Coburg North

Coburg North lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Coburg North is around 8,860, reflecting an increase of 533 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 8,327. This increase was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 8,827 based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 66 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,853 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Coburg North has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 93.0% 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 employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth is predicted over the period, with the suburb expected to expand by 4,001 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 44.8% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Coburg North according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis shows Coburg North had around 23 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 118 homes. As of FY-26, 10 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2 new residents moved in annually per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. However, this increased to 9.3 people per dwelling over the past two years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply. The average construction cost of new homes is $651,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment.

This financial year saw $44.6 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Coburg North has 59.0% lower building activity per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. The area's new building activity is also below the national average, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints. Currently, 40.0% of approvals are standalone homes, while 60.0% are townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift from the area's existing housing composition (76.0% houses). This change may indicate decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. Coburg North has around 516 people per approval, indicating a mature market.

By 2041, it is forecasted to gain 3,968 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that may affect this region. Notable ones include Assembly Broadmeadows, Kodak Lands Redevelopment (Merri-bek Gardens Estate), Gaffney St, Coburg North, and Coburg North Village and Lincoln Mills Redevelopment. The following list details those most likely to be 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 Coburg North shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Coburg North has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 3.2% as of an unspecified date. Over the past year, employment remained relatively stable.

As of December 2025, 5,164 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation was similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. According to Census responses, 42.1% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

The area has a particularly high employment share in education & training, at 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 7.0% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. The ratio of 0.6 workers per resident indicates a higher than normal level of local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force decreased by 0.9%, employment declined by 0.2%, leading to a fall in unemployment of 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coburg North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Coburg North's median income among taxpayers is $58,647, with an average of $73,573. This is higher than the national average and compares to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $63,485 (median) and $79,643 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Coburg North cluster around the 64th percentile nationally. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 33.4% of the community (2,959 individuals), mirroring regional levels where 32.8% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 15.9% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 64th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Coburg North is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Coburg North, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.7% houses and 24.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg North was at 30.7%, similar to Melbourne metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (37.9%) or rented (31.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $401, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Coburg North's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 68.6% of all households, including 33.0% couples with children, 22.8% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.4%, with lone person households at 24.8% and group households comprising 6.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Coburg North's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 42.3% have university qualifications, compared to 27.7% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.4%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational pathways account for 24.3%, with advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 13.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.5% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary, 7.1% in tertiary, and 6.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Coburg North has 59 active public transport stops serving a mix of light rail and bus services. These are covered by 7 routes offering 7,366 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 149 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode at 74%, followed by train at 10% and cycling at 5%. The area has an average of 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 42.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,052 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 124 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Coburg North is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Coburg North faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across all age groups but particularly so among older cohorts. Approximately 56% (~4951 people) of the total population has private health cover, the highest rate in Victoria. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (10.1%) and asthma (7.8%), while 68.8% of residents report having no medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among working-age residents are typical. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 13.7% (1213 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Coburg North 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 North has a high level of cultural diversity, with 32.6% of its population born overseas and 34.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Coburg North is Christianity, comprising 41.1% of the population. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 7.4% of Coburg North's population versus 5.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (18.1%), Australian (17.2%), and Other (14.4%). Notably, Italian (13.0%) and Greek (4.6%) populations in Coburg North exceed regional averages of 5.2% and 2.7%, respectively, while Lebanese (2.6%) is also higher than the regional average of 0.8%.

Coburg North's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Coburg North is close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Coburg North has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (17.6%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.1%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the population aged 55 to 64 grew from 9.5% to 11.0%, while the population aged 85 and over declined from 4.0% to 3.0%. By 2041, Coburg North's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 66%, increasing from 1,222 people in 2021 to 2,029 people by 2041.