Suburb / Locality · Area profile
South Melbourne
2 km²
A massive 50.2% of adults in South Melbourne hold a bachelor degree or higher, making it one of the most highly qualified areas in the region. This is a professional and affluent community where a huge proportion of residents live alone in apartments. The area is very dynamic, with over half the population having moved here in the last five years. Located just minutes from the city, it is a high-income hub defined by its urban lifestyle and exceptional walkability.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
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The typical resident is 39, and the area has far fewer children and seniors than most. It is also a place where people are much more likely to be in a de facto relationship compared to the state and national figures.
South Melbourne is a diverse hub with 35.3% of people born overseas, a figure well above the national average. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, followed by Irish and Chinese.
More than one in five people use a language other than English at home, which is a little above the national figure. Most common are English, Mandarin and Greek.
Nearly half the population (49.9%) report having no religion, a figure far above both the Victorian and national averages.
Education levels are among the highest in the region, with 76.9% of residents completing Year 12. This high level of schooling is reflected in a workforce dominated by professionals in management, commerce and social sciences.
Incomes are very high here, with the typical personal weekly income of $1,307 far above the national figure. About 32.5% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is well above the state average.
Long-term health conditions are a little below the national average, though the rate of mental health conditions is slightly higher than the state and national figures.
Unpaid care for children and housework are much lower than in most areas, consistent with the small household sizes and lower number of children.
There are 65 First Nations people in the area. This group has a Year 12 completion rate of 60%, which is far above the state and national figures.
Small households are the norm, with 43.1% of people living alone—far more than the national average. Consequently, the typical home has only 1.9 people.
Apartments and townhouses dominate, with detached houses making up only 4.7% of homes. Renting is very common (54.9%), and typical weekly rents are higher than the state average at $421.
Public transport use and working from home (46.9%) are both far above national levels. Many residents live without a car, and the area has a very high number of public transport stops.
The community is highly mobile, with 53.3% of people moving here in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent overseas arrivals (19.3%).
The workforce is very active, with 68.4% of adults working or looking for work. Full-time employment is much higher than the national average, with many working in professional and technical roles.
This is a walker's paradise with a score of 9.4. Every single home is within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, parks, schools and public transport.