Burnside (Vic.)

Burnside lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Burnside (Vic.) has an estimated population of around 6,681 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 881 people (15.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,800 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 6,449, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on June 2024 and an additional 209 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,620 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Burnside's 15.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (9.9%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 48.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the suburb expected to increase by 3,602 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 50.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Burnside among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Burnside has seen around 69 new homes approved each year. Over the past 5 financial years, between FY21 and FY25, approximately 349 homes were approved, with an additional 27 so far in FY26. On average, about 2.6 people moved to the area per new home constructed over these years, indicating solid demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $573,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This financial year, $8.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Burnside records markedly lower building activity, around 55.0% below regional average per person. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers.

At around 116 people per approval, Burnside reflects a developing area. Future projections show Burnside adding approximately 3,370 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Construction is maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers could encounter growing competition as population increases.

Burnside has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects that could impact this region. Major initiatives include Amora Estate Cairnlea, Western Freeway Upgrade - Melton to Caroline Springs, Lake Caroline Master Plan & Activation Strategy, and Modeina Estate. Relevant projects are detailed below.

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

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The employment landscape in Burnside shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Burnside's workforce comprises diverse sectors with an unemployment rate of 5.3% as of September 2025. This figure is 0.6% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.0%, based on AreaSearch data aggregation.

There are currently 3,356 residents employed in Burnside, with workforce participation at 68.2%, slightly below Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. Approximately 21.3% of residents work from home, as per Census responses. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and transport, postal & warehousing. Burnside shows strong specialization in the latter sector, with an employment share twice the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by the difference between working population and resident population counts. Over the year ending September 2025, employment increased by 5.0%, while labour force grew by 6.0%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.9 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 3.0%, labour force expanded by 3.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Burnside's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though these estimates are illustrative and do not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Burnside had a median taxpayer income of $45,747 and an average of $53,731 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $49,521 (median) and $58,164 (average). According to census data, household income ranks at the 57th percentile ($1,871 weekly), while personal income is at the 24th percentile. The largest income segment comprises 34.9% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, with 2,331 residents falling into this category. This aligns with broader metropolitan trends showing 32.8% in the same income bracket. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 57th percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Burnside's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burnside was 31.1%, similar to Melbourne metro's figure. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (58.4%) or rented (10.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Burnside was $2,000, mirroring the Melbourne metro average. However, the median weekly rent was $400 compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Burnside's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 than the Australian average of $1,863. Similarly, rents in Burnside exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 80.9% of all households, including 51.5% couples with children, 18.6% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 19.1%, with lone person households at 18.0% and group households comprising 1.1% of the total. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Burnside performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 25.0%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 18.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 30.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (19.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 33.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (11.7%), secondary education (9.7%), and tertiary education (5.3%).

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

Burnside has 20 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 804 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these stops is rated as good, with residents on average being located 210 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents in this predominantly residential area commute outward using their personal vehicles, which remains the dominant mode of transport at 90%. Six percent of residents use trains for commuting. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling in Burnside, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 21.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 114 trips per day, equating to approximately 40 weekly trips per individual stop.

Burnside's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Burnside's health metrics are close to national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions among its residents is somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Approximately 48% of Burnside's total population (~3,216 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (7.2%) and asthma (6.9%), with 73.3% of residents declaring themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Burnside has 16.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,115 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Burnside has a population where 49.3% were born overseas, and 56.4% speak a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Burnside, with 60.5%. Buddhism, however, is more prevalent in Burnside at 5.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (23.0%), Australian (12.1%), and English (10.3%). Notably, Filipino (8.3%) Maltese (5.9%), and Spanish (1.2%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Burnside compared to regional averages.

Burnside's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Burnside has a median age of 37, matching Greater Melbourne and closely aligning with Australia's figure of 38 years. The 15-24 age group is strongly represented at 16.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne. However, the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 11.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.9% to 16.3% of Burnside's population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 11.2% to 9.8%, and the 25-34 group has dropped from 12.4% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Burnside's age structure. Notably, the 15-24 group is expected to grow by 53%, adding 580 people and reaching a total of 1,670 from its current figure of 1,089.