St Kilda East

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

The population of the St Kilda East statistical area (Lv2) is estimated to be around 13,627 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,056 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,571 people in the St Kilda East (SA2). The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 13,473 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 53 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 6,003 persons per square kilometer, placing St Kilda East within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 8.4% growth since the census is within 1.3 percentage points of the national average (9.7%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in St Kilda East.

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 the 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 these projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecast for the St Kilda East (SA2), with an expected increase of 3,231 persons to 2041. This reflects an increase of 24.6% in total over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, St Kilda East averaged approximately 27 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 137 homes. As of FY-26, four approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an average of 0.1 people moved to the area per dwelling built annually. New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new properties is $1,205,000, indicating a developer focus on the premium segment. This financial year has seen $13.1 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. New building activity shows 17.0% standalone homes and 83.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living and creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With approximately 315 people per dwelling approval, St Kilda East indicates a developing market. Population forecasts suggest the area will gain 3,357 residents by 2041 (latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Coles Carlisle Street Precinct Development, Small Parks Program - Balaclava/St Kilda East, 191-193 Carlisle Street Mixed Development, and Armadale Manor. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in St Kilda East has been broadly consistent with national averages

St Kilda East has a highly educated workforce with professional services being well-represented. The unemployment rate was 4.8% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.7%.

As of September 2025, 8,889 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 0.1% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation was at 73.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors. The area has a strong specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Meanwhile, construction employment was limited at 6.3%, compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.7% and labour force increased by 3.8%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 3.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 14.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to St Kilda East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

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

The suburb of St Kilda East has a notably high income level nationally, based on the latest Australian Taxation Office data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in St Kilda East is $63,730, with an average income of $100,005. These figures compare to those of Greater Melbourne, which are $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Considering the Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $68,988 (median) and $108,255 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, individual earnings in St Kilda East stand out at the 90th percentile nationally, with a weekly income of $1,183. The data shows that 34.0% of the population, comprising 4,633 individuals, falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which is consistent with broader trends across the region at 32.8%. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income in St Kilda East, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 65th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

St Kilda East features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living

St Kilda East's housing structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 19.0% houses and 81.0% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and others. Home ownership in St Kilda East stood at 21.2%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 29.1% and rented ones at 49.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,128, while the median weekly rent was $396. Nationally, St Kilda East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents exceeding the national figure of $375.

St Kilda East features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a median household size of 2.1 people

Family households constitute 50.5% of all households, including 19.7% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 5.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 49.5%, with lone person households at 40.5% and group households comprising 8.9%. The median household size is 2.1 people.

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

Educational attainment in St Kilda East is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 54.1% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. This substantial educational advantage positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%).

Vocational pathways account for 22.0% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above – advanced diplomas make up 10.7% and certificates 11.3%. Educational participation is notably high, with 31.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest figures. This includes 8.8% in tertiary education, 8.4% in primary education, and 6.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

St Kilda East has 35 active public transport stops, operating a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 8 different routes, collectively offering 7,499 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 183 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 1,071 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 214 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results in St Kilda East, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 66% of the total population (9019 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 10.4% and 7.5% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 73.8%, report being completely free from medical ailments, contrasting with the 0% reported across Greater Melbourne. As of 2021, 10.8% of residents are aged 65 and over (1471 people). Health outcomes among seniors in St Kilda East align closely with those of the general population.

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

St Kilda East had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 22.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 32.3% born overseas. The predominant religion was Judaism, at 28.8%, compared to none across Greater Melbourne. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (19.9%), Australian (19.4%), and Other (18.7%).

Notably, Polish (3.9%) was overrepresented in St Kilda East compared to the regional average of none. Similarly, Russian (2.0%) and Hungarian (1.6%) were also more prevalent than the regional averages of none.

St Kilda East hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

St Kilda East's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Kilda East has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (25.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the latest data, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 10.8% to 12.6%, while the proportion of those aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 10.6% to 9.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in St Kilda East, with the strongest projected growth occurring among residents aged 45-54, expected to increase by 49%, adding 739 residents to reach a total of 2,238.