Melba, ACT: suburb profile

The population of Melba ACT is 3,383 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Melba is $1,118 per week ($58,136 per year). Median rent in Melba is $400 per week ($1,733 per month). Melba has a median age of 38 years, equal to the national median. Melba has a population density of 1,466 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Melba is England. The most common religion is No religion (44.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Melba is $2,100.

Population
3,383
Census 2021
Median income
$1,118/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$400/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
38years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Melba vs the typical ACT suburb

The median personal income in Melba is $1,118 a week, 6% below the typical ACT suburb ($1,192). That ranks 81st of 109 ACT suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $400 a week, $50 less than the typical ACT suburb. Rent takes 17.2% of the median household income here, against 18.2% in the typical ACT suburb. The median resident is 38, the same age as in the typical ACT suburb.

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureMelbaTypical ACTDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,118/wk$1,192/wk −6%$766/wk
Household income$2,326/wk$2,414/wk −4%$1,637/wk
Rent$400/wk$450/wk −11%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,100/mo$2,154/mo −3%$1,733/mo
Median age3838 0 yrs42
Rent share of household income17.2%18.2% −1.0 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Melba, the typical ACT suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Melba Population

3,383 residents at the 2021 Census.

Melba Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,118/wk
$58,136 per year
Ranked 643 of 14,663
Median Rent
$400/wk
$1,733 per month
Ranked 1,854 of 14,663
Median Age
38years
Same as the national median
Mortgage
$2,100/mo
Avg household size: 2.7 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Melba Rent Prices & Affordability

17% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $2,326/wk
Median rent $400/wk
Rent to income 17.2%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Melba against your income

About $10,079 a month
Median rent $400/wk
Left after rent $1,926/wk
Rent share 17.2%

Melba Schools

17
schools nearby
12
government
1053
avg ICSEA score
7,015
total students
Southern Cross Early Childhood School Government
Primary · K-2 · 115 students
1088
ICSEA
St Monica's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 412 students
1080
ICSEA
Miles Franklin Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 394 students
1077
ICSEA
St John the Apostle Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 368 students
1077
ICSEA
St Francis Xavier College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,323 students
1070
ICSEA
University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra Government
Secondary · 11-12 · 781 students
1066
ICSEA
Mount Rogers Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 461 students
1056
ICSEA
Evatt Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 281 students
1047
ICSEA
St Thomas Aquinas Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 374 students
1045
ICSEA
Fraser Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 462 students
1042
ICSEA
Florey Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 397 students
1042
ICSEA
Melba Copland Secondary School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 953 students
1041
ICSEA
Latham Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 298 students
1038
ICSEA
Cranleigh School Government
Primary · K-6 · 88 students
1036
ICSEA
Charnwood-Dunlop School Government
Primary · K-6 · 308 students
987
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 17 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Melba, with a map

Melba Map

Melba, Australian Capital Territory Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Melba, Australian Capital Territory: 35.2102°S, 149.0543°E

Melba Schools (17)

People in Melba

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.8% (1,688) Female 50.2% (1,700)

Population Density

1,466
people per km²
3,383 people · 2.3 km²

Households

2.7
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,767
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
3.0%
China
1.7%
India
1.3%
New Zealand
1.3%
Germany
0.8%
Philippines
0.7%
United States of America
0.7%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
2.0%
Spanish
1.4%
Vietnamese
0.8%
German
0.7%
Greek
0.7%
Cantonese
0.7%
Punjabi
0.7%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
38.6%
English
35.4%
Irish
13.1%
Scottish
11.1%
German
5.0%
Chinese
3.8%
Italian
2.8%
Australian Aboriginal
2.3%
Dutch
2.1%
Greek
1.7%
Indian
1.7%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
44.8%
Catholic
20.5%
Anglican
9.5%
Not stated
4.9%
Uniting Church
2.7%
Christian (other)
2.6%
Islam
2.4%
Eastern Orthodox
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.6%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
50.8% 1,339
Separated
2.9% 76
Divorced
8.8% 233
Widowed
3.7% 98
Never married
33.8% 891

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
46.6%
Couple: no children
24.3%
Couple: no children under 15
16.2%
One parent: children under 15
7.8%
One parent: no children under 15
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
21.1%
2 persons
31.7%
3 persons
15.8%
4 persons
19.4%
5 persons
8.1%
6+ persons
3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Melba

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,198 occupied private dwellings in Melba at the 2021 Census, 20.6% were rented, 34.6% owned outright and 43.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.1% 13 dwellings
Owned outright
34.6% 415 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
43.4% 520 dwellings
Rented
20.6% 247 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.3% 3 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
82.1%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
16.2%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.8%
2 bedrooms
9.8%
3 bedrooms
38.4%
4 bedrooms
39.9%
5 bedrooms
8.8%
6+ bedrooms
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.7%
$300-$449/mo
2.3%
$450-$599/mo
0.6%
$600-$799/mo
3.1%
$800-$999/mo
4.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
9.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
14.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
29.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
18.2%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
10.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.6%
1 vehicle
33.1%
2 vehicles
42.1%
3 vehicles
14.6%
4+ vehicles
6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Melba

