Sandhurst

Population growth drivers in Sandhurst are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The suburb of Sandhurst had an estimated population of 5,301 as of February 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 90 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,211. The latest resident population estimate from AreaSearch, based on ERP data released by ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date, was 5,283. This results in a population density ratio of 1,672 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Sandhurst has shown steady growth with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%. Natural growth contributed approximately 52% to overall population gains during this period.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. By 2041, the suburb is projected to increase by 1,172 persons, reflecting a total gain of 23.3% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Sandhurst is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates virtually no dwelling approvals in Sandhurst recently. Specifically, an estimated 4 homes were approved between FY21 and FY25, with another 4 approved so far in FY26.

Population decline over recent years has maintained adequate housing supply relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice. New properties are constructed at an average value of $487,000, indicating focus on the premium market with high-end developments. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sandhurst shows substantially reduced construction activity, which generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years. This level is also below national average, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent development has been entirely standalone homes, preserving Sandhurst's suburban nature with detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The location has approximately 2667 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market.

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

No changes can impact an area's performance more than alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch that could potentially affect this area. Notable projects include Endeavour Cove Marina Masterplan Redevelopment (Planning Scheme Amendment C205king), Ballarto Road Upgrade, Harbour Plaza Redevelopment, and Industrial Quarter (iQ) Cranbourne West, with the following list providing details on those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Sandhurst rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Sandhurst has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate is 1.8%, with estimated employment growth of 2.7% in the past year (AreaSearch data). As of September 2025, 3,080 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.8% below Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.

Workforce participation is 73.6%, similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. Notably, 34.6% work from home (Census data). Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Manufacturing shows significant concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

However, transport, postal & warehousing is under-represented at 3.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 5.2%. Local job opportunities appear limited based on resident vs working population counts. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.7% while labour force grew by the same rate, keeping unemployment stable. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0% and labour force by 3.3%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 national employment forecasts project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sandhurst's industry mix suggests local employment could increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that median income in Sandhurst is $70,666 and average income is $80,113. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year ending June 2023, estimated median income for Sandhurst as of September 2025 is approximately $76,496 and estimated average income is $86,722. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data from the Census conducted in August 2021, incomes in Sandhurst rank highly nationally, with household incomes between the 85th and 94th percentiles, family incomes at the 93rd percentile, and personal incomes at the 94th percentile. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 32.7% of residents earning $1,500 to $2,999 weekly. This is similar to the surrounding region where 32.8% of residents earn within this bracket. A substantial proportion of high earners (44.2%) in Sandhurst have incomes above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout the area. Housing expenses account for 14.4% of income, and residents rank highly for disposable income (94th percentile) and SEIFA income ranking places the area in the 9th decile.

Sandhurst is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Sandhurst's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sandhurst was 28.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.9% and rented ones at 13.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,383, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Weekly rent in Sandhurst was $530, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Sandhurst's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,383 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $530 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 89.1% of all households, including 49.3% couples with children, 32.4% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 10.9%, with lone person households at 9.6% and group households comprising 0.9%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Sandhurst's educational qualifications trail Greater Melbourne's benchmarks, with 29.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 37.0%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 35.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (15.8%) and certificates (19.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.1% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 4.5% 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 five active transport stops operating within Sandhurst. These stops serve a mix of buses on two individual routes, collectively providing 433 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 671 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward and the car remains the dominant mode at 95%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions, 34.6% of residents work from home.

Service frequency averages 61 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 86 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Sandhurst's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 58% of the total population (3,097 people). The most common medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 7.7% and 6.5% of residents respectively. 74.1% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average. The area has 18.0% of residents aged 65 and over (954 people), higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Sandhurst was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Sandhurst's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 18.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 31.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Sandhurst, accounting for 49.3%. Notably, Judaism, comprising 0.6%, was higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 1.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (26.7%), Australian (21.9%), and Other (10.5%). Some ethnic groups showed significant variations: South African (1.9% vs regional 0.4%), Sri Lankan (1.0% vs 0.8%), and Welsh (0.8% vs 0.4%) were notably overrepresented in Sandhurst.

Sandhurst's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Sandhurst is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. The 65-74 age group comprises 12.2% of the population in Sandhurst, compared to a lower percentage in Greater Melbourne. Conversely, the 25-34 age group makes up only 6.7% of Sandhurst's population. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group grew from 2.9% to 4.8%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 10.6% to 12.1%. However, the 5 to 14 age group declined from 15.2% to 13.4%, and the 35 to 44 age group dropped from 16.3% to 14.8%. Population forecasts for Sandhurst in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the 65 to 74 age group expected to grow by 50% (adding 324 people), reaching a total of 971 from 646. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 50% of Sandhurst's total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 35 to 44 and 5 to 14 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.