Hawthorn East

Population growth drivers in Hawthorn East are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

By Feb 2026, the estimated population of Hawthorn East was around 16,480, showing an increase of 1,646 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 14,834 in the suburb. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 16,363 as of June 2024, along with an additional 137 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was calculated at 4,735 persons per square kilometer, placing Hawthorn East in the top 10% nationally according to AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 11.1% exceeded both the SA3 area average (7.4%) and the national average since the 2021 Census. Overseas migration contributed approximately 91.0% of overall population gains in recent periods, although natural growth and interstate migration also played positive roles.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs 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. Based on these projections, Hawthorn East is expected to increase by approximately 2,334 persons to the year 2041, reflecting a total increase of 13.5% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Hawthorn East recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Hawthorn East averaged approximately 59 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 295 homes were approved, with an additional 50 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, 1.8 new residents per year arrived for each new home over these five years, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions. However, this ratio has increased to 19.2 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $1,372,000, reflecting a focus on the premium market by developers. Commercial approvals registered this financial year totalled $45.3 million, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hawthorn East has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 30th percentile nationally, offering more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. Recent construction trends show 43.0% detached dwellings and 57.0% townhouses or apartments, favouring denser development that appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

The area has approximately 548 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its established nature. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Hawthorn East is projected to grow by 2,229 residents through to 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with these growth projections, though heightened competition among buyers can be expected as the population increases.

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

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 31 such projects that could potentially affect this area. Notable among these are Eastern Freeway Upgrades from Bulleen to Springvale Road, Camberwell Junction Activity Centre Development, Camberwell House, and Nido Early School Hawthorn East. The following list provides details on those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Hawthorn East demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Hawthorn East has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Unemployment was 2.6% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 3.5%. As of September 2025, 10,539 residents are employed at a 2.0% lower unemployment rate than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.

Workforce participation is 75.6%, slightly higher than the regional average of 71.0%. Home-based work was high at 49.6% in Census responses, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs with a share of 1.9 times the regional level, while construction has limited presence at 5.6% compared to 9.7% regionally.

There is one worker for every resident, indicating ample local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.5% and labour force grew by 2.8%, reducing unemployment by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.0%, labour force grow by 3.3%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hawthorn East's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 7.4% in five years and 14.8% in ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows Hawthorn East's median income is $69,652 and average income is $117,834. This compares to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%, estimated incomes are approximately $75,398 (median) and $127,555 (average). Census data ranks Hawthorn East's household, family, and personal incomes between the 81st and 93rd percentiles nationally. Income brackets reveal that 29.3% of residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, with 38.5% earning above $3,000. Housing accounts for 14.9% of income, and disposable income ranks residents in the 81st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking is in the 10th decile.

Hawthorn East features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Hawthorn East's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 33.1% houses and 66.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hawthorn East was at 30.2%, similar to Melbourne metro's level, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.8% and rented ones at 41.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,500, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Hawthorn East was $415, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Hawthorn East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,500 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 60.4% of all households, including 25.8% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 6.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 39.6%, with lone person households at 33.2% and group households comprising 6.3%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Hawthorn East places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Hawthorn East's educational attainment exceeds national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 61.6% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 37.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (18.4%) and graduate diplomas (5.4%). Vocational pathways account for 16.6%, with advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 7.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.2% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in tertiary education, 7.9% in primary education, and 7.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Hawthorn East has 23 active public transport stops serving a mix of light rail and buses. These stops are covered by 8 different routes, offering a total of 6,851 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 233 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 71%, followed by train at 14% and walking at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 49.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 978 trips per day, equating to approximately 297 weekly trips per stop.

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

Hawthorn East's health outcomes data shows exceptional results, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. As of AreaSearch's assessment, approximately 73% of Hawthorn East's total population (12,051 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Nationally, the average is 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 7.9% and 7.5% of residents respectively. Notably, 73.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents demonstrate low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 16.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,686 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Hawthorn East, surveyed in the period from July 2016 to June 2021, exhibited higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas, with 31.7% of its residents born overseas and 25.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Hawthorn East during this period, comprising 38.5% of the population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented in Hawthorn East compared to Greater Melbourne, with 2.4% of its population identifying as Jewish versus 1.0%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English at 22.7%, Australian at 18.9%, and Chinese at 10.0%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences in representation: French was overrepresented at 0.8% compared to the regional average of 0.5%, Greek at 2.6% (regional average 2.7%), and Polish at 0.9% (regional average 0.8%).

Hawthorn East's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Hawthorn East's median age in 2021 was 36 years, nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hawthorn East had a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (20.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds was well above the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 increased from 13.2% to 15.3%, while the proportion of those aged 45-54 decreased from 12.7% to 11.0%. The proportion of residents aged 5-14 also dropped, from 10.7% to 9.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Hawthorn East's age profile. The 65-74 cohort is projected to grow by 35%, adding 443 residents and reaching a total of 1,712. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 50% of population growth, reflecting broader demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 15-24 age group is projected to decline by 118 people.