North Melbourne

Population growth drivers in North Melbourne are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population for the North Melbourne statistical area (Lv2) is around 18,460 people. This figure reflects a growth of 3,507 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,953 people in the area. The recent resident population estimate of 18,310 by AreaSearch was derived from examining the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and validating an additional 97 new addresses since the Census date. This growth rate corresponds to a density ratio of approximately 7,822 persons per square kilometer, placing North Melbourne in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This high population density makes land in the area a highly sought-after resource. The North Melbourne (SA2) has experienced a significant population increase since the 2021 Census, with a growth rate of 23.5%.

This exceeds both the national average of 9.7% and the state's average growth rate during this period. The primary driver for this growth was overseas migration, contributing approximately 95.0% of overall population gains. AreaSearch employs 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 utilizes the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 and adjusts them using weighted aggregation methods to project population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. According to these projections, North Melbourne is expected to experience significant population growth in the coming years. By 2041, the area is forecasted to increase by approximately 7,460 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 39.9% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions North Melbourne among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

North Melbourne has received approximately 279 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 1,398 homes. In FY-26 so far, 2 approvals have been recorded. On average, about 0.9 people move to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. New construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more housing options while supporting population growth.

The average construction value of new properties is $326,000. This financial year has seen $295.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong business investment locally. Compared to Greater Melbourne, North Melbourne shows moderately higher new home approvals, with 23.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. Recent development has been entirely comprised of attached dwellings, appealing to downsizers and investors. With around 48 people moving in for each dwelling approved, North Melbourne exhibits growth area characteristics.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, North Melbourne is projected to add approximately 7,359 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to future needs, supporting stable market conditions without excessive price pressure.

North Melbourne has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 62 projects that could affect the region. Notable initiatives include Errol Street Private Hospital, Abbotsford Street Social Housing, Younghusband Kensington, and Assemble 402-444 Macaulay Road Build-to-Rent, with the following list highlighting those of greatest relevance.

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.

Employment performance in North Melbourne has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

North Melbourne has an educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 8.5% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 5.5%.

As of September 2025, 11,655 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, higher than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%. Workforce participation was 67.7%, similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Construction has limited presence, at 3.4% compared to 9.7% regionally. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.7, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 5.5%, while labour force increased by 5.6%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne had employment growth of 3.0% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Nationally, employment grew by 0.14%, with a national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to North Melbourne's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

North Melbourne suburb's income level is higher than average nationally. According to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, North Melbourne's median income among taxpayers is $51,480 and the average income stands at $71,468. Greater Melbourne's figures are $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for North Melbourne would be approximately $55,727 (median) and $77,364 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows personal income ranks at the 72nd percentile ($943 weekly), while household income sits at the 48th percentile. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 30.7% of the community (5,667 individuals). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 44th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

North Melbourne features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

North Melbourne's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 4.2% houses and 95.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Melbourne was 13.7%, similar to Melbourne metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.5% and rented ones at 65.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,035, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,962. The median weekly rent figure was $381, compared to Melbourne metro's $396. Nationally, North Melbourne's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

North Melbourne features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 47.7% of all households, including 14.4% that are couples with children, 23.2% that are couples without children, and 8.1% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 52.3%, with lone person households at 40.1% and group households comprising 12.3%. The median household size is 2.0 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 1.8.

North Melbourne performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

North Melbourne's educational attainment exceeds national averages significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 60.9% possess university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.9%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational pathways account for 15.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 8.1% and certificates at 7.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 39.8% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 20.9% in tertiary education, 5.9% in primary education, and 5.5% pursuing secondary education.

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

North Melbourne has 50 active public transport stops. These include train, light rail, and bus services. Six routes operate in total, providing 8,003 weekly passenger trips combined.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 128 meters to the nearest stop. Daily service frequency averages 1,143 trips across all routes, which equates to approximately 160 weekly trips per individual stop.

North Melbourne's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

North Melbourne shows excellent health outcomes with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Approximately 55% (~10,165 people) have private health cover, the highest rate in the area. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 11.0 and 8.0% of residents respectively. A total of 74.1% report no medical ailments, compared to 79.8% in Greater Melbourne. In North Melbourne, 7.7% (1,421 people) are aged 65 and over, with seniors showing strong health outcomes, similar to the general population's profile.

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

North Melbourne's cultural diversity is notable, with 41.3% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 46.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in North Melbourne, comprising 23.9% of people. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 7.9% versus 4.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.5%), Other (17.2%), and Australian (14.3%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Vietnamese at 3.0% (versus regional 2.0%), Chinese at 14.0% (versus regional 19.1%), and Spanish at 0.7% (matching regional figure).

North Melbourne hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

North Melbourne's median age is 29, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and significantly lower than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, North Melbourne has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (31.2%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.0%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, North Melbourne's median age has decreased by 1.7 years from 31 to 29, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes include an increase in the 15-24 age group from 18.5% to 23.4%, and a rise in the 25-34 cohort from 28.6% to 31.2%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 7.9% to 6.0%, and the 55-64 age group has dropped from 7.4% to 5.8%. Population forecasts for North Melbourne in 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 36%, adding 2,087 residents to reach a total of 7,847.