Ferny Creek

Ferny Creek is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, Ferny Creek's estimated population is around 1,513, a decrease of 11 people since the 2021 Census which reported 1,524 residents. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 1,504 residents based on latest ABS ERP data (June 2024) and validation of 12 new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 335 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed about 64% of Ferny Creek's recent population growth. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas without this data, AreaSearch employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Ferny Creek is projected to grow by 58 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 3.2% over the 17-year period.

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

Ferny Creek has had approximately 2 residential properties granted approval per year over the past 5 financial years ending June 2021. This totals an estimated 11 homes. In the Financial Year 2026, which ends on June 30th of that year, 2 approvals have been recorded to date.

The population has declined in recent years, indicating that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice while developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties valued at an average of $859,000. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ferny Creek records markedly lower building activity, 63.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings, though building activity has accelerated in recent years. Nationally, development activity is also lower, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated count of 376 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Ferny Creek is expected to grow by 49 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Ferny Creek has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely impacting the region: Six Senses Resort And Spa At Burnham Beeches, Angliss Hospital Expansion, Mountain Highway Logistics Hub, and Dandenong Ranges Environmental Protection Program are key projects, with specific details provided below.

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.

Ferny Creek ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Ferny Creek has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.4% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.9%.

Residents' work participation rate is on par with Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. A significant number, 39.1%, of residents worked from home based on Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among residents are education & training, health care & social assistance, and construction. Notably, Ferny Creek has a high concentration in education & training with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing shows lower representation at 2.5% versus the regional average of 5.2%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.9% and labour force increased by 1.5%, causing a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 suggest Ferny Creek's employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

The suburb of Ferny Creek has a high national income level according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Ferny Creek is $53,490, with an average income of $74,504. These figures compare to those for Greater Melbourne, which are $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25% since the financial year 2023, current estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $57,903 and the average income around $80,651 as of September 2025. According to data from the 2021 Census, household incomes in Ferny Creek rank at the 87th percentile with a weekly income of $2,393. Income distribution shows that 29.9% of residents (452 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket, which is similar to the regional level where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Ferny Creek exhibits considerable affluence with 37.9% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings in the area. After accounting for housing costs, residents retain 87.1% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Ferny Creek's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were entirely composed of houses (100.0%) with no other dwellings recorded (0.0%). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ferny Creek stood at 37.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.0% and rented ones at 5.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Ferny Creek was $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Ferny Creek's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $400 compared to the national figure of $375.

Ferny Creek features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 79.5% of all households, including 41.5% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 6.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 20.5%, with lone person households at 19.3% and group households comprising 0.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Ferny Creek places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Ferny Creek's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 42.0% have university qualifications, compared to 23.8% in the SA3 area and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.5%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 31.2% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 13.1% and certificates for 18.1%.

Educational participation is notably high in Ferny Creek, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ferny Creek has ten active public transport stops operating within it, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by seven different routes that together facilitate 885 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as moderate, with residents typically residing 447 meters away from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most inhabitants commute outward, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 94%. On average, there are 2.0 vehicles per dwelling in Ferny Creek, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 39.1% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 126 trips per day, translating to approximately 88 weekly trips per individual stop.

Ferny Creek's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance across Ferny Creek.

AreaSearch's assessment shows low prevalence of common health conditions among both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (around 851 people). The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are mental health issues, impacting 8.7% of residents, and asthma, affecting 8.2%. A majority, 67.4%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. Ferny Creek has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.4% (323 people), compared to 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors in Ferny Creek rank nationally even higher than those of the general population.

Ferny Creek ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ferny Creek, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016, showed cultural diversity levels below average. The population was predominantly born in Australia (81.5%), with a high proportion being citizens (90.5%) and speaking English only at home (93.6%). Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 31.6% of Ferny Creek's population.

Notably, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 0.6% versus 1.0%. In terms of ancestry, English heritage was prominent at 29.7%, significantly higher than the regional average of 20.1%. Australian heritage also stood out at 26.4%, surpassing the regional average of 18.4%. Irish heritage made up 9.4% of Ferny Creek's population. Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Hungarian (0.7% vs regional 0.3%), Dutch (2.9% vs 1.2%), and Polish (1.1% vs 0.8%).

Ferny Creek hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Ferny Creek is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ferny Creek has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (15.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (5.3%). According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group in Ferny Creek grew from 5.0% to 7.7% of the population, while the 25 to 34 age group declined from 7.4% to 5.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Ferny Creek's age structure. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 197%, reaching 81 people from the current 27. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 73% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.