Parkdale

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

As of Feb 2026, Parkdale's population is estimated at around 12,744, reflecting an increase of 436 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 12,308 in the suburb. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of Parkdale's resident population at 12,659 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 138 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 3,569 persons per square kilometer, placing Parkdale in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Parkdale's 3.5% growth since census is within 2.1 percentage points of the SA3 area (5.6%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 89.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Parkdale.

AreaSearch adopts 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, adjusted employing 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 based on these aggregations. Parkdale is projected to have an above median population growth with an expected increase of 1,928 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.5% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Parkdale recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Parkdale has seen around 52 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years from FY18 to FY22, totalling an estimated 263 homes. As of FY26, 41 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.3 new residents per year per dwelling were added between FY21 and FY25, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. However, this has intensified to 7 people per dwelling in the past two years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $622,000, targeting the premium segment.

This financial year has seen $42.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Parkdale records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 43rd percentile nationally, offering limited buyer options but strengthening demand for established properties. Recent construction comprises 24.0% standalone homes and 76.0% townhouses or apartments, providing affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift from the area's existing housing composition of 55.0% houses indicates decreasing developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles needing diverse, affordable housing options. With approximately 378 people per dwelling approval, Parkdale is an established area expected to gain 1,843 residents by 2041, maintaining a reasonable construction pace with projected growth but potentially increasing competition among buyers as population increases.

Population forecasts indicate Parkdale will gain 1,843 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Construction is maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers could encounter growing competition as population increases.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely to impact the region. Notable ones are Mordi Aquatic Centre, Elanora Place, Kallara House, and OTIUM, with the following list focusing on those most relevant.

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

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Parkdale has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Parkdale has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 4.3%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 7,352 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.4% below Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. According to Census responses, 40.1% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The area has a strong specialization in education & training (1.3 times the regional level) but limited presence in transport, postal & warehousing (2.9% vs 5.2% regionally).

Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Parkdale's labour force decreased by 0.3%, while employment declined by 0.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parkdale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Parkdale had a median income among taxpayers of $62,493. The average income stood at $83,367. These figures are among the highest in Australia. Comparing with Greater Melbourne levels of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Parkdale would be approximately $67,649 (median) and $90,245 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household incomes rank at the 74th percentile nationally, family incomes at the 75th percentile, and personal incomes at the 76th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 28.1% of residents fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket, with a total of 3,581 people in this range. This reflects metropolitan patterns where 32.8% occupy this range. Notably, 35.0% of residents earn above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout the suburb. Housing accounts for 14.3% of income. Residents rank within the 76th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Parkdale displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Parkdale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 54.7% houses and 45.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkdale was at 38.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.9% and rented dwellings at 22.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,366, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $410, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Parkdale's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Parkdale has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 70.9% of all households, including 35.4% couples with children, 24.3% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 27.2% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Parkdale demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

In Parkdale Trail region, 37.9% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to the SA4 regional average of 46.0%. This difference indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor's degrees are the most common at 24.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding them.

Advanced diplomas account for 12.8% and certificates for 16.6%. Educational participation is high, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Parkdale has 41 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 12 different routes that together facilitate 2,607 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically residing 225 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential region, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 88% of residents, while trains are employed by 5%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 40.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 372 trips per day, equating to approximately 63 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Analysis shows robust health metrics across Parkdale. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups.

Private health cover was found to be high at approximately 60% of the total population (7,608 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne. Common medical conditions included asthma (7.7%) and arthritis (7.0%). The majority of residents (71.6%) declared themselves free from medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Under-65 population health outcomes were better than average. Parkdale had a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 20.0% (2,548 people), compared to 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors were strong and aligned with national rankings.

In terms of cultural diversity, Parkdale records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Parkdale's population showed above-average cultural diversity, with 22.2% born overseas and 13.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Parkdale, comprising 47.8% of its population. Judaism, however, was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 0.6% versus 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (28.2%, regional average 20.1%), Australian (24.8%, regional average 18.4%), and Irish (10.5%). Notably, Russian (0.6% vs regional 0.4%), Hungarian (0.4% vs regional 0.3%), and Greek (2.9% vs regional 2.7%) groups were also overrepresented in Parkdale.

Parkdale hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Parkdale is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 55-64 years make up 13.8% of the population, while those aged 25-34 years constitute only 8.7%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of individuals aged 15-24 has increased from 12.1% to 15.0%, and those aged 75-84 have risen from 5.4% to 6.7%. Conversely, the percentage of individuals aged 45-54 has decreased from 16.4% to 15.0%, and those aged 5-14 have dropped from 13.0% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Parkdale's age structure. The number of individuals aged 75-84 is projected to rise by 506 people (59%), from 853 to 1,360. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 58% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the age cohorts of 0-4 and 5-14 are expected to experience population declines.