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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Upwey has an estimated 6,876 residents, up from 6,818 at the 2021 Census. That puts 1,106 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch evaluations integrating ABS population revisions across the broader region alongside post-Census validated new addresses, the suburb of Upwey is estimated to reach a population of approximately 6,876 as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 58 people (0.9%) compared to the 2021 Census count of 6,818 people. These figures are derived from an estimated resident population of 6,867 identified through the ABS ERP release from June 2025 in combination with 11 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census. In terms of spatial distribution, the suburb of Upwey maintains a density of 1,105 persons per square kilometer, aligning closely with broader AreaSearch benchmark averages.
Furthermore, the 0.9% post-Census increase in the suburb of Upwey sits within 2.7 percentage points of the wider SA3 area (3.6%), pointing to resilient underlying growth dynamics. Over recent timeframes, natural increase served as the principal driver of demographic expansion, accounting for roughly 56.00000000000001% of total local population gains. Demographic projections for the suburb of Upwey incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia modeling released in 2024 using 2022 as a base year, supplemented where necessary by 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA projections adjusted via weighted LGA-to-SA2 growth aggregation. Age-specific growth trajectories derived from these aggregations are applied forward across the years 2032 to 2041. Over this projection horizon, the suburb of Upwey is anticipated to see an aggregate population reduction of 178 persons by 2041. In contrast to the overall contraction, positive growth is expected among older brackets, most notably in the 75 to 84 cohort, which is projected to expand by 193 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
29 new dwellings have been approved in Upwey over the past five years, an average of 5 a year. That is 0.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 5, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals allocated by AreaSearch indicates that residential construction in Upwey has maintained a pace of approximately 5 residential properties approved annually, culminating in 29 homes across the preceding 5 financial years. In FY-25 to date, 5 approvals have been documented. Against a backdrop of local population decline, this rate of residential development provides sufficient supply for prospective purchasers. Newly approved dwellings carry an average expected construction cost of $538,000, slightly above regional norms, signaling a preference for higher-specification builds. Meanwhile, commercial planning activity has remained subdued, with $232,000 in commercial approvals lodged during the current financial year.
Per capita residential development in Upwey sits 76.0% below the Greater Melbourne regional average, highlighting an acute shortage of new additions that typically supports underlying values for established properties. This subdued rate also tracks below national averages, underscoring the established urban footprint and potential planning constraints within the locality. Detached dwellings represent 83.0% of recent approvals, while medium and high-density housing makes up 17.0%, preserving the low-density neighborhood character favored by buyers seeking space. Nonetheless, this represents a structural shift from the existing dwelling base of 99.0% houses, reflecting constrained land availability, shifting buyer requirements, and affordability considerations. A metric of approximately 1717 people per dwelling approval further illustrates the mature state of the local housing market. With demographic forecasts indicating steady or contracting population numbers, residential demand pressures may ease across Upwey, fostering relatively favorable market dynamics for property buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Upwey
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 41 current infrastructure and development projects close to Upwey, worth an estimated $2.6 billion. 12 are already under construction and 7 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and sports & recreation. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Strategic planning, capital works, and infrastructure delivery play a central role in driving regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 1 project likely to have an impact on the immediate catchment. Principal developments of relevance include the Angliss Hospital Expansion, Six Senses Resort And Spa At Burnham Beeches, Fairpark Reserve, and the Dandenong Ranges Environmental Protection Program.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Angliss Hospital Expansion
A $112 million major redevelopment featuring a new four-storey, all-electric tower. The expansion delivers a 32-bed inpatient unit, four state-of-the-art operating theatres, a new central sterile supply department, and expanded outpatient and allied health services. Major structural works were completed in July 2025, and the project is currently in the fit-out and final construction phase to increase surgical capacity for the Knox and Yarra Ranges communities.
Kings Park Masterplan
Knox City Council's long-term master plan to upgrade Kings Park, a key sporting and recreation precinct. Stage 1 delivers a fully fenced dog park featuring two distinct off-leash zones, sealed path circuits, picnic seating, drinking fountains, and site drainage improvements. Future stages for parkland enhancement remain subject to council planning and annual capital works budgeting.
Bluett Reserve Playground Upgrade
As part of the 2025-26 capital works program, Knox City Council is investing in the renewal of local playgrounds, including the one at Bluett Reserve in Ferntree Gully. The project aims to improve the recreational facilities for the local community.
Ferntree Gully Village Creative Placemaking Plan
Community-driven arts and cultural development project transforming public spaces in Ferntree Gully Village through murals, sculptures, lightbox galleries, and parklet upgrades to enhance safety, community connection, and local pride.
