Malvern - Glen Iris

An assessment of population growth drivers in Malvern - Glen Iris reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Malvern - Glen Iris's population was around 21,884 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,645 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 20,239. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 21,820 in June 2025 and an additional 832 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,552 persons per square kilometer, placing Malvern - Glen Iris in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessment. The area's growth rate of 8.1% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA4 region (8.0%), indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.2% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving this growth.

AreaSearch is using 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 uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Malvern - Glen Iris is expected to grow by 2,419 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 10.8% over the 16-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Malvern - Glen Iris when compared nationally

Malvern - Glen Iris has recorded approximately 166 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25831 homes were approved, with a further 42 approved in FY26 so far. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these years is 0.1.

New construction has been matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average value of new properties being constructed is $505,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. This financial year, there have been $94.8 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Malvern - Glen Iris shows moderately higher development activity, with 38.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. Recent construction comprises 14.0% standalone homes and 86.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift towards higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

This is a considerable change from the current housing mix of 39.0% houses. The location has approximately 170 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Malvern - Glen Iris is expected to grow by 2,355 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Malvern - Glen Iris has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 53 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include the 173 Burke Road Mixed-Use Development, Cabrini Hospital Major Redevelopment, Harold Holt Swim Centre Improvements, and Glen Iris Village Corner. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The labour market in Malvern - Glen Iris shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Malvern - Glen Iris has a highly educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate in December 2025 was 2.7%. There were 12,935 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate of 2.0% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was on par with Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 47.9% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical services, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area shows notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction has lower representation at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.3%, employment declined by 0.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 2.4% and labour force expanded by 2.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Malvern - Glen Iris' employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2023, Malvern - Glen Iris SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $73,300 and an average level of $135,733. This places it in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Melbourne's levels of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since June 30, 2023, current estimates would be approximately $80,351 (median) and $148,791 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census shows household, family and personal incomes in Malvern - Glen Iris rank between the 86th and 93rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 30.9% of individuals earn over $4,000 annually (6,762 individuals), contrasting with Greater Melbourne where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. The district demonstrates affluence with 41.8% earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting premium retail and services. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income, while strong earnings rank residents within the 87th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Malvern - Glen Iris features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Malvern - Glen Iris dwelling structures in the latest Census showed 39.2% houses and 60.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Malvern - Glen Iris was at 36.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.4% and rented ones at 32.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,800, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in the area was $410, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Malvern - Glen Iris mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

Malvern - Glen Iris features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 62.5% of all households, including 27.9% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 7.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 37.5%, with lone person households at 33.4% and group households comprising 4.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Malvern - Glen Iris demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Malvern - Glen Iris has a higher educational attainment than national and state averages. 57.3% of its residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in Victoria. This area's most common qualification is the Bachelor degree (37.0%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational pathways account for 17.1%, with advanced diplomas at 9.9% and certificates at 7.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in tertiary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 7.6% pursuing primary education.

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

Malvern - Glen Iris has 99 active public transport stops operating within it. These stops offer a mix of light rail and bus services, with 11 individual routes providing a total of 14,186 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, typically living within 175 meters of the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, with most residents commuting outward using various modes of transport. Cars are the dominant mode at 72%, followed by trains at 12% and walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, specifically 47.9%, work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 2,026 trips per day, equating to approximately 143 weekly trips per individual stop.

Malvern - Glen Iris's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Malvern - Glen Iris demonstrates excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 82% of the total population (18,054 people) has private health cover, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 7.2 and 7.0% of residents respectively. 72.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.0% of residents aged 65 and over (4,591 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, broadly in line with national rankings.

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

Malvern-Glen Iris has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 27.4% of its population born overseas and 19.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Malvern-Glen Iris, making up 46.3% of people. Notably, Judaism comprises 5.3%, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's 1.0%.

The top three ancestral groups are English (25.1%), Australian (20.1%), and Irish (9.7%). Some other ethnicities show notable differences: Polish at 1.6% compared to the regional average of 0.8%, Hungarian at 0.5% versus 0.3%, and Russian at 0.7% against 0.4%.

Malvern - Glen Iris's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Malvern-Glen Iris has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Malvern-Glen Iris has an over-representation of the 75-84 age cohort (7.7% locally) and an under-representation of the 35-44 year-olds (12.5%). Between 2021 and present, the population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 14.7% to 16.5%, while the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 13.8% to 11.8%. The 5 to 14 age group has also decreased, from 10.5% to 9.3%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Malvern-Glen Iris's age profile. The 75 to 84 cohort is expected to grow by 620 people (37%), reaching a total of 2,308 individuals. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will contribute to 62% of the population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 age cohort is projected to decrease by 224 people.