Melrose Park vs Cumberland Park

Melrose Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Cumberland Park. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Cumberland Park, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Cumberland Park: a median of $1.45 million, against $1.12 million in Melrose Park. Cumberland Park is closer to the city centre: 6.3 km, against 8.4 km. On these figures, Melrose Park tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Cumberland Park suits couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Melrose Park has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)
  • Cumberland Park has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Melrose Park

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,120,500 vs $1,452,500)
  • has cheaper units ($650,000 vs $722,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Cumberland Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (6.3 km vs 8.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Melrose Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Melrose Park and Cumberland Park drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Walkability 88 / 84
Melrose Park — Walkability: 88/100 Cumberland Park — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 20 / 27
Melrose Park — Safety: 20/100 Cumberland Park — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melrose Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cumberland Park — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 18 / 25
Melrose Park — Low flood risk: 18/100 Cumberland Park — Low flood risk: 25/100

Demographics

Cumberland Park has higher household incomes ($98,852 vs $82,316); Cumberland Park skews older (41 vs 38).

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Population 2,319 2,571
+11% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.9% +2.9%
Median age 38 41
Median household income $82,316/yr $98,852/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+2% vs other
 $343/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
0-4 6.9% / 5.2%
Melrose Park — 0-4: 6.9% Cumberland Park — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 12.0% / 11.9%
Melrose Park — 5-14: 12.0% Cumberland Park — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 4.6% / 7.0%
Melrose Park — 15-19: 4.6% Cumberland Park — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 5.3% / 5.3%
Melrose Park — 20-24: 5.3% Cumberland Park — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 14.5% / 11.7%
Melrose Park — 25-34: 14.5% Cumberland Park — 25-34: 11.7%
35-44 15.9% / 13.3%
Melrose Park — 35-44: 15.9% Cumberland Park — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 11.3% / 15.0%
Melrose Park — 45-54: 11.3% Cumberland Park — 45-54: 15.0%
55-64 10.9% / 14.0%
Melrose Park — 55-64: 10.9% Cumberland Park — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 8.7% / 9.5%
Melrose Park — 65-74: 8.7% Cumberland Park — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 5.6% / 4.8%
Melrose Park — 75-84: 5.6% Cumberland Park — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 4.1% / 2.3%
Melrose Park — 85+: 4.1% Cumberland Park — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 36.5% couple families
Melrose Park — Couple Families: 36.5% Melrose Park — Lone Person: 43.6% Melrose Park — One Parent Families: 13.4% Melrose Park — Group Household: 4.8% Melrose Park — Other Families: 1.7%
Cumberland Park 46.8% couple families
Cumberland Park — Couple Families: 46.8% Cumberland Park — Lone Person: 37.4% Cumberland Park — One Parent Families: 10.5% Cumberland Park — Group Household: 3.9% Cumberland Park — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 27.3% renting
Melrose Park — Owned Outright: 32.2% Melrose Park — Mortgage: 40.5% Melrose Park — Renting: 27.3%
Cumberland Park 23.0% renting
Cumberland Park — Owned Outright: 35.1% Cumberland Park — Mortgage: 41.9% Cumberland Park — Renting: 23.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Bachelor Degree 16.7% / 20.6%
Melrose Park — Bachelor Degree: 16.7% Cumberland Park — Bachelor Degree: 20.6%
Certificate III & IV 12.9% / 10.4%
Melrose Park — Certificate III & IV: 12.9% Cumberland Park — Certificate III & IV: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.6%
Melrose Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Cumberland Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 6.9%
Melrose Park — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Cumberland Park — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 3.7%
Melrose Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Cumberland Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
England 2.8% / 3.5%
Melrose Park — England: 2.8% Cumberland Park — England: 3.5%
China 2.4% / 3.2%
Melrose Park — China: 2.4% Cumberland Park — China: 3.2%
India 2.2% / 1.2%
Melrose Park — India: 2.2% Cumberland Park — India: 1.2%
Nepal 2.1% / 1.0%
Melrose Park — Nepal: 2.1% Cumberland Park — Nepal: 1.0%
Greece 1.9% / 1.1%
Melrose Park — Greece: 1.9% Cumberland Park — Greece: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.0%
Melrose Park — New Zealand: 1.0% Cumberland Park — New Zealand: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 74.6% houses
Melrose Park — Houses: 74.6% Melrose Park — Flats / Apartments: 13.8% Melrose Park — Townhouses: 11.6%
Cumberland Park 68.5% houses
Cumberland Park — Houses: 68.5% Cumberland Park — Flats / Apartments: 17.6% Cumberland Park — Townhouses: 13.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Median house price $1,120,500 $1,452,500
Median unit price $650,000 $722,500
Median land price $740,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 24 sales
 18 days
from 14 sales

