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

As of Nov 2025, the population of the Safety Beach (Vic.) statistical area (Lv2) is estimated at around 7,021 people. This reflects an increase of 693 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,328 people in the area. The change is inferred from the resident population of 6,526 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 73 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,180 persons per square kilometer. The Safety Beach (Vic.) (SA2) saw an 11.0% growth since the 2021 census, exceeding the SA3 area's 3.7% growth and the SA4 region's growth rate. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in the Safety Beach (Vic.) (SA2).

AreaSearch is adopting 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 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. By 2041, the Safety Beach (Vic.) (SA2) is expected to expand by 2,188 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 24.5% in total over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data, Safety Beach has seen around 82 new homes approved each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 414 homes. So far in FY-26, 23 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.2 new residents arrive per year for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand creating stable market conditions. The average construction value of new properties is $813,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

In this financial year, there have been $5.9 million in commercial approvals, showing limited commercial development focus compared to residential activity. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Safety Beach has 154.0% more development activity per person, offering buyers greater choice, although development activity has moderated recently. This high level of activity reflects strong developer confidence in the area. Of new building activity, 48.0% are standalone homes and 52.0% medium to high-density housing, indicating a shift towards compact living that attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 116 people per approval, Safety Beach reflects a developing area with an expected growth of 1,717 residents through to 2041 based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Looking ahead, Safety Beach is expected to grow by 1,717 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 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 three projects likely to affect this 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. The following list details those most relevant.

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 Safety Beach demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Safety Beach has a skilled workforce with the construction sector being particularly prominent. Its unemployment rate was 3.3% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.3%.

As of September 2025, there are 3120 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4%, which is below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Safety Beach lags at 52.5% compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The leading employment industries among residents include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average, while professional & technical employs only 6.5% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by the census working population vs resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.3%, while labour force increased by 2.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points in Safety Beach. 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 rate. State-level data from November 25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest 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, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Safety Beach has an income level slightly above the national average, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Safety Beach is $46,854, with an average income of $68,796. These figures compare to those for Greater Melbourne, which are $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on the Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes would be approximately $50,719 (median) and $74,472 (average) as of September 2025. According to figures from the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Safety Beach rank modestly, between the 33rd and 34th percentiles. Income brackets show that 28.6% of individuals in Safety Beach earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually (2,008 individuals), which 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 suburb'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). This compares to Melbourne metro's figures of 85.5% houses and 14.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Safety Beach was 43.4%, with the rest being mortgaged at 32.0% or rented at 24.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Safety Beach was $2,000, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,989 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure for 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 comprise 71.7 percent of all households, including 22.0 percent couples with children, 39.1 percent couples without children, and 10.0 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.3 percent, with lone person households making up 26.7 percent and group households comprising 1.7 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4.

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 is 20.9%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them. This includes advanced diplomas (13.2%) and certificates (25.1%).

A total of 22.6% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, comprising 7.3% in secondary, 6.7% in primary, and 3.7% in tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows that Safety Beach has 20 active transport stops operating, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two different routes, together offering 400 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of public transport in the area is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 421 meters away from their nearest transport stop.

On average, there are 57 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 20 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 challenges in Safety Beach regarding common health conditions, with notable prevalence across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 54% of the total population (~3792 people) has private health cover, compared to 57.8% in Greater Melbourne.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis, affecting 10.8% of residents, and mental health issues, impacting 7.8%. 62.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.9% across Greater Melbourne. Safety Beach has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 35%, with 2457 people in this age group, compared to 29.9% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors in Safety Beach are above average and better than 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 the broader area, as 77.6% of its residents were born in Australia, 89.8% are citizens, and 91.7% speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Safety Beach, practiced by 54.1%, compared to 45.7% across Greater Melbourne. The top three ancestry groups are English (31.6%), Australian (27.0%), and Irish (8.2%).

Notably, Dutch (1.9%) and Italian (5.7%) populations exceed regional averages of 1.8% and 3.4%, respectively, while Greek residents (2.7%) are also higher than the regional average of 1.2%.

Safety Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Safety Beach's median age in 2021 was 53 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. The age profile showed that those aged 65-74 were particularly prominent at 16.8%, while those aged 25-34 were relatively smaller at 7.1% compared to Greater Melbourne. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds was well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 12.4% to 14.0% of the population. Conversely, the 45-54 age cohort has declined from 13.1% to 11.4%. By 2041, Safety Beach is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 53%, adding 521 people and reaching a total of 1,504 from 982. This growth is largely driven by an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 72% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25-34 and 5-14 age cohorts.