Safety Beach (Vic.)

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

The population of Safety Beach (Vic.) was estimated at around 6,603 as of November 2025, reflecting an increase of 275 people since the 2021 Census. The ABS ERP estimate for surrounding areas applied to Safety Beach by AreaSearch in June 2024 showed a resident population of 6,561, with an additional 73 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this increase. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 1,109 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Safety Beach's population growth rate of 4.3% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (2.3%) and SA4 region, making it a notable growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and utilized VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 for areas not covered by this data.

Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041 based on these aggregations. By 2041, the suburb is projected to experience a significant population increase of 2,157 persons, reflecting a total gain of 31.9% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Safety Beach among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Safety Beach has seen approximately 82 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 412 homes. As of FY-26, 12 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.2 new residents arrive per year for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, suggesting balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. New properties are being constructed at an average expected cost of $813,000, indicating focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

In FY-26, there have been $11.3 million in commercial approvals, showing steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Safety Beach has 153.0% more development activity per person. This increased activity offers buyers greater choice but has moderated in recent periods, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity comprises 47.0% standalone homes and 53.0% medium and high-density housing, providing affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers, marking a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 78.0% houses. Safety Beach has a low density with around 129 people per approval. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Safety Beach to grow by 2,104 residents through to 2041, suggesting current construction levels should adequately meet demand and create favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth exceeding current forecasts.

Looking ahead, Safety Beach is expected to grow by 2,104 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified three projects likely affecting the region: Safety Beach Mixed-Use Development (Martha Cove Precinct Expansion), Dromana Estate Residential Community, Mornington Peninsula Freeway Maintenance Program, and Dromana Hub Shopping Centre Refurbishment & Expansion. Relevant details are listed below.

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

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Employment conditions in Safety Beach remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Safety Beach has a skilled workforce with the construction sector notably represented. The unemployment rate was 3.6% in June 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.1%. As of June 2025, 3,088 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 52.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area has a particularly high concentration in construction, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services employ only 6.5% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 3.1% while labour force increased by 4.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Safety Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Safety Beach's median income among taxpayers was $46,854 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $68,796 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Safety Beach would be approximately $52,551 (median) and $77,162 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes in Safety Beach rank at the 33rd percentile, family incomes at the 34th percentile, and personal incomes also at the 34th percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 28.6% of Safety Beach's population (1,888 individuals). This is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region, where 32.8% fall into the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Safety Beach, with only 82.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 31st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Safety Beach is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Safety Beach, as per the latest Census, consisted of 77.8% houses and 22.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 85.5% houses and 14.5% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Safety Beach was 43.4%, similar to Melbourne metro's figure. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 32.0%, while rented dwellings made up 24.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,989 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Safety Beach was $460, compared to Melbourne metro's $380 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 71.7% of all households, including 22.0% that are couples with children, 39.1% that are couples without children, and 10.0% that consist of single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.3%, with lone person households comprising 26.7% and group households making up 1.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4 people.

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

The area's university qualification rate was 20.9% as of 20XX, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials were held by 38.3% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 13.2% and certificates at 25.1%. In total, 22.6% of the population was actively pursuing formal education in 20XX.

This included 7.3% in secondary education, 6.7% in primary education, and 3.7% in tertiary education. Educational facilities appeared to be located outside the immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

Transport analysis shows 20 active stops operating within Safety Beach, with a mix of bus services. These stops are served by two routes, offering 675 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically residing 420 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 96 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 33 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Safety Beach is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Safety Beach, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 54% (~3,566 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 57.9%.

The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (10.8%) and mental health issues (7.8%). About 62.4% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 63.9%. Safety Beach has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 34.9% (~2,304 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 29.9%. Health outcomes among seniors in Safety Beach are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

Safety Beach's cultural diversity aligns with its broader regional average. 77.6% of residents were born in Australia, 89.8% are citizens, and 91.7% speak English exclusively at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Safety Beach, practiced by 54.1%, compared to 45.7% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestral groups in Safety Beach are English (31.6%), Australian (27.0%), and Irish (8.2%). Notably, Dutch (1.9%) and Italian (5.7%) residents are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.8% and 3.4%, respectively, while Greek representation is also higher at 2.7% versus the regional average of 1.2%.

Safety Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Safety Beach's median age stands at 53 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile reveals that those aged 75-84 make up a particularly prominent 14.0%, while the 25-34 group comprises only 7.1%. This concentration of the 75-84 age group is notably higher than the national average of 6.0%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of the population in the 75 to 84 age bracket has increased from 12.4% to 14.0%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 13.1% to 11.4%. By 2041, Safety Beach's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 62%, adding 576 people and reaching a total of 1,501 from the current 924. This growth is primarily driven by an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 68% of the projected growth. Conversely, the number of individuals in the 0 to 4 age range is expected to decrease by 12%.