Mulgrave (Vic.)

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Mulgrave (Vic.) is around 21,251. This reflects an increase of 1,362 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,889. The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch, based on ERP data released by the ABS in June 2025 and validated new addresses, is 21,072. This results in a population density ratio of 1,980 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mulgrave's growth rate of 6.8% since the Census places it within 2.5 percentage points of the state's growth rate of 9.3%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 91.0% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the suburb of Mulgrave (Vic.) is expected to grow by 4,428 persons by 2041, reflecting an increase of 20.0% over the 16-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 for Mulgrave indicates approximately 128 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 644 homes. As of FY-26, 55 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.5 new residents are associated with each dwelling constructed annually between FY-21 and FY-25. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more housing options and potentially driving population growth beyond current projections.

The average development cost per dwelling is $662,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY-26, Mulgrave has registered $187.2 million in commercial approvals, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mulgrave shows moderately higher construction activity, with 19.0% more approvals per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New development in Mulgrave consists of 36.0% detached dwellings and 64.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 83.0% houses.

This trend towards denser development caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, suggesting diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With around 143 people per approval, Mulgrave reflects a developing area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the suburb is expected to grow by 4,249 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, although buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 14 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include HomeCo Brandon Park Redevelopment, Collegium Avenue Townhouses, 855-869 Ferntree Gully Road Townhouses, and Nexus Corporate Park. The following list details those 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 a highly educated workforce with professional services being well represented. The unemployment rate in Mulgrave is 2.7%, lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.8%. Over the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 4.5% in Mulgrave.

As of December 2025, 11,507 residents are employed with a unemployment rate of 2.1%, below Greater Melbourne's rate. Workforce participation is slightly lower at 67.1%. A significant 30.3% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment in Mulgrave is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

The area has a strong specialization in manufacturing with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level, while construction has limited presence at 8.4% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. There are 1.2 workers for every resident in Mulgrave, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 4.5% while labour force grew by 4.7%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%. 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 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 simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Mulgrave had a median income among taxpayers of $52,100 and an average level of $66,919. Nationally, the median was $57,688 and the average was $75,164. By March 2026, estimates suggest Mulgrave's median income would be approximately $57,112 and its average $73,357, based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census data indicates household income ranks at the 60th percentile ($1,913 weekly) and personal income at the 38th percentile. The dominant income bracket in Mulgrave is $1,500 - 2,999, with 32.8% of residents (6,970 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 evaluation, consisted of 83.2% houses and 16.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mulgrave was at 39.2%, with the rest being mortgaged (37.9%) or rented (22.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Mulgrave was $430, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Mulgrave's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than 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, including 40.5% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute 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, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Mulgrave's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 36.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to the SA3 area average of 45.8%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 23.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 26.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (15.0%).

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

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 of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 37 different routes that together facilitate 5,427 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 201 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from Mulgrave, primarily by car (88%), while 6% use the train. The area has an average vehicle ownership of 1.6 per dwelling, higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 30.3% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 775 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays 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

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Mulgrave based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups.

Private health cover was approximately 53% of the total population (~11,324 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. The most common medical conditions were arthritis (6.5%) and asthma (6.3%). A total of 74.3% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents had notably low chronic condition prevalence. Mulgrave had 19.1% of residents aged 65 and over (4,058 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly 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's population shows high cultural diversity, with 48.0% born overseas and 53.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mulgrave, accounting for 52.4%. Buddhism, however, is more prevalent in Mulgrave at 8.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (16.8%), Chinese (14.2%), and Australian (12.7%). Notably, Greeks comprise 7.9% of Mulgrave's population, Sri Lankans 2.6%, both higher than regional averages of 2.7% and 0.8% respectively. Hungarians are also disproportionately represented at 0.5%.

Mulgrave's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Mulgrave's median age of 40 is higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. The 75-84 age group comprises 7.5% of Mulgrave's population, which is notably higher than the Greater Melbourne average, while those aged 25-34 make up only 13.4%, indicating an under-representation compared to the city's average. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 15-24 has increased from 11.0% to 13.2%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 65-74 has decreased from 9.9% to 8.7%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Mulgrave's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is expected to expand by 803 people (29%), growing from 2,783 to 3,587 individuals. Meanwhile, the 0-4 age group is projected to grow modestly by 6% (64 people).