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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of the suburb of Moonee Ponds is around 17,875 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,651 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,224. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 17,823 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 758 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 4,099 persons per square kilometer, placing Moonee Ponds in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 10.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 88.0% of overall population gains, although all drivers were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate a significant increase, forecasting an addition of 4,945 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 27.4% over the 17 years.

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

Moonee Ponds averaged approximately 210 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 1,054 homes. As of FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.6 people moved to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings was $923,000, suggesting a focus on premium properties.

In FY-26, there have been $62.1 million in commercial approvals, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Moonee Ponds shows moderately higher building activity, with 45.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This level is also 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, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a shift from the existing housing composition, which is currently 45.0% houses. The location has approximately 92 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Moonee Ponds is projected to add 4,893 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Moonee Ponds 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 17 projects likely to affect this region. Notable ones include Moonee Valley Racing Club Grandstand & Clubhouse Redevelopment, Moonee Valley Park, Chain of Ponds Collaboration Moonee Ponds Creek Improvement, and York Street Park - Pascoe Vale South. The following list details those 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 Moonee Ponds demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Moonee Ponds has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.2% as of September 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.9%.

As of September 2025, 11,161 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 0.4% below the regional average. Workforce participation was standard at 74.9%. Census responses indicated that 44.0% of residents worked from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

The area has a particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level, while manufacturing has limited presence at 4.3% compared to the regional 7.2%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. From September 2024 to September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.9%, and labour force increased by 5.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise slightly by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0% and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Moonee Ponds. 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 Moonee Ponds' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

Moonee Ponds' income level is extremely high nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Moonee Ponds is $66,481 and the 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 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $71,966 (median) and $100,499 (average) as of September 2025. 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 (5,487 residents), reflecting patterns seen in the region where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. Economic strength is evident through 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

Moonee Ponds dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 44.7% houses and 55.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Moonee Ponds was 30.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.8% and rented ones at 39.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Moonee Ponds was $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Moonee Ponds' median monthly mortgage repayment exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rents were higher than 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, including 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 at 34.4% and group households comprising 5.4%. The median household size is 2.2 people, 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 has a higher proportion of residents aged 15 and above with university qualifications than the national average. Specifically, 48.8% of Moonee Ponds' residents have such qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia as a whole. This is also higher than the Victorian state average of 33.4%. The area's educational attainment is particularly strong in bachelor degrees, with 30.1% of residents holding one.

Postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas are held by 13.0% and 5.7% of residents respectively. Vocational pathways account for a significant portion of qualifications too, with advanced diplomas at 10.3% and certificates at 11.7%. Educational participation is notably high in Moonee Ponds, 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% in secondary education.

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, serving a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are covered by 18 different routes, collectively facilitating 14,713 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing 166 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 66%, followed by trains at 15% and walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 44.0% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 2,101 trips per day, 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 shows superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 63% (11,330 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%.

Nationally, it stands at 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 8.9% and 7.4% of residents respectively. However, 71.3% claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. The under-65 population has better-than-average health outcomes. Moonee Ponds has 18.0% (3,217 people) of residents aged 65 and over, higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they rank lower nationally than 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 has a higher cultural diversity compared to most local markets, with 29.1% of its population born overseas and 25.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Moonee Ponds, comprising 51.9% of the population. However, Judaism is overrepresented, making up 0.2% compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.0%), Australian (17.6%), and Italian (12.1%), which is significantly higher 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 are also overrepresented in Moonee Ponds compared to the region.

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 (18.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.5%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 65-74 has increased from 8.4% to 9.8%, while the 45-54 age group has decreased from 13.1% to 12.1%. By 2041, Moonee Ponds' age composition is expected to change significantly, with the 55-64 age group projected to grow by 41%, reaching 3,080 people from 2,180.