Coburg

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

As of Nov 2025, Coburg's population is estimated at around 29,590. This reflects an increase of 3,016 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 26,574. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 28,666 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release (June 2024), along with an additional 626 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,276 persons per square kilometer, placing Coburg in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and utilises 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 are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Coburg is expected to increase by 14,620 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 46.8% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Coburg averaged approximately 296 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 1,482 homes. As of FY-26, 16 approvals have been recorded. The average number of people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these five years is 0.5. This suggests that supply has been meeting or surpassing demand, offering greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $456,000, consistent with regional patterns. In FY-26, there have been $5.7 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential activity. When comparing Coburg's development levels to Greater Melbourne on a per person basis, it has similar levels, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. However, recent periods have seen an increase in development activity. The majority of new building activity consists of townhouses or apartments (93.0%), with a smaller percentage being detached houses (7.0%).

This shift from the current housing pattern of 65.0% houses suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. Coburg has approximately 77 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Coburg is projected to add 13,845 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 41 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Coburg Health and Community Services Precinct, Pentridge Precinct, Holstep Health Community Hub (Coburg), and Sydney Road Transport Corridor Upgrade. 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 landscape in Coburg shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Coburg has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 7.1% as of an unspecified past year.

Employment growth over the same period was estimated at 6.1%. As of June 2025, 17,126 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.4% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was fairly standard at 68.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

The area had a particular specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. However, construction employed only 6.7% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in an unspecified date, employment increased by 6.1%, while labour force grew by 7.1%, resulting in unemployment rising by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.5%, labour force grow by 4.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coburg's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Coburg is $58,730 and average income is $73,679. This compares to Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% from financial year 2022 to September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $65,872 (median) and $82,638 (average). Census data indicates household, family and personal incomes in Coburg are at the 67th percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 31.5% of residents earn between $1,500 - $2,999 per annum (9,320 people), similar to the broader area where 32.8% fall within this range. Economic strength is evident with 31.4% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting high consumer spending. Housing accounts for 15.0% of income, and residents rank in the 72nd percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Coburg displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Coburg's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.2% houses and 34.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 46.2% houses and 53.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg was at 33.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (32.9%) or rented (34.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,149. The median weekly rent figure in Coburg was $430, compared to Melbourne metro's $418. Nationally, Coburg's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.8% of all households, including 29.9% couples with children, 25.1% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.2%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households comprising 9.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.3.

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

Educational attainment in Coburg is notably high, with 45.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 27.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.2%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational pathways account for 21.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.7% and certificates at 12.1%. Educational participation is high, with 28.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.7% in tertiary, 7.6% in primary, and 5.9% in secondary education.

As of a recent report, 14 schools serve 5,742 students in the area, which has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1091). The educational mix includes 7 primary, 4 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. Coburg functions as an education hub with 19.4 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 10.4, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Coburg has 133 active public transport stops. These include train, light rail, and bus services. There are 16 individual routes operating in total.

They collectively provide 11,772 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 174 meters to the nearest stop. The service frequency is 1,681 trips per day across all routes, which equals approximately 88 weekly trips per individual stop.

Coburg's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Coburg's health data shows relatively positive outcomes for its residents. The prevalence of common health conditions among the general population is quite low but higher than the national average among older and at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 56% (~16,549 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 58.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in Coburg, affecting 11.5% and 8.1% of residents respectively. About 67.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to Greater Melbourne's 68.5%. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 13.7% (4,053 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 12.1%. These older residents may require more attention than the broader population.

Coburg was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Coburg, surveyed in June 2016, had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 30.7% of its residents born overseas and 32.6% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 39.1%. Islam's representation stood out at 6.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (18.6%), Australian (16.6%), and Italian (12.1%). Notably, Greek residents made up 5.7% (vs regional 5.1%), Lebanese 3.6% (vs 1.9%), and Maltese 1.0% (vs 0.9%) of Coburg's population.

Coburg's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Coburg has a median age of 37, which is equal to Greater Melbourne's figure and comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 19.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 9.0%. This concentration of people aged 25-34 is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present day, the 15-24 age group has grown from 11.2% to 12.0% of Coburg's population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 10.0% to 9.0%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Coburg's age structure, with the 55-64 group expected to grow by 79%, adding 2,443 people and reaching a total of 5,521 from its current figure of 3,077.