Hampton East

Hampton East has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of Hampton East is estimated at around 5770 people. This reflects a growth of 701 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5069 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 5398 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 98 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 3979 persons per square kilometer, placing Hampton East in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Hampton East's growth rate of 13.8% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (8.7%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 84.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting employing 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. Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for the suburb, with an expected increase of 763 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 5.2% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Hampton East among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data, Hampton East has experienced around 89 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past 5 financial years ending FY-25. This totals an estimated 448 homes. So far in FY-26, which began on July 1st, 2025, 25 approvals have been recorded. Over these 5 years, an average of only 0.1 people moved to the area for each dwelling built.

New construction has matched or outpaced demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average expected construction cost value of new properties is $635,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, there have been $3.0 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited commercial development focus compared to residential. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Hampton East records 79.0% more new home approvals per person as of FY-25, creating greater choice for buyers and indicating robust developer interest. New development consists of 10.0% detached dwellings and 90.0% townhouses or apartments, providing accessible entry options that appeal to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This trend represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 57.0% houses. With around 48 people moving in per dwelling approval, Hampton East shows characteristics of a growth area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by 303 residents through to 2041. Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Hampton East has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include Highett Common, Bluff Road Hampton East Housing Development, Ground Lease Model 2 (GLM2) Housing Redevelopment Program, and Reynolds Street Affordable Housing. The following list details those likely to have the most relevance.

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

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Hampton East shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Hampton East has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. As of September 2025, its unemployment rate is 5.7%, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. Compared to Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%, Hampton East's rate is 1.1% higher.

Workforce participation in the area is somewhat below standard at 67.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, a high 46.6% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Leading employment industries among residents include professional & technical services, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area has a particular specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, manufacturing has limited presence with 4.5% employment compared to the regional average of 7.2%. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, Hampton East's labour force increased by 0.8%, while employment declined by 1.0%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and a labour force expansion of 3.3%, with unemployment rising by only 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hampton East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though these estimates are based on simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not consider localised population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Hampton East had a median income among taxpayers of $58,684 with an average level standing at $103,065. This places it in the top percentile nationally, compared to Melbourne's levels of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $63,525 (median) and $111,568 (average). Census data from 2021 shows incomes in Hampton East cluster around the 66th percentile nationally. The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominates with 24.6% of residents, reflecting metropolitan patterns where 32.8% occupy this range. Affluence is evident with 34.0% earning over $3,000 per week. High housing costs consume 18.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 59th percentile nationally, and SEIFA income ranking places Hampton East in the 8th decile.

Hampton East displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Hampton East, as per the latest Census evaluation, 57.1% of dwellings were houses while 42.9% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments and 'other' dwellings. This differed from Melbourne metropolitan area's dwelling structure which was 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hampton East stood at 28.6%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 35.7% and rented ones making up 35.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,600, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Hampton East was recorded at $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Hampton East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Hampton East features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 65.9% of all households, including 31.4% couples with children, 20.4% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.1%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households making up 3.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Hampton East shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Hampton East is notably higher than national and state averages. As of the latest data, 42.4% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 27.6% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.2% and certificates for 15.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 6.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Hampton East has 21 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by eight routes that facilitate a total of 657 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents on average 172 meters from their nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily, primarily by car (85%), while 8% use the train. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 46.6% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 93 trips daily, equating to around 31 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hampton East's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Hampton East residents have relatively positive health outcomes according to health data. AreaSearch's analysis shows mortality rates and health conditions are generally in line with national benchmarks, with common health issues seen across both young and old age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 67% of the total population (3,887 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 8.5 and 7.6% of residents respectively, while 70.9% report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average. Hampton East has 19.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,102 people), higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Hampton East, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing conducted on August 9th, 2016, exhibited higher cultural diversity compared to most local markets. Overseas-born residents constituted 31.4% of its population, while 23.7% spoke languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 44.7%.

Notably, Judaism's representation stood at 2.3%, nearly double Greater Melbourne's average of 1.0%. Ancestry-wise, the top three groups were English (24.3%), Australian (21.0%), and Other (11.1%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: Polish residents made up 1.8% versus 0.8% regionally, Russian 1.5% against 0.4%, and Hungarian 0.4% compared to 0.3%.

Hampton East's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Hampton East has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37, and marginally higher than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, Hampton East has a notably over-represented cohort of individuals aged 55-64 (12.8%), while those aged 25-34 are under-represented (10.8%). Between 2021 and present, the population aged 75 to 84 grew from 5.2% to 6.9%, and the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 7.8% to 9.4%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group declined from 15.3% to 13.9%, and the 5 to 14 age group dropped from 11.9% to 10.8%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes in Hampton East's age profile by 2041. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow significantly, increasing by 138 people (86%) from 161 to 300. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 77% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.