Region (SA4) · Area profile
Melbourne - Inner South
161 km²
A far higher proportion of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher here than in most other areas, with 42% of residents in Melbourne - Inner South reaching this level of education. This highly qualified community is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 41. The area is wealthy and diverse, with a large overseas-born population and typical incomes well above the state average. It is a dense, walkable urban hub where professional careers and high wages are common.
Melbourne - Inner South's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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The population has grown by 12% since 2011 to 422,639 people. Residents are generally older than the state and national average, and there are fewer children under 15 than in most similar areas.
This is a diverse community where 31% of people were born overseas, a figure well above the national average. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
About 23.2% of people use a language other than English at home, which is much higher than in most areas. Mandarin and Greek are the most common non-English languages.
People with no religion make up 41.5% of the community, a figure that has risen by 17 points since 2011. Christianity is also common at 40%.
The area is far more qualified than the rest of the state, with 42% of adults holding a university degree. This high level of education is reflected in a very high school advantage score.
Incomes are much higher than typical Australian figures, with 34.1% of households earning $3,000 or more a week. The typical family income of $2,868 is well above the state average.
Residents generally report better health than most other areas, with lower rates of long-term health conditions and mental health issues.
Unpaid care for children is more common here than in most areas. While 15.3% of people volunteer, this is down from 18.9% in 2011.
First Nations residents in this area are among the highest performing in the country, with a Year 12 completion rate of 61.1% and an unemployment rate of just 6.4%.
Living arrangements are varied, with 27.7% of people living alone. However, the average household size of 2.5 people is higher than in most similar areas.
Housing is expensive, with typical weekly rents of $438 and monthly mortgage payments of $2,400. Detached houses are far less common here than in the rest of Victoria.
Working from home is very common, with 38.3% of the workforce doing so. While public transport use has fallen since 2011, there are more transport stops here than in about 80% of similar areas.
The area is quite mobile, with 39.5% of residents moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 13.8% of the population.
More adults here are working or looking for work compared to most areas. The workforce is dominated by professionals and managers, particularly in health and professional services.
The population is larger than about 83% of similar areas and grew by 6.4% after 2021.
The area experiences more rainfall than most of Victoria, with an average of 644mm annually.
This is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.2. Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of public transport, parks, groceries, and health services.