Zoning mix

Melrose Park has more industrially zoned land (39% vs 0%).

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Residential 61% 85%
Industrial 39% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 11%
Commercial 0% 4%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
New dwellings approved 188
across Mitcham
same for both
Approvals change year on year +32%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Houses 3.2%
$700/wk on $1.12M
 2.2%
$620/wk on $1.48M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
House price Higher than 54% of SA Higher than 86% of SA
Income Higher than 58% of SA Higher than 78% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 95% of SA
Affordability Higher than 43% of SA Higher than 17% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 79% of SA Higher than 83% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 88% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of SA Higher than 3% of SA

Liveability

Cumberland Park scores higher overall (68 vs 57).

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Grade B A
Score 57/100 68/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
80/100
 High
73/100
Flood High
82/100
 High
75/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Tonsley, 1.6 km
 3
Tonsley, 3.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 3.4%

Schools in Melrose Park

  • Edwardstown Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Cumberland Park

  • Cabra Dominican College Catholic · Combined above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 5 4
Parks & reserves 8 1
Childcare 1 2
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Melrose Park sits further from the CBD (8.4 km vs 6.3 km).

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Walkability score 88/100 84/100
Distance to Adelaide 8.4 km
+25% vs other
 6.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 13 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 57.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 51.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 5039
 1.3%
postcode 5041
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 55
postcode 5039
 58
postcode 5041

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Car (driver) 70.4% / 67.9%
Melrose Park — Car (driver): 70.4% Cumberland Park — Car (driver): 67.9%
Worked from Home 12.5% / 15.5%
Melrose Park — Worked from Home: 12.5% Cumberland Park — Worked from Home: 15.5%
Bus 5.9% / 5.7%
Melrose Park — Bus: 5.9% Cumberland Park — Bus: 5.7%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 5.1%
Melrose Park — Car (passenger): 3.7% Cumberland Park — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Bicycle 1.6% / 3.9%
Melrose Park — Bicycle: 1.6% Cumberland Park — Bicycle: 3.9%
Walked Only 4.0% / 0.7%
Melrose Park — Walked Only: 4.0% Cumberland Park — Walked Only: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.4%).

Setting

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Elevation 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.2 km 6.8 km

NBN connectivity

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Connectivity score 90/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 73%
1,393 premises
 2%
1,175 premises

Climate

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Annual rainfall 394 mm 457 mm
Summer max (Jan) 28.1°C 29.1°C
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C 8.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Average residential rate $2,296/yr
same for both
Council Mitcham
same for both

Federal electorate

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Division Boothby
same for both
Member Louise Miller-Frost
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Melrose Park Cumberland Park
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Melrose Park

Inner Parks

Cumberland Park

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Melrose Park

Melrose Park vs Edwardstown Melrose Park vs Colonel Light Gardens Melrose Park vs Clovelly Park Melrose Park vs Pasadena Melrose Park vs St Marys Melrose Park vs Daw Park

Other comparisons with Cumberland Park

Cumberland Park vs Colonel Light Gardens Cumberland Park vs Daw Park Cumberland Park vs Clarence Park Cumberland Park vs Westbourne Park Cumberland Park vs Clarence Gardens Cumberland Park vs Kings Park
Full data on Melrose Park Full data on Cumberland Park
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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