Delahey

Delahey has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Delahey is around 8,010, a decrease of 67 people from the 2021 Census figure of 8,077. This decrease was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 8,008 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and validation of four new addresses since the Census date. The current population density is approximately 2,282 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed significantly to recent population growth, accounting for about 79.0% of overall gains. For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia figures released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation methods for areas not covered by the former data.

Based on these projections, the suburb is expected to grow by approximately 5.9% over the next 17 years, reaching a population of about 8,484 persons by 2041.

The level of residential development activity in Delahey is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Delahey averaged approximately one new dwelling approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated seven homes. As of FY-26, zero approvals have been recorded. The population has declined in recent years, suggesting new supply has met demand, offering buyers good choice. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $997,000, indicating developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

This financial year has seen $23.2 million in commercial approvals, showing steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Delahey records significantly lower building activity, 94.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings, with levels under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New construction has been exclusively standalone homes, preserving Delahey's suburban character and attracting space-seeking buyers. Developers are building more traditional houses than current mix suggests, indicating strong demand for family homes.

Delahey shows a mature, established area with around 8014 people per approval. Future projections estimate Delahey will add 472 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Delahey 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 five projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Delahey Village Shopping Centre Expansion & Refurbishment, Kings Park Reserve Sports Facilities Upgrades, Greenwich Park Estate, and Copperfield Estate. The following details those most relevant.

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

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The labour market performance in Delahey lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Delahey has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors well-represented. The unemployment rate was 7.4% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of that date, 4,176 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.7 percentage points higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation in Delahey lagged behind Greater Melbourne at 65.7% compared to 71.3%. According to Census responses, 16.3% of residents worked from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among residents were retail trade, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance. Delahey had a particular specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services employed only 4.6% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. 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, employment increased by 2.1% while labour force increased by 4.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.9 percentage points in Delahey. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 2.4%, labour force expand by 2.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered insight into potential future demand within Delahey. These projections estimated national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Delahey's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.2% over ten years, although this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for the financial year ending June 30, 2023 indicates that Delahey had a median income of $44,082 and an average income of $51,917. This is lower than national averages. Greater Melbourne, on the other hand, had a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since June 30, 2023, estimated incomes for Delahey as of September 2025 would be approximately $47,719 (median) and $56,200 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, individual incomes in Delahey were at the 13th percentile ($611 weekly), while household incomes were at the 34th percentile. The income distribution shows that the majority of residents (32.9%, or 2,635 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, which is similar to the surrounding region (32.8%). After housing costs, 85.0% of income remains for other expenses.

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

Dwelling structure in Delahey, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 76.2% houses and 23.7% other dwellings. In Melbourne metro, this was 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Delahey was 36.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.9% and rented ones at 23.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,517, below Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Delahey was $350, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Delahey's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Delahey has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 76.9% of all households, including 38.2% couples with children, 21.1% couples without children, and 16.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.1%, with lone person households at 21.4% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Delahey faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 18.7%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 28.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (20.0%). Educational participation is high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 8.3% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 5.4% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.3% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 5.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Delahey has 30 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These are serviced by five different routes that collectively facilitate 1,633 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 199 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using their cars, which remain the dominant mode of transport at 89%. Seven percent of residents use trains for commuting. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling in Delahey, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 16.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 233 trips per day, equating to approximately 54 weekly trips per individual stop.

Delahey's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Delahey's health metrics are close to national benchmarks. AreaSearch assessed mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, finding that common health conditions among the general population were somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Private health cover was found to be very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~3,800 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were asthma and arthritis, impacting 7.9 and 6.9% of residents respectively, while 71.0% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,698 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Delahey is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Delahey has one of the most culturally diverse populations in the country, with 50.4% born overseas and 62.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 55.5% of Delahey's population. Buddhism is significantly overrepresented, making up 11.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (21.3%), Australian (11.4%), and Vietnamese (10.9%). These figures differ from regional averages: Other is substantially higher at 21.3% (vs 14.6%), Australian notably lower at 11.4% (vs 18.4%), and Vietnamese significantly higher at 10.9% (vs 1.9%). Additionally, Maltese (6.2%) and Macedonian (4.5%) are notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.1% and 0.7%, respectively, while Filipino representation is also notable at 5.6% (vs 1.3%).

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

The median age in Delahey is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Delahey at 12.8%, while the 35-44 age group is under-represented at 11.9%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 65-74 age group has grown from 10.3% to 12.8% of the population, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 4.1% to 6.5%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 13.5% to 10.9%, and the 25-34 age group dropped from 15.0% to 13.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Delahey, with the 75-84 age group expected to grow by 49 people, reaching 778 from 520. The demographic shift is led by residents aged 65 and older, who represent 86% of anticipated growth. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.