Pearcedale

Pearcedale is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of Pearcedale as of May 2026 is around 4,041. This shows an increase of 174 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,867. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 4,040 residents following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2025 and validation of 25 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 120 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains recently.

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 with adjustments made through 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, the suburb is projected to increase by 238 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of approximately 5.9% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Pearcedale according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Pearcedale has had approximately 16 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 81 homes. In FY26 so far, there have been 10 approvals. The average population increase per dwelling built in Pearcedale between FY21 and FY25 was 1.1 people per year. However, this figure has risen to 5.2 people per dwelling over the past two financial years. The average construction cost of new homes is $542,000, indicating a focus on premium developments.

There have been $1.4 million in commercial approvals in FY26. All recent development has consisted of detached houses, maintaining Pearcedale's low-density character and appealing to families seeking space.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 349 people. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Pearcedale is projected to add 237 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply should meet demand comfortably, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current projections.

Pearcedale has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting the region: Western Port Highway Upgrade. Other key projects include Botanic Ridge Estate, residential developments at 82 Edward Street and 46-48 Edward Street for townhouses. 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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The labour market in Pearcedale shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Pearcedale has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 3.0% as of December 2025. Employment growth in the past year was estimated at 5.0%.

Pearcedale's unemployment rate is 1.7% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is 72.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 20.3% of residents work from home. Key industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction employment is high at 2.2 times the regional level, while professional & technical jobs are limited at 5.0%, compared to 10.1% regionally.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 5.0% while labour force grew by 5.0%, reducing unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 2.4%, labour force grow by 2.8%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Pearcedale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.7% 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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that the median income in Pearcedale is $51,668 and the average income is $63,041. This is below Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Pearcedale would be approximately $56,638 (median) and $69,106 (average) as of March 2026. Census data shows that household income ranks at the 65th percentile ($2,009 weekly), while personal income sits at the 46th percentile. The earnings profile reveals that 35.2% of Pearcedale's population falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 32.8% in the same category. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Pearcedale is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Pearcedale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.5% houses and 2.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Pearcedale stood at 37.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 51.9% and rented ones at 10.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,020, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Pearcedale was $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Pearcedale's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 83.9 percent of all households, including 40.9 percent couples with children, 31.8 percent couples without children, and 9.1 percent single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 16.1 percent, with lone person households at 15.1 percent and group households comprising 1.3 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Pearcedale shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 14.8%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (31.9%). Educational participation is high, with 27.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.6% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Pearcedale has 17 active public transport stops operating, offering mixed bus services. These are served by two routes, collectively facilitating 403 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically residing 617 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound, with cars being the dominant mode at 95%. Vehicle ownership averages 2.3 per dwelling, exceeding regional averages. According to the 2021 Census, 20.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 57 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 23 weekly trips per individual stop.

Pearcedale's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Pearcedale's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a standard level across both young and old age cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low, affecting approximately 52% of the total population (~2,092 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (9.0%) and arthritis (8.5%), while 68.1% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. As of 2021, the area has 19.1% of residents aged 65 and over (771 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Pearcedale is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Pearcedale's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.9% of its population born in Australia, 92.3% being citizens, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Pearcedale, comprising 39.6% of people. However, Judaism was not represented in Pearcedale's population, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups were English (33.0%), Australian (32.3%), and Scottish (8.4%). Notably, Dutch ethnicity was overrepresented at 2.6%, Serbian at 0.7%, and Hungarian at 0.4%.

Pearcedale's median age exceeds the national pattern

Pearcedale's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and slightly older than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Pearcedale has a notably over-represented cohort of 55-64 year-olds at 14.2%, while the 25-34 year-old group is under-represented at 10.7%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has increased from 4.5% to 6.5% of Pearcedale's population. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 14.3% to 12.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Pearcedale's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 47%, adding 124 residents to reach a total of 387. This growth will be driven by demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older representing 84% of the anticipated population increase. However, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 25-34 age cohorts.