Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
South Melbourne
2 km²
A huge 50.3% of adults in South Melbourne hold a bachelor degree or higher, making it one of the most highly qualified areas in the country. This professional character is reflected in the high typical incomes and a population of young adults and overseas arrivals. It is a densely populated urban hub where most people live in apartments and rely on walking or public transport rather than cars. The community is largely secular and highly mobile, with over half of its residents moving into the area within the last five years.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
Rapid population growth here is outstripping school provision.
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The area is predominantly made up of young and middle-aged adults, with 37.7% aged between 25 and 44. It has a very low proportion of children, at just 11.5%, and a high number of people in de facto relationships (18.7%) compared to the national figure.
South Melbourne is diverse, with 35.1% of residents born overseas—well above the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
About 23.6% of people use a language other than English at home, which is higher than most areas, though this is still lower than the Victorian average of 27.6%.
Nearly half of the population (49.3%) reports having no religion, a figure far above the national average of 38.9%.
Education levels are exceptionally high here, with 76.9% of residents completing Year 12. This far exceeds the state average of 61.8%, with many residents holding postgraduate degrees.
Typical incomes are very high; the typical personal weekly income of $1,310 is far above the national figure of $805. Nearly 28.3% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are lower than most areas at 25.8%, though the rate of mental health conditions (9.7%) is slightly higher than the national figure.
Consistent with its professional population, fewer people here provide unpaid childcare (17.9%) or housework (14.9%) compared to the state and national averages.
The First Nations community is small, making up 0.6% of the population. Residents in this group have a higher typical personal income ($725) and Year 12 completion rate (50.9%) than most other areas.
Small households are the norm, with 43.2% of people living alone—far above the national figure of 25.6%. Consequently, the typical home holds only 1.9 people.
Living in a flat or apartment is common for 60% of households, while detached houses are very rare at just 4.6%. Renting is high at 54.3%, and the typical weekly rent is slightly above the national average at $421.
The area is designed for transit, with 22.8% of homes having no car and 46.9% of people working from home. Public transport use is much higher than most areas, with trams being the primary mode.
The community is highly transient, with 51.9% of residents moving in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent overseas arrivals at 19.1%.
Professional and technical roles are the most common, with 40.7% of workers in professional occupations. Full-time employment (68.8%) is well above the national figure.
South Melbourne is considered very advantaged overall, ranking in the top 10% of areas for its advantage score, driven by a high level of education and job skills.
The local climate sees an average maximum temperature of 20.3°C and annual rainfall of 632mm, which is a little above the Victorian average.
This is a walker's paradise with a score of 9.5. Every single home is within a 15-minute walk of public transport, parks, groceries, and health services.