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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of St Kilda East's population is estimated at around 13,480 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 909 people (7.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,571 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 13,366 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 51 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,964 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. St Kilda East's 7.2% growth since census positions it within 2.1 percentage points of the state (9.3%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 83.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national statistical areas is forecast, with the suburb expected to increase by 3,040 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 21.7% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in St Kilda East, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in St Kilda East shows an average of around 27 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 136 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 28 approvals have been recorded. The population has declined recently, indicating that new supply may be keeping up with demand and offering good choice to buyers. The average expected construction cost value for new properties is $1,205,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

This financial year has seen $13.1 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. New building activity comprises 17.0% standalone homes and 83.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 313 people per dwelling approval, St Kilda East exhibits a developing market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to grow by 2,926 residents through to 2041. 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 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 23 projects likely affecting 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.

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.

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

St Kilda East has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 4.8%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.5% over the past year (AreaSearch aggregation). As of December 2025, there are 8,617 employed residents, with an unemployment rate matching Greater Melbourne's at 4.8%.

Workforce participation is high at 79.0%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Census data shows 45.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment sectors are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Construction employment is limited at 6.3%, compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by the difference between working population and resident population counts. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.5% and labour force grew by 2.5%, keeping unemployment broadly stable. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, and a 0.3 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% 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, though this is a simplified 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

The suburb of St Kilda East had a median income among taxpayers of $63,730 and an average income of $100,050 in the financial year 2023. These figures are higher than Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 for the same period. As of March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $69,861 (median) and $109,625 (average), based on a 9.62% increase since financial year 2023. According to Census 2021 income data, individual earnings in St Kilda East stood at the 90th percentile nationally ($1,183 weekly). In this suburb, 34.0% of the population (4,583 individuals) fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, which is consistent with broader trends across the region showing 32.8% in the same category. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income in St Kilda East, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 65th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

St Kilda East features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

St Kilda East's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 19.0% houses and 81.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Kilda East was at 21.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.1% and rented dwellings at 49.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,128, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in St Kilda East was $396, slightly above Melbourne metro's figure of $390. Nationally, St Kilda East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,128 compared to the Australian average of $1,863. Rents in St Kilda East also exceeded the national average of $375.

St Kilda East features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

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, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

In St Kilda East, residents aged 15 and above have a notably higher level of educational attainment compared to national and state averages. Specifically, 54.1% of the area's residents hold university qualifications, surpassing Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. This educational advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held: Bachelor degrees are most common at 34.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways account for 22.0% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 10.7% and certificates 11.3%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 31.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. 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 operational public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by eight unique routes, facilitating 7,499 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents located an average of 183 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 67% of residents, while trains account for 10%, and walking for 7%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.7, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 45.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 1,071 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 214 weekly trips per individual stop.

St Kilda East's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout St Kilda East. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. The rate of private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 66% of the total population (8,922 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions were mental health issues impacting 10.4% of residents and asthma impacting 7.5%. A total of 73.8% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area had 11.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,509 people), lower than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with 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 has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 22.8% of its population speaking languages other than English at home and 32.3% born overseas. The predominant religion in St Kilda East is Judaism, making up 28.8% of the population, significantly higher than the 1.0% across Greater Melbourne. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (19.9%), Australian (19.4%), and Other (18.7%).

Some ethnic groups have notable disparities: Polish is overrepresented at 3.9% compared to 0.8% regionally, Russian at 2.0% versus 0.4%, and Hungarian at 1.6% compared to 0.3%.

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 (25.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 10.8% to 12.1%, while the proportion of those aged 25 to 34 has risen from 24.6% to 25.8%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 10.6% to 9.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest significant demographic changes in St Kilda East. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 46%, adding 669 residents to reach a total of 2,139. In contrast, the 15-24 age group is expected to show minimal growth of just 2% (an increase of 28 people).