St Albans (Vic.)

St Albans has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

The population of the suburb of St Albans (Vic.) was estimated at around 39,229 as of February 2026. This reflected an increase of 1,187 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 38,042 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 38,766 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 370 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 3,057 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 3.1% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA3 area (2.6%). Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 89.0% 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. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilised the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics projected an above median growth, with the suburb expected to expand by 6,397 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 15.1% in total over these 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in St Albans according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

St Albans has seen approximately 139 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS data. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 697 homes were approved, with another 40 in FY-26 so far. Despite population decline, development activity has been sufficient relative to the decreasing population, benefiting buyers.

Average construction value is $314,000, matching broader regional trends. This financial year, St Albans recorded $122.9 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans has 21.0% higher construction per person over the past five years, offering good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, this is below national average, suggesting possible planning constraints and area maturity. New developments consist of 22.0% detached houses and 78.0% attached dwellings, promoting affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, marking a shift from the current 75.0% house dominance. St Albans has approximately 342 people per dwelling approval, indicating low-density market conditions.

Future projections estimate an addition of 5,934 residents by 2041, with existing development levels aligning with future requirements to maintain stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

St Albans has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 36 such projects that could potentially affect this area. Notable among these are the St Albans Activity Centre Precinct Structure Plan, Sunshine Energy Park, Sunshine Health, Wellbeing and Education Precinct, and Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre. The following list details those projects likely to have the most relevance.

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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates St Albans faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

St Albans has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented. The unemployment rate was 9.3% as of an unspecified past year. Employment growth over the same period was estimated at 4.0%.

As of September 2025, 17,572 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.7%, slightly above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in St Albans lagged behind Greater Melbourne at 58.7% compared to 71.0%. Only 13.3% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and transport, postal & warehousing.

The area showed strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services had limited presence at 4.6% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 4.0%, labour force rose by 5.4%, and unemployment rose by 1.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0%, labour force expand by 3.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to St Albans' employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for local population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that in St Albans, median income is $42,109 and average income is $47,865. This is below the national averages of $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average) for Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated median income in St Albans as of September 2025 is approximately $45,583, with average income around $51,814. Census 2021 data indicates that incomes in St Albans fall between the 3rd and 13th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The predominant income bracket in St Albans is $1,500 - 2,999, representing 28.7% of locals (11,258 people), similar to Melbourne's metropolitan region at 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.

St Albans is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

St Albans' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 74.7% houses and 25.3% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Albans was 36.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.7% and rented at 37.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, below Melbourne's $2,000 average. Median weekly rent was $325, compared to Melbourne's $390. Nationally, St Albans' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

St Albans features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.5% of all households, including 30.6% couples with children, 20.8% couples without children, and 17.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 23.4% and group households making up 5.2%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in St Albans fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 22.3%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are held by 26.4% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 16.4%. Educational participation is high, with 33.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.4% in primary, 7.8% in secondary, and 6.6% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 33.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in St Albans indicates there are 133 active transport stops operating within the area, consisting solely of bus stops. These are serviced by 12 individual routes, collectively facilitating 5,299 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 221 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward. The car remains the dominant mode of transport at 79%, while 14% use the train for commuting. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 13.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 757 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 39 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

St Albans's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data for St Albans shows positive outcomes overall, with mortality rates and health conditions comparable to national benchmarks. Common health conditions are relatively low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is low, at approximately 46% of the total population (around 17,994 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and diabetes, affecting 6.5% and 6.4% of residents respectively. About 74.2% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. St Albans has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 19.6% (around 7,688 people), compared to 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes for seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

St Albans is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

St Albans has a high level of cultural diversity, with 64.2% of its population born overseas and 76.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in St Albans, accounting for 45.6% of people. Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 17.5% versus the regional average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Vietnamese (25.2%), Other (20.7%), and Australian (7.7%). Notably, Maltese (4.3%) Croatian (2.4%), and Serbian (1.4%) ethnicities are overrepresented in St Albans compared to regional averages of 1.1%, 0.7%, and 0.4% respectively.

St Albans's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

St Albans's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and slightly below Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (10.1%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (12.6%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 75 to 84 has increased from 5.8% to 6.7%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 10.7% to 9.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in St Albans's age profile. The 55 to 64 cohort is projected to grow by 30%, adding 1,349 residents to reach a total of 5,861. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 group is projected to decrease by 179 residents.