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 Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Coburg North is around 8,860, reflecting a 6.4% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 8,327 people. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 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. The population density ratio is 1,853 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Coburg North has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed 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, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 for areas not covered by this data, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels.

Considering projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth is predicted over the period 2026 to 2041, with the suburb expected to expand by 3,992 persons, reflecting an increase of 44.6% in total over these 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 of ABS building approval numbers 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. Each new dwelling has resulted in approximately two additional residents annually between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction cost value for these dwellings was $651,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $44.6 million, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. Comparatively, Coburg North's building activity is 59.0% below Greater Melbourne's average per person and also below national averages, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity comprises 40.0% standalone homes and 60.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 76.0% houses. Coburg North's population growth is projected to add 3,954 residents by 2041, based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep pace with this population increase, potentially intensifying competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Population forecasts indicate Coburg North will gain 3,954 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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 likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives 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 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.

Employment conditions in Coburg North remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Coburg North has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.2%. As of September 2025, 5,191 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation was 74.1%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. A high proportion of residents, 42.1%, worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area specializes in education & training, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 7.0% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.6 at the Census, indicating local employment opportunities above the norm. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 1.2%, labour force by 1.5%, resulting in a slight rise in unemployment to 3.9%. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced higher growth rates of 3.0% for employment and 3.3% for labour force. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Coburg North. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. 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

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Coburg North's median income among taxpayers is $58,647. The average income in the suburb is $73,573. Nationally, the median income is lower at $51,920 and the average is higher at $79,200. In Greater Melbourne, the median income is $57,688 with an average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Coburg North's median and average incomes would be approximately $63,485 and $79,643 respectively as of September 2025. According to Census data, household, family and personal incomes in Coburg North cluster around the 64th percentile nationally. Distribution data shows that 33.4% of individuals in Coburg North earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to regional levels where 32.8% fall into this bracket. High housing costs consume 15.9% of income in the suburb. Despite this, disposable income remains at the 64th percentile nationally. 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

Coburg North's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.7% houses and 24.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg North stood at 30.7%, similar to Melbourne metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.9% and rented dwellings at 31.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than the Melbourne metro average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Coburg North was $401, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Coburg North's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $401 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 make up the remaining 31.4%, consisting of 24.8% lone person households and 6.6% group households. The median household size is 2.5 people, 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 exceeds broader benchmarks significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 42.3% hold university qualifications compared to 27.7% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. This area has a substantial educational advantage, with bachelor degrees being the most prevalent at 25.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.4%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational pathways account for 24.3% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas making up 10.9% and certificates 13.4%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 7.1% in tertiary education, 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, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by seven individual routes, collectively facilitating 7,366 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 149 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Car remains the primary mode of transportation at 74%, followed by train at 10% and cycling at 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 42.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 1,052 trips per day, 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, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence data.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent throughout all age groups but are notably higher among older cohorts. The area has a high private health cover rate of approximately 56% (~4,951 people). Mental health issues and asthma were the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.1 and 7.8% of residents respectively. Conversely, 68.8% reported having no medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Health outcomes among working-age residents are broadly typical. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 13.5% (1,196 people) compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they 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. Christianity is the predominant religion in Coburg North, accounting for 41.1% of the population. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 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%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 5.2% and 2.7%, respectively. Lebanese ethnicity is also notably higher at 2.6% versus 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 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 55-64 has increased from 9.5% to 10.9%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 0-4 has decreased from 6.6% to 5.6%. By 2041, Coburg North's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 65%, reaching 2,023 people from the current 1,222.