Wonga Park
Household incomes in the 96th percentile nationally set the floor for Wonga Park, a low-density outer-east Melbourne suburb of 3,843 people where 99.8% of dwellings are separate houses. The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and 87.7% of residents did not move in the previous year, a stability rate that reflects settled, long-term ownership rather than rapid turnover. The crime rate of 21.9 incidents per 1,000 residents is well below typical Melbourne suburban levels, and 44.8% of dwellings are owned outright, pointing to established wealth with no outstanding debt. These signals combine to produce one of Melbourne's quieter high-income enclaves on 23.22 square kilometres of land.
Population
3,843
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,790/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$1.2M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price is $1,224,000 as of the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, down 21.5% from the peak of $1,560,000 reached in Jul-Sep 2023. Over a 14-year period from 2013, prices have risen 81.5%, representing a compound annual growth rate of 4.3%, which is a steady rather than spectacular pace compared to Melbourne's inner suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 19.0%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite the high price point. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 99.8%, and 69.6% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers find large family homes rather than apartments or townhouses. Four-bedroom-plus stock represents an unusually high share compared to the broader metropolitan average, reinforcing the suburb's family and owner-occupier character.
For Buyers
The median house price is $1,224,000 as of the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, down 21.5% from the peak of $1,560,000 reached in Jul-Sep 2023. Over a 14-year period from 2013, prices have risen 81.5%, representing a compound annual growth rate of 4.3%, which is a steady rather than spectacular pace compared to Melbourne's inner suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 19.0%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite the high price point. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 99.8%, and 69.6% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers find large family homes rather than apartments or townhouses. Four-bedroom-plus stock represents an unusually high share compared to the broader metropolitan average, reinforcing the suburb's family and owner-occupier character.
For Investors
The investment case for Wonga Park is thin by yield metrics but defensible on capital preservation. Weekly rent averages $491 against a $1,224,000 median, implying a gross yield of approximately 2.1%, which is lower than Melbourne's metropolitan average. The vacancy rate of 3.6% is elevated for an outer-east suburb, reflecting the small rental pool: only 5.5% of households rent, the lowest share you typically encounter at this price point, and well below the national rental average. Development activity is modest at 12 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and vegetation removal rather than new dwellings, so supply pressure is limited. Net overseas migration adds roughly 70 residents per year while net internal migration removes 71, leaving demand growth near zero. The 14-year CAGR of 4.3% is the most reliable long-run return signal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
20
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1500.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wonga Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wonga Park Primary School
Prep-6 · 412 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5.0 years above the national figure and rising, with the senior share increasing 7.9 points and the working-age share falling 4.0 points over the decade. This aging trajectory is the dominant demographic fact shaping demand. University qualifications reach 37.6% of residents, which is 7.5 percentage points above the national figure, consistent with the professional and managerial occupational mix. Overseas-born residents account for 14.1% of the population, which is 7.5 points below the national average, reflecting an Anglo-Celtic ancestry lean: English (1,713), Scottish (443) and Irish (441) are the three largest ancestry groups. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 persons above national, pointing to intact family structures. Couples with children number 1,357, while 837 households are couples without children, a profile consistent with both established families and older empty-nesters.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.8%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits strongly toward ownership: 44.8% own outright and 49.8% carry a mortgage, leaving only 5.5% renting. The ratio of outright owners to renters is extremely high compared to most Melbourne suburbs, which signals that this is a wealth-storage rather than a rental suburb. Separate houses account for 99.8% of dwellings, with apartments at just 0.2%, making Wonga Park one of the most detached-dominant suburbs in the metropolitan area. The bedroom profile skews large, with 69.6% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and only 3.1% having 2 bedrooms. Prices peaked at $1,560,000 in Jul-Sep 2023 and have since corrected 21.5% to $1,224,000, offering buyers some relief from the peak relative to recent history. From the 2013 base of $674,500, the 14-year gain is 81.5%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,300
Rent / wk
$491
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$968
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
46
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.4%
Couples, no children
3,436
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the leading industry employer at 20.2% (287 workers), which is high relative to most high-income suburbs and reflects the area's active residential development and trades base. Healthcare follows at 14.4% (204 workers) and Professional/Technical services at 11.3% (160 workers), with Education at 10.8% and Manufacturing at 6.1%. By occupation, Professionals (479) and Managers (409) make up the two largest groups. Full-time employment runs at 58.2% and the unemployment rate is 3.3%, below Melbourne's metropolitan average. The suburb scores IRSD decile 10 (least disadvantaged nationally) and IRSAD decile 9, consistent with the household income ranking in the 96th percentile. Real income growth over the decade was 6.6%, a modest gain that has kept affordability roughly stable. Personal weekly income averages $968 and family weekly income $2,972.
