Australian Capital Territory · Suburb Profile

Melba ACT — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Melba, Australian Capital Territory. ABS Census 2021.

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 1466.2 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Melba is England. The most common religion is No Religion (50% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Melba is $2,100.

Melba Map

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Melba Population

residents (Census 2021)

Melba Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$1,118/wk

$58,136 per year

#643 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$400/wk

$1,733 per month

#1854 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

38years

Same as than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$2,100/mo

Avg household size: —

Melba Demographics

Gender Split

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

Population Density

1466.2

people per km²

3,383 people · 2.3 km²

Households

—

Avg household size

—

Persons per bedroom

$2,767

Family income/wk

Melba 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 & Locality (SAL)

Melba Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

44.4% 415 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

55.6% 520 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Melba Country of Birth

Australia

89.2%

England

4.3%

India

1.8%

China

1.5%

Chile

0.7%

Germany

0.7%

Greece

0.6%

Hong Kong

0.6%

Egypt

0.3%

Afghanistan

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Melba Religion

No Religion

50.0%

Catholic

22.9%

Anglican

10.6%

Not stated

5.5%

Uniting Church

3.0%

Christian (other)

2.9%

Islam

2.6%

Eastern Orthodox

2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Melba 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%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Melba Languages Spoken at Home

Other

31.6%

Mandarin

19.3%

Spanish

13.4%

Vietnamese

9.6%

IAL Punjabi

7.5%

Cantonese

6.4%

IAL Nepali

6.4%

Greek

5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba Ancestry

Australian

29.6%

English

27.1%

Irish

10.0%

Other

9.9%

Scottish

8.5%

German

3.8%

Chinese

2.9%

Italian

2.1%

Aboriginal Australianralian

1.8%

Dutch

1.6%

Greek

1.3%

Indian

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Melba 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

Melba Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

5.3% 345

✅

No need for assistance

94.7% 6,201

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

Melba Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

21.5% 546

—

Not a volunteer

78.5% 1,999

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba Indigenous Population

2.7%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

175

Indigenous residents

6,381

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Melba Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

395

Asthma

154

Arthritis

120

Diabetes

Heart disease

Cancer

Lung condition

Kidney disease

Stroke

Dementia

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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

16.0% 405

—

Did not provide

84.0% 2,128

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Melba 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

Melba When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

124

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

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

Melba 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

Melba 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

Melba Where Residents Moved From

Same address

2,825

Moved from ACT

269

Moved from NSW

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from overseas

Moved from QLD

Moved from VIC

Moved from SA

Moved from NT

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

Melba 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

Melba Schools

schools nearby

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

View all schools in Melba with map →

Melba Rent Prices & Affordability

17%

of income

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.

If you earn X in Melba

Your weekly income

≈ $10,079/month

Median rent $400/wk

Left after rent $1,926/wk

Rent share 17.2%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Spence (ACT)

Income: $1,125/wk Rent: $375/wk Save: $25/wk

Waramanga

Income: $1,179/wk Rent: $379/wk Save: $21/wk

Rivett

Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $322/wk Save: $78/wk

Conder

Income: $1,179/wk Rent: $390/wk Save: $10/wk

Lyons (ACT)

Income: $1,097/wk Rent: $360/wk Save: $40/wk

Richardson

Income: $1,012/wk Rent: $391/wk Save: $9/wk

Holt

Income: $1,041/wk Rent: $396/wk Save: $4/wk

Charnwood

Income: $948/wk Rent: $380/wk Save: $20/wk

Melba vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in ACT

Acton (ACT)

Pop: 2,848 Income: $257/wk Rent: $9/wk

Aranda

Pop: 2,605 Income: $1,372/wk Rent: $530/wk

Barton

Pop: 1,946 Income: $1,775/wk Rent: $525/wk

Bonython

Pop: 3,839 Income: $1,135/wk Rent: $445/wk

Chapman

Pop: 2,867 Income: $1,378/wk Rent: $450/wk

Charnwood

Pop: 3,055 Income: $948/wk Rent: $380/wk

Compare Melba

Melba vs Acton (ACT) →Melba vs Aranda →Melba vs Barton →Melba vs Bonython →

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 1466.2 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 ACT average of $1,190/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (17.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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