Mentone

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

Mentone's population is around 14,044 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 847 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 13,197. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,987 in June 2024 and an additional 76 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 3,156 persons per square kilometer, placing Mentone in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mentone's growth rate of 6.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 5.7%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary population growth for the area.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made 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 aggregations. According to demographic trends and the latest annual ERP population numbers, Mentone is projected to grow by 1,892 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 13.1% in total over the 17 years.

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 over the past five financial years, totalling 210 homes. As of FY26, 22 approvals have been recorded. The average population growth per dwelling built between FY21 and FY25 is 0.5 people per year, indicating that new supply meets or exceeds demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. New homes are being constructed at an average value of $559,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY26, $39.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mentone records approximately 57% of building activity per person and ranks among the 53rd percentile of areas assessed nationally, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. New development consists of 37.0% detached houses and 63.0% medium and high-density housing, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 306 people per dwelling approval, Mentone shows a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Mentone is forecasted to gain 1,835 residents by 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Mentone has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified twelve projects that could impact the area significantly due to their potential influence on local infrastructure. Among these key projects are 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 projects likely to be 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.

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

Mentone's workforce is well-educated with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate in Mentone as of September 2025 was 5.4%.

During this period, 7,844 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Mentone was fairly standard at 66.6%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries for employment among Mentone residents are 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%. Local employment opportunities exist but many residents commute elsewhere for work. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Mentone's labour force increased by 0.5%, while employment decreased by 1.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 1.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. State-level data from VIC up to 25-Nov-25 shows employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mentone's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released on June 30, 2022, Mentone SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $60,522 with the average level standing at $79,988. This is among the highest in Australia and compares to levels of $54,892 and $73,761 across Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $67,881 (median) and $89,715 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, personal income ranks at the 77th percentile ($981 weekly), while household income sits at the 58th percentile. Distribution data shows that 29.2% of locals (4,100 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income, but 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 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), compared to Melbourne metro's 44.8% houses and 55.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mentone was at 32.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.6% and rented ones at 33.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, matching Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $392, compared to Melbourne metro's $410. Nationally, Mentone's mortgage repayments were 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 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 constitute the remaining 35.2%, with lone person households making up 33.0% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4.

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 (12.8%) and certificates (16.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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 operating within its boundaries. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 16 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively providing 4,614 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 206 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 659 trips per day across all routes, 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

Mentone's health data shows positive results with low prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 60% (8,398 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% reported no medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 70.4%. Mentone has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.1% (2,956 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 19.3%. Health outcomes among seniors in Mentone are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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's population showed high cultural diversity, with 29.6% born overseas and 20.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion in Mentone, comprising 47.4%. Judaism was slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 0.9% of Mentone's population versus 1.1%.

The top ancestry groups were English (26.0%), Australian (20.3%), and Irish (9.8%). Notably, Russian (1.1%) and Polish (1.1%) ethnicities were proportionally similar to the regional average, while Greek was slightly overrepresented at 4.0% compared to Greater Melbourne's 3.3%.

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 age group of 45-54 years has a strong representation at 14.6% compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 age group is less prevalent at 11.1%. According to data from the post-2021 Census, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 9.9% to 11.7%, while the 25 to 34 age group has declined from 13.0% to 11.1%. By 2041, Mentone's demographic is expected to undergo substantial changes. The 75 to 84 age group will grow by 66%, reaching 1,723 people from 1,040. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above are projected to account for 59% of total population growth, reflecting Mentone's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.