Melville

Population growth drivers in Melville are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Melville's population is around 19,194 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,742 people (10.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,452 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,986 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 151 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,435 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Melville's 10.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 93.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is utilising the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering the projected demographic shifts, an above-median population growth of statistical areas across the nation is projected, with the area expected to grow by 2,650 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 12.7% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Melville among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Melville has recorded around 90 residential properties granted approval annually, with 453 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 37 so far in FY-26. At an average of 3.2 new residents per year for every home built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand significantly exceeds new supply, which usually results in price growth and increased buyer competition, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $454,000, demonstrating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. There have also been $15.0 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity.

When measured against Greater Perth, Melville shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person while it places among the 59th percentile of areas assessed nationally. New development consists of 84.0% standalone homes and 16.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 254 people per dwelling approval, Melville shows a developing market.

Population forecasts indicate Melville will gain 2,442 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Melville has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 14 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Attadale Private Hospital Expansion, Attadale Reserve Masterplan & Sports Facilities Upgrade, Westfield Booragoon Shopping Centre Expansion, and Myaree Business Area Master Plan, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 conditions in Melville rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Melville has a highly educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of just 1.4%, and 0.7% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 10,966 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 2.7% below Greater Perth's rate of 4.1%, and workforce participation is broadly similar to Greater Perth's 71.9%. Based on Census responses, a low 11.9% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical. The area shows particularly strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, administrative & support shows lower representation at 2.3% versus the regional average of 3.3%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.7% and labour force increased by 0.9%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 2.3%, labour force growth of 2.6%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Melville. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Melville's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Melville SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $64,861 with the average level standing at $99,496. This is among the top percentile nationally and compares to levels of $60,748 and $80,248 across Greater Perth respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $71,101 (median) and $109,068 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Melville, between the 78th and 83rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 26.9% of the population (5,163 individuals) fall within the $4000+ income range, contrasting with the metropolitan region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 32.0%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 39.4% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. After housing costs, residents retain 87.0% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Melville is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Melville, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 76.5% houses and 23.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Melville was well beyond that of Perth metro, at 42.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (40.2%) or rented (17.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Perth metro average at $2,420, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $420, compared to Perth metro's $1,907 and $350. Nationally, Melville's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Melville has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households dominate at 73.4% of all households, comprising 37.5% couples with children, 25.6% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.6%, with lone person households at 24.6% and group households comprising 2.0% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 people matches the Greater Perth average.

Educational achievement in Melville places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Melville significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 27.9% in WA and 28.6% in the SA4 region. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 27.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.3%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 29.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (18.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in secondary education, 9.7% in primary education, and 6.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 81 active transport stops operating within Melville, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 16 individual routes, collectively providing 2,869 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 220 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 83%, with 7% by bus and 6% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling. A relatively low 11.9% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 409 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 35 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Melville, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 70% of the total population (13,512 people). This compares to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 7.1% and 6.8% of residents, respectively, while 72.2% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 20.9% of residents aged 65 and over (4,001 people), which is higher than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, though they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Melville is above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 11.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 26.7% born overseas. The main religion in Melville is Christianity, which makes up 54.1% of the population, compared to 45.0% across Greater Perth.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Melville are English, comprising 29.6% of the population, Australian, comprising 23.8% of the population, and Irish, comprising 8.4% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Croatian is notably overrepresented at 1.4% of Melville (vs 0.8% regionally), Welsh at 0.9% (vs 0.7%) and Italian at 7.1% (vs 4.2%).

Melville's median age exceeds the national pattern

The 42-year median age in Melville is significantly above Greater Perth's average of 37 and similarly considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The 55 - 64 age group shows strong representation at 13.1% compared to Greater Perth, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is less prevalent at 8.3%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 12.5% to 14.6% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 6.3% to 7.4%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 14.0% to 12.8% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 15.2% to 14.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Melville. Leading the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 51% (719 people), reaching 2,132 from 1,412. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 65% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.