Moving to Melville WA 6156
What the official numbers say about living in Melville — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $420 a week, against a median household income of $2,183 a week.
About 84% of homes are owner-occupied and 16% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Melville grew 19% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (5,199 → 6,204 people).
Around 73% of households are families, averaging 2.6 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, South Africa; most spoken languages besides English: Italian, Mandarin, Indonesian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Melville sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (82% of workers), while 12% work from home.
Nearest train station: North Fremantle, 4.8 km west.
Nearest bus interchange: Booragoon Bus Station, 3.4 km east.
Nearest ferry wharf: East Street Ferry Jetty, 4.2 km west.
Nearest airport: Jandakot Airport, 9.4 km south-east.
The Perth CBD is roughly 11 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 50 schools · 54 cafes & restaurants · 8 supermarkets · 50 parks · 3 beaches — see them all on the Melville profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Melville Primary School 500 m · Melville Senior High School 800 m · Caralee Community School 1.3 km · Our Lady Of Fatima School 1.4 km · Mel Maria Catholic Primary School (Pater Noster Campus) 1.4 km · Mel Maria Catholic Primary School (Saint Joseph Pignatelli Campus) 1.4 km · Palmyra Primary School 1.6 km · Bicton Primary School 1.6 km
Groceries: Coles 1.2 km · Perth Kimchi 1.2 km · Yee Seng Oriental Supermarket 1.2 km · The Good Grocer 1.3 km · The Foodie's Basket 1.5 km · IGA 1.5 km · Woolworths 2.3 km · Fresh Provisions 2.3 km
Parks and reserves: Melvile Reserve 800 m · Solomon Public Open Space 1.1 km · Marmion Reserve 1.1 km · Oz Park 1.2 km · Winnacott Reserve 1.3 km · Reddings Reserve 1.3 km · Webber Reserve 1.3 km · King Victors Green 1.3 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Melville, most often seen first: Laughing Turtle-dove · South-western Australian Magpie · Pacific Black Duck · Australian White Ibis · Western Red Wattlebird · Black Swan.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Melville, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melville here | 6,204 | — | 10/10 | 8% |
| Attadale | 6,638 | — | 10/10 | 10% |
| Willagee | 5,447 | — | 5/10 | 8% |
| Myaree | 2,105 | — | 9/10 | 3% |
| Palmyra | 7,585 | — | 8/10 | 9% |
| Alfred Cove | 2,830 | — | 10/10 | 5% |
| Bicton | 6,961 | — | 10/10 | 17% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Melville — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Tangney — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 6156 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Melville profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $420 a week, and about 16% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 19% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 5,199 people to 6,204. It sits about 11 km from the Perth CBD in a straight line, and North Fremantle station is roughly 4.8 km away. Local government is Melville council, and the federal seat is Tangney.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Melville vs Attadale · Melville vs Willagee.
Nearby guides: Attadale · Willagee · Myaree · Palmyra · Alfred Cove · Bicton.
Keep an eye on Melville
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