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 20,239 people as of the 2021 Census. By Nov 2025, it had increased to around 22,202 people, reflecting a growth of 1,963 people (9.7%) since the census. This increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,680 as of June 2024 and an additional 607 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 3,604 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth exceeded the SA4 region (7.1%) and the national average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made using weighted aggregation 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 just below the median of statistical areas across the nation by 2041. The latest annual ERP population numbers suggest an increase of 2,624 persons by then, reflecting a gain of 9.5% in total over the 17 years.

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 FY25, around 831 homes were approved, with an additional 14 approved so far in FY26. On average, over these five years, there have been about 0.1 new residents per year per dwelling constructed.

New construction has matched or outpaced demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially supporting population growth that exceeds current expectations. The average expected construction cost of new properties is $505,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY26, 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 than the regional average, measuring at 38.0% above the average per person over the past five years. This has maintained good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

Recent construction comprises 14.0% standalone homes and 86.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a focus on higher-density living that creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a considerable change from the current housing mix, which is currently 39.0% houses. The location has approximately 170 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Looking ahead, Malvern - Glen Iris is expected to grow by 2,102 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. 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 impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 53 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include the 173 Burke Road Mixed-Use Development, Cabrini Hospital Major Redevelopment, Harold Holt Swim Centre Improvements, and Glen Iris Village Corner, with the following list outlining 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 strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.7% as of September 2025.

This is below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Employment participation was at 66.8%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Residents are primarily employed in professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and retail trade sectors. The area has a notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. 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. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne where employment grew by 3.0% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. In Victoria as of 25-Nov, employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Malvern - Glen Iris's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Malvern - Glen Iris SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $73,466 and an average of $148,491. These figures rank in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Melbourne's $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 are approximately $82,399 (median) and $166,548 (average). The 2021 Census ranks Malvern - Glen Iris's household, family, and personal incomes between the 86th and 93rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 30.9% of individuals earn over $4,000 annually, contrasting with the region where the $1,500-$2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. The district's affluence is evident, with 41.8% earning over $3,000 weekly and supporting premium retail services. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income, while strong earnings place residents in the 87th percentile for disposable income. Malvern - Glen Iris ranks in the 10th decile based on SEIFA income data.

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 dwelling structure at the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 46.2% houses and 53.8% other dwellings. The home ownership level was 36.9%, with 30.4% mortgaged and 32.7% rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,800, below Melbourne metro's $2,817, while the median weekly rent was $410, compared to Melbourne metro's $416. Nationally, Malvern - Glen Iris's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,800 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $410 compared to 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, consisting of 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% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment in Malvern - Glen Iris is notably higher than national and state averages. As of the latest data, 57.3% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. The area has a significant educational advantage, with bachelor degrees being the most common at 37.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational pathways account for 17.1% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas making up 9.9% and certificates 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 101 active public transport stops. These include train, light rail, and bus services. There are 17 individual routes operating, serving a total of 9,592 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 174 meters. Daily service frequency across all routes averages 1,370 trips, equating to approximately 94 weekly trips per stop.

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

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Malvern - Glen Iris. Both young and old age cohorts saw low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 86% of the total population (19,004 people), compared to 80.7% across Greater Melbourne.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma were the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 7.2 and 7.0% of residents respectively. A total of 72.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.4% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 20.6% of residents aged 65 and over (4,566 people), which is higher than the 18.8% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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 compared to 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, accounting for 46.3% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented at 5.3%, compared to 4.1% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (25.1%), Australian (20.1%), and Irish (9.7%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Polish is overrepresented at 1.6% (vs regional 1.4%), Hungarian remains the same at 0.5%, and Russian is slightly higher at 0.7% (vs regional 0.6%).

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 cohort is notably over-represented at 7.6% locally, while the 35-44 cohort is under-represented at 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 12.9% to 14.2%, and the 25 to 34 cohort has increased from 14.7% to 15.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.8% to 12.1%, and the 5 to 14 group has dropped from 10.5% to 9.5%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Malvern - Glen Iris's age profile will evolve significantly. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to expand by 670 people (40%) from 1,678 to 2,349. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 72% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.