Heidelberg

Heidelberg lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

The suburb of Heidelberg had an estimated population of 7,788 as of November 2025, based on AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated since the Census. This figure reflects a growth of 428 people (5.8%) from the 2021 Census population of 7,360. The estimated resident population of 7,740, as calculated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ABS ERP data release in June 2024, and an additional 61 validated new addresses since the Census date, indicates a population density ratio of 2,658 persons per square kilometer. This places Heidelberg in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (5.1%) between the censuses, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

AreaSearch is employing ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections adjusted to SA2 levels for areas not covered by ABS data. Exceptional growth is predicted for Heidelberg over the period from 2025 to 2041, with an expected increase of 3,579 persons, reflecting a gain of 45.6% in total population over these 17 years.

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

Heidelberg experienced approximately 28 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. From FY-21 to FY-25, about 140 homes were approved, with an additional 8 approved in FY-26 so far. Each year, around 1.3 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years.

The average construction value of new properties was $465,000. This financial year, there have been $4.5 million in commercial approvals. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Heidelberg has about half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks at the 64th percentile nationally. New development consists of 28% standalone homes and 72% medium-high density housing.

As a low-density area with around 220 people per dwelling approval, Heidelberg is expected to grow by approximately 3,552 residents by 2041, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and price support if current development rates continue.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects likely to affect the area. Notable projects include Austin Hospital Emergency Department Expansion, Rosanna Village Masterplan & Redevelopment, The Austin Heidelberg, and Heidelberg Structure Plan Implementation. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

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Heidelberg ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Heidelberg has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.1% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.9%. Residents' employment stands at 4,662 while the unemployment rate is 2.5% lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation is 66.3%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Notably, health care & social assistance employs 1.5 times the regional average. Retail trade employs only 7.3% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.8%. There are 1.4 workers per resident, indicating Heidelberg functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 1.9%, labour force grew by 1.4%, leading to a 0.5 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.5% while unemployment rose by 0.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Heidelberg's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.2% over 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 latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates Heidelberg's median income among taxpayers is $65,899, with an average of $94,378. This places Heidelberg in the top percentile nationally. In comparison, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $54,892 and an average of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $73,912 (median) and $105,854 (average). Census 2021 income data shows individual earnings in Heidelberg stand out at the 85th percentile nationally ($1,086 weekly). The majority of residents fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, with 32.9% (2,562 people) earning within this range, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region. High housing costs consume 15.6% of income in Heidelberg, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 67th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Heidelberg's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 42.5% houses and 57.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Melbourne metro's 76.0% houses and 24.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Heidelberg stood at 28.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.8% and rented ones at 42.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,150, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,167. Median weekly rent was recorded at $400, similar to Melbourne metro's $399. Nationally, Heidelberg's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,150 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $400 against the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 63.0% of all households, including 27.3% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 37.0%, with lone person households at 33.4% and group households comprising 3.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

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

Heidelberg's educational attainment notably exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 51.9% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 31.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.3%). Vocational pathways account for 22.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 13.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.1% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (9.2%), tertiary education (7.2%), and secondary education (6.0%). Heidelberg's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 2,017 students. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1132). Educational provision follows conventional lines, with 2 primary and 2 secondary institutions. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (25.9 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 18.4), indicating Heidelberg serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Heidelberg has 29 active public transport stops. These are a mix of train and bus stations. There are 11 different routes operating.

Together, they provide 6,336 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 263 meters. Each day, there are an average of 905 trips across all routes. This equates to about 218 weekly trips per individual stop.

Heidelberg's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Heidelberg's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, with common health conditions among its general population being somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 64% of the total population (4983 people), compared to 60.3% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 8.9 and 7.1% of residents respectively, while 69.6% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.3% across Greater Melbourne.

The area has 17.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1394 people), which is lower than the 19.8% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, requiring more attention than the broader population.

Heidelberg was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Heidelberg was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 29.3% of its population born overseas and 24.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The dominant religion in Heidelberg is Christianity, making up 46.4% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented, comprising 0.2% compared to the region's 0.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (21.1%), Australian (20.6%), and Other (10.5%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Italian is slightly overrepresented at 8.2%, Hungarian at 0.4%, and Macedonian at 1.0%.

Heidelberg's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Heidelberg is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and close to Australia's national average of 38. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, Heidelberg has a notably higher proportion of people aged 75-84 (6.4% locally) and a lower proportion of those aged 15-24 (10.2%). According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.1% to 10.2%, while the 45-54 cohort has risen from 12.3% to 13.4%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 11.3% to 10.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Heidelberg, with the 45-54 age group expected to grow by 61%, reaching 1,682 people from 1,043.