The Basin (Vic.)

The Basin is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The population of the suburb of The Basin (Vic.) is estimated to be around 4,528 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 31 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 4,497. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 4,492 in June 2024 and four new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density stands at 787 persons per square kilometer, aligning with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 52% to overall population gains during recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods. Population growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated nationally, with the area projected to expand by 160 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 2.7% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in The Basin is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows The Basin has averaged around 5 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY21 and FY25, approximately 28 homes were approved, with another 7 approved in FY26 so far. Despite population decline, new supply has likely met demand, offering good buyer choice.

Average construction cost is $780,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. Commercial development approvals this year totalled $1.1 million, suggesting minimal commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, The Basin's building activity is 73.0% lower per person. This constrained new supply typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. The area's established nature is also reflected in its dwelling count per capita, which is below the national average.

Recent development has been exclusively standalone homes, preserving low density and attracting space-seeking buyers. Current population estimate is 1121 people per dwelling approval. Future projections show The Basin adding 124 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, supporting buyer conditions and potentially exceeding current population projections.

The Basin has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. One major project is identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting this area. Key projects include Mountain Highway Logistics Hub, Angliss Hospital Expansion, Bayswater Business Precinct Transformation Strategy, and Dandenong Ranges Environmental Protection Program, with the following list detailing those most relevant.

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

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The employment environment in The Basin shows above-average strength when compared nationally

The Basin's workforce is skilled with notable representation in construction. In the past year, employment grew by 2.3%, as per AreaSearch data aggregation from statistical areas. As of December 2025, unemployment stood at 3.8% and employment growth was estimated at 2.3%.

Compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.8% unemployment rate, The Basin had a lower rate of 1.0%. Workforce participation was on par with Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. Census data showed that 25.8% of residents worked from home; however, Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading industries included construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Construction had a particularly high employment share at 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services had lower representation at 6.0% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Local job opportunities appeared limited based on Census data comparison between working population and resident population. Over the year ending December 2025, employment increased by 2.3%, labour force grew by 1.5%, and unemployment fell by 0.7 percentage points in The Basin. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 2.4%, labour force grow by 2.8%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to The Basin's industry mix suggests local employment could increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, The Basin suburb had a median income among taxpayers of $53,175 and an average income of $64,024. These figures are lower than the national averages of $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average), respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for The Basin as of September 2025 would be approximately $57,562 (median) and $69,306 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in The Basin cluster around the 59th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 36.6% of residents (1,657 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which aligns with the regional average of 32.8%. Housing accounts for 13.7% of income, and residents have strong earnings that rank them in the 70th percentile for disposable income. The Basin's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

The Basin's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.7% houses and 5.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in The Basin stood at 36.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 52.9% and rented ones at 10.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was $365, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, The Basin's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

The Basin features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 78.6% of all households, including 39.0% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 21.4%, with lone person households at 19.5% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of The Basin exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 23.8%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.5%) and certificates (27.0%). Educational participation is high at 28.6%, with 10.4% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.4% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The Basin has 15 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by three routes that combined offer 507 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents living an average of 263 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 93% of residents. On average, there are 1.9 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 25.8% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 72 trips per day across all routes, translating to roughly 33 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in The Basin are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

The Basin's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of the total population (~2,361 people), slightly ahead of the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 10.0 and 8.1% of residents respectively. However, 66.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 17.8% of residents aged 65 and over (805 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

The Basin ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The Basin's cultural diversity was found to be below average. As of the census, 82.4% of its population were born in Australia, with 89.8% being citizens and 91.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 39.3% of The Basin's population.

While Judaism made up just 0.1%, this was an overrepresentation compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 1.0%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.8%), Australian (27.1%), and Scottish (8.7%). These percentages were substantially higher than their respective regional averages of 20.1%, 18.4%, and not specified. Notably, Dutch, Welsh, and Hungarian ethnicities were overrepresented in The Basin compared to regional averages: Dutch at 2.8% versus 1.2%, Welsh at 0.8% versus 0.4%, and Hungarian at 0.4% versus 0.3%.

The Basin's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The Basin has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. The 55-64 cohort is notably over-represented in The Basin at 13.3%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 11.0% to 14.6% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort has grown from 4.9% to 6.3%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group has declined from 11.7% to 8.1%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes in The Basin's age profile by 2041. The 85+ cohort is expected to grow significantly, increasing by 83 people (98%) from 86 to 170. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 66% of total population growth. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 0-4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.