St Albans (Vic.)

An assessment of population growth drivers in St Albans reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of St Albans (Vic.) has an estimated population of around 39,065 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,023 people (2.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 38,042 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 38,767 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 354 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,044 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. St Albans's 2.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (2.6%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 89.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising 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 from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, an above median population growth of national statistical areas is projected, with the area expected to expand by 6,397 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 15.6% in total over the 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, with a total of 697 approved over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25. In FY26 up until now, there have been 29 approvals. The population decline in recent years has been met with adequate development activity relative to the population change, benefiting buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average cost of $314,000, which is lower than regional norms, offering more affordable housing options. This financial year, St Albans has registered $122.9 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans has recorded elevated construction levels at 21.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice and supports existing property values, while being below national averages due to the area's maturity and potential planning constraints. New developments in St Albans consist of 22.0% detached houses and 78.0% attached dwellings, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 75.0% houses. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences.

The location has approximately 342 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Future projections estimate St Albans will add 6,098 residents by 2041. Existing development levels appear aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 36 projects likely affecting the area. Notable projects include St Albans Activity Centre Precinct Structure Plan, Sunshine Energy Park, Sunshine Health, Wellbeing and Education Precinct, Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre. 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.

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 9.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.9%.

As of June 2025, 17,867 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 4.3%, above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 48.7% compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and transport, postal & warehousing, with a particularly strong specialization in the latter sector (2.1 times the regional level). Professional & technical employment had limited presence at 4.6% compared to the regional level of 10.1%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 4.9% alongside labour force increasing by 5.7%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.7 percentage points. This compares to Greater Melbourne where employment grew by 3.5%, labour force expanded by 4.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer further insight into potential future demand within St Albans. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to St Albans's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years.

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 2022 shows median income in St Albans was $42,109 and average income was $47,865. This is below Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes are approximately $47,229 (median) and $53,685 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data indicates household, family and personal incomes in St Albans fall between the 3rd and 13th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 28.7% of locals (11,211 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to Melbourne's 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 82.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 13th percentile.

St Albans is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in St Albans, as per the latest Census, consisted of 74.7% houses and 25.3% other dwellings. This compares to Melbourne metro's figures of 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Albans was at 36.4%, similar to Melbourne metro, with the rest being mortgaged (25.7%) or rented (37.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in St Albans was $1,500, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $1,700. The median weekly rent figure for St Albans was $325, compared to Melbourne metro's $346. Nationally, St Albans' mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,500 versus 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 lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 23.4% and group households comprising 5.2%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

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 prevalent, with 26.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (16.4%). Educational participation is high at 33.2%, with 9.4% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

There are 15 schools serving 6,554 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 960) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 10 primary, 3 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Analysis of public transport in St Albans shows 135 active transport stops operating within the area, consisting of a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 11 individual routes, collectively facilitating 8,100 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 221 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 1,157 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 60 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in St Albans is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

St Albans shows above-average health outcomes with low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population, but higher than national averages for older and at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low, at approximately 46% (around 17,919 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 48.1%. Nationally, the average is 55.3%.

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 Greater Melbourne's 73.5%. St Albans has a larger senior population at 19.1%, around 7,461 people, compared to Greater Melbourne's 17.9%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting challenges.

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 one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in Australia, 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 the population. However, Buddhism is significantly overrepresented, comprising 17.5%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 12.5%.

The top three ancestry groups in St Albans are Vietnamese (25.2%), Other (20.7%), and Australian (7.7%). Notably, Maltese (4.3%) is slightly overrepresented compared to the regional average of 4.6%, while Croatian (2.4%) and Serbian (1.4%) also show higher representation than their respective regional averages of 2.2% and 1%.

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. This is slightly below the Australian median age of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (9.9%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (12.7%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 has increased from 5.8% to 6.5%, while the percentage of residents aged 0-4 has decreased from 5.6% to 5.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests St Albans's age profile will significantly change. The 55-64 cohort is projected to grow by 33%, adding 1,446 residents to reach 5,861. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 50% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.