Croydon (Vic.)

Population growth drivers in Croydon are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of the suburb of Croydon (Vic.) as of Feb 2026 is around 31,195. This reflects an increase of 2,587 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 28,608. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 30,280 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,212 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Croydon's growth rate of 9.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's 4.9%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 75.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch projections for each SA2 area are adopted from ABS/Geoscience Australia releases in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 are used with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, above median population growth is projected nationally, with the suburb expected to grow by 4,475 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 11.4% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Croydon when compared nationally

Croydon has seen around 169 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. This totals an estimated 845 homes from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 47 approvals have been recorded. On average, each new dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodates approximately 1.3 new residents per year. However, this has increased to 7.6 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, indicating growing popularity in the area.

Development projects average $540,000 in construction value, targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, Croydon has registered $72.3 million in commercial approvals, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Croydon shows moderately higher construction activity, maintaining good buyer choice and supporting existing property values. New building activity consists of 42.0% detached houses and 58.0% attached dwellings, providing accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift reflects reduced availability of development sites and changing lifestyle demands.

Croydon's population is forecasted to gain 3,560 residents by 2041, with current construction levels expected to meet housing demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Croydon has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 32 projects likely affecting the region. Key initiatives are Croydon Community Wellbeing Precinct, Croydon Main Street Revitalisation, 295 Mt Dandenong Road Residential Development, and The Outlook Croydon North. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

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

Croydon has an educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.1%, with estimated employment growth of 1.4% over the past year (AreaSearch data). As of December 2025, there are 15,677 residents employed, but its unemployment rate is higher at 5.1% compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.

Workforce participation is lower at 65.0%, versus Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. Notably, 30.3% of residents work from home (Census data). Key employment industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction shows high concentration with levels at 1.2 times the regional average.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing has lower representation at 3.1%. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 1.4% while labour force grew by 1.6%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment (AreaSearch data). Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Croydon's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by similar rates over the same periods, assuming constant population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Croydon suburb's median income among taxpayers was $54,990 and average income stood at $67,110 in financial year 2023. These figures were compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164 respectively. By September 2025, estimated median income was approximately $59,527 and average income was around $72,647, based on an 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to Census data, household, family, and personal incomes in Croydon ranked modestly between the 42nd and 52nd percentiles. The predominant income cohort spanned 32.2% of locals (10,044 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the regional figure of 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures were severe with only 82.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 41st percentile. Croydon's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

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

Croydon's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 83.5% houses and 16.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Croydon stood at 33.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.4% and rented ones at 27.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,985, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Croydon was $380, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Croydon's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Croydon features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households compose 67.2% of all households, including 29.2% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.8%, with lone person households at 30.0% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6 people.

The educational profile of Croydon exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Croydon residents aged 15 and above have a university degree qualification rate of 30.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 19.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are held by 33.3% of residents, with advanced diplomas at 11.9% and certificates at 21.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.8% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary, 6.5% in secondary, and 4.2% in tertiary education.

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

Croydon has 145 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 31 different routes that together facilitate 6,431 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 236 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from Croydon, primarily by car (88%), with only 6% using trains. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents work from home, at 30.3%, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 918 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 44 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data and shows the locations of the 100 nearest stops to the centrepoint.

Health outcomes in Croydon are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Croydon's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among residents is somewhat typical but higher than the national average for older cohorts.

Private health cover is at approximately 53% of the total population (~16,648 people), slightly leading the average SA2 area. This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.0 and 8.4% of residents respectively. 66.7% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 22.7% of residents aged 65 and over (7,081 people), higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than those for the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Croydon was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Croydon's population, as of 2016 Census data, showed higher cultural diversity than most local areas with 26.3% born overseas and 19.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 45.8%. The 'Other' religious category had 1.4%, slightly above Greater Melbourne's 0.7%.

Ancestry-wise, Croydon had higher proportions of English (27.3%) and Australian (24.0%) than regional averages of 20.1% and 18.4% respectively. 'Other' ancestry made up 9.8%. Notable differences existed in Dutch (2.2%, compared to 1.2%), Sri Lankan (0.4%, vs 0.7%) and Hungarian (0.3%, vs 0.2%) groups.

Croydon's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Croydon is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years, which is very close to Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, the 75-84 age group is notably over-represented in Croydon at 8.9%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 13.0%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has grown from 7.1% to 8.9% of Croydon's population, while the 25-34 age group has declined from 14.2% to 13.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Croydon. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 80%, reaching 2,135 people from the current figure of 1,185. This growth will be led by residents aged 65 and older, who are anticipated to represent 61% of the population growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are expected to experience population declines.