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 Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Glen Iris (Vic.) is estimated at around 27,874. This reflects an increase of 1,743 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 26,131. 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 in 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 area 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 a base year of 2022. 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, lower quartile growth of national statistical areas is anticipated, with the area expected to expand by 1,069 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 2.6% 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 approximately 175 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 879 homes. As of FY26, 29 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.1 new residents per year arrive per new home between FY21 and FY25, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand. The average construction value of these new properties is $1,063,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment.

In FY26, commercial development approvals amount to $64.2 million, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Building activity comprises 37.0% standalone homes and 63.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a shift from the current 55.0% houses. This change may reflect decreasing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. Glen Iris has approximately 253 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

By 2041, Glen Iris is projected to gain 723 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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 38 projects that may impact this region. 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 likely to be 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. The unemployment rate was 2.6% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.7%.

Glen Iris's unemployment rate of 2.1% is lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%, while workforce participation is similar at 71.0%. According to Census responses, 49.1% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Glen Iris has a notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Construction is under-represented, with only 5.4% of Glen Iris's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.7%, labour force grew by 1.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest Glen Iris's employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.8% over ten years based on industry-specific projections.

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' median income is $69,570 and the average income is $127,871. This compares to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Glen Iris' median income are approximately $75,310 and the average is $138,420 as of September 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Glen Iris rank highly nationally, between the 90th and 90th percentiles. Distribution data shows that 32.7% of locals (9,114 people) earn $4000 or more weekly, contrasting with the broader area where 32.8% earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. Higher earners make up a substantial presence in Glen Iris, with 44.3% exceeding $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income, and residents rank within 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

Dwelling structure in Glen Iris, as evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 54.7% houses and 45.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glen Iris was at 38.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (33.8%) or rented (28.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,830, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Glen Iris was recorded at $450, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Glen Iris's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly 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 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 a notably higher educational attainment than national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 57.1% have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. This is largely driven by 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 is high, with 31.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 8.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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. Transport accessibility is considered good, with residents located an average of 230 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 78%, while train usage stands at 10%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 49.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 2,026 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 163 weekly trips per 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 based on AreaSearch's evaluation. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 77% of Glen Iris' total population (21,476 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma at 7.3% and mental health issues at 6.7%. A total of 74.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Glen Iris has 18.5% of residents aged 65 and over (5,156 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align 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 was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 28.5% of its population born overseas and 22.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Glen Iris, comprising 45.8% of the population. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented, making up 2.3% of Glen Iris's population compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.3%), Australian (20.6%), and Irish (9.0%). Some other ethnic groups also have notable representation: Hungarian at 0.5% (vs regional 0.3%), Polish at 1.1% (vs regional 0.8%), and Sri Lankan at 0.8% (vs regional 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 figure of 38 years. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, Glen Iris has a notably higher proportion of individuals aged 55-64 (12.8%) but a lower proportion of those aged 25-34 (12.7%). Between 2021 and present, the population aged 15-24 grew from 13.8% to 15.3%, while those aged 75-84 increased from 5.4% to 6.5%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals aged 45-54 decreased from 14.9% to 12.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Glen Iris's age profile. The number of individuals aged 85 and above is projected to grow by 68%, from 724 to 1,215. Notably, the combined population of those aged 65 and above will account for 77% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the populations aged 0-4 and 5-14 are expected to decline.