Melrose Park vs Pasadena

Melrose Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 49 in Pasadena. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Melrose Park is closer to the city centre: 8.4 km, against 9.9 km. On these figures, Melrose Park tends to suit families with children, while Pasadena suits older residents.

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 6 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

First-home buyers

Pasadena

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($590,000 vs $650,000)

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

Melrose Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 79/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Melrose Park is more walkable (88/100 vs 79/100)
  • Pasadena has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 18%)

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

Investors

Pasadena

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Melrose Park and Pasadena 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 Pasadena
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 Pasadena
Walkability 88 / 79
Melrose Park — Walkability: 88/100 Pasadena — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 20 / 27
Melrose Park — Safety: 20/100 Pasadena — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melrose Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Pasadena — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 18 / 34
Melrose Park — Low flood risk: 18/100 Pasadena — Low flood risk: 34/100

Demographics

Pasadena has more residents (3,073 vs 2,319); Pasadena skews older (49 vs 38).

Melrose Park Pasadena
Population 2,319 3,073
+33% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.9% +2.7%
Median age 38 49
Median household income $82,316/yr
+13% vs other
 $71,812/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+5% vs other
 $333/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park Pasadena
0-4 6.9% / 4.0%
Melrose Park — 0-4: 6.9% Pasadena — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 12.0% / 9.0%
Melrose Park — 5-14: 12.0% Pasadena — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 4.6% / 4.6%
Melrose Park — 15-19: 4.6% Pasadena — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 5.3% / 5.1%
Melrose Park — 20-24: 5.3% Pasadena — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 14.5% / 11.6%
Melrose Park — 25-34: 14.5% Pasadena — 25-34: 11.6%
35-44 15.9% / 11.1%
Melrose Park — 35-44: 15.9% Pasadena — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 11.3% / 11.0%
Melrose Park — 45-54: 11.3% Pasadena — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 10.9% / 10.4%
Melrose Park — 55-64: 10.9% Pasadena — 55-64: 10.4%
65-74 8.7% / 13.0%
Melrose Park — 65-74: 8.7% Pasadena — 65-74: 13.0%
75-84 5.6% / 12.5%
Melrose Park — 75-84: 5.6% Pasadena — 75-84: 12.5%
85+ 4.1% / 7.5%
Melrose Park — 85+: 4.1% Pasadena — 85+: 7.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 43.6% lone person
Melrose Park — Lone Person: 43.6% Melrose Park — Couple Families: 36.5% Melrose Park — One Parent Families: 13.4% Melrose Park — Group Household: 4.8% Melrose Park — Other Families: 1.7%
Pasadena 42.4% lone person
Pasadena — Lone Person: 42.4% Pasadena — Couple Families: 38.3% Pasadena — One Parent Families: 12.9% Pasadena — Group Household: 4.3% Pasadena — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Pasadena 22.4% renting
Pasadena — Owned Outright: 42.7% Pasadena — Mortgage: 34.9% Pasadena — Renting: 22.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melrose Park Pasadena
Bachelor Degree 16.7% / 18.2%
Melrose Park — Bachelor Degree: 16.7% Pasadena — Bachelor Degree: 18.2%
Certificate III & IV 12.9% / 10.3%
Melrose Park — Certificate III & IV: 12.9% Pasadena — Certificate III & IV: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.7%
Melrose Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Pasadena — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 6.6%
Melrose Park — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Pasadena — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.4%
Melrose Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Pasadena — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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 Pasadena
England 2.8% / 3.8%
Melrose Park — England: 2.8% Pasadena — England: 3.8%
India 2.2% / 3.0%
Melrose Park — India: 2.2% Pasadena — India: 3.0%
Greece 1.9% / 3.0%
Melrose Park — Greece: 1.9% Pasadena — Greece: 3.0%
China 2.4% / 2.3%
Melrose Park — China: 2.4% Pasadena — China: 2.3%
Nepal 2.1% / —
Melrose Park — Nepal: 2.1% Pasadena — Nepal: not among its largest
Germany — / 1.0%
Melrose Park — Germany: not among its largest Pasadena — Germany: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 74.6% houses
Melrose Park — Houses: 74.6% Melrose Park — Townhouses: 11.6% Melrose Park — Flats / Apartments: 13.8%
Pasadena 67.2% houses
Pasadena — Houses: 67.2% Pasadena — Townhouses: 29.2% Pasadena — Flats / Apartments: 3.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Melrose Park Pasadena
Median house price $1,120,500 $1,160,000
Median unit price $650,000 $590,000
Median land price $740,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 24 sales
 18 days
from 19 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Melrose Park Pasadena
3 bed $1.1M / $1M
Melrose Park — 3 bed: $1.1M (27 sales) Pasadena — 3 bed: $1M (15 sales)