Employment

Employed full-time
42.7% 1,043 people
Employed part-time
20.3% 496 people
Unemployed
2.6% 63 people
Not in labour force
34.3% 838 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
37.2%
Managers
20.8%
Clerical & Administrative
12.5%
Technicians & Trade Workers
12.1%
Community & Personal Service
9.2%
Labourers
3.8%
Sales Workers
3.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.1%
$1-$149/wk
0.4%
$300-$399/wk
1.5%
$400-$499/wk
3.4%
$500-$649/wk
3.3%
$650-$799/wk
4.5%
$800-$999/wk
5.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
4.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
12.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
9.8%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
5.6%
$4,000+/wk
22.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.7%
$1-$149/wk
3.5%
$150-$299/wk
4.7%
$300-$399/wk
2.8%
$400-$499/wk
2.7%
$500-$649/wk
2.4%
$650-$799/wk
6.9%
$800-$999/wk
8.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
10.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.4%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
16.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.1%
$3,500+/wk
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
72.5%
Did not go to work
13.5%
Car (passenger)
5.3%
Bus
4.0%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.4%
Truck
1.3%
Bicycle
1.2%
Walked only
0.5%
Other
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
78.8%
Year 10 or equivalent
13.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
4.5%
Year 9 or equivalent
2.8%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
35.0%
Certificate III/IV
21.8%
Postgraduate Degree
17.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
16.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.8%
Certificate I/II
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Society & Culture
21.7%
Management & Commerce
20.6%
Engineering
8.5%
Education
8.4%
Health
8.2%
Information Technology
7.1%
Creative Arts
6.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
6.0%
Architecture & Building
5.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
4.9%
Agriculture & Environment
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
33.2%
Secondary: Government
17.7%
Primary: Catholic
11.3%
Vocational Education
10.6%
Pre-school
10.5%
Secondary: Catholic
9.4%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.9%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
91.6%
Has need for assistance
5.2%
Need for assistance not stated
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
395
Asthma
154
Arthritis
120
Diabetes
93
Heart disease
76
Cancer
60
Lung condition
57
Kidney disease
41
Stroke
24
Dementia
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
16.0% 405
Did not provide
84.0% 2,128

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
21.5% 546
Not a volunteer
78.5% 1,999

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.3% 8
Current ADF: Reserves
0.7% 19
Previously served
4.8% 122
Never served
94.1% 2,397

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
30.1%
1 child
12.1%
2 children
32.3%
3 children
18.6%
4 children
5.1%
5+ children
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
27
1951: 1960
49
1961: 1970
79
1971: 1980
62
1981: 1990
74
1991: 2000
92
2001: 2010
124
2011: 2015
95
2016
24
2017
30
2018
25
2019
23
2020
9

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

12.4%
moved in the last year
35.4%
moved in the last 5 years
3.8%
unemployment rate (Census)
65.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,825
Moved from ACT
269
Moved from NSW
39
Moved: same area (SA2)
31
Moved from overseas
23
Moved from QLD
16
Moved from VIC
14
Moved from SA
5
Moved from NT
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.1%
5: 14 hours
36.0%
15: 29 hours
17.2%
30+ hours
8.3%
Did not do domestic work
17.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
88.5%
Step family: no other children
6.2%
Blended family: no other children
3.3%
Intact family: other children present
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Spence (ACT)
Income: $1,125/wk Rent: $375/wk $25/wk less rent
Waramanga
Income: $1,179/wk Rent: $379/wk $21/wk less rent
Rivett
Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $322/wk $78/wk less rent
Conder
Income: $1,179/wk Rent: $390/wk $10/wk less rent
Lyons (ACT)
Income: $1,097/wk Rent: $360/wk $40/wk less rent
Richardson
Income: $1,012/wk Rent: $391/wk $9/wk less rent
Holt
Income: $1,041/wk Rent: $396/wk $4/wk less rent
Charnwood
Income: $948/wk Rent: $380/wk $20/wk less rent

Suburbs near Melba

The closest suburb to Melba is Flynn (ACT), 1.1 km away.

Flynn (ACT)
1.1 km away · income $1,173/wk · rent $481/wk
Evatt
1.3 km away · income $1,149/wk · rent $466/wk
Spence (ACT)
1.6 km away · income $1,125/wk · rent $375/wk
Florey
1.9 km away · income $1,023/wk · rent $415/wk
Charnwood
2.1 km away · income $948/wk · rent $380/wk
Fraser
2.2 km away · income $1,164/wk · rent $450/wk

Compare Melba

Frequently Asked Questions About Melba

What is the population of Melba ACT?

The population of Melba ACT is 3,383 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,466 people per km². Melba is ranked #2,182 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Melba?

The median personal income in Melba ACT is $1,118 per week, or $58,136 per year. The median household income is $2,326 per week. Family income is $2,767 per week. Melba is ranked #643 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Melba?

Median rent in Melba ACT is $400 per week ($1,733 per month). Rent represents 17.2% of household income, which is considered affordable. Melba ranks #1,854 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Melba?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Melba ACT is $2,100. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Melba?

The median age in Melba ACT is 38 years. This is equal to the national median age of 38 years.

Is Melba a good suburb to live in?

Melba is a suburb in Australian Capital Territory with a population of 3,383. The median income is $1,118/wk, which is below the typical ACT suburb ($1,192/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (17.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Canberra Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 80094. All dollar figures in AUD.