Ivanhoe East

An assessment of population growth drivers in Ivanhoe East reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the population of Ivanhoe East is estimated at around 4,224 people. This reflects an increase of 462 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,762 people. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 4,223 following their examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 72 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio stands at 2,011 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ivanhoe East's growth rate of 12.3% since the 2021 census surpassed both the SA3 area (5.5%) and the state level, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 89.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the suburb.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting with 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. Future trends indicate a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas, with Ivanhoe East expected to grow by 1,336 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 31.6% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Ivanhoe East, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Ivanhoe East had around 37 new homes approved each year from FY18 to FY22. This totals an estimated 188 homes over the past five financial years. As of FY26, 14 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline in the area, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas, which is positive for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $1,442,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, $472,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, demonstrating the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ivanhoe East recorded somewhat elevated construction activity (43.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), preserving reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. However, building activity has slowed in recent years.

New development consists of 53.0% detached dwellings and 47.0% medium and high-density housing, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments providing options across different price points, from family homes to more affordable compact living. This shows a considerable change from the current housing mix (currently 77.0% houses), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The location has approximately 392 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. Population forecasts indicate Ivanhoe East will gain 1,335 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

Ivanhoe East 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 eight projects likely to affect the region. Notable projects include Ivanhoe Park Upgrades, The Grounds Estate, Ivanhoe East development plans, and Ivanhoe Water Tank Site Residential Development. Additionally, the Ivanhoe East Retirement Village project is expected to have relevance.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Ivanhoe East performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Ivanhoe East has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 1.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.5%. As of December 2025, 2,541 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 3.7%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was similar to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. A high proportion, 45.6% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries were health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. Ivanhoe East had a particular specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

However, accommodation & food services were under-represented, at 3.5% compared to Greater Melbourne's 6.4%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited, as indicated by the working population count versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.5%, labour force grew by 2.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. Greater Melbourne recorded similar growth patterns with slight variations in percentages. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Ivanhoe East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation 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 ending June 2023 shows that median income in Ivanhoe East is $65,621 and average income is $103,728. In comparison, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% from financial year ending June 2023 to March 2026, estimated median income is approximately $71,934 and average income is $113,707 as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Ivanhoe East rank highly nationally, between the 90th and 96th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis reveals that 39.1% of residents earn $4000+ per week (1,651 individuals), differing from regional patterns where $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant at 32.8%. The high proportion of earners above $3,000/week indicates strong economic capacity in Ivanhoe East. After housing costs, residents retain 88.9% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Ivanhoe East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Ivanhoe East, as recorded in the latest Census, 76.7% of dwellings were houses while 23.3% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Melbourne metropolitan area's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ivanhoe East stood at 45.0%, with mortgaged properties at 34.8% and rented ones at 20.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, surpassing Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Ivanhoe East was $451, higher than Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Ivanhoe East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Ivanhoe East features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 78.0% of all households, including 41.7% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.0%, with lone person households at 20.2% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Ivanhoe East demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Ivanhoe East is notably high, with 54.4% of residents aged 15 years and over having university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's average of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 33.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.7%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%). Vocational pathways account for 18.2% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and over, with advanced diplomas at 9.7% and certificates at 8.5%. Educational participation is high, with 30.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.1% in secondary education, 8.0% in primary education, and 7.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 17 active transport stops operating in Ivanhoe East, served by a mix of buses. These stops are covered by two individual routes, offering a total of 521 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 225 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the dominant mode at 85%, while train usage stands at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 45.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 74 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 30 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Ivanhoe East. AreaSearch's assessment found very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 68% of the total population (2,857 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 6.8 and 6.7% of residents respectively. 73.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 23.3% of residents aged 65 and over (984 people), higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Ivanhoe East had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 22.3% of its residents born overseas and 20.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Ivanhoe East, making up 53.2% of the population. However, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 0.5% of Ivanhoe East's population.

The top three ancestry groups were English (21.5%), Australian (20.7%), and Italian (10.3%), which was significantly higher than the regional average of 5.2%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences in representation: Greek at 5.7% compared to the regional average of 2.7%, Macedonian at 1.6% versus 0.7%, and Lebanese at 1.3% compared to 0.8%.

Ivanhoe East hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Ivanhoe East is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ivanhoe East has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74, at 11.5%, but fewer residents aged 25-34, at 8.6%. According to the 2021 Census, the age group of 75 to 84 has increased from 6.1% to 8.7% of the population. Conversely, the age groups of 55 to 64 and 45 to 54 have decreased from 15.3% to 13.8% and from 15.7% to 14.4%, respectively. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Ivanhoe East's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 76%, adding 277 people to reach a total of 645 from the current figure of 367. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 age cohort is expected to grow by a modest 6%, with an increase of 9 people.