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

As of Nov 2025, the estimated population for the St Albans (Vic.) statistical area (Lv2) is around 39,177, reflecting an increase of 1,135 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 38,042 in this area. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 38,766 as of June 2024 and an additional 354 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of approximately 3,053 persons per square kilometer, placing St Albans (Vic.) in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area experienced a growth rate of 3.0% between the 2021 Census and Nov 2025, exceeding the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.5%. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 89.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these aggregated SA2-level projections, the St Albans (Vic.) (SA2) is expected to experience above median population growth nationally, with an anticipated increase of 6,397 persons by 2041. This reflects a total increase of 15.3% over the 17-year period from Nov 2025 to 2041.

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's analysis of ABS building approval data. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 697 homes were approved, with an additional 40 approved in FY26 as of now. Despite a recent population decline, development activity has been relatively adequate.

The average construction value for new properties is $314,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. This financial year has seen $122.9 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans has a somewhat elevated construction rate, at 21.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, it is below the national average, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of 22.0% detached houses and 78.0% attached dwellings, a shift from the current 75.0% house dominance.

This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The location has approximately 342 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Future projections estimate St Albans will add around 5,986 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current 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 influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 36 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones 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 strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 9.3% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.0%.

As of September 2025, there are 17,572 residents employed, but the unemployment rate is higher than Greater Melbourne's at 4.7%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation lags significantly at 48.7% compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and transport, postal & warehousing sectors. The area has a particularly strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence at 4.6% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Over the past year, employment increased by 4.0%, while labour force grew by 5.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment 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. State-level data from 25-Nov shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to St Albans' 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 ending June 2023 indicates that median income in St Albans is $42,109 and average income is $47,865. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income in St Albans would be approximately $45,583 and average income would be around $51,814 by that date. Census data from 2021 shows household, family, and personal incomes in St Albans fall between the 3rd and 13th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 28.7% of locals (11,243 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in St Albans, 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 a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

St Albans' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consists of 74.7% houses and 25.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Albans stands at 36.4%, similar to Melbourne metro, with the rest being mortgaged (25.7%) or rented (37.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,500, below Melbourne metro's average of $1,700. Median weekly rent in St Albans is $325, compared to Melbourne metro's $346. Nationally, St Albans' mortgage repayments are lower at $1,500 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are 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 make up 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.

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

St Albans has 132 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 12 routes, collectively providing 5,299 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 221 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 757 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 40 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 a lower prevalence of common health conditions among its general population compared to national averages, but has a higher rate among older and at-risk cohorts. Approximately 46% of St Albans' total population (~17,970 people) has private health cover, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's 48.5% and the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in St Albans are arthritis (affecting 6.5% of residents) and diabetes (6.4%).

A total of 74.2% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 73.5% across Greater Melbourne. St Albans has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.1% (7,482 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 17.9%. Health outcomes among seniors in the area require more attention than those of 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 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, making up 17.5% compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 12.5%.

The top three ancestry groups in St Albans are Vietnamese at 25.2%, Other at 20.7%, and Australian at 7.7%. Notably, Maltese (4.3%) and Croatian (2.4%) populations are higher than the regional averages of 4.6% and 2.2% respectively, while Serbian is slightly overrepresented at 1.4% compared to the regional average of 1.0%.

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

At 36 years, St Albans's median age is nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years, which is modestly under the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 (9.9%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (12.7%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the age group of 75 to 84 years has grown from 5.8% to 6.5% of St Albans's population. Conversely, the cohort of 0 to 4 years old has declined from 5.6% to 5.0%. Demographic modeling suggests that St Albans's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 55 to 64 age group is projected to grow by 32%, adding 1,433 residents to reach a total of 5,861 residents in this cohort. Senior residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 51% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the cohorts of 0 to 4 years old and 5 to 14 years old are projected to experience population declines.