Balwyn North

An assessment of population growth drivers in Balwyn North reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Balwyn North is around 22,595. This represents an increase of 1,293 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,302. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS data released in June 2024. The population density as of February 2026 is approximately 2,485 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

AreaSearch's projections for Balwyn North are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is expected to grow by 1,003 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 4.1% in total over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Balwyn North when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates that Balwyn North recorded around 125 residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past 5 financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 625 homes were approved, with a further 72 approved so far in FY-26. Based on this data, new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new properties is $1,462,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, $7.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting limited commercial development focus.

Building activity shows 71.0% detached houses and 29.0% townhouses or apartments, sustaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. The location has approximately 158 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Balwyn North is expected to grow by 925 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Balwyn North has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified twelve projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include the North Balwyn Village Upgrade, 2 Sylvander Street Townhouses, Verdure Balwyn North, and North East Link - Doncaster Interchange Upgrades. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment environment in Balwyn North shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Balwyn North has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 3.0% as of an unspecified past year. Employment grew by 2.5% over this period.

As of September 2025, 11,943 residents are employed with an unemployment rate of 1.6%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation is lower at 65.3% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. Home-based work is prevalent among residents, with 41.3% working from home according to Census responses. Key industries include health care & social assistance and professional & technical services, with the latter showing strong specialization.

Construction employment is limited at 6.3%, compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Employment opportunities appear limited locally as indicated by resident population vs working population count. Over a 12-month period ending in an unspecified date, employment increased by 2.5% while labour force grew by 2.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0%, labour force expand by 3.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Balwyn North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, Balwyn North had a median income among taxpayers of $52,448. The average income stood at $93,767. These figures are among the highest in Australia. In comparison, Greater Melbourne had median and average incomes of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% from financial year ending June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates for Balwyn North would be approximately $56,775 (median) and $101,503 (average). From the Census conducted in August 2021, household incomes rank at the 85th percentile with a weekly income of $2,346. Income brackets indicate that the largest segment comprises 27.8% earning over $4,000 weekly, with 6,281 residents falling into this category. This is unlike the regional trend where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 32.8%. Balwyn North's affluence is evident with 40.0% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 14.7% of income. Strong earnings place residents within the 85th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Balwyn North is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Balwyn North's dwelling structure, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 83.0% houses and 17.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Balwyn North stood at 46.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.2% and rented dwellings at 19.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,078, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Balwyn North was $554, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Balwyn North's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Balwyn North features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 81.3% of all households, consisting of 47.6% couples with children, 21.2% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 18.7%, with lone person households at 16.9% and group households comprising 1.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6 people.

Educational achievement in Balwyn North places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Balwyn North has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 50.7% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%, indicating a significant educational advantage for the area. The most prevalent qualification is the Bachelor degree, held by 32.7% of residents in this age group, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.7% and graduate diplomas at 4.3%. Vocational pathways are also pursued, with advanced diplomas accounting for 9.7% and certificates for 7.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above.

Educational participation is notably high in Balwyn North, with 34.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in secondary education, 9.6% in primary education, and 8.5% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Balwyn North has 108 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 26 different routes, collectively facilitating 6,564 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically residing 216 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 87%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 41.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 937 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 60 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Balwyn North's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

AreaSearch's health outcomes data shows exceptional results for Balwyn North. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was found to be notably high at approximately 64% of the total population (14,406 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis and asthma, affecting 5.6% and 5.5% of residents respectively. Notably, 77.7% of residents reported having no medical ailments, higher than Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Balwyn North has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.7% (4,451 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. The health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Balwyn North is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Balwyn North has a high level of cultural diversity, with 44.4% of its population born overseas and 48.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Balwyn North, accounting for 45.0% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 6.0% versus 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (25.8%), English (14.7%), and Australian (11.6%). These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Chinese is substantially higher (25.8% vs 6.5%), while English and Australian are notably lower (14.7% vs 20.1%, and 11.6% vs 18.4% respectively). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include Greek at 6.5% versus regional average of 2.7%, Italian at 7.3% versus 5.2%, and Sri Lankan at 0.8%.

Balwyn North's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Balwyn North is 42 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's 38 years. The 15-24 age group comprises 17.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort constitutes 8.3%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 15.7% to 17.4%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 15.9% to 14.1%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 14.4% to 13.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Balwyn North. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 60%, reaching 1,192 people from 745. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 72% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.