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

As of Nov 2025, Croydon's population is estimated at around 30,539, reflecting an increase of 1,931 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 28,608. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 30,322 following examination of ABS ERP data released in Jun 2024 and an additional 571 validated new addresses since the Census date. Croydon's population density is 2,165 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Since the 2021 Census, Croydon has seen a growth of 6.7%, exceeding both SA4 (4.0%) and SA3 regions. Overseas migration contributed approximately 75.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is using 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 adjusted to SA2 levels for areas not covered by ABS data.

By 2041, Croydon is projected to grow by 4,477 persons, reflecting an increase of 13.7% over the 17 years based on aggregated SA2-level projections.

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

Croydon averaged approximately 169 new dwelling approvals annually between FY21-FY25. Around 846 homes were approved in the past five financial years, with a further 31 approved so far in FY26. On average, 1.3 new residents were associated with each dwelling constructed over these years, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions. However, this ratio has increased to 7.4 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply.

The average construction value of development projects was $540,000. Additionally, commercial approvals valued at $75.8 million were registered in FY26, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Croydon's construction activity is 32.0% higher per person over the past five years, contributing to good buyer choice and supporting existing property values. Recent building activity has slowed, however. New development consists of 42.0% detached houses and 58.0% attached dwellings, marking a shift from the area's current housing composition of 84.0% houses.

This trend reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. Currently, Croydon has around 297 people per approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Croydon is projected to gain approximately 4,187 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

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

AreaSearch has identified a total of 32 projects that are likely to impact the area, with changes to local infrastructure being significant factors influencing performance. Key projects include the Croydon Community Wellbeing Precinct, Croydon Main Street Revitalisation, 295 Mt Dandenong Road Residential Development, and The Outlook Croydon North. The following list details those projects likely to be 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 Croydon remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Croydon's workforce is well-educated with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 was 4.5%, having grown by an estimated 0.7% over the past year according to AreaSearch data aggregation.

In Croydon, 15,475 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.2% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Croydon was similar to Greater Melbourne's at 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Employment levels in construction were particularly high at 1.2 times the regional average.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing showed lower representation at 3.1% compared to the regional average of 5.2%. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the census working population versus resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending Sep-22, employment in Croydon increased by 0.7% alongside labour force growth of 0.6%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.5%, labour force grow by 4.0%, and unemployment increase by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 projected a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years for Croydon, based on industry-specific projections applied to its local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Croydon's median income among taxpayers was $55,000 with an average of $67,127. Nationally, the median was $54,892 and average was $73,761. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income would be approximately $61,688 and average $75,290, factoring a 12.16% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly in Croydon, between the 42nd and 52nd percentiles. Income distribution shows 32.2% of residents (9,833 individuals) earn $1,500 to $2,999 annually, closely mirroring metropolitan trends at 32.8%. Housing affordability is severe with only 82.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 41st percentile. Croydon's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Croydon's dwelling structure, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 83.5% houses and 16.5% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In contrast, Melbourne metro had 87.2% houses and 12.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Croydon was similar to Melbourne metro at 33.1%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (39.4%) or rented (27.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Croydon was $1,985, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Croydon was recorded at $380, compared to Melbourne metro's $385. Nationally, Croydon's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 constitute 67.2% of all households, including couples with children at 29.2%, couples without children at 25.2%, and single parent families at 11.9%. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.8%, with lone person households making up 30.0% and group households comprising 2.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Croydon's residents aged 15+ have a university degree qualification rate of 30.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. The most common qualifications are bachelor degrees (19.7%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 33.3% of residents holding such qualifications; advanced diplomas account for 11.9%, while certificates make up 21.4%. Current educational participation stands at 26.8%, including 9.1% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Croydon operates a network of nine schools educating approximately 2,625 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1014). The area has five primary and four secondary schools serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents are 8.6, lower than the regional average of 15.5, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas. Note that for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to their parent campus.

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

Croydon has 144 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 32 routes offering 7,440 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 237 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency is 1,062 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 51 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Croydon is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Croydon faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 53%, slightly higher than the average SA2 area (~16,298 people). Mental health issues impact 9.0% of residents, while arthritis affects 8.4%. Approximately 66.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.7% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 21.8% of residents aged 65 and over (6,657 people), higher than the 19.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Croydon 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

Croydon's population, born overseas, stood at 26.3%, higher than most local markets. 19.6% spoke a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 45.8%.

The 'Other' religious category saw an overrepresentation in Croydon at 1.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.1%. Top ancestry groups were English (27.3%), Australian (24.0%), and Other (9.8%). Dutch ancestry was notably higher at 2.2% versus the regional 2.1%. Sri Lankan ancestry was slightly lower at 0.4%, compared to 0.5% regionally, while Hungarian ancestry remained similar at 0.3%.

Croydon's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Croydon is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and close to Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the 75-84 age group is over-represented in Croydon at 8.3%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 13.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has increased from 7.1% to 8.3% of Croydon's population, while the 0-4 age group has declined from 6.5% to 5.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Croydon. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 46%, adding 1,154 people and reaching a total of 3,689 from the current 2,534. This growth is part of an overall demographic aging trend, with residents aged 65 and older representing 62% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups are projected to experience population declines.