Melville

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

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Melville stands at approximately 19,413 in May 2026. Compared to the 17,452 residents recorded in the 2021 Census, this represents a growth of 1,961 individuals, or 11.2%. This population shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 19,369 alongside 157 validated new addresses identified after the Census. With a density of 2,463 persons per square kilometer, the locality ranks in the top quartile of all national areas evaluated by AreaSearch. The area's 11.2% rate of expansion outpaced the national benchmark of 9.3%, positioning it as a regional growth leader. The primary driver of this population increase was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 79.6% of the gains, though positive contributions were also observed from natural growth and interstate migration.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilised by AreaSearch for each SA2 unit. For areas lacking this coverage, and to project trends beyond 2032, growth rates by age bracket from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, based on 2022 data, are applied. Anticipated demographic transitions indicate that the district will experience population expansion exceeding the national median, with a projected increase of 2,465 residents by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP statistics, representing a total gain of 12.5% over the 16 years.

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

Approvals for new dwellings in Melville have averaged roughly 90 annually, with a total of 453 residences approved over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 57 approvals have been logged. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the local demand significantly outstripped new supply, averaging 3.3 new residents for every built dwelling, which typically drives up pricing and buyer rivalry. The average value of these newly built properties sits at $454,000, pointing to developer prioritisation of high-end, premium housing. Additionally, commercial development is moving at a moderate pace, marked by $15.0 million in commercial approvals registered during the current financial year.

Melville registers about 59th percentile of areas evaluated across the nation for per-capita dwelling approvals, which is approximately three-quarters of the rate seen in Greater Perth. Houses that are detached make up 84.0% of recent construction, while medium and high-density choices account for 16.0%, keeping the area mostly suburban and attractive to buyers looking for larger spaces. The ratio of residents to dwelling approvals stands at roughly 260 people per approval, indicating capacity for further development.

Estimates based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly data project that Melville will add 2,421 residents by 2041. Current levels of residential development appear well-matched with these projected future needs, supporting balanced market conditions with minimal pressure on prices.

Melville has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Changes to infrastructure, planning strategies, and key public projects have a major impact on local performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 key projects expected to influence the local area. Chief among these are the Attadale Reserve Masterplan & Sports Facilities Upgrade, the Westfield Booragoon Shopping Centre Expansion, the Myaree Business Area Master Plan, and the Fremantle to Murdoch and Cockburn Central Transport Capacity project, with details on the most significant initiatives provided below.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Melville performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

A highly qualified labor force characterizes Melville, which features an unemployment rate of only 1.4% and substantial employment in essential services. There were 10,914 employed local residents in March 2026, while the jobless rate was 2.8% below the Greater Perth mark of 4.2%. Participation in the labor force aligns closely with the Greater Perth average of 70.2%. Data from the Census showed that a minor 11.9% of the working population worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

Local workers are mostly employed in the education & training, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance sectors. The representation of the education & training sector is particularly pronounced, registering at 1.4 times the regional standard. Conversely, administrative & support roles are less common locally, making up 2.3% of employment compared to the regional standard of 3.3%. Comparing the resident workforce count to the local working population suggests this location is primarily residential with few local jobs.

Analysis of ABS and SALM figures by AreaSearch reveals that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, the local workforce shrank by 0.9% and total employment dropped by 1.1%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment, a 2.5% expansion of the labor force, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Long-term employment outlooks can be gathered from the national forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These projections have been applied to the local workforce structure over five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sector growth varies. Applying these national industry trends to the local employment distribution suggests Melville's employment numbers would rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection that does not factor in local population growth forecasts.

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

Data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year shows that the Melville SA2 recorded a taxpayer median income of $64,861 and an average income of $99,496. These figures place the area in the top national percentile, compared to Greater Perth averages of $60,748 and $80,248. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, estimated income levels as of March 2026 would be roughly $71,950 for the median and $110,371 for the average. Census data from 2021 ranks family, household, and individual earnings in Melville between the 78th and 83rd percentiles across the country. Income brackets show that 26.9% of the local population (5,222 residents) earn $4000+ weekly, whereas the leading bracket for the wider region is the $1,500 - 2,999 range at 32.0%. High levels of affluence are evident, with 39.4% of residents earning weekly incomes above $3,000, which sustains high-end local retail and service options. Residents retain 87.0% of their earnings after accounting for housing expenses, indicating high discretionary spending power, and the area is positioned in the 9th decile on the SEIFA index.

