Mentone

Mentone has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of Mentone is around 14,129 people. This figure represents an increase of 932 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,197 people in the suburb. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, as well as an additional 110 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,132 persons per square kilometer for Mentone, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 7.1% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (6.7%), indicating Mentone as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, making adjustments through a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for statistical areas across the nation, with Mentone expected to increase by 1,785 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections. This reflects a total gain of 12.3% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Mentone according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis shows Mentone averaged approximately 42 new dwelling approvals annually. Between fiscal years 2021 and 2025, around 210 homes were approved, with an additional 27 approved in FY-26. On average, 0.3 new residents arrived per new home built over the past five financial years.

This suggests new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, offering buyers more options while facilitating population growth that might surpass current projections. The average development cost of new dwellings was $632,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. Commercial approvals totalled $129.8 million in FY-26, signifying high levels of local commercial activity. Comparatively, Mentone has roughly two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person as Greater Melbourne, placing it around the 54th percentile nationally. This is below average and reflects the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

New development consists of approximately 37% detached dwellings and 63% townhouses or apartments, favouring compact living which offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. The location has around 296 people per dwelling approval, suggesting room for population growth. Future projections estimate Mentone will add approximately 1,744 residents by 2041 (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Mentone has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Twelve infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. Key projects include Frankston Line Level Crossing Removal Program, Moorabbin Airport Master Plan Redevelopment, 58 Levanto Street Townhouses, and 156 Balcombe Road Apartments. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Mentone has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Mentone has a well-educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate is 5.2%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, Mentone has 7,792 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 5.3% compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne at 69.9%. Census responses show that 39.5% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade, while transport, postal & warehousing has limited presence at 2.8% compared to the regional average of 5.2%.

Many Mentone residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year ending December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.3%, employment decreased by 1.1%, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 2.4% and a smaller unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Mentone's employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Mentone's current employment mix.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on 1st July 2023 for financial year 2023, Mentone had a median income among taxpayers of $60,522 with an average level standing at $79,988. These figures are significantly higher than the national averages of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively for Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates project median income to be approximately $66,344 and average income at around $87,683 by March 2026. Census data indicates personal income ranks at the 77th percentile with a weekly income of $981, while household income sits at the 58th percentile. The earnings profile shows that the largest segment comprises 29.2% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which includes approximately 4,125 residents, aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income, however strong earnings still place disposable income at the 58th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Mentone, as per the latest Census evaluation, 44.0% of dwellings were houses while 56.0% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Melbourne's metropolitan area where 67.9% were houses and 32.1% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Mentone stood at 32.4%, with mortgaged properties at 34.6% and rented ones at 33.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Mentone was $392, slightly above Melbourne's figure of $390. Nationally, Mentone's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Mentone features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 64.8% of all households, including 27.5% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 35.2%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households making up 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 39.3% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.8% and certificates for 16.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.3% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Mentone has 62 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These are served by 17 different routes that together facilitate 3539 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically located 206 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 83%, while train usage stands at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

Notably, 39.5% of residents work from home (as per the 2021 Census). Service frequency across all routes averages 505 trips daily, equating to approximately 57 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mentone's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance across Mentone.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low for both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover was found to be high at approximately 58% of the total population (~8,249 people). The most common medical conditions in the area were mental health issues (8.1%) and asthma (7.8%), with 69.2% of residents declaring themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. As of 2021, the area has 21.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,981 people), which is higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Mentone, as per the Australian Census of 29 August 2016, exhibited higher cultural diversity than most local areas. Its population born overseas constituted 29.6%, while those speaking a language other than English at home comprised 20.4%. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mentone, with 47.4% adherents.

Notably, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 0.9% of Mentone's population versus 1.0%. The top three ancestry groups were English (26.0%), Australian (20.3%), and Irish (9.8%). Some ethnicities showed significant differences: Russian (1.1% vs regional 0.4%), Polish (1.1% vs 0.8%), and Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.3%) were notably more prevalent in Mentone than the regional averages.

Mentone's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Mentone is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. The 75-84 age group constitutes 7.6% of Mentone's population, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 11.6%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.9% to 11.6% of Mentone's population, whereas the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 13.0% to 11.6%. By 2041, Mentone's population is forecasted to undergo substantial demographic changes. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 53%, adding 574 people and reaching a total of 1,648 from the previous figure of 1,073. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 59% of Mentone's total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.