Glen Iris (Vic.)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Glen Iris reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Glen Iris (Vic.) is around 27,720. This figure reflects an increase of 1,589 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 26,131. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and analysis of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025. This results in a resident population estimate of 27,680, with an additional 614 validated new addresses since the Census date. Glen Iris's population density is 3,368 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch.

Overseas migration contributed approximately 88.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. 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 the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is expected to increase by 985 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 3.4% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Glen Iris when compared nationally

Glen Iris averaged approximately 172 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 860 homes were approved, with an additional 51 approved in FY-26. On average, 0.2 people moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand.

The average construction cost value of new properties was $1,065,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market. This year, $64.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting strong local business investment. New development comprised 38.0% detached houses and 62.0% medium to high-density housing, marking a shift from the current 55.0% houses. Glen Iris has approximately 267 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Glen Iris will grow by 945 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Glen Iris has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 37 projects potentially impacting this area. Notable projects include Glen Iris Village Corner, 173 Burke Road Mixed-Use Development, Glen Eira City Council Infrastructure Program, and 18-20 Scott Grove Townhouses. 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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Glen Iris ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Glen Iris has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 2.6% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.2%. As of December 2025, 16,503 residents were employed at a 2.2% lower unemployment rate than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.

Workforce participation stood at 72.2%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Home workership was high at 49.1% according to Census responses, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment were professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Glen Iris had a strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level, but construction showed lower representation at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.2%, labour force grew by 1.4%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, with variations between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Glen Iris' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.8% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Glen Iris had a median taxpayer income of $69,570 and an average income of $127,871. Nationally, these figures place Glen Iris in the top percentile. Comparing to Greater Melbourne, median incomes were $57,688 and averages were $75,164. Considering a 9.62% growth since FY2023, estimated current incomes (March 2026) are approximately $76,263 (median) and $140,172 (average). Census 2021 data ranks Glen Iris's household, family, and personal incomes between the 90th and 90th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 32.7% of residents earn over $4,000 annually, unlike broader trends where most fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Economic strength is evident with 44.3% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting high consumer spending. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income, and residents rank in the 90th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Glen Iris displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Glen Iris' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 54.7% houses and 45.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). In contrast, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Glen Iris' home ownership rate was 38.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.8% and rented ones at 28.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Glen Iris was $2,830, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent in Glen Iris was $450, while Melbourne metro recorded $390. Nationally, Glen Iris' mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Glen Iris has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.2% of all households, including 36.6% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.8%, with lone person households at 26.6% and group households making up 3.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Glen Iris demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Glen Iris has notably higher educational attainment than broader standards. Among residents aged 15+, 57.1% possess university qualifications, surpassing Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. This educational advantage is predominantly due to bachelor degrees (36.1%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.7%) and graduate diplomas (5.3%). Vocational pathways account for 17.4%, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 7.9%.

Educational participation in Glen Iris is high, with 31.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (9.1%), secondary education (8.9%), and tertiary education (8.8%).

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

Glen Iris has 87 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 15 different routes, collectively facilitating 14,188 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 230 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, Glen Iris sees most residents commuting outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 78%, while train use stands at 10%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

Notably, 49.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census). Service frequency averages 2,026 trips daily across all routes, equating to around 163 weekly trips per individual stop.

Glen Iris's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Glen Iris shows excellent health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 77% of Glen Iris' total population (21,358 people) has private health cover, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 7.3 and 6.7% of residents respectively. 74.5% of Glen Iris' residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. 18.5% of Glen Iris' population is aged 65 and over (5,128 people), higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Glen Iris, as per data from the 2016 Census, had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas with 28.5% of its population born overseas and 22.4% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Glen Iris, making up 45.8% of the population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented at 2.3%, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English (23.3%), Australian (20.6%), and Irish (9.0%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Hungarian at 0.5% in Glen Iris versus 0.3% regionally, Polish at 1.1% versus 0.8%, and Sri Lankan at 0.8% versus 0.8%.

Glen Iris's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Glen Iris has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38 years. Comparing Glen Iris's age distribution with the Greater Melbourne average, the 55-64 cohort is notably over-represented at 12.6%, while the 35-44 age group is under-represented at 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 12.3% to 13.5% of Glen Iris's population, and the 15 to 24 cohort has risen from 13.8% to 14.9%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 14.9% to 12.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Glen Iris's age profile. The 85+ cohort is expected to grow by 528 people (71%), increasing from 748 to 1,277. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 73% of total population growth, reflecting Glen Iris's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.