the medium scenario, up from 10,536 in 2025, an annual addition of around 72 people or 0.68% per year. Overseas migration is the dominant driver at 93 net arrivals per year, partially offset by net internal outflow of minus 7 residents. The gentrification score sits at 4, classified as not gentrifying, which reflects a suburb that is already high-advantage rather than one undergoing transition. Rent grew 28.6% over the shift period, outpacing broader inflation, and affordability improved from 51.2% in 2011 to 45.3% in 2021. The trajectory is classified as mixed, meaning growth is present but not accelerating strongly.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+93
Net Internal / yr
-7
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
43
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
41.1
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 Strathmore Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strathmore Heights a good suburb to live in?
Strathmore Heights ranks at IRSD decile 10 and IRSAD decile 9, placing it among the least disadvantaged suburbs in Australia. Household income sits at the 74.2nd percentile nationally. The area suits owner-occupiers well, with 83.7% separate houses, low mortgage stress at 25.3% of income, and a stable population with 84.8% of residents staying put year to year.
What is the median house price in Strathmore Heights?
The median house price was $910,000 in April to June 2024, down 17.3% from a peak of $1,100,000 in mid-2023. Since the earliest recorded price of $621,000 in 2013, values have risen 46.5% at a compound annual growth rate of 2.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167.
What schools are in Strathmore Heights?
No schools are recorded within the Strathmore Heights boundary in this dataset. Families rely on nearby schools in adjacent suburbs such as Strathmore and Essendon. The local population is well educated, with 36.1% holding university qualifications, which is 6.0 percentage points above the national average.
Is Strathmore Heights safe?
43 incidents were recorded in the suburb, giving a crime rate of 41.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 26 of those incidents, with crimes against the person at 6. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD, the highest national tier for low disadvantage, which is broadly associated with safer residential environments.
Is Strathmore Heights good for property investment?
The investment case leans toward long-term capital growth rather than rental yield. Weekly rent of $448 against a $910,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.6%, below most benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 7.1% is elevated, and renters make up only 16.8% of households. Overseas migration of 93 arrivals per year supports gradual demand growth.
How is Strathmore Heights's population changing?
The suburb grew 11.0% over the past decade and is forecast to continue at roughly 0.68% per year, reaching around 10,945 by 2031. Overseas migration drives growth at 93 net arrivals annually, offset by a net internal outflow of 7 residents. The population skews older, with a median age of 42 that is 2.0 years above the national figure.
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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