Moonee Ponds

Moonee Ponds lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The population of Moonee Ponds is estimated at around 17,967 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,743 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,224. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 17,965 following examination of ABS data released in June 2025 and an additional 774 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,120 persons per square kilometer, placing Moonee Ponds in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth of 10.7% since the 2021 Census exceeded both the SA3 area (9.0%) and the state average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 88.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as 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, adjusting them employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. A significant population increase is forecast for Moonee Ponds, with the area expected to increase by 4,351 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 24.2% in total over the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data, Moonee Ponds averaged around 210 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 1,054 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 45 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years (FY-21 to FY-25), an average of 1.6 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. This indicates a balanced supply and demand creating stable market conditions.

The average value of new dwellings developed is $923,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, there have been $62.1 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Moonee Ponds shows moderately higher building activity, 42.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. This level is well above the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the area. New development consists of 7.0% standalone homes and 93.0% townhouses or apartments.

This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a shift from the area's existing housing composition, currently 45.0% houses. The location has approximately 92 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Future projections show Moonee Ponds adding 4,349 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the Moonee Valley Racing Club Grandstand & Clubhouse Redevelopment, Moonee Valley Park, Chain of Ponds Collaboration Moonee Ponds Creek Improvement, and York Street Park (A Park Close to Home) - Pascoe Vale South. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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The employment environment in Moonee Ponds shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Moonee Ponds has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 4.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.7%. As of December 2025, 11,272 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is 0.6% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was 74.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 44.0% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training sectors. The area has a strong specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Manufacturing's presence is limited at 4.3%, compared to 7.2% regionally. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.7% and labour force grew by 4.7%, keeping the unemployment rate stable at 4.2%. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 2.4%, labour force expanded by 2.8%, and unemployment rose to 5.1%. 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. Applying these projections to Moonee Ponds' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

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

Moonee Ponds suburb's income level is extremely high nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Median income among taxpayers in Moonee Ponds is $66,481 and average income stands at $92,840, compared to Greater Melbourne's figures of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $72,876 (median) and $101,771 (average) as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Moonee Ponds rank highly nationally, between the 73rd and 86th percentiles. The largest income segment comprises 30.7% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (5,515 residents), reflecting regional patterns where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. Economic strength is evident with 33.1% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 14.5% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 75th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Moonee Ponds displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Moonee Ponds, as per the latest Census evaluation, 44.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 55.2% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is compared to Melbourne's metropolitan area, which had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Moonee Ponds stood at 30.8%, similar to Melbourne metro's rate, with the rest being mortgaged (29.8%) or rented (39.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Moonee Ponds was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Moonee Ponds was $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Moonee Ponds' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 60.2% of all households, consisting of 25.7% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 6.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 39.8%, with lone person households making up 34.4% and group households comprising 5.4%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Moonee Ponds' educational attainment is notably high, with 48.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. University graduates make up the largest group at 30.1%, followed by postgraduate degree holders at 13.0% and graduate diploma recipients at 5.7%. Vocational qualifications account for 22.0% of all educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas comprising 10.3% and certificates making up 11.7%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.1% pursuing tertiary education, 6.9% in primary education, and 5.9% studying at the secondary level.

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

Moonee Ponds has 84 active public transport stops, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 18 different routes, collectively facilitating 14,713 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 166 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 66%, followed by train at 15% and walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 44.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 2,101 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 175 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Moonee Ponds is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Moonee Ponds exhibits above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions was found to be low among the general population but higher than the national average among older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 63% of Moonee Ponds' total population (11,389 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area were mental health issues and asthma, affecting 8.9% and 7.4% of residents respectively. Conversely, 71.3% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. The under-65 population demonstrated better-than-average health outcomes. Moonee Ponds has a higher proportion of seniors than Greater Melbourne, with 17.6% of its residents aged 65 and over (3,162 people), compared to the latter's 15.0%. While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

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

Moonee Ponds, as of the 2016 Census, had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas with 29.1% of its residents born overseas and 25.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Moonee Ponds, comprising 51.9% of the population. However, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 0.2% of Moonee Ponds' population versus 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (20.0%), Australian (17.6%), and Italian (12.1%), with Italians being significantly more prevalent than the regional average of 5.2%. Notably, Maltese (1.7% vs 1.1%), Greek (3.7% vs 2.7%), and Croatian (1.1% vs 0.7%) groups were also overrepresented in Moonee Ponds compared to Greater Melbourne.

Moonee Ponds's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Moonee Ponds is 38 years, close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Moonee Ponds has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (19.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.5%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 increased from 8.4% to 9.5%, while those aged 45-54 decreased from 13.1% to 12.1%. By 2041, Moonee Ponds' age composition is expected to shift notably. The 55-64 age group is projected to grow by 39%, adding 812 people and reaching a total of 2,915 from 2,102 in that year. The 0-4 age group is expected to grow more modestly at 8%, adding only 60 residents.