Officer

Officer lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the suburb of Officer's estimated population was 26,457 as of Feb 2026. This reflected an increase of 7,954 people from the 2021 Census figure of 18,503, indicating a growth rate of 43.0%. AreaSearch estimated the resident population at 24,215 by examining latest ERP data released by ABS in June 2024 and adding validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 943 persons per square kilometer. Officer's growth exceeded national (9.9%) and state averages, making it a region growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 62.0% to overall population gains, with other factors also positive.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For uncovered areas, they utilized VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation method. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth, placing Officer in the top 10 percent of statistical areas nationally by 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase by 17,251 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 49.2% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Officer was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Officer has averaged approximately 630 new dwelling approvals each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 3,150 homes. From July 2020 to June 2021 (FY-21), there were 478 approvals recorded, and so far in FY-26, which began on July 1st, 2022338 approvals have been recorded. The average number of people moving to the area per new home constructed over these five years is two. This indicates healthy demand for housing in Officer, which should support property values.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes approved in Officer over this period is $393,000. In terms of commercial development, there have been $8.3 million worth of approvals recorded in FY-26 so far, indicating limited focus on commercial development in the area relative to residential. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Officer has 226.0% more new home approvals per person, providing buyers with ample choice. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. This high level of approvals is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in Officer.

Recent construction comprises approximately 89.0% detached dwellings and 11.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The location has approximately 40 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Future projections from AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate suggest Officer will add around 13,029 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Officer has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones are Arcadia Estate, Officer Residential Development - Olio, Arbor Officer, and Officer Fields. The following list details those expected to have the 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.

The labour market in Officer shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Officer has a well-educated workforce. Essential services sectors are well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.1%.

Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 4.9%, based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 13,417 residents are in work. The unemployment rate is 1.5% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation is 74.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 24.6% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Professional & technical services have a limited presence with 6.5% employment compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 4.9%, while labour force increased by 5.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Officer. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Officer'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 and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Officer suburb had a median income among taxpayers of $59,357 and an average of $69,289. This was slightly above the national average. Greater Melbourne had a median income of $57,688 and an average of $75,164 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated median and average incomes for Officer as of September 2025 would be approximately $64,254 and $75,005 respectively. According to Census 2021 income data, Officer's household, family, and personal incomes clustered around the 74th percentile nationally. The earnings profile showed that 46.3% of residents (12,249 people) earned between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting a pattern seen in the region where 32.8% similarly occupied this income range. High housing costs consumed 17.9% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 71st percentile nationally. Officer's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

Officer is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Officer's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.8% houses and 5.1% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Officer was at 13.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 58.0% and rented ones at 28.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Officer was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $396 compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Officer's median monthly mortgage repayment exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and its median weekly rent surpassed the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 81.9% of all households, including 44.9% couples with children, 23.5% couples without children, and 12.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 18.1%, with lone person households at 15.8% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Officer shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 30.6% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the SA3 area average of 21.8%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.1% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 14.7% and certificates at 23.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.5% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Officer has 38 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus services. These stops are served by five distinct routes that facilitate a total of 1584 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of public transport in Officer is deemed good, with residents generally residing 391 meters from their nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most inhabitants commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation for 90% of residents, while 7% use trains. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling in Officer, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 24.6% of Officer's residents work from home, a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 226 trips per day, translating to roughly 41 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Officer is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Officer demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment as of 2021. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low among the general population, but higher than the national average among older, at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover was found to be approximately 54% of the total population (~14,344 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne as of 2021. The most common medical conditions in the area were asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.0 and 7.1% of residents respectively, while 76.3% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 8.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,301 people), which is lower than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne as of 2021. However, it ranks lower nationally than the broader population.

Officer was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Officer's population shows high cultural diversity, with 35.6% born overseas and 33.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Officer, accounting for 39.2% of its population. However, the category 'Other' is notably overrepresented in Officer compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 4.7% versus 2.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.1%), Australian (21.6%), and Other (17.4%). Certain ethnic groups show significant differences: Sri Lankan at 2.7% (versus regional 0.8%), Hungarian at 0.5% (versus regional 0.3%), and Indian at 7.3% (versus regional 4.2%).

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

Officer's median age is 31 years, which is lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and significantly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Officer has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (20.6%), but fewer residents aged 55-64 (6.8%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.3%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 has increased from 18.1% to 20.6%, while those aged 75 to 84 have grown from 1.7% to 2.7%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 20.8% to 17.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Officer's age profile, with the 45 to 54 age cohort expected to expand considerably, growing by 2,349 people (82%) from 2,857 to 5,207.