Mount Waverley (Vic.)

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According to evaluations of ABS demographic datasets for the surrounding region alongside fresh address data confirmed by Districts following the Census, the suburb of Mount Waverley has an estimated residency of 38,238 as of May 2026. This indicates a rise of 2,898 residents (8.2%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 35,340 individuals. The calculation relies on a resident population of 38,151 calculated by Districts using the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) plus 421 confirmed new addresses established after the census date. Such population figures represent a density of 2,519 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the top quarter of countrywide areas analyzed by Districts. The suburb of Mount Waverley's 8.2% expansion since the census is within 1.1 percentage points of the state average (9.3%), indicating a strong competitive growth trajectory. Demographic gains during recent quarters were heavily influenced by international migration, which represented approximately 98.0% of the overall population rise.

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Mount Waverley features a well-educated labor force with a notable presence in the professional services sector. The local unemployment rate stands at 1.4%, and statistical area data aggregated by Districts indicates an estimated employment growth of 4.7% over the previous year. By March 2026, the number of residents employed reached 21,055, while the local unemployment rate was 3.3% lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.8%. Workforce participation in the area was somewhat below the standard at 66.8%, which contrasts with the Greater Melbourne figure of 70.2%. Census data reveals that a substantial 40.0% of residents were working from home, although it is important to account for the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns on these figures.

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Taxpayer statistics compiled by Districts for financial year 2023 indicate that the suburb of Mount Waverley has income levels well above the national median. Among local taxpayers, the median income is $51,652 and the average income is $75,299, compared to metropolitan benchmarks of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Adjusting these figures for a Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of approximately $56,621 for median income and $82,543 for average income as of March 2026. According to census data, weekly household income places the suburb of Mount Waverley at the 69th percentile ($2,066 weekly), while individual incomes sit at the 51st percentile. The largest income bracket contains 28.8% of local residents (11,012 people) earning between $1,500 - weekly, which is similar to the regional average of in this category. High-income earners are prominent, with of households earning more than weekly, highlighting strong local purchasing power. Residents spend of their income on housing costs, while strong earnings place the area at the nd percentile for disposable income and in the th decile on the SEIFA index.

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Housing profiles in the suburb of Mount Waverley at the time of the latest Census consisted of 68.6% separate houses and 31.4% other housing styles, such as semi-detached homes, townhouses, and apartments, compared to 67.9% houses and 32.1% alternative dwellings across metropolitan Melbourne. Homeownership rates in the suburb of Mount Waverley were significantly higher than the metropolitan average at 42.9%, with remaining properties held under a mortgage (32.3%) or occupied by renters (24.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment was notably higher than the metropolitan median at $2,600, while median weekly rent was recorded at $476, compared to metropolitan figures of $2,000 and $390. On a national level, mortgage costs are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and local rents are well above the national average of $375.

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Family units represent the majority of households at 77.0%, consisting of couples with children at 40.9%, couples without children at 24.3%, and single-parent households at 10.5%. Non-family households account for 23.0% of the total, with single-person households representing 19.2% and group households making up 3.7%. The median household size of 2.7 residents is slightly larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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Attainment of higher education in the suburb of Mount Waverley is significantly above regional and national benchmarks, with 48.5% of residents aged 15+ holding a tertiary degree, compared to 29.8% across the broader SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. This high level of education positions the local workforce well for knowledge-intensive industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 29.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees (15.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational training accounts for 21.1% of qualifications for residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (10.4%).

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Public transport networks include 124 active transit stops within the suburb of Mount Waverley, consisting of various bus options. These stops service 19 unique routes, which support 4,952 passenger trips weekly. Accessibility is favorable, with residents living an average of 290 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the area, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 84%, followed by trains at 9%. Households own an average of 1.4 motor vehicles. A high proportion of residents, 40.0%, work from home, based on 2021 Census data which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

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Health indicators compiled by Districts reveal excellent physical wellbeing profiles across the suburb of Mount Waverley, characterized by low mortality rates and low rates of chronic illnesses across all age groups, while private health insurance coverage is high, representing approximately 57% of the local population (~21,627 people).

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The suburb of Mount Waverley shows a high degree of cultural diversity, with 51.4% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 49.3% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 40.4% of the local population. Buddhism shows the most significant overrepresentation locally at 7.8% of residents, compared to 4.2% across Greater Melbourne.

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The median age in the suburb of Mount Waverley is 40, which is slightly older than the Greater Melbourne median of 37 and the national median of 38. Compared to metropolitan averages, the suburb has a higher proportion of residents aged 85 and over (3.6%) and a lower proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (12.0%). Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age bracket has increased from 13.4% to 14.6% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 13.7% to 12.9%. Demographic forecasts suggest the age profile of the suburb of Mount Waverley will change significantly by 2041, with the 45 to 54 age group projected to grow by 1,694 people () from to while the to age group is expected to grow by a modest ( people).

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Mount Waverley currently has an estimated 1,529 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 890 children aged 0-2 and 592 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 2% since the previous census. though population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 9% by 2041 (to approximately 1,663 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 3,793. Birth rates in the area have averaged 7.0 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a low rate (among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally).