North Melbourne

Population growth drivers in North Melbourne are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, the population of North Melbourne is estimated at around 18,356 people. This reflects an increase of 3,403 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,953 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population as 18,449 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 97 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 7,778 persons per square kilometer, placing North Melbourne in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 22.8% since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (8.9%) and the state average. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 95.0% 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, 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, significant population increases are forecasted for the top quartile of statistical areas nationally, with North Melbourne expected to increase by 7,461 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 40.7% over the 17 years.

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

North Melbourne has seen approximately 289 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 1,448 homes. As of FY-26, there have been three approvals recorded so far. On average, about 0.8 people move to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. This suggests that new construction is keeping pace with demand, offering more housing options and potentially driving population growth.

The average expected construction cost of these dwellings is $326,000, which is lower than regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options. In the current financial year, there have been approximately $199.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong development momentum in North Melbourne relative to Greater Melbourne. Over the past five years, North Melbourne has seen construction levels that are 27% above the regional average per person, suggesting robust developer interest in the area. All new construction in North Melbourne over this period has been comprised of medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 46 people moving to the area per dwelling approval, North Melbourne exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, North Melbourne is expected to grow by approximately 7,464 residents through to 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 62 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Errol Street Private Hospital, Abbotsford Street Social Housing, Younghusband Kensington, and North Melbourne Precinct Public Housing Renewal. The following list details 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.

North Melbourne shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

North Melbourne has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 9.2% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 5.2%.

As of June 2025, 11,464 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 4.6%, matching Greater Melbourne's rate. Workforce participation was 67.7%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries 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 the regional average of 9.7%. There were 0.7 workers per resident as at the Census, indicating ample local employment opportunities. In the 12 months prior, employment increased by 5.2% while labour force grew by 7.2%, raising unemployment by 1.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's growth rates of 3.5% for employment and 4.0% for labour force, with a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. 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 industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

North Melbourne's median income among taxpayers was $51,480 and average income stood at $71,468 in financial year 2022. This compares to Greater Melbourne's figures of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $57,740 (median) and $80,159 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, personal income ranks at the 72nd percentile ($943 weekly), while household income sits at the 48th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 30.7% of North Melbourne's population (5,635 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the metropolitan region where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.8% of income remaining after housing costs, 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), contrasting with Melbourne metro's 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Melbourne was at 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 stood at $2,035, surpassing Melbourne metro's average of $1,962. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent 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 constitute 47.7% of all households, including 14.4% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for 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, which is 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

Educational attainment in North Melbourne is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 60.9% of residents aged 15 years or above hold university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian state average of 33.4%. This educational advantage is largely driven by Bachelor degrees (34.6%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.9%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational pathways account for 15.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 years or above, with advanced diplomas making up 8.1% and certificates comprising 7.6%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 39.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 20.9% in tertiary education, 5.9% in primary education, and 5.5% pursuing secondary education. North Melbourne operates a robust network of 10 schools educating approximately 2,832 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1018) and balanced educational opportunities. The area functions as an education hub, offering 15.4 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 6.9, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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 are a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. Six routes operate in total, serving 4,934 weekly passenger trips collectively.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 128 meters to the nearest stop. The service frequency is 704 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 98 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 very low prevalence of common health conditions across all ages.

Approximately 55% (~10,108 people) have private health cover. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 11.0 and 8.0% respectively. 74.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 79.8% in Greater Melbourne. The area has 7.7% (1,413 people) aged 65 and over, with seniors' health outcomes aligning closely with 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, 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. However, 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%). Notably, Vietnamese (3.0%) and Chinese (14.0%) are overrepresented compared to regional figures of 2.0% and 19.1%, respectively. Spanish representation is equal at 0.7%.

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 below Australia's median 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 figure of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, North Melbourne's median age has decreased by 1.7 years from 31 to 29, suggesting a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes in this period include an increase in the 15-24 age group from 18.5% to 23.4%, and the 25-34 cohort rising from 28.6% to 31.2%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 7.9% to 6.0%, and the 55-64 group has fallen from 7.4% to 5.8%. Population forecasts for North Melbourne indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow significantly, adding 2,120 residents to reach a total of 7,848.