Prahran

An assessment of population growth drivers in Prahran reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Prahran's population is estimated at around 13,906, reflecting a 14.0% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 12,203. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 13,787 residents following examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024, and an additional 669 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 7,476 persons per square kilometer, placing Prahran in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth exceeded both national (8.9%) and state averages, primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation for areas not covered by ABS data. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas from 2032 to 2041 based on these aggregations.

Looking ahead, Prahran is projected to experience above median population growth with an expected increase of 2,745 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.7% over the 17-year period.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Prahran averaged approximately 221 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 1,105 homes were approved, with an additional 42 approved in FY-26 to date. Despite population decline, new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice.

The average construction value of new homes is $800,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. In FY-26, Prahran recorded $99.6 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Prahran's construction levels are 48.0% higher per person over the past five years, supporting buyer choice and existing property values. This level is significantly above the national average, suggesting robust developer interest. New development consists of 3.0% detached dwellings and 97.0% attached dwellings, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 18.0% houses). The location has approximately 54 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Population forecasts suggest Prahran will gain around 2,180 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 55 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include Grandview Prahran, Essex Street Public Housing Redevelopment, Prahran Market Restoration, and Chomley Terraces. The following list details the most relevant projects.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Prahran ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Prahran has a highly educated workforce with the technology sector being particularly prominent. Its unemployment rate is 4.4%, with an estimated employment growth of 6.0% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 9886 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.2% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Prahran stands at 75.7%, exceeding Greater Melbourne's rate of 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Notably, the area specializes in professional & technical jobs with an employment share 1.8 times higher than the regional level.

Conversely, manufacturing has a limited presence with only 3.3% of employment compared to the regional average of 7.2%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by the Census working population count. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.0%, while labour force grew by 7.1%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Prahran. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Prahran's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

Prahran's median income among taxpayers was $72,576 with an average of $107,767 in financial year 2022. This places Prahran in the top percentile nationally compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761. As of September 2025, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $81,401 and an average of $120,871 based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Prahran's individual earnings rank at the 96th percentile nationally with weekly earnings of $1,378. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 33.2% of residents (4,616 people), reflecting a similar pattern seen in the broader area where 32.8% occupy this range. Prahran demonstrates considerable affluence with 33.4% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 17.0% of income, however strong earnings place disposable income at the 72nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Prahran features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Prahran's dwelling structure at its latest Census comprised 18.3% houses and 81.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 16.9% houses and 83.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Prahran was at 20.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.5% and rented dwellings at 55.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,274, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,287. Median weekly rent in Prahran was $421, compared to Melbourne metro's $425. Nationally, Prahran's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were above the national figure of $375.

Prahran features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 44.2% of all households, including 12.5% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 4.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 55.8%, with lone person households at 45.5% and group households comprising 10.2% of the total. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 1.9.

Educational achievement in Prahran places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Prahran is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 59.7% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 40.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways account for 18.6%, with advanced diplomas at 9.7% and certificates at 8.9%.

A total of 23.9% of the population is currently pursuing formal education, including 10.6% in tertiary, 3.7% in primary, and 3.4% in secondary education. Our Lady of Lourdes School serves Prahran with an enrollment of 158 students. The school's ICSEA score is 1142, indicating significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement. There is one school focused exclusively on primary education in the area, with secondary options available nearby. Local school capacity is limited, with only 1.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.1, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Prahran has 52 active public transport stops operating, serving a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are covered by 9 different routes that together facilitate 6,647 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these stops is rated excellent, with residents on average located just 133 meters from the nearest one.

On average, there are 949 transport trips per day across all routes, which amounts to approximately 127 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Prahran shows excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is high at approximately 69% (9,624 people), compared to 81.8% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 10.2 and 7.9% respectively.

72.8% report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Melbourne's 73.3%. Prahran has 12.5% (1,738 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Melbourne's 16.3%. Seniors' health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

Prahran 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

Prahran, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing conducted on August 2016, exhibited higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas. Specifically, 20.4% of its residents spoke a language other than English at home, while 33.1% were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Prahran, with 34.8% adherents.

Notably, Judaism was overrepresented in Prahran compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 3.5% versus 0.9%. Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English (24.9%), Australian (17.4%), and Other (10.5%). Some ethnic groups showed distinct representation: Polish at 1.6% (regional average 1.2%), French at 1.0%, and Hungarian at 0.5%.

Prahran hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Prahran's median age is 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Prahran has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (33.0%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.9%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of Prahran's population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 31.2% to 33.0%, while the percentage of those aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 10.9% to 9.6%. By 2041, Prahran's population is forecasted to undergo substantial demographic changes. The 35-44 age group is projected to grow by 19%, adding 497 residents to reach a total of 3,112. Conversely, the 15-24 age group is expected to decrease by 74 residents.