Population 26 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Melbourne
Household size in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.73 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.79 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.96 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.77 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Melbourne is a place of small households, averaging 1.96 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.73 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.7 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 52.2 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.0 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 61.0 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +12.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Melbourne skews older: half of its residents are older than 61.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Melbourne: 6.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Melbourne
Renters in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +12.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Melbourne is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About two-thirds of owners (65.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 3.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 1.7% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Melbourne: just 1.7% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Melbourne was built around 1977, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in Washington as a whole, where the median home dates to 1984.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,275 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,100 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $940 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,087 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$188 | +$858 | +$606 |
Rent in Melbourne runs $1,087 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 45.8% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Melbourne
Bachelor's degrees in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.5% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Melbourne: 23.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.6% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.9% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.6% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.0% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Melbourne: 95.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Melbourne
| Period | Melbourne | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 30.2% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.7% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −11.1 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Melbourne has been low: just 0.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Melbourne compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 1.96 | 61.0 | 6.2% | 19.3% | 1.7% | 1977 | $1,087 | 23.5% | 95.0% | 0.7% |
| South Montesano | 2.38 | 55.5 | 9.0% | 8.1% | 8.0% | 1964 | $1,241 | 22.6% | 95.1% | 3.0% |
| Central Park | 2.27 | 56.8 | 3.2% | 9.6% | 7.8% | 1978 | $1,142 | 21.2% | 92.7% | 1.0% |
| Montesano | 2.45 | 45.6 | 7.3% | 26.9% | 11.4% | 1972 | $1,119 | 23.7% | 93.5% | 4.2% |
| Cosmopolis | 2.43 | 41.8 | 6.8% | 24.6% | 9.7% | 1958 | $1,295 | 21.1% | 90.4% | 11.0% |
| Junction City | 2.48 | 43.9 | 3.1% | 5.6% | 5.8% | 1971 | $1,161 | 25.8% | 92.7% | 1.3% |
| South Aberdeen | 2.36 | 45.8 | 4.7% | 8.5% | 4.6% | 1973 | $1,093 | 23.5% | 93.4% | 1.1% |
| Brady | 2.31 | 44.6 | 4.1% | 24.3% | 6.2% | 1978 | $1,249 | 23.0% | 92.1% | 5.6% |
| Aberdeen | 2.83 | 38.2 | 15.8% | 38.0% | 10.9% | 1953 | $1,036 | 14.8% | 84.5% | 9.6% |
| Vesta | 2.12 | 57.0 | 5.0% | 19.4% | 3.8% | 1971 | $1,043 | 22.5% | 94.8% | 1.1% |
| Aberdeen Gardens | 2.59 | 44.1 | 7.1% | 12.3% | 5.4% | 1978 | $1,169 | 15.0% | 92.9% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Calvin, VA · White Signal, NM · White Lakes, NM · Wheelon, UT · Wheeling, LA · Wetmore, OR · Cherry Corner, PA · Charleys Branch, TN · Champ, MO · Catholic Point, AR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Melbourne. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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