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 May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Hampton East is around 5,228 people. This reflects an increase of 159 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,069 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 5,222 in June 2025, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 133 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 3,605 persons per square kilometer, placing Hampton East in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 3.1% since the census positions it within 2.9 percentage points of the SA3 area (6.0%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing 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, 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. Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for the suburb, with an expected increase of 684 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 13.0% over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis indicates Hampton East had approximately 92 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 460 homes. As of FY-26, 28 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 0.4 people moved to the area per dwelling built. This suggests new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, offering more housing options and potentially driving population growth beyond current projections.

The average expected construction cost for new properties is $635,000, indicating a focus on premium segment development. In FY-26, there have been $3.0 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited commercial development activity compared to residential. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Hampton East has 85.0% more new home approvals per capita, reflecting robust developer interest. New developments consist of 10.0% detached dwellings and 90.0% townhouses or apartments, representing a shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 57.0% houses). Hampton East has around 47 people per dwelling approval, indicating low-density characteristics. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to grow by 678 residents by 2041, with current construction levels likely meeting demand and creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially driving growth beyond forecasts.

Looking ahead, Hampton East is expected to grow by 678 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply 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 influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects likely impacting this area. Notable ones are 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 most relevant.

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. Its unemployment rate is 5.5%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 2,719 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.8% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation in Hampton East is lower at 66.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Census responses show that 46.6% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Hampton East has a particular specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Manufacturing's presence is limited, with only 4.5% of employment compared to the regional average of 7.2%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the lower count of Census working population versus resident population. In a 12-month period ending in December 2025, Hampton East's labour force decreased by 1.7%, and employment declined by 2.3%, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 2.4% and the labour force expand by 2.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project that national employment will expand by 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 this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized 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 on June 30, 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 and compares to levels of $57,688 and $75,164 across Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $64,329 (median) and $112,980 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Hampton East cluster around the 66th percentile nationally. The data reveals that the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket dominates with 24.6% of residents (1,286 people), reflecting patterns seen in the metropolitan region where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. The district exhibits considerable affluence with 34.0% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 18.3% of income, however strong earnings still place disposable income at the 59th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Hampton East, as recorded at the latest Census, consisted of 57.1% houses and 42.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hampton East was at 28.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.7% and rented dwellings at 35.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,600, while the median weekly rent was $400. Nationally, Hampton East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents exceeding 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 constitute 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 account for the remaining 34.1%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households comprising 3.8%. 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

Hampton East's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. As of 2021, 42.4% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 27.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding them - 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 as of the 2021 census. 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 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by eight different routes that together facilitate 657 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 172 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 85% of residents, while 8% use trains. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 46.6% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, an average of 93 trips are made 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

Health data indicates positive outcomes for Hampton East residents, with AreaSearch's analysis showing mortality rates and health conditions largely matching national benchmarks. Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 67% of the total population (3,522 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. 70.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Under-65 population shows better than average health outcomes. The area has 18.5% of residents aged 65 and over (967 people), higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. National rankings for this age group are 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 had a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 31.4% of its population born overseas and 23.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Hampton East, accounting for 44.7% of the population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented in Hampton East at 2.3%, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (24.3%), Australian (21.0%), and Other (11.1%). Some ethnic groups had notable divergences: Polish (1.8% vs regional 0.8%), Russian (1.5% vs 0.4%), and Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.3%) were overrepresented in Hampton East.

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 Australia's figure of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hampton East has an over-representation of the 55-64 age cohort (12.4% locally) and an under-representation of the 25-34 age cohort (11.4%). Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group grew from 10.9% to 12.3%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 5.2% to 6.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 15.3% to 13.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Hampton East's age profile. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow by 143 people (95%), increasing from 151 to 295. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 59% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 15-24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.