Unemployment
1.7%
Labour Force
6,010
Unemployed
102
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.2%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
65.5%
Employed
2,035
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.6%
Postgraduate
6.5%
Born Overseas
14.1%
Dwellings
1,228
Transport to Work
Car dependence is the defining transport characteristic: 92.4% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average, and public transport use is just 0.9%, reflecting the suburb's outer-east location with limited rail and bus services. The crime rate of 21.9 incidents per 1,000 residents is low for a Melbourne suburb, with 44 property and deception offences and 25 crimes against the person recorded in the most recent period. Only 3.0% of residents require daily assistance (111 people), a low figure that partly reflects the age profile of the suburb being pre-frailty rather than very elderly. The IRSAD decile of 9 and IRSD decile of 10 together confirm that Wonga Park ranks among the least disadvantaged areas in Australia. Volunteering participation sits at 17.0%, which is above average and consistent with an established, community-engaged population. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset.
Drive
92.4%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.16%/yr
(-16 people/yr)
EstablishedWonga Park is in a slow-decline trajectory. The medium forecast projects population declining from 10,220 in 2026 to 10,139 by 2031, representing a loss of roughly 16 persons per year or about 0.16% annually. Over the decade, population grew just 1.0%. The suburb did not recover from COVID: the current SA2 population of 10,212 remains 3.3% below the pre-COVID level of 10,551. Migration flows are nearly balanced, with net overseas migration averaging positive 70 per year and net internal migration averaging negative 71, so the suburb depends entirely on overseas arrivals to avoid population contraction. The gentrification score is 0 and the suburb is classified as not gentrifying, which aligns with the established-wealth, aging-resident profile. Affordability has worsened slightly, from 49.4% in 2011 to 51.7% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+70
Net Internal / yr
-71
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
84
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
21.9
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 Wonga Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wonga Park a good suburb to live in?
Wonga Park ranks in the IRSD decile 10 nationally, the least disadvantaged tier, with household incomes in the 96th percentile. The crime rate is 21.9 per 1,000 residents, low by Melbourne standards. The main trade-offs are heavy car dependence (92.4% drive to work) and a median house price of $1,224,000 that restricts entry.
What is the median house price in Wonga Park?
The median house price is $1,224,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024, down 21.5% from the Jul-Sep 2023 peak of $1,560,000. Over 14 years from 2013, prices rose 81.5%, a CAGR of 4.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 19.0%.
What schools are in Wonga Park?
No schools are recorded within the Wonga Park suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in adjacent suburbs such as Warranwood and Ringwood. The resident population is highly educated, with 37.6% holding university qualifications, which is 7.5 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Wonga Park safe?
Wonga Park recorded 84 total offences in the most recent period, giving a crime rate of 21.9 per 1,000 residents. The largest categories were property and deception offences (44 incidents) and crimes against the person (25 incidents). The suburb scores IRSD decile 10, the lowest disadvantage tier nationally, which is broadly consistent with low crime.
Is Wonga Park good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $491 against a $1,224,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.1%, below Melbourne's metropolitan average. Only 5.5% of households rent, limiting the tenant pool. The 14-year CAGR is 4.3%, which makes the investment case rest on capital growth rather than yield. The vacancy rate of 3.6% is elevated relative to an owner-occupier suburb.
How is Wonga Park's population changing?
The suburb's SA2 population sits at 10,212, still 3.3% below the pre-COVID level of 10,551. The medium forecast shows a gradual decline to 10,139 by 2031, at roughly 16 fewer residents per year. Net overseas migration of 70 per year nearly cancels out the internal outflow of 71, leaving growth close to zero.
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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