Sandringham (Vic.)

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

As of Nov 2025, Sandringham's population is estimated at around 11,764, reflecting a 838 person increase since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 10,926 in the suburb of Sandringham (Vic.). This growth, equivalent to a 7.7% increase, is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 11,670 residents following examination of ABS ERP data released Jun 2024 and additional validation of 114 new addresses since the Census date. With this population, Sandringham has a density ratio of 3,162 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This growth exceeded the SA3 area's 5.4% and the SA4 region's growth rate, marking Sandringham as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during this period.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in Jun 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in Jun 2023 with adjustments made 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 1,229 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 7.9% in total over the 17 years.

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

Sandringham has seen approximately 107 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years ending June 2021. This totals an estimated 539 homes. As of July 2026, nine 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 $645,000, which is higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. In the current financial year ending June 2026, $34.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Sandringham's development levels per person are similar to Greater Melbourne, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. However, development activity has increased recently. Current new development consists of 15.0% detached dwellings and 85.0% attached dwellings, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns which are currently 50.0% houses.

This trend is likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences, as well as housing affordability needs. With around 63 people per dwelling approval, Sandringham exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Sandringham is projected to add 928 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Sandringham 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 28 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects are Sanctuary Sandringham, Miramar, The Coterie, and Beach Point Sandringham. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.6%, Sandringham has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Sandringham has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 3.6% in June 2025, below Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment participation was 61.8%, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment sectors were professional & technical (1.6 times regional average), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Transport, postal & warehousing had lower representation at 2.7% versus the regional average of 5.2%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities.

Over a year, labour force increased by 1.2%, employment decreased by 0.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.5% and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sandringham's mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 ended 30 June 2022, Sandringham had a median income among taxpayers of $67,488 with the average level standing at $117,546. This places it in the top percentile nationally, compared to levels of $54,892 and $73,761 across Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% from financial year ended 30 June 2022 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $75,695 (median) and $131,840 (average). From the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Sandringham, between the 83rd and 85th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 29.6% of the community (3,482 individuals) earn over $4,000 per week, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. The district demonstrates considerable affluence with 41.1% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 14.2% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 85th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Sandringham displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Sandringham's dwellings, 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 62.6% houses and 37.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sandringham was 40.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.2% and rented dwellings at 26.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,708, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $3,000. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $460, compared to Melbourne metro's $520. Nationally, Sandringham's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were 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 constitute the remaining 31.9%, with lone person households at 30.0% and group households making up 1.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

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 residents aged 15 and above have a higher percentage of university qualifications (48.3%) compared to Australia (30.4%) and Victoria (33.4%). 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% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.9% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 6.7% pursuing tertiary education. Sandringham's five schools have a combined enrollment of 2,269 students. The area has significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1132). The educational mix includes three primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs with 19.3 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.5, indicating Sandringham serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Sandringham has 45 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 10 different routes, together facilitating 5,476 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents usually located just 190 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 782 daily trips across all routes, equating to around 121 weekly trips per individual stop.

Sandringham's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Sandringham residents showed relatively positive health outcomes, with low prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 73% (8,590 people) had private health cover, higher than Greater Melbourne's 78.5%, but lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent conditions were arthritis (7.8%) and mental health issues (6.9%), with 70.7% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 72.0% in Greater Melbourne.

Sandringham had a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 25.7% (3,023 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 22.9%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

Sandringham's population showed above-average cultural diversity, with 12.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 27.0% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 47.9%. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented in Sandringham compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 0.9% versus 3.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (29.9%), Australian (21.2%), and Irish (10.6%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Russian was slightly higher at 0.6% in Sandringham compared to the regional figure of 0.9%, Scottish was somewhat higher at 9.5% versus 8.3%, and Hungarian remained similar at 0.4%.

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

Sandringham's median age is 47 years, considerably higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. The 55-64 age group represents 15.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort represents 6.7%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75-84 age group grew from 7.0% to 9.1%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 11.1% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 16.0% to 14.7%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 11.9% to 10.8%. Demographic modeling suggests Sandringham's age profile will significantly evolve by 2041. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 49%, adding 523 residents to reach 1,594. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 93% of population growth, emphasizing demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts.