Mentone
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Mentone's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 14,033 people. This figure represents a growth of 836 individuals, or 6.3%, since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 13,197. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,987 in June 2024 and an additional 71 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,153 persons per square kilometer, placing Mentone in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 6.3% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 region (5.6%), indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.4% of Mentone's population gains during recent periods.

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 employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted through 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 trends, Mentone is projected to have an above median population growth by 2041, with an expected increase of 1,892 persons and a total growth rate of 13.2% over the 17-year period.

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

Mentone has recorded approximately 42 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 210 approvals from FY-21 to FY-25 and 9 in FY-26 so far. Over these five years, an average of 0.5 people moved to Mentone per dwelling built annually. This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and allowing for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new homes in Mentone is $632,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $39.8 million, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mentone records approximately 57% of building activity per person and ranks in the 54th percentile nationally when considering areas assessed. This lower ranking suggests market maturity and possible development constraints. New development consists of 37.0% detached houses and 63.0% medium and high-density housing, offering accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

Mentone has around 306 people per dwelling approval, indicating a developing market. Population forecasts project an increase of 1,846 residents by 2041 in Mentone. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to influence the local area's performance significantly. These include Kindred Mentone, Frankston Line Level Crossing Removal Program, 58 Levanto Street Townhouses, and 156 Balcombe Road Apartments. The following list details those projected to have the most relevance.

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

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

Mentone has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

As of June 2025, 7952 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 5.2%, 0.6% higher than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne's at 66.6%. Key industries for employment among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade.

Transport, postal & warehousing has limited presence with 2.8% employment compared to the regional average of 5.2%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. During the year to June 2025, Mentone's labour force increased by 1.4%, while employment decreased by 0.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 2.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and a labour force increase of 4.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mentone's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022. Mentone had a median taxpayer income of $60,522 and an average income of $79,988. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761. As of March 2025, estimated median and average incomes would be approximately $66,641 and $88,075 respectively, based on a 10.11% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 77th percentile ($981 weekly), while household income is at the 59th percentile. Income distribution shows that 29.2% of Mentone locals (4,097 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category. This aligns with broader trends in the surrounding region, where 32.8% of residents are in the same income bracket. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 59th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Mentone displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Mentone, as per the latest Census, consisted of 44.0% houses and 56.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metropolitan area had 54.8% houses and 45.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mentone was at 32.4%, with the rest of dwellings being mortgaged (34.6%) or rented (33.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mentone was $2,167, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $392 compared to Melbourne metro's $410. Nationally, Mentone's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375 by $17.

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

Family households account for 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 make up the remaining 35.2%, consisting of 33.0% lone person households and 2.1% group households. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4 people.

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 common at 25.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent with 29.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (16.3%).

Educational participation is high at 26.4%, with 8.3% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education. Mentone operates a robust network of 8 schools educating approximately 7,311 students, demonstrating significant socio-educational advantages (ICSEA: 1113). The educational mix includes 3 primary, 3 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. As an education hub, Mentone offers 52.1 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 15.7, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 16 different routes, together facilitating 4,614 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility in Mentone is rated as good, with residents on average situated 206 meters from their nearest transport stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 659 trips per day, equating to approximately 74 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mentone's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data for Mentone shows a relatively positive picture with low prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 60% (8,391 people) have private health cover, which is exceptionally high. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 8.1% of residents and asthma impacting 7.8%. A total of 69.2% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.4% across Greater Melbourne. Mentone has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.1% (2,953 people), compared to 19.3% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Mentone was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Mentone, found culturally diverse with 29.6% overseas-born population and 20.4% speaking languages other than English at home, had Christianity as its main religion, comprising 47.4%. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (26.0%), Australian (20.3%), and Irish (9.8%).

Other ethnic groups showed notable divergences: Russian was overrepresented at 1.1% versus regional 1.0%, Greek at 4.0% versus 3.3%, and Polish at 1.1% versus 1.0%.

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

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 age group of 45-54 years has a strong representation at 14.6% compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 11.1%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the population aged 15 to 24 increased from 9.9% to 11.7%, whereas the 25-34 age group decreased from 13.0% to 11.1%. By 2041, Mentone's demographic is forecasted to undergo substantial changes. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 66%, reaching 1,723 people from the initial figure of 1,039. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 58% of total population growth, reflecting Mentone's aging demographic trend. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.