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 analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Moonee Ponds' population is estimated at around 17,875 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,651 people (10.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,224 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 17,823, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 758 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,099 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 10.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that 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 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the 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 from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, a significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is forecast, with the suburb expected to increase by 4,946 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 27.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

Moonee Ponds averaged around 210 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling an estimated 1,054 homes. As of FY-26, 17 approvals have been recorded. The area has seen an average of 1.6 people moving in for each dwelling built during this period. New dwellings are developed at an average construction cost value of $923,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment.

In FY-26, there have been $62.1 million in commercial approvals. 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. 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. The location has approximately 92 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Future projections estimate Moonee Ponds to add 4,894 residents by 2041. 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.

Future projections show Moonee Ponds adding 4,894 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 17 projects likely influencing the area. 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 (A Park Close to Home) - Pascoe Vale South. Below is a list detailing 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 employment environment in Moonee Ponds shows above-average strength when compared nationally

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

Workforce participation was at 75.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. According to Census responses, 44.0% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training sectors. The area has a particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Manufacturing has limited presence, with 4.3% employment compared to 7.2% regionally. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.7%, and labour force increased by 4.7%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 2.4%, labour force expand by 2.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Moonee Ponds. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across 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 weighting 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

The suburb of Moonee Ponds has an extremely high income level nationally, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Moonee Ponds is $66,481, with an average income of $92,840. These figures compare to those for Greater Melbourne, which are $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on the Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $71,966 and the average income around $100,499 by September 2025. According to figures from the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Moonee Ponds rank highly nationally, between the 73rd and 86th percentiles. The data shows that the largest segment of income earners comprises 30.7% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (5,487 residents), which is similar to the regional pattern where 32.8% fall into this range. Economic strength in Moonee Ponds 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, and strong earnings place residents within the 75th percentile for disposable income. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (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 while 55.2% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differed from Melbourne's metropolitan area where 67.9% were houses and 32.1% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Moonee Ponds stood at 30.8%, similar to Melbourne metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.8% and rented ones at 39.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne's average of $2,000. Weekly rent in Moonee Ponds was $400 compared to Melbourne's $390. Nationally, Moonee Ponds' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375 at $400.

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, 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' residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (48.8%) compared to Australia (30.4%) and Victoria (33.4%). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 30.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.7%). Vocational pathways account for 22.0% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.3% and certificates at 11.7%. Educational participation is high, with 26.6% currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.1% in tertiary, 6.9% in primary, and 5.9% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.1% in tertiary education, 6.9% in primary education, and 5.9% pursuing 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, offering a mix of light rail and buses. These are served by 18 routes, facilitating 14,713 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents living an average of 166 metres from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 66%, followed by trains at 15% and walking at 6%. The area has an average vehicle ownership of 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 44% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 2,101 trips daily 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 shows better health outcomes compared to other areas, according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average in older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 63% of Moonee Ponds' total population (11,330 people) has private health cover, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (8.9%) and asthma (7.4%), with 71.3% of residents reporting no medical ailments. This compares to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes for those under 65 are better than average, but the area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 18.2% (3,253 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. 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 data from 2016 Census, had a population where 29.1% were born overseas and 25.3% spoke languages other than English at home, making it more culturally diverse than most local areas. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 51.9%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to Melbourne's 1.0%.

In terms of ancestry, English (20.0%), Australian (17.6%), and Italian (12.1%) were the top groups, with Italians notably higher than Melbourne's average of 5.2%. Other ethnicities like Maltese (1.7% vs regional 1.1%), Greek (3.7% vs 2.7%), and Croatian (1.1% vs 0.7%) also showed significant representation in Moonee Ponds.

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 proportion of residents aged 25-34 (18.6%) 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 9.8%, while those aged 75-84 rose from 4.6% to 5.7%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 decreased from 13.1% to 12.1%. By 2041, Moonee Ponds is projected to experience significant changes in its age composition, with the 55-64 group expected to grow by 41%, reaching 3,072 people from 2,180.