Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Melba
2 km²
A significant drop in crime over the last five years marks the recent trajectory of Melba. This community is defined by its families, with a much higher proportion of children and larger homes than most similar areas. Residents are generally well-off, with typical incomes well above the national figure. It is a highly educated population living in a walkable setting with excellent access to schools and public transport.
Melba's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
Families are well catered for: 19 schools serve Melba.
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Children under 15 make up 22.1% of the population, which is well above the state and national figures. While the typical resident is 38, there is also a strong presence of seniors, with 17.1% aged 65 and over.
A large proportion of the community was born overseas at 21.2%, though this is well below the state average. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are common following those of Australian descent.
Around 15.9% of people use a language other than English at home, which is much higher than most similar areas. Despite this diversity, the number of people who speak little or no English is slightly below the national figure.
The area has a higher proportion of people with no religion (45.6%) than most areas, sitting slightly above the ACT average.
Education levels are very high, with 37.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far above the national average, and 73.8% of residents have completed Year 12.
The community is wealthy, with typical weekly household incomes of $2,326, which is well above the national figure. About 35.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.3% of people. This includes a mental health condition rate of 11.7%, which is a little above the national figure.
Unpaid care is a significant part of local life; 34.6% of people care for children unpaid, which is well above the national figure. Volunteers are also more common here than in most similar areas.
The First Nations community in Melba is relatively prosperous, with a typical personal income of $1,050 and a Year 12 completion rate of 60.0%, which is far above the national figure.
Families are larger here than usual, with 2.7 people per home. Couples with children make up the majority of households at 62.6%.
Most people live in separate houses, with 88.4% of homes having three or more bedrooms. While 34.6% of homes are owned outright, those with mortgages face typical monthly payments of $2,100.
Public transport access is excellent, with 36 stops and a very high number of weekly departures per 1,000 people. Despite this, 62.3% of workers still commute by car.
The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 34.2% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 12.1% of the population.
A high proportion of the workforce is employed full-time (63.1%), with many working in public administration and safety. The unemployment rate is 3.9%, about the same as the state average.
The area has become much safer, with the crime rate falling by 40.5% over the last five years. Burglary and theft rates are both lower than in most similar areas.
The neighborhood is very walkable, with every home within a 10-minute walk of public transport and a 15-minute walk of a park. However, very few homes (6.7%) are within a 15-minute walk of health services.