Maribyrnong

Population growth drivers in Maribyrnong are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Maribyrnong's population was estimated at 13,830 as of Feb 2026, reflecting a 10.0% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 12,573 people. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 13,818 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 113 validated new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density was 2,528 persons per square kilometer as of Feb 2026, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Maribyrnong's growth rate exceeded the national average (9.9%) between the 2021 Census and Feb 2026, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.0% of overall population gains during this period. 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 VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase its population by 4,582 persons to reach a total of 18,412 by 2041, reflecting a gain of 33.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Maribyrnong among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Maribyrnong averaged approximately 106 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 530 homes. As of FY26, 87 approvals have been recorded. Between FY21 and FY25, an average of 1.1 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. This suggests a balanced supply and demand, maintaining stable market conditions.

The average construction value of new homes is $514,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, commercial approvals reached $38.7 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Maribyrnong shows around 68% of construction activity per person and ranks in the 93rd percentile nationally, though building activity has increased recently. New building activity comprises 7.0% detached dwellings and 93.0% attached dwellings, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift from existing housing (currently 34.0% houses) suggests decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles demanding diverse, affordable housing options.

Maribyrnong has around 63 people per approval, indicating a developing area. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Maribyrnong to add 4,570 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Twenty-four projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. Notable ones include Thomas Holmes Street Affordable Housing, 191 Rosamond Road Mixed-Use Development, White St project, and Maribyrnong River Master Plan Implementation. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The labour market in Maribyrnong shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Maribyrnong has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.2% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 5.7%. As of September 2025, 9,516 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation was 80.0%, higher than Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. A high 35.8% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. The area has a specialization in finance & insurance, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Construction employs only 6.9% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 5.7%, labour force increased by 5.9%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.2 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 3.0%, labour force expanded by 3.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Maribyrnong. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Maribyrnong's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median income in Maribyrnong suburb is $60,258 and average income is $82,819. This compares to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $65,229 and average income is around $89,652 as of September 2025. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data from the 2021 Census, incomes in Maribyrnong cluster around the 71st percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 35.2% of locals (4,868 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 category, similar to the surrounding region at 32.8%. Housing costs consume 15.6% of income, leaving disposable income at the 67th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Maribyrnong's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 33.7% houses and 66.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Maribyrnong was at 26.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.0% and rented ones at 38.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. The median weekly rent was $396, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Maribyrnong's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Maribyrnong features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.7 percent of all households, including 28.3 percent couples with children, 26.1 percent couples without children, and 8.6 percent single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 35.3 percent, with lone person households at 29.7 percent and group households comprising 5.6 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

In Maribyrnong, 44.4% of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, exceeding the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's average of 32.0%. This high educational attainment is beneficial for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 29.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational pathways account for 23.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 12.7%.

Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in tertiary education, 6.4% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing primary education.

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

Maribyrnong has 78 active public transport stops, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These are covered by 9 different routes, serving 8,195 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport access is rated good, with residents typically living 210 metres from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 78%, while train usage stands at 10%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional norm.

Notably, 35.8% of residents work from home, as per the 2021 Census data which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 1,170 trips daily, translating to roughly 105 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Maribyrnong's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Approximately 59% of Maribyrnong's total population (8,227 people) has private health cover, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (7.1%) and asthma (6.8%). 76.6% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,963 people). Health outcomes among seniors are strong, broadly in line with national rankings.

Maribyrnong is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Maribyrnong's population shows high cultural diversity, with 45.2% born overseas and 49.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 44.1%. Buddhism is significantly overrepresented at 10.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 4.2%.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other' is the largest group at 13.8%, followed by English at 13.4% (lower than the regional average of 20.1%) and Chinese at 12.7% (higher than the regional average of 6.5%). Notably, Vietnamese are overrepresented at 11.8% compared to 1.9%, Croatian at 1.4% versus 0.7%, and Serbian at 0.9% against 0.4%.

Maribyrnong's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Maribyrnong's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Maribyrnong has a higher percentage of 25-34 year-olds (21.5%) but fewer 5-14 year-olds (6.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is above the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 65 to 74 age group has increased from 7.6% to 9.0%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 2.9% to 4.1%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 8.7% to 6.8%. Demographic projections indicate Maribyrnong's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 55 to 64 age cohort is projected to grow by 62%, adding 919 residents to reach a total of 2,413.