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 is 22,222 as of February 2026. This shows an increase of 1,983 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 20,239. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 21,680 in June 2024 and 793 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 3,607 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 9.8% since the 2021 Census exceeds its SA4 region (8.7%) and SA3 area, making it a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.3% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, they use VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted via weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, the area is expected to grow by 2,624 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 9.4% over the 17-year period.

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

Malvern - Glen Iris has granted approximately 166 residential property approvals annually. Between FY21 and FY25, it approved a total of 831 homes, with an additional 14 approved in FY26 so far. Over these five years, the area had an average of 0.1 new residents per year per dwelling constructed.

This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and supporting population growth. The average expected construction cost value of new properties is $505,000, indicating a focus on premium segment developments. In FY26, Malvern - Glen Iris has seen $94.8 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum compared to Greater Melbourne's average. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. Recent construction comprises 14% standalone homes and 86% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift towards higher-density living that caters to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

The current housing mix is 39% houses, but this is expected to change as development sites become less available and lifestyle demands shift. The area has approximately 170 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Malvern - Glen Iris is projected to grow by 2,082 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favorable 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. Notable 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. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.7%. Over the past year, there has been relative employment stability in the area.

There are currently 12,994 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.9% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation is on par with Greater Melbourne at 71.0%. According to Census responses, 47.9% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical services (1.7 times the regional average), health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Construction shows 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 September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.5%, while employment declined by 0.2%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points in Malvern - Glen Iris. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 3.0% over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Malvern - Glen Iris's 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 the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, Malvern - Glen Iris SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $73,300 and an average income of $135,733. These figures place it in the top percentile nationally compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year ending June 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $79,347 (median) and $146,931 (average). The 2021 Census data 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, contrasting with Greater Melbourne where the $1,500 to $2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. The district's affluence is evident with 41.8% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income, while strong earnings place residents in 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 had 39.2% houses and 60.8% other dwellings in its latest Census evaluation, compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership was at 36.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.4% and rented ones at 32.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,800, above Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was $410, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Malvern-Glen Iris's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863 and 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 constitute 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 notably high level of educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 57.3% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%, indicating a significant educational advantage for the area. Bachelor degrees are the most common type of qualification held by residents at 37.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational pathways account for 17.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 9.9% and certificates 7.2%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% enrolled 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 offering a mix of lightrail and buses. These stops are served by 11 routes, facilitating 14,186 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically residing 175 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most residents commute outward using cars (72%), while 12% use trains and 6% walk. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.1, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 47.9% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 2,026 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 143 weekly trips per 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 of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 82% of the total population (18,333 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 7.2% and 7.0% of residents respectively, while 72.6% report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 72.6% in Greater Melbourne.

Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.4% of residents aged 65 and over (4,755 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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 had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 27.4% of its population born overseas and 19.8% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Malvern-Glen Iris, comprising 46.3%. However, Judaism was significantly overrepresented at 5.3%, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (25.1%), Australian (20.1%), and Irish (9.7%). Notably, Polish (1.6%) Hungarian (0.5%), and Russian (0.7%) groups were also overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.8%, 0.3%, and 0.4% respectively.

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

Malvern - Glen Iris has a median age of 40, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38. The 75-84 age group is notably over-represented locally at 7.8%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average, while the 35-44 age group is under-represented at 12.3%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 12.9% to 14.2% of the population. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 13.8% to 11.9%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 10.5% to 9.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Malvern - Glen Iris's age profile will evolve significantly. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to expand by 609 people (35%), from 1,739 to 2,349. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 66% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 15-24 age cohort is projected to decline by 267 people.