Wattle Glen
With 99.2% of dwellings being separate houses and a median price of $1,007,500, Wattle Glen stands out as one of the most detached-house-dominant suburbs in greater Melbourne. Household income sits at the 91.2nd percentile nationally, yet the suburb supports an owner-occupier rate of 95%, far above the national norm. Population is just 1,911 across 8.99 km2, giving a density of 212.6 persons per km2, low compared to metropolitan averages. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD and decile 8 on IRSAD, placing it in the top tier for low disadvantage. Crime is minimal at 23.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, well below most Melbourne suburbs.
Population
1,911
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,425/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$1.0M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $1,007,500 as of April to June 2024 has pulled back 18.2% from the peak of $1,232,000 recorded in January to March 2024, giving buyers entering today a more measured entry point than earlier in the cycle. Since 2013 the earliest recorded price was $475,000, representing a 112.1% gain over 14 years at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. Stock is almost exclusively separate houses at 99.2%, with 55.1% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, which suits families but limits first-home buyer options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, reflecting the relatively high household income of $2,425 per week, which ranks at the 91.2nd percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,007,500 as of April to June 2024 has pulled back 18.2% from the peak of $1,232,000 recorded in January to March 2024, giving buyers entering today a more measured entry point than earlier in the cycle. Since 2013 the earliest recorded price was $475,000, representing a 112.1% gain over 14 years at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. Stock is almost exclusively separate houses at 99.2%, with 55.1% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, which suits families but limits first-home buyer options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, reflecting the relatively high household income of $2,425 per week, which ranks at the 91.2nd percentile nationally.
For Investors
Wattle Glen is not a yield market. Weekly rent of $420 against a $1,007,500 median produces a gross yield below 2.2%, lower than most comparable outer-suburban markets. The renter share is only 5.1% of dwellings, indicating very limited demand from tenants, and the vacancy rate of 4.1% is elevated for a low-renter suburb. Net overseas migration averages 64 residents per year while internal migration removes 80, leaving the suburb with modest net population loss from domestic movement. Development activity was just 1 application in the past 12 months, signalling no near-term supply pressure. The investment case rests on long-run capital growth, as the 5.5% annual compound growth since 2013 demonstrates, rather than on rental income.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-40.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wattle Glen iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wattle Glen Primary School
Prep-6 · 147 students
Demographics
The median age is 42, which is 2.0 years above the national average, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.3 percentage points over the decade while the young adult share fell 2.4 points. Overseas-born residents are 14.5%, which is 7.1 points below the national figure, consistent with the strong Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile where English (838), Irish (286) and Scottish (256) are the top groups. University qualifications at 32.6% sit 2.5 points above national, reflecting the professional household base. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above the national mean, pointing to the prevalence of family households, with 617 couples with children compared to only 346 couples without.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.2%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by owner-occupiers: 42.0% own outright and 52.9% carry a mortgage, leaving only 5.1% renting, far below the national renter share. The concentration of outright owners at 42.0% signals long-established residents holding property without debt. The dwelling mix is overwhelmingly separate houses at 99.2%, with apartments at 0.8%, meaning this is essentially a single-typology suburb. Bedroom distribution skews large, with 55.1% of homes having four or more bedrooms and 38.6% having three, so undersized stock is uncommon. From a price-to-income perspective, the $1,007,500 median against $2,425 weekly household income implies a ratio near 8, higher than the national median but manageable given the 20.6% mortgage-to-income ratio.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$850
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
26
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.8%
Couples, no children
1,665
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction leads local employment at 18.5% of workers (134 people), followed by Healthcare at 17.2% (124) and Education at 13.6% (98). This distribution differs from typical high-income suburbs where Professional/Tech or Finance leads, reflecting Wattle Glen's semi-rural character with trades and public services prominent. By occupation, Professionals (229) and Managers (153) are the top two groups, aligning with the SEIFA IEO decile 7 score for education and occupation. The unemployment rate is low at 3.8% and the full-time employment rate is 62.6%. Household income ranks at the 91.2nd percentile nationally, yet the suburb's IRSAD decile is 8 rather than 10, because the low renter share and rural setting moderate the composite score.
Unemployment
2.0%
Labour Force
9,258
Unemployed
183
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.6%
Part-time
33.6%
Participation
64.4%
Employed
985
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.6%
Postgraduate
6.8%
Born Overseas
14.5%
Dwellings
609
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 90.6% of commuters driving, compared to the national average, because public transport use is just 3.0%, reflecting the semi-rural location without heavy rail access nearby. Walking and cycling account for 3.5% of commuters. The crime rate of 23.5 incidents per 1,000 residents is low, with property offences representing 87% of the 45 total incidents recorded. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD, placing it among the lowest disadvantage areas in Australia. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions. The volunteering rate of 14.9% is above average, and housing stress is absent: rent-to-income sits at 17.3% and mortgage-to-income at 20.6%, both below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
90.6%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.5%/yr
(+75 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow at 0.5% annually, adding roughly 75 persons per year to the current base. The 10-year historical gain was 7.2%, putting Wattle Glen in the slow-growth category compared to outer suburban growth corridors. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 area reaching 15,300 by 2031. Internal migration runs negative at minus 80 per year on average, while overseas migration adds 64, leaving overall growth dependent on natural increase. The gentrification score of 33 places it at early signs stage, with real income growth of 14.6% over the decade and improving affordability as the mortgage-to-income ratio fell from 49.1% in 2011 to 44.6% in 2021. The suburb is classified as established, not a greenfield area, so population gains are incremental rather than sudden.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+64
Net Internal / yr
-80
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
45
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
23.5
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 Wattle Glen compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wattle Glen a good suburb to live in?
Wattle Glen consistently ranks among Melbourne's lowest-disadvantage areas, scoring decile 9 on IRSD nationally. Crime is low at 23.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, housing stress is absent with a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.6%, and household income sits in the 91.2nd percentile. The trade-off is very limited public transport and no schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Wattle Glen?
The median house price in Wattle Glen is $1,007,500, recorded for the April to June 2024 quarter. This is down 18.2% from the peak of $1,232,000 in early 2024. Since 2013 the price has grown 112.1% at a compound annual rate of 5.5%, from an earliest recorded price of $475,000.
What schools are in Wattle Glen?
No schools are recorded within the Wattle Glen boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, the suburb has a university qualification rate of 32.6%, which is 2.5 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the professional household base.
Is Wattle Glen safe?
Wattle Glen recorded just 45 total crime incidents in the latest period, giving a rate of 23.5 per 1,000 residents, well below most Melbourne areas. Property and deception offences accounted for 39 of those incidents, with only 4 crimes against persons. The suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the top tier nationally.
Is Wattle Glen good for property investment?
Wattle Glen offers capital growth appeal rather than yield. The compound annual growth rate has been 5.5% since 2013, but weekly rent of $420 against a $1,007,500 median implies a gross yield below 2.2%. The renter share is only 5.1% of dwellings and the vacancy rate is 4.1%, meaning tenant demand is limited compared to higher-density suburbs.
How is Wattle Glen's population changing?
Wattle Glen is growing slowly at 0.5% per year, adding around 75 people annually to its population of 1,911. The 10-year growth was 7.2%. Internal migration runs at minus 80 per year on average, offset partially by overseas migration of 64 per year. The suburb profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.3 percentage points over the decade.
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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