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

The population of Glen Iris (Vic.) is estimated at around 27,874 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,743 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 26,131 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 27,462 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 578 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,386 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 88.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the suburb expected to expand by 1,290 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting recording a gain of 3.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Glen Iris shows around 172 new homes approved annually over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 860 homes. So far in FY-26, 30 approvals have been recorded. The average number of new residents per year arriving per new home between FY-21 and FY-25 is 0, indicating that supply meets or surpasses demand. New properties are constructed at an average value of $1,065,000, targeting the premium market segment.

In FY-26, $64.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded. Building activity shows 38.0% standalone homes and 62.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a shift from existing patterns of 55.0% houses. Glen Iris has approximately 268 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts suggest Glen Iris will gain 878 residents by 2041.

Current development rates should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting 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 identified 38 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives 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.

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.

Employment conditions in Glen Iris demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Glen Iris has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.6% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.2% over the past year. This is based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data.

There were 16,377 residents in work at this time, with an unemployment rate of 2.1%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. According to Census responses, 49.1% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Glen Iris had a particularly notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. However, construction was under-represented, with only 5.4% of Glen Iris's workforce compared to 9.7% in Greater Melbourne. Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.2%, and labour force increased by 1.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Glen Iris. These projections estimate that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Glen Iris's 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 latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Glen Iris has one of the highest incomes nationally, with a median assessed income of $69,570 and an average income of $127,871. This is higher than Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Using Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Glen Iris as of September 2025 would be approximately $75,310 (median) and $138,420 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Glen Iris are all among the top percentiles nationally. The distribution data reveals that 32.7% of locals earn over $4,000 weekly, contrasting with the broader area where the majority earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. Higher earners make up a significant portion in Glen Iris, with 44.3% earning more than $3,000 weekly. Housing costs account for 14.0% of income, and residents rank highly for disposable income, placing the area in the 10th decile based on SEIFA income ranking.

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

Glen Iris' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 54.7% houses and 45.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glen Iris was 38.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.8% and rented ones at 28.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,830, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Glen Iris was $450, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Glen Iris' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,830 versus the Australian average of $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 constitute 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 comprise the remaining 29.8%, with lone person households at 26.6% and group households at 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 a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 years and above, with 57.1% holding university qualifications. This figure is higher than the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. The area's educational advantage is evident in various qualification types: Bachelor degrees are held by 36.1%, postgraduate qualifications by 15.7%, and graduate diplomas by 5.3%. Vocational pathways account for 17.4% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 7.9%.

Educational participation is particularly high in Glen Iris, with 31.6% of residents 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 are served by 15 routes, facilitating 14,188 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 230 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuting is outward-bound due to Glen Iris' residential nature. Cars remain the dominant transport mode at 78%, while train use stands at 10%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 49.1% of residents work from home, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 2,026 trips daily, 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 demonstrates excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 77% of the total population (21,476 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 7.3 and 6.7% of residents respectively. 74.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Glen Iris has 18.7% of residents aged 65 and over (5,212 people), higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with 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, surveyed in June 2016, had a higher cultural diversity than most other local markets, with 28.5% of its population born overseas and 22.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 45.8% of Glen Iris' population, according to data from June 2016. However, Judaism showed significant overrepresentation in Glen Iris, with 2.3%, compared to Melbourne's regional average of 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.3%), Australian (20.6%), and Irish (9.0%). Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Hungarian at 0.5% vs 0.3%, Polish at 1.1% vs 0.8%, and Sri Lankan at 0.8% vs 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. The 55-64 age group is notably over-represented in Glen Iris at 12.8%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 12.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 13.8% to 15.1% of the population, and the 75-84 cohort has risen from 5.4% to 6.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 14.9% to 12.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Glen Iris's age profile. The 85+ age cohort is expected to grow by 73%, from 724 to 1,254 people. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 76% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 5-14 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.