Sandringham (Vic.)

Population growth drivers in Sandringham are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Sandringham's population is estimated at around 12,004 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,078 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,926 in the suburb of Sandringham (Vic.). The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 11,558 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 175 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,226 persons per square kilometer, placing Sandringham in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Sandringham's growth rate of 9.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (8.7%) and SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to grow by 1,245 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 5.7% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Sandringham when compared nationally

Sandringham saw approximately 96 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years ending June 2021. This totals an estimated 484 homes. As of FY-26, 13 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline in the area, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $646,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. In FY-26, $27.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting moderate levels of commercial development compared to Greater Melbourne. Sandringham has 11.0% less new development per person relative to Greater Melbourne but ranks among the 91st percentile nationally for development activity. Recent periods have seen an increase in development activity. New development consists of 17.0% detached dwellings and 83.0% attached dwellings, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 50.0% houses).

This trend towards denser development caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 75 people per dwelling approval, Sandringham exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Sandringham is projected to add 687 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should adequately meet housing demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Sandringham has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include Sanctuary Sandringham, Miramar, The Coterie, and Beach Point Sandringham. Below is a list of projects likely to have the greatest relevance.

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.8%, Sandringham has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Sandringham has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 3.8%, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data as of September 2025. In this month, 6,178 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.9% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

However, workforce participation in Sandringham lagged significantly at 64.0%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 49.7% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical services (1.6 times the regional average), health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing shows lower representation at 2.7% versus the regional average of 5.2%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between May-24 and Apr-25, labour force increased by 0.3%, while employment decreased by 0.9% in Sandringham, causing unemployment to rise by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest that over five years (May-25 to May-30), national employment is expected to expand by 6.6%, with Sandringham's local employment projected to increase by 7.1% based on its current mix of industries. Over ten years, national employment is forecast to grow by 13.7%, and Sandringham's local employment is estimated to rise by 14.2%. These projections are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, Sandringham suburb had a median income among taxpayers of $67,491 with average income standing at $117,806. Nationally, these figures place Sandringham in the top percentile. In Greater Melbourne, median and average incomes were $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% suggest median income will be approximately $73,059 and average income $127,525. The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Sandringham rank between the 83rd and 85th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 29.6% of residents earn over $4,000 annually (3,553 individuals), contrasting with the regional leading bracket of $1,500 - $2,999 at 32.8%. Sandringham's high earnings are reflected in its premium retail and service offerings, with 41.1% earning over $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 14.2% of income, while residents' disposable income ranks them in the 85th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Sandringham displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Sandringham's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 50.2% houses and 49.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sandringham stood at 40.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.2% and rented ones at 26.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,708, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Sandringham was $460, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Sandringham's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 68.1% of all households, including 31.9% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 7.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.9%, with lone person households at 30.0% and group households comprising 1.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Sandringham's educational attainment exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 48.3% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 30.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.2%) and graduate diplomas (5.2%). Vocational pathways account for 23.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 11.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.8% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Sandringham has 46 active public transport stops serving buses along 11 routes. These provide a total of 4,281 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent access to transport, with an average distance of 191 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Cars are the dominant mode of transport at 80%, followed by trains at 10% and walking at 5%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 49.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 611 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 93 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Sandringham's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 73% of Sandringham's total population (8,777 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.8 and 6.9% of residents respectively. Notably, 70.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Sandringham has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.8%, with 3,217 people, compared to 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, aligning broadly with national rankings for the general population.

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

Sandringham's population, as per the Australian Census 2016, exhibited cultural diversity with 12.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 27.0% born overseas. Christianity was the dominant religion in Sandringham, with 47.9%. Judaism, however, showed overrepresentation at 0.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%.

Ancestry-wise, English (29.9%) was significantly higher than the regional average of 20.1%, followed by Australian (21.2%) and Irish (10.6%). Notably, Russian (0.6%), Scottish (9.5%), and Hungarian (0.4%) groups were overrepresented compared to their regional percentages of 0.4%, 5.6%, and 0.3% respectively.

Sandringham hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Sandringham's median age is 47 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. The 55-64 age group comprises 15.4% of Sandringham's population compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 6.4%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 75-84 age group has grown from 7.0% to 10.0%, and the 15-24 cohort has increased from 11.1% to 12.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 16.0% to 14.3%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 11.9% to 10.4%. Demographic modeling projects significant changes in Sandringham's age profile by 2041, with the 85+ cohort expected to grow by 85%, adding 447 residents to reach 976. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 89% of population growth, reflecting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 55-64 cohorts.