Mulgrave (Vic.)

Population growth drivers in Mulgrave are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

The population of Mulgrave (Vic.) is estimated at approximately 21,392 as of February 2026, reflecting an increase of around 1,503 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 7.6% increase from the previous population figure of 19,889. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 20,981 in June 2024, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 210 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of around 1,993 persons per square kilometer, which is higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mulgrave's growth rate of 7.6% since the census places it within 2.3 percentage points of the national average of 9.9%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. The primary driver for this population growth was overseas migration, contributing approximately 91.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting them using 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. Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for statistical areas across the nation, with Mulgrave expected to grow by approximately 4,785 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections. This reflects a total increase of around 20.4% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Mulgrave among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Mulgrave shows approximately 128 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 644 homes. As of FY-26, 47 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.5 new residents are associated with each dwelling constructed annually between FY-21 and FY-25. Mulgrave's commercial approvals total $187.2 million in FY-26, indicating strong local business investment.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mulgrave exhibits moderately higher construction activity, maintaining diverse buyer options while supporting property values. New development consists of 36% detached dwellings and 64% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current 83% houses pattern due to land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. Mulgrave reflects a developing area with around 143 people per approval. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates an increase of 4,374 residents, with building activity keeping pace with growth projections despite potential competition among buyers.

Looking ahead, Mulgrave is expected to grow by 4,374 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

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

AreaSearch has identified 14 projects that could impact the area's performance due to changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Key projects among these include HomeCo Brandon Park Redevelopment, Collegium Avenue Townhouses, 855-869 Ferntree Gully Road Townhouses, and Nexus Corporate Park. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

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Mulgrave ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Mulgrave has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 2.7% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 4.5%. As of December 2025, 11,507 residents were employed at a 2.1% lower unemployment rate than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.

Workforce participation was 67.4%, below Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. A high 30.3% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. Manufacturing shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while construction has limited presence at 8.4%.

The area hosts more jobs than residents, with a ratio of 1.2 workers per resident. Over the past year, employment increased by 4.5% alongside labour force growth of 4.7%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne had employment and labour force growth rates of 2.4% and 2.8% respectively, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mulgrave's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

In financial year 2023, Mulgrave suburb had a median taxpayer income of $52,100 and an average income of $66,919. Nationally, these figures were approximately similar to the national averages of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively in Greater Melbourne. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income could reach $56,398 and average income $72,440 due to an 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census data indicates Mulgrave's household income ranks at the 60th percentile ($1,913 weekly) and personal income at the 38th percentile. The dominant income bracket is $1,500 - $2,999, with 32.8% of residents (7,016 people). After housing expenses, 84.9% of income remains for other expenses. Mulgrave's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Mulgrave's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 83.2% houses and 16.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mulgrave was 39.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.9% and rented ones at 22.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was $430, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Mulgrave's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 78.9% of all households, consisting of 40.5% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 21.1%, with lone person households at 17.6% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than Greater Melbourne's average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Mulgrave exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

In Mulgrave, 36.4% of residents aged 15+ have university degrees, compared to the SA3 area's 45.8%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are most common at 23.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are held by 26.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 15.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.3% in primary, 7.3% in secondary, and 6.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Mulgrave has 110 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 37 different routes, offering a total of 5,427 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 201 meters, indicating good accessibility. Most commuters travel outwards from Mulgrave, with cars being the primary mode at 88%, and trains at 6%. Residents own an average of 1.6 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 30.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 775 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 49 weekly trips per stop. The map accompanying this information shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Mulgrave's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Mulgrave's health metrics show strong performance according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups.

Private health cover was approximately 53%, leading that of the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis (6.5%) and asthma (6.3%). 74.3% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. Mulgrave has 19.3% of residents aged 65 and over (4,128 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors were strong, broadly in line with the general population nationally.

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

Mulgrave has a high level of cultural diversity, with 48.0% of its population born overseas and 53.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mulgrave, comprising 52.4% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 8.1% of Mulgrave's population versus the regional average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups in Mulgrave are Other (16.8%), Chinese (14.2%), and Australian (12.7%). Notably, Chinese ancestry is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%, while Australian ancestry is lower than the regional average of 18.4%. There are also notable divergences in the representation of Greek (7.9% vs regional 2.7%), Sri Lankan (2.6% vs regional 0.8%), and Hungarian (0.5% vs regional 0.3%) ethnic groups.

Mulgrave's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Mulgrave's median age is 40, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. The 75-84 age group is notably over-represented in Mulgrave at 7.6%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 12.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.0% to 13.2% of Mulgrave's population, while the 65-74 cohort has declined from 9.9% to 8.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Mulgrave's age profile. The 45-54 age group is projected to expand notably by 30%, growing from 2,780 to 3,619 people. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 7% (73 people).