Travancore
Packed into just 0.42 square kilometres, Travancore houses 2,116 residents at a density of 5,057 per km2, and 76% of dwellings are apartments. The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, and university qualifications reach 64.9%, which is 34.8 percentage points above national. These two facts together explain the suburb's character: it draws highly educated young adults, many of them overseas-born (45.9%, compared to a national rate around 21%), into a compact, apartment-dominated footprint close to Melbourne's inner west. With 56.9% of residents renting, the suburb functions largely as a transient professional precinct rather than a long-term ownership market.
Population
2,116
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,692/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
No recorded median house price is available for Travancore, reflecting the suburb's near-total apartment orientation: 76% of dwellings are apartments, 15.2% separate houses, and 8.8% semi-detached. Only 17.4% of households own outright, and 25.7% carry a mortgage, with monthly repayments averaging $1,513. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 20.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is relatively comfortable compared to many Melbourne inner-ring suburbs. The two-bedroom segment dominates at 69.3% of all dwellings, with one-bedroom at 11.5% and three-bedroom at 11.8%. Buyers seeking a freestanding house face very limited stock, and the high renter share (56.9%) means owner-occupier demand competes with investor purchasing for the same small pool of apartments.
For Buyers
No recorded median house price is available for Travancore, reflecting the suburb's near-total apartment orientation: 76% of dwellings are apartments, 15.2% separate houses, and 8.8% semi-detached. Only 17.4% of households own outright, and 25.7% carry a mortgage, with monthly repayments averaging $1,513. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 20.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is relatively comfortable compared to many Melbourne inner-ring suburbs. The two-bedroom segment dominates at 69.3% of all dwellings, with one-bedroom at 11.5% and three-bedroom at 11.8%. Buyers seeking a freestanding house face very limited stock, and the high renter share (56.9%) means owner-occupier demand competes with investor purchasing for the same small pool of apartments.
For Investors
A renter majority of 56.9% gives landlords reliable demand, but the 16.3% vacancy rate signals meaningful oversupply in the apartment stock, well above the 3% level typically considered balanced. Weekly rent of $351 is the primary income driver because no median sale price is recorded, making yield calculations approximate. The suburb's appeal to renters rests on its proximity to Royal Melbourne Hospital and the University of Melbourne, which anchors demand from healthcare and education workers who account for 17.3% and 10% of the local workforce respectively. Resident turnover is exceptionally high at 46.8%, which keeps churn costs elevated for landlords. Only 1 development application was lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is minimal, though the existing vacancy rate already weighs on rents.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national average, and the average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below national, both consistent with a suburb of young singles and couples. Overseas-born residents reach 45.9%, which is 24.3 percentage points above the national rate, reflecting the suburb's role as an arrival point for skilled migrants. The leading ancestries are English (484), followed by Chinese (249), Irish (218) and Scottish (170). The top non-English languages spoken are Mandarin (46), Hindi (34), Cantonese (27) and Persian (22). University qualifications at 64.9% are 34.8 points above national, one of the highest rates in Melbourne's inner west. The 47.2% of families who are couples without children aligns with the young professional profile, and one-parent families effectively register as zero in the data.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
15.2%
Houses
8.8%
Townhouse
76.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Travancore is apartment-dominant: 76% of dwellings are apartments and just 15.2% are separate houses, a composition skewed further toward density than most inner-Melbourne suburbs. The two-bedroom format accounts for 69.3% of all dwellings, unusually high concentration in a single bedroom type, suggesting a development era focused on compact professional housing. The ownership split of 17.4% outright owners, 25.7% on mortgages and 56.9% renters means the suburb functions more as a rental market than an ownership one. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,513 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.7% is below the stress threshold compared to Melbourne's inner-city norm. The 16.3% vacancy rate is elevated, indicating that supply has exceeded demand in the apartment segment, and the 46.8% annual turnover rate confirms this is a highly transient population.