27 vs 15 sales

4 bed $1.45M / $1.31M
Melrose Park — 4 bed: $1.45M (11 sales) Pasadena — 4 bed: $1.31M (12 sales)

11 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Melrose Park has more industrially zoned land (39% vs 0%); Pasadena has more land zoned for conservation (12% vs 0%).

Melrose Park Pasadena
Residential 61% 64%
Industrial 39% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 23%
Environmental 0% 12%
Commercial 0% 2%
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 Pasadena
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 Pasadena
Houses 3.2%
$700/wk on $1.12M
 4.1%
$750/wk on $945K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Melrose Park Pasadena
House price Higher than 54% of SA Higher than 82% of SA
Income Higher than 58% of SA Higher than 45% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Affordability Higher than 43% of SA Higher than 7% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 79% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 80% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of SA Higher than 68% of SA

Liveability

Melrose Park is more walkable (88 vs 79); Pasadena scores higher overall (62 vs 57).

Melrose Park Pasadena
Grade B
same for both
Score 57/100 62/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Melrose Park carries more flood risk (82 vs 66).

Melrose Park Pasadena
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
80/100
 High
73/100
Flood High
82/100
 Moderate
66/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Melrose Park Pasadena
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Tonsley, 1.6 km
 3
Tonsley, 1.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 3.0%

Schools in Melrose Park

  • Edwardstown Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Pasadena

  • Springbank Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Melrose Park Pasadena
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 5 1
Parks & reserves 8 7
Childcare 1 3
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 1
same for both

Mobility

Melrose Park Pasadena
Walkability score 88/100 79/100
Distance to Adelaide 8.4 km 9.9 km
+18% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 18 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 57.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 100.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 5039
 1.5%
postcode 5042
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 55
postcode 5039
 54
postcode 5042

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 Pasadena
Car (driver) 70.4% / 69.1%
Melrose Park — Car (driver): 70.4% Pasadena — Car (driver): 69.1%
Worked from Home 12.5% / 15.4%
Melrose Park — Worked from Home: 12.5% Pasadena — Worked from Home: 15.4%
Bus 5.9% / 4.8%
Melrose Park — Bus: 5.9% Pasadena — Bus: 4.8%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.8%
Melrose Park — Car (passenger): 3.7% Pasadena — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Walked Only 4.0% / 2.6%
Melrose Park — Walked Only: 4.0% Pasadena — Walked Only: 2.6%

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

Setting

Melrose Park Pasadena
Elevation 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.2 km 7.0 km

NBN connectivity

Melrose Park Pasadena
Connectivity score 90/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 73%
1,393 premises
 35%
1,498 premises

Climate

Melrose Park Pasadena
Annual rainfall 394 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

Tags

Melrose Park

Inner Parks

Pasadena

Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Retirees Townhouses

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 St Marys Melrose Park vs Daw Park Melrose Park vs Cumberland Park

Other comparisons with Pasadena

Pasadena vs Eden Hills Pasadena vs St Marys Pasadena vs Daw Park Pasadena vs Panorama
Full data on Melrose Park Full data on Pasadena
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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