Delacombe

Delacombe 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 May 2026, the estimated population of Delacombe is around 4977, reflecting a decrease of 431 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5408. This decrease was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 4947 following examination of ABS' ERP data release in June 2025 and an additional 158 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is approximately 935 persons per square kilometer, relatively inline with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Interstate migration primarily drove recent population growth, contributing around 85% of overall gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, it utilises Victoria's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted employing weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, Delacombe is expected to experience exceptional growth in the top 10 percent of Australian non-metropolitan areas over the period from 2026 to 2041, with an anticipated increase of 2787 persons, reflecting a gain of approximately 54.5% in total population over these 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Delacombe has averaged around 105 new dwelling approvals each year. Over the past five financial years, between FY21 and FY25, an estimated 529 homes were approved, with a further 23 approved so far in FY26. On average, 0.2 new residents arrived per new home over these five years, indicating that new construction is matching or outpacing demand.

The average value of new dwellings developed was $392,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments. This financial year has seen $20.6 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Rest of Vic., Delacombe has 66.0% more building activity per person, providing buyers with ample choice, though recent periods have shown some moderation in development activity. This is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. New development consists of 93.0% detached dwellings and 7.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

With around 177 people per dwelling approval, Delacombe shows characteristics of a low density area. Future projections show Delacombe adding 2,710 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Present construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Delacombe has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects expected to influence the region. Notable initiatives include Delacombe Village (Stage 3 - Delacombe Town Centre), Delacombe Village, Delacombe Big Housing Build - Leawarra Neighbourhood, and Winterfield Estate. The following list outlines those most relevant.

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Employment conditions in Delacombe face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Delacombe has a balanced workforce across white and blue collar jobs, with essential services well represented. The unemployment rate was 7.1% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In that month, 1,711 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 3.4% higher than Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation in Delacombe was significantly lower at 45.7%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.0%. Census responses showed that only 11.6% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Retail trade had a notably high concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 1.5% compared to the regional average of 7.5%. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 17.6% and employment declined by 18.1%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.5 percentage points in Delacombe. This contrasted with Regional Vic., where employment contracted by 0.6%, the labour force fell by 0.7%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 could provide further insight into potential future demand within Delacombe. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, estimated that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.4% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Delacombe's employment mix suggested local employment should grow by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not take into account localised population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Delacombe's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $42,239. The average income stood at $48,690 during the same period. This compares to figures for Regional Vic., which were $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates as of March 2026 would be approximately $46,302 for median income and $53,374 for average income. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Delacombe all fell between the 19th and 23rd percentiles nationally. Income distribution showed that 32.6% of locals (1,622 people) earned between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring the broader area where 30.3% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 84.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 24th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure in Delacombe, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.8% houses and 9.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Regional Vic. had 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Delacombe was at 34.8%, with the rest being mortgaged (37.3%) or rented (27.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,365, below Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Delacombe was $310, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Delacombe's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Delacombe has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 70.7% of all households, including 25.1% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 16.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.3%, with lone person households at 26.3% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional Vic. average.

Educational outcomes in Delacombe fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 14.8%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (31.0%). Educational participation is high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.8% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 3.9% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.8% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Delacombe has 30 active public transport stops serviced by two routes offering 551 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 244 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, with cars being the dominant mode at 96%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 11.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 78 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Service frequency averages 78 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Delacombe is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Delacombe. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across both younger and older age groups. Only approximately 46% of the total population (~2,298 people) have private health cover, compared to 50.5% in Regional Vic.

and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 11.3% and 10.5% of residents respectively. However, 57.6% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in Regional Vic.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Delacombe has 22.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,094 people), lower than the 23.9% in Regional Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally in line with the general population.

Delacombe is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Delacombe had a cultural diversity level below average, with 89.8% citizens and 89.8% born in Australia. English was the language spoken at home by 94.8%. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 44.3%.

Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to Regional Vic's 0.1%. In terms of ancestry, English (32.5%), Australian (31.3%), and Irish (9.0%) were the top groups represented. Notably, Dutch (1.9% vs regional 1.7%), Scottish (8.6% vs 8.8%), and Welsh (0.6% vs 0.4%) had higher representation than the regional averages.

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

Delacombe has a median age of 38, which is lower than Regional Vic's figure of 43 but matches the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 17.0% of Delacombe's population, higher than Regional Vic's percentage. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort comprises 8.4%, lower than Regional Vic's figure. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group grew from 14.4% to 17.0%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 10.8% to 13.1%. Meanwhile, the 55-64 cohort declined from 10.8% to 8.4%, and the 15-24 group dropped from 13.0% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant shifts in Delacombe's age profile. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 69% (581 people), reaching 1,428 from its current total of 846.