Burwood East

Burwood East has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census Burwood East's population is estimated at around 12,384 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,709 people (16.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,675 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 12,366 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 480 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,907 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Burwood East's 16.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.7%), along with the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 74.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising 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, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national areas is forecast, with the area expected to grow by 3,457 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 27.8% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Burwood East among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Burwood East has seen approximately 127 dwellings granted development approval annually, with a total of 639 homes approved between financial years FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 25 approved in FY-26. Each dwelling built over the past five financial years has resulted in an average of 2.2 new residents per year. The average construction cost value for new homes is $729,000, indicating a focus on premium properties.

This financial year has seen $18.5 million in commercial approvals, suggesting moderate commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Burwood East has experienced 35.0% more development per person over the past five years, supporting property values and buyer choice despite recent moderation in development activity. Nationally, this level of development is well above average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New developments consist of 26.0% standalone homes and 74.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift from the current housing mix (74.0% houses) is due to reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands. The area has approximately 311 people per dwelling approval, indicating potential for further growth.

By 2041, Burwood East is projected to gain 3,439 new residents, with current development well-suited to meet future needs and maintain steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

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

Seven projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area. Key projects include SRL East Works Package F Stations Glen Waverley to Box Hill, Tally Ho Activity Centre Structure Plan, East Burwood Reserve Master Plan, and Mirrabooka Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment.

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

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Employment conditions in Burwood East remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Burwood East has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.6% as of September 2025, with estimated employment growth of 3.1% over the past year, based on AreaSearch data aggregation.

In that month, 6,409 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate aligned with Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation was lower at 57.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. The area had a particular specialization in accommodation & food services, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction was under-represented, with only 7.1% of Burwood East's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 3.1%, while the labour force grew by 3.2%, and unemployment remained essentially unchanged. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% with a slight rise in unemployment to 4.7%. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate a projected growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Burwood East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Burwood East suburb has a median taxpayer income of $45,312 and an average income of $60,119 according to AreaSearch's postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. These figures are below the national averages of $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average) for Greater Melbourne. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25%, estimated median income as of September 2025 would be approximately $49,050, with the average being around $65,079. According to the 2021 Census, Burwood East's household income ranks at the 42nd percentile ($1,610 weekly), and personal income is at the 24th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 30.2% of locals (3,739 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which is similar to the metropolitan region's pattern where 32.8% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 42nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Burwood East's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 73.9% houses and 26.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burwood East was 44.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.2% and rented ones at 26.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,147, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,300. Median weekly rent in Burwood East was $439, compared to Melbourne metro's $412. Nationally, Burwood East's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,147 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $439 compared to the national figure of $375.

Burwood East features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.3% of all households, including 33.7% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.7%, with lone person households at 22.5% and group households making up 5.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Burwood East shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Burwood East is notably high, with 42.5% of residents aged 15 years and over holding university qualifications as of the latest data. This figure surpasses both national (30.4%) and Victorian state (33.4%) averages, indicating a significant educational advantage for the area. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 26.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.0% and graduate diplomas at 2.8%. Vocational pathways account for 22.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and over, with advanced diplomas making up 10.8% and certificates 11.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as per the latest available data. This includes 8.2% pursuing tertiary education, 7.2% primary education, and 6.1% secondary education.

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

The analysis shows that Burwood East has 64 active public transport stops. These include a mix of light rail and bus services. The area is served by 15 different routes in total, which combined offer 4,326 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have good access to these services, with an average distance of 224 meters to the nearest stop. On average, there are 618 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 67 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Burwood East is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Burwood East shows above-average health outcomes for both young and elderly populations, with low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 51% (~6,271 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 55.8%. Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (7.2%) and asthma (6.2%), while 73.6% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Melbourne's 73.9%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 22.4% (2,774 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 17.7%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with the general population's health profile.

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

Burwood East has a high level of cultural diversity, with 56.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 53.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Burwood East, accounting for 43.5% of people. However, Buddhism is more prevalent here compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 8.5% versus the regional average of 6.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (25.3%), English (13.5%), and Other (11.9%). Notably, Greek (7.8%) and Sri Lankan (1.5%) populations are overrepresented in Burwood East compared to Greater Melbourne averages of 3.0% and 0.8%, respectively. Additionally, Hungarian ancestry is slightly higher at 0.4%.

Burwood East's median age exceeds the national pattern

Burwood East has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38 years. The 75-84 age cohort is notably over-represented in Burwood East at 8.6%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average. Conversely, the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 9.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 14.9% to 16.5% of the population, while the 15-24 cohort has risen from 12.5% to 13.6%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 12.8% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Burwood East's age profile, with the 85+ age cohort projected to surge by 606 people (109%), from 557 to 1,164.