Mortgage / mo
$1,513
Rent / wk
$351
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,027
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.3%
Unoccupied
204
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.2%
Couples, no children
1,249
Total families
Economy & Employment
The top industry employer is Healthcare at 17.3% (180 workers), followed closely by Professional/Technical services at 16.6% (172) and Education at 10% (104). Finance accounts for 7.7% (80 workers) and Hospitality for 7.4% (77). By occupation, Professionals dominate with 524 workers, then Clerical/Admin (169), Managers (161) and Community/Personal services (154). The unemployment rate of 6.4% is higher than the national average, which likely reflects the younger, more mobile resident base with higher student and transitional worker proportions. Full-time employment runs at 66.6% and the participation rate at 67.6%. Household income sits at the 59.4th percentile nationally, modest given the 64.9% university qualification rate, because many residents are early-career professionals or international students rather than senior earners.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.6%
Part-time
27.0%
Participation
67.6%
Employed
1,225
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.9%
Postgraduate
24.0%
Born Overseas
45.9%
Dwellings
1,042
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling account for 11.8% of commutes, above typical Melbourne suburban rates, because the compact 0.42 km2 area and proximity to parkland along the Maribyrnong River make active travel practical. Car use at 76.9% is high for an inner suburb, and public transport trips register at only 7.2%, suggesting the street-level transit network is less convenient than the suburb's density might imply. No schools are recorded inside Travancore's boundaries, so families depend on schools in neighbouring Flemington and Parkville. The crime rate of 62.4 per 1,000 residents is driven mainly by property and deception offences (97 of 132 total incidents), which is a pattern common to higher-density, higher-turnover areas nationally. The rent-to-income ratio of 20.7% is below the 30% stress threshold, meaning most renters are not under acute financial pressure relative to state averages.
Drive
76.9%
Public Transport
7.2%
Walk / Cycle
11.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
132
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
62.4
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 Travancore compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Travancore a good suburb to live in?
Travancore suits young professionals and overseas arrivals well. University qualifications reach 64.9%, which is 34.8 percentage points above national, and the median age of 33 is 7 years below national. The suburb is compact at 0.42 km2 with walkable access to Flemington Road amenities, but it has no schools within its boundaries and a high vacancy rate of 16.3% in its dominant apartment stock.
What is the median house price in Travancore?
No recorded median house price is available for Travancore due to very low transaction volume. The suburb is 76% apartments, and weekly rent averages $351. For buyers, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,513, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.7%, which is below the typical 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Travancore?
No schools are recorded inside Travancore's 0.42 km2 boundary. Families typically rely on schools in adjacent suburbs such as Flemington and Parkville. Despite the absence of local schools, 64.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 34.8 points above the national figure, reflecting the suburb's young professional population.
Is Travancore safe?
Travancore recorded 132 crimes in the measured period, at a rate of 62.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 97 of those incidents, a pattern typical of higher-density rental suburbs. Crimes against the person totalled 18 and drug offences 8. The pattern is broadly consistent with inner-Melbourne suburbs of similar density and renter share (56.9%).
Is Travancore good for property investment?
The 56.9% renter majority signals strong rental demand, but the 16.3% vacancy rate indicates oversupply in the apartment segment, which makes up 76% of all dwellings. Weekly rent of $351 provides income, and no new supply pressure is evident with only 1 development application in the past 12 months. The high annual turnover rate of 46.8% means landlords face regular re-leasing costs.
How is Travancore's population changing?
No formal population forecast is available for Travancore. The current population of 2,116 is concentrated in a 0.42 km2 area. The suburb's 45.9% overseas-born rate and median age of 33 (7 years below national) suggest continued demand from international arrivals and young professionals, though a 46.8% annual turnover rate means the resident base shifts substantially each year.
What languages are spoken in Travancore?
With 45.9% of residents born overseas, 24.3 percentage points above the national rate, Travancore is linguistically diverse. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (46 speakers), Hindi (34), Cantonese (27), Persian (22) and Italian (20). Leading ancestries include English (484), Chinese (249), Irish (218) and Scottish (170).
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.
Explore Travancore on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map