State Electorate · Area profile
Malvern (Southern Metropolitan)
19 km²
Far more affluent and highly educated than most similar areas, Malvern (Southern Metropolitan) is an established community of professionals. It is a place of high incomes and a growing older population, with nearly 20% of residents aged 65 and over. The neighbourhood is exceptionally walkable and well-connected, which helps explain why many residents work from home or use public transport. Its character is shaped by a blend of high-earning families and a significant number of people living alone in upscale housing.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
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The community is slightly older than the national figure, with a typical age of 40. While the population grew by 2.3% to 60,148 people, there are far fewer children under 15 here than in most other areas.
About 28.8% of residents were born overseas, which is a little above the Australian average. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries, with Chinese ancestry also featuring prominently at 9.8%.
English is the main language for 74.5% of the area, and 21.8% of people use another language at home. This is higher than most similar areas, though well below the Victorian average.
Christianity is the most common affiliation at 42.7%, while 39.8% of residents report no religion. This figure rose by 6.5 points since 2016.
Education levels are among the highest in the country, with 51.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This far exceeds the national figure of 26.3%, and 82.3% of residents have completed Year 12.
Incomes are very high here; typical family weekly income is $3,457, which is far above the national figure. Nearly 40% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, a figure that rose 8.2 points since 2016.
Residents generally report better health than most areas, with only 4.1% needing help with daily activities and 24.9% having a long-term health condition.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, though the rate fell 6.6 points since 2016. Unpaid care for others is also higher than most similar areas.
Homes are smaller than usual, with only 2.3 people per home. This is consistent with a high number of people living alone, who make up 31.8% of households.
Housing is expensive, with typical weekly rents at $426 and monthly mortgage payments at $2,810. Detached houses are much less common than in other areas, making up only 41.1% of dwellings.
Working from home is very common at 42.3%, a massive increase of 36 points since 2016. The area is well-served by public transport, with 301 stops and a high number of weekly departures.
The area is quite mobile, with 43.2% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 17.8% of the population, which is well above the national average.
Job activity is high, with 65.9% of adults working or looking for work. Most residents are employed in professional or managerial roles, and the unemployment rate of 4.4% is lower than most areas.
Described as a walker's paradise, 100% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Almost all residents can also reach groceries, parks, and health services within 15 minutes.