Mooroolbark

Mooroolbark has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Mooroolbark's population is estimated at around 25,108 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,049 people (8.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 23,059 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 24,172 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 320 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,008 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 8.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (4.0%), along with the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 54.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, 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. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the suburb expected to increase by 2,563 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 6.5% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Mooroolbark when compared nationally

Mooroolbark averaged approximately 126 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 633 homes were approved, with an additional 40 approved in FY-26 so far. The average population growth per year for each dwelling built over these five years was 0.7 people.

This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, presenting more options for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings was $398,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaling $66.5 million have been registered, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mooroolbark has recorded elevated construction levels, 36.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

New development in Mooroolbark consists of 41.0% detached houses and 59.0% townhouses or apartments. This shift from the current housing pattern, which is predominantly houses (95.0%), suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. With around 226 people per dwelling approval, Mooroolbark exhibits a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to grow by 1,627 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Mooroolbark has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

AreaSearch has identified a total of 37 projects that are expected to impact the area significantly due to their influence on local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Among these key projects are Cloverlea Estate, Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village, Little Scribblers Mooroolbark Early Learning Centre, and the 270 Maroondah Highway Industrial Development. The following list details those projects considered most relevant to the area's performance.

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

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The employment landscape in Mooroolbark shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Mooroolbark's skilled workforce is notable, particularly in the construction sector. Its unemployment rate was 5.5% as of December 2021, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1% over the past year (AreaSearch data). By December 2025, the unemployment rate had risen to 6.3%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 5.8%.

Workforce participation was similar to Greater Melbourne's at 71.4%. A significant 25.6% of residents worked from home (Census data), potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction employment is high, at 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have a limited presence, with only 6.9% of employment compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.1%, while labour force grew by 1.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis). In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced higher growth rates during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Mooroolbark. Applying these projections to Mooroolbark's employment mix indicates a local employment increase of 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows income in Mooroolbark is below national average. Median income is $54,116 and average income is $64,722. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes are approximately $58,581 (median) and $70,062 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates household, family and personal incomes in Mooroolbark cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals largest segment comprises 36.1% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (9,063 residents), reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. After housing, 85.0% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Mooroolbark, as per the latest Census, 95.4% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 4.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Melbourne metropolitan area's composition of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mooroolbark stood at 32.3%, higher than Melbourne metro's figure. The majority of dwellings were mortgaged (47.0%) or rented (20.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with the Melbourne metro average but exceeding the national average of $1,863. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Mooroolbark was $400, higher than both Melbourne metro's $390 and Australia's average of $375.

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

Family households account for 78.7% of all households, including 38.8% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 12.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.3%, with lone person households at 19.2% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Mooroolbark aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 23.5%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (26.3%). Educational participation is high at 28.1%, with 9.9% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Mooroolbark has 45 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 19 different routes that together facilitate 3,418 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is moderate, with residents typically located 423 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, with cars being the dominant mode of transport at 92%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.7, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 25.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, there are an average of 488 trips per day, equating to approximately 75 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mooroolbark's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Mooroolbark's health metrics are close to national benchmarks. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts, with approximately 9.2% of residents impacted by mental health issues and 8.7% by asthma.

About 52% of the total population (~13,166 people) have private health cover, compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 56.7%. Around 68.2% of Mooroolbark residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 17.2% of residents aged 65 and over (4,318 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. National rankings for health outcomes are broadly in line with the general population.

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

Mooroolbark had a cultural diversity index of 22.1%, with 15.7% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 46.5%. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%.

The top three ancestral groups were English (28.4%), Australian (27.4%), and Other (9.0%). Dutch (2.7%) and Sri Lankan (0.4%) groups were notably higher than regional averages, while Hungarian was at parity with the region.

Mooroolbark's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Mooroolbark's median age is 37, matching Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and remaining comparable to Australia's median age of 38. The 75-84 age group comprises 6.4% of Mooroolbark's population compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 13.3%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 4.9% to 6.4%, and the 35-44 cohort has risen from 14.5% to 15.7%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 14.6% to 13.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Mooroolbark's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 group is expected to grow by 21%, adding 648 people and reaching a total of 3,687 from its current figure of 3,038. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decrease in number.