Malvern (Vic.)

Malvern is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Nov 2025, the estimated population of the suburb of Malvern (Vic.) is around 10,642. This reflects a growth of 713 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,929. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 10,415 following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and an additional 198 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,632 persons per square kilometer, placing Malvern in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 7.2% since census is within 1.7 percentage points of the national average (8.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth in Malvern.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, above median population growth is projected for the suburb, expected to expand by 1,422 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 13.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Malvern recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Malvern averaged around 55 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 279 homes were approved, with another 5 in FY-26 so far. Over these years, an average of 0.2 people moved to the area per dwelling built.

This suggests supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth. The average construction value of new homes was $1,191,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. In FY-26, $4.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Recent construction comprises 12.0% detached dwellings and 88.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift towards higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

This marks a change from the current housing mix of 46.0% houses. The location has approximately 234 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. Population forecasts estimate Malvern will gain 1,388 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Malvern has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 20 such projects that could potentially impact this area. Notable amongst these are the Cabrini Hospital Major Redevelopment, the 173 Burke Road Mixed-Use Development, improvements to the Harold Holt Swim Centre, and the Level Crossing Removal Project in Melbourne. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Malvern demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Malvern has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.4% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.6%. In Malvern, 6,186 residents were employed while the workforce participation rate was broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The area showed strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, construction had limited presence with 5.3% employment compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicated a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Over the past year, employment increased by 0.6%, labour force by 1.5%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.8 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded higher growth rates in employment and labour force with lower unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Malvern's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Malvern had a median income among taxpayers of $76,939 during financial year 2022, with an average level of $156,872. These figures place Malvern in the top percentile nationally, compared to Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $86,295 (median) and $175,948 (average), based on a 12.16% growth in Wage Price Index since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, Malvern's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 92nd and 95th percentiles. The $4000+ income bracket dominates with 35.2% of residents (3,745 people), unlike regional trends where 32.8% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Higher earners represent a substantial presence in Malvern, with 45.9% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 87.3% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Malvern displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Malvern's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 45.8% houses and 54.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 0% houses and 0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Malvern stood at 43.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.3% and rented ones at 27.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,057, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. The median weekly rent was $450, whereas Melbourne metro had no recorded figures for these metrics. Nationally, Malvern's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Malvern features high concentrations of lone person households, with a median household size of 2.3 people

Family households constitute 64.6% of all households, including 28.8% couples with children, 27.1% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.4%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households comprising 3.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people.

Educational achievement in Malvern places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Malvern's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks, with 57.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 37.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.1%) and graduate diplomas (5.1%). Vocational pathways account for 16.4% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.9% and certificates at 6.5%. Educational participation is high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.3% in secondary education, 8.2% in tertiary education, and 7.9% pursuing primary education. Malvern's four schools have a combined enrollment of 1,623 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates strong educational performance with an ICSEA score of 1153, indicating high advantage nationally. The educational mix includes two primary schools and two K-12 schools. With 15.2 school places per 100 residents, Malvern shows robust educational infrastructure serving both local and surrounding communities.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis of public transport in Malvern shows that there are 57 active transport stops currently operating. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. A total of 10 individual routes serve these stops, collectively providing 6,081 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 173 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to 868 trips per day, which equates to approximately 106 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Malvern is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Malvern shows superior health outcomes with both young and elderly cohorts having low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 88% of Malvern's total population of 9,402 have private health cover, significantly higher than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.2 and 7.2% of residents respectively. A majority, 71.8%, report being free from medical ailments, contrasting with 0% across Greater Melbourne. As of a recent study, 23.3% of Malvern's residents are aged 65 and over, totaling 2,479 people. Health outcomes among seniors in Malvern are notably strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Malvern was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Malvern's population shows above-average cultural diversity, with 24.7% born overseas and 16.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Malvern, comprising 47.7% of its population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented at 7.7%, compared to None% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (26.5%), Australian (20.6%), and Irish (9.8%). Some ethnic groups show notable divergences: Polish at 2.0% in Malvern (vs None% regionally), Hungarian at 0.5% (vs None%), and Russian at 0.7% (vs None%).

Malvern hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Malvern's median age is 44, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and significantly exceeds the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group comprises 8.9% of Malvern's population compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 35-44 cohort makes up 11.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 12.2% to 13.7%, and the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 13.9% to 12.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Malvern's age profile will change significantly. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 43%, adding 405 people and reaching 1,353 from the current 947. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 70% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 15 to 24 cohort is expected to decline by 104 people.