Council (LGA) · Area profile
Melbourne
38 km²
A staggering 85.8% of homes in Melbourne are flats or apartments, making it a high-density urban hub. The community is exceptionally young, with a typical resident aged just 30, and the population has grown by 60% since 2011. It is a global crossroads where over half the people were born overseas. This mix of high-earning professionals and a large international population creates a fast-paced, highly educated city environment.
Melbourne's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
A fast-growing area where schools haven't kept pace per child.
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The area is far younger than the national figure, with children under 15 making up only 6.7% of the population. De facto relationships are much more common here than elsewhere, at 19.0%, while 65.1% of residents have never married.
Born overseas, 54.8% of the population reflects a massive gap compared to the national 27.7%. Chinese, English, and Australian are the most common ancestries, and China is the primary country of birth outside Australia.
Language diversity is very high, with 46.0% of people using a language other than English at home. While Mandarin is the most common non-English language, the proportion of people who speak little or no English fell to 5.2% by 2021.
A nearly half of the population (49.3%) now report no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. This trend has grown significantly, rising 16 points since 2011.
The community is highly qualified, with 54.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the state's 29.2%. This is reflected in the workforce, where 39.4% of people are professionals.
Typical personal weekly income is $959, which is a little above the national figure. High earners are common, with 16.7% of people earning $2,000 or more a week.
Residents are generally healthier than most, with only 18.4% having a long-term health condition, which is well below the national average of 27.7%. Only 2.3% of people need help with daily activities.
Participation in unpaid care and housework is among the lowest in the country, with only 10.7% of people caring for children. Volunteering has also fallen since 2011 to 14.0%.
First Nations residents here have a Year 12 completion rate of 73.3%, far above the national figure of 37.0%. Typical personal income for this group is also well above the national average at $754.
Living alone is very common, accounting for 43.1% of households, which is far above the national 25.6%. Consequently, homes are small, with a typical size of just 1.8 people.
Rental properties dominate the market at 67.2%, far above the national 30.6%. Detached houses are rare, making up only 2.2% of dwellings, with typical weekly rents sitting at $396.
Public transport use is high, and 46.1% of homes have no motor vehicle. Working from home has surged to 38.6%, far above the national figure of 21.0%.
The population is highly mobile, with 69.8% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up a huge 41.7% of the community.
More adults are working or looking for work (70.1%) than in most other areas. However, the unemployment rate of 7.6% is a little above the national figure of 5.1%.
The area is a major economic hub with 46,783 businesses and a top overall advantage score of 1,086. Population growth has been very strong, rising 27.0% since 2021.
The area experiences slightly higher rainfall than the state average, with 631mm annually. Minimum temperatures are well above the state average at 11.3 degrees.
Recorded offences are among the highest in the country, with theft being the most common crime. Rates for assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft are all much higher than most areas.
This is a walker's paradise with a score of 9.4. Nearly every home is within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and public transport.