Diggers Rest

Diggers Rest lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

The population of the Diggers Rest statistical area (Lv2) is estimated to be around 7,647 as of November 2025. This reflects a growth of 1,978 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,669. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 7,402 residents based on ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and an additional 651 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 112 persons per square kilometer. The Diggers Rest (SA2) experienced a growth rate of 34.9% from the 2021 Census, exceeding both national (9.7%) and state averages. Interstate migration contributed approximately 73.0% to this growth.

AreaSearch uses 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 from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation methods for areas not covered by the former data. Future population trends predict exceptional growth, placing Diggers Rest (SA2) in the top 10 percent of statistical areas nationally. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by 8,730 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 111.7%.

The level of residential development activity in Diggers Rest was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Diggers Rest has received around 237 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 1,186 homes. As of FY-26, 61 approvals have been recorded. Each new dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 has attracted an average of 2.8 new residents annually, indicating strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value for these dwellings is $320,000.

This financial year, Diggers Rest has registered $235,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting its residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Diggers Rest records 144.0% more development activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers despite a recent slowdown in building activity. Nationally, Diggers Rest's development activity is well above average, indicating strong developer confidence in the area. New developments consist of 96.0% detached houses and 4.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. There are approximately 33 people per dwelling approval in Diggers Rest, suggesting an expanding market.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Diggers Rest is forecasted to gain 8,539 residents by 2041, with building activity keeping pace with growth projections. However, increased competition among buyers can be expected as the population grows.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 45 projects that could affect the region. Notable projects include Diggers Rest Town Centre, a proposed mixed-use precinct, Grandview Estate, Nightjar Estate, and Mary St, Diggers Rest. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Diggers Rest ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Diggers Rest has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate is 3.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.9% over the past year (AreaSearch data).

As of September 2025, 4,556 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation is high at 71.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and transport, postal & warehousing. Diggers Rest specializes in transport, postal & warehousing employment, with a share 2.1 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical employment is limited at 6.0%, compared to the regional rate of 10.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.9% and labour force by 2.6%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.7 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis). In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts (May-25) suggest national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Diggers Rest's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 indicates that income in Diggers Rest is below the national average. The median income is $59,008 and the average income stands at $65,440. In comparison, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year ending June 2023, current estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $63,876 and the average income would be around $70,839 by September 2025. Census data shows that incomes in Diggers Rest cluster around the 69th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment consists of 42.9% earning between $1,500 to $2,999 weekly (3,280 residents), which is similar to regional levels where 32.8% fall within this range. High housing costs consume 16.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 64th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Diggers Rest's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.5% houses and 7.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figure of 89.2% houses and 10.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Diggers Rest stood at 21.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.9% and rented ones at 21.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,750. Median weekly rent in Diggers Rest was $397, compared to Melbourne metro's $369. Nationally, Diggers Rest's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Diggers Rest has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 76.7% of all households, including 35.9% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 23.3%, consisting of 21.1% lone person households and 2.4% group households. The median household size is 2.6 people, which matches the average for Greater Melbourne.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 25.3%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (26.5%). Educational participation is high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 10.1% in primary, 5.6% in secondary, and 3.7% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 5.6% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Diggers Rest has 34 active public transport stops, including both train and bus services. These stops are served by three different routes that together facilitate 1,427 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport options is considered good, with residents typically residing approximately 388 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 203 daily trips across all routes, which translates to roughly 41 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Diggers Rest is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Diggers Rest shows better-than-average health outcomes with a low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population. However, this prevalence is higher than the national average among older and at-risk cohorts.

The area has approximately 53% private health cover, slightly higher than the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Melbourne's 54.9%. Asthma and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions in Diggers Rest, affecting 9.3 and 8.7% of residents respectively. About 71.6% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 65.7% across Greater Melbourne. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 10.5% (802 people) than Greater Melbourne's 15.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Diggers Rest require more attention than those in the broader population.

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

Diggers Rest, as per data collected in June 2021, had a higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas, with 25.0% of its population born overseas and 25.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Diggers Rest, accounting for 49.1% of the population, as recorded in June 2021 data. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprised 5.1% of Diggers Rest's population, which was higher compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.5%, based on June 2021 figures.

In terms of ancestry, Australians made up 23.6% of Diggers Rest's population, while English ancestry stood at 20.3%, lower than the regional average of 26.3%. The 'Other' category constituted 10.6% of Diggers Rest's population. Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: Maltese were overrepresented at 3.3% compared to the regional average of 2.8%, Croatians at 1.6% vs 1.0%, and Hungarians at 0.5% vs 0.3%, as per June 2021 data.

Diggers Rest's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Diggers Rest has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Diggers Rest has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (20.1%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (9.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 35 to 44 has increased from 16.4% to 18.8%, while the age group 5 to 14 has risen from 11.8% to 13.1%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 23.4% to 20.1%. Population forecasts for Diggers Rest indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The strongest projected growth is in the 35 to 44 age group, with an increase of 110%, adding 1,574 residents to reach a total of 3,012.