Coburg

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

The population of the suburb of Coburg is estimated at around 29,470 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,896 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 26,574. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 29,442 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 598 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,258 persons per square kilometer, placing Coburg in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 10.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state average of 9.3% and the national average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase by 14,159 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 48.0% over the 16-year period.

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 shows Coburg averaged around 297 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 1,486 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 53 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 indicates that supply has been meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth above projections.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $456,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. In FY-26 so far, there have been $5.7 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential development. When measured against Greater Melbourne, Coburg has similar development levels per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. However, development activity has picked up in recent periods. New building activity shows 7.0% detached houses and 93.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns which are currently 65.0% houses.

This skew toward compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. The location has approximately 76 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Future projections show Coburg adding 14,131 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely 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 42 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Pentridge Precinct, Coburg Health and Community Services 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 professional services well represented. The unemployment rate in the area is 7.0%. Over the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 4.5%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of December 2025, 16,947 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.3% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation in Coburg is broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. A high proportion of residents, 44.1%, work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

The area specializes in education & training with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, construction employs only 6.7% of local workers compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 4.5%, labour force grew by 4.6%, and unemployment remained essentially unchanged according to AreaSearch's analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical areas. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne where employment rose by 2.4%, the labour force grew by 2.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts for May-25 suggest that over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Coburg's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Coburg is higher than average nationally. The median income is $58,713 and the average income is $73,658. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures of a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $64,361 (median) and $80,744 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Coburg cluster around the 67th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 31.5% of residents (9,283 people), reflecting patterns seen in the broader area where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. Economic strength is evident through 31.4% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 15.0% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 72nd percentile for disposable income and 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 structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.2% houses and 34.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg was at 33.1%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (32.9%) or rented (34.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Coburg was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Coburg was $430, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. 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 lower-than-average median household size

Family households make up 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 constitute 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 smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Coburg's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 45.4% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. University qualifications lead with bachelor degrees at 27.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.2%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational pathways account for 21.8%, comprising advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (12.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes tertiary education (8.7%), primary education (7.6%), and secondary education (5.9%).

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

Coburg has 134 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These are covered by 16 routes providing 12,727 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 174 meters to the nearest stop. Most commuters travel outward from this residential area. Cars remain the primary mode at 67%, followed by trains at 10% and cycling at 6%. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 44.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 1,818 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 94 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, highlighting the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Coburg's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Coburg's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are slightly higher than average across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 56%, covering around 16,479 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (11.5%) and asthma (8.1%). About 67.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are generally typical. The area has 13.7% of residents aged 65 and over (4,037 people), lower than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. National rankings for health indicators largely mirror those of the general 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 has a higher cultural diversity compared to most local markets, with 30.7% of its population born overseas and 32.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The dominant religion in Coburg is Christianity, accounting for 39.1% of the population. However, Islam is notably overrepresented, comprising 6.8% compared to Greater Melbourne's 5.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (18.6%), Australian (16.6%), and Italian (12.1%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 5.2%. Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include Greek at 5.7% (regional: 2.7%), Lebanese at 3.6% (regional: 0.8%), and Maltese at 1.0% (regional: 1.1%).

Coburg's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Coburg has a median age of 37, which matches Greater Melbourne's figure and is comparable to Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented in Coburg at 20.6%, higher than Greater Melbourne but lower than the national average of 14.6%. Meanwhile, the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent in Coburg at 8.7%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of the population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 19.0% to 20.6%, while the 5-14 age group has decreased from 10.0% to 8.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Coburg's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 64%, reaching 6,171 people from its current size of 3,772.