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

According to the last Census, the housing mix in Melville consisted of 76.5% separate houses and 23.4% other dwelling types like apartments and semi-detached properties, compared to 77.8% separate houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership in Melville was notably high at 42.5%, with mortgaged properties making up 40.2% and rental homes accounting for 17.3%. Typical mortgage payments in the locality were $2,420 monthly, which is considerably higher than the Perth metropolitan average of $1,907. Weekly rent sat at a median of $420, compared to the metropolitan benchmark of $350. Nationally, mortgage costs in Melville are much higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and rents also exceed the national median of $375.

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

Families make up 73.4% of local households, consisting of couples with children at 37.5%, couples without children at 25.6%, and single parents at 9.4%. The remaining 26.6% are non-family households, which are mostly individuals living alone at 24.6% and shared group households at 2.0%. The typical household size of 2.6 residents matches the average across Greater Perth.

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

Local education levels are highly elevated relative to state and regional marks, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 27.9% in WA and 28.6% across the SA4 region. This high concentration of degrees provides a strong foundation for professional service and knowledge economy jobs. Bachelor degrees represent 27.7% of the total, followed by postgraduate degrees at 8.3% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Vocational education is also common, with 29.5% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational qualifications, including 11.3% with advanced diplomas and 18.2% with certificates.

A significant proportion of the local population is engaged in study, with 30.6% of residents enrolled in an educational program. This includes 9.9% attending high school, 9.7% in primary school, and 6.5% enrolled in higher education.

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

The local transit system includes 81 active public transport stops, primarily buses. These stops service 16 different routes, accommodating 2,869 passenger trips per week. Transit accessibility is strong, with the average resident living within 220 meters of a stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most residents travel out of the area for work, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 83%, followed by bus transit at 7% and train travel at 6%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.6. Working from home was recorded at a relatively low 11.9% in the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic guidelines.

Bus and train services average 409 trips daily across all routes, which corresponds to approximately 35 weekly trips for each individual stop.

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

Melville displays excellent health indicators based on AreaSearch's evaluation of chronic illness rates and mortality, with a very low incidence of common health issues across all demographics. Private health insurance coverage is remarkably high at roughly 70% of the population, which corresponds to 13,666 individuals. This is significantly higher than the 59.0% recorded for Greater Perth and the national benchmark of 55.7%.

Mental health concerns and arthritis were the most common chronic conditions, affecting 7.1 and 6.8% of the population. However, 72.2% of residents reported having no chronic health conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. The working-age population is exceptionally healthy with minimal chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 19.9% of the population (3,867 individuals), compared to 16.1% in Greater Perth. Seniors in the area display strong overall health outcomes, though they rank lower nationally compared to the younger demographics of the local 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

Cultural diversity in Melville is higher than average, with 11.6% of the population using a non-English language at home and 26.7% of residents born abroad. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 54.1% of the local population, compared to 45.0% across Greater Perth.

The most common ancestries based on parental birthplaces are English at 29.6%, Australian at 23.8%, and Irish at 8.4%. Some ethnic backgrounds are uniquely concentrated in Melville relative to regional averages, including Croatian at 1.4% (compared to 0.8% regionally), Welsh at 0.9% (compared to 0.7%), and Italian at 7.1% (compared to 4.2%).

Melville's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age of 42 years in Melville is higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 years and the national median of 38 years. The 45 - 54 age bracket is well represented at 14.2% of the population, while the 25 - 34 bracket is relatively small at 9.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 grew from 12.5% to 14.8%, while the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 14.0% to 12.8%. By 2041, demographic forecasts project major changes for Melville. The 85+ cohort is expected to increase by 92% (704 people), rising from 762 to 1,467. The collective cohorts aged 65 and over will account for 64% of total population growth, pointing to a rapidly aging local profile, whereas the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 groups are projected to contract.