Woolworths Ferntree Gully eCommerce Expansion
A comprehensive 14-week upgrade project to enhance the store's direct-to-boot operations and eCommerce capabilities. The initiative focused on expanding store facilities and improving click-and-collect services through major store extension, civil works, installation of new precast panels, structural steel frameworks, a new canopy, and significant refrigeration and cool room works. All construction was executed within a live trading environment to minimize disruption to daily store operations.
13 Mountain Gate Drive Townhouses
A residential development featuring three 2-bedroom townhouses, each spanning two storeys, designed for modern and spacious living. Located in Ferntree Gully within the City of Knox. The development application has been submitted with estimated completion in mid-2026.
Ferntree Gully Station Street Infrastructure Upgrade
Road renewal program for Station Street, Ferntree Gully from Wyuna Street to Alpine Street. The $790,000 project includes road pavement patching, full asphalt resurfacing, stormwater drainage upgrades, replacement of concrete kerbs, channels, and vehicle crossings, concrete infills where necessary, and other associated minor works to support local businesses.
Burwood Highway-McMahons Road Intersection Upgrade
Upgraded intersection at Burwood Highway, McMahons Road and Clyde Street in Ferntree Gully completed in 2024. Includes extra lanes in each direction on Burwood Highway, new traffic lights with dedicated pedestrian crossings, more street lights, dedicated right turn lanes, shared left turn and through lanes, and a dedicated left turn lane into Clyde Street with improved business access. Improves safety, reduces crashes, and enhances traffic flow.
4,001 residents of Upwey are employed, from a labour force of 4,128. Unemployment sits at 3.1%, with participation at 74.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 5,532, about 80% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Upwey features a highly educated labor force with strong representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 3.1%, and an estimated employment growth of 1.4% over the previous year according to AreaSearch aggregated statistical area data. As of March 2026, there are 4,001 residents employed, and the local unemployment rate sits at 1.7% below the Greater Melbourne rate of 4.8%, while workforce participation remains fairly standard at 74.2% compared to Greater Melbourne's 70.1%. Census data indicates that a high 32.6% of residents were working from home, although the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.
Resident employment is heavily concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The local workforce exhibits a notable specialization in education & training, representing 1.3 times the regional concentration. Conversely, finance & insurance accounts for an under-represented 2.5% of local workers compared to 4.9% across Greater Melbourne. Comparing resident workers against the local daytime workforce confirms that the area is primarily residential with relatively few local commercial employment hubs. According to AreaSearch examination of ABS and SALM figures across the 12-month period, local employment grew by 1.4% while the labor pool expanded by 1.9%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point uptick in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe, Greater Melbourne recorded a 2.1% increase in employment and a 2.3% gain in the labor force, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts from Mar-26 project employment expansions of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. When weighted against Upwey's specific industry distribution for illustrative purposes without factoring in localized population shifts, these projections suggest potential local employment gains of 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Upwey is $2,171 a week (about $113,000 a year), with median personal income at $895 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $53,958 a year against an average of $68,270. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxpayer statistics for financial year 2023 published by AreaSearch show that median taxpayer income in Upwey is $53,958 alongside an average of $68,270, matching national trends and comparing to Greater Melbourne benchmarks of $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average). Factoring in a 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 sit at approximately $59,149 for median earnings and $74,838 for average income. Census 2021 records place personal, family, and household earnings around the 71st percentile nationally. In terms of weekly income brackets, 35.5% of residents (2,440 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 range, closely mirroring the 32.8% observed across metropolitan Melbourne.
Furthermore, 30.2% of households generate weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting healthy retail capacity. Residents retain 87.0% of their earnings after meeting housing payments, placing the area in the 7th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Upwey had 2,413 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 1% apartments. 54% are owned with a mortgage, 10% rented and 36% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $390 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,950 a month. Rent absorbs 18.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential stock in Upwey at the recent Census consisted overwhelmingly of standalone houses at 98.6%, with semi-detached dwellings, units, and other formats comprising 1.4%, in stark contrast to the Greater Melbourne distribution of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Outright home ownership reached 35.8%, substantially exceeding metropolitan levels, while 54.4% of homes were held under a mortgage and 9.8% were rented. The median monthly mortgage commitment was $1,950, sitting below the Greater Melbourne median of $2,000, while median weekly rent matched the metropolitan figure of $390. Across Australia, Upwey's mortgage obligations exceed the national average of $1,863, and weekly rents surpass the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Upwey counted 2,413 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 41% are couples with children, more than in 81% of areas nationally, against 27% couples without children. 17% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 80.4% of all local households, divided between couples with children at 40.8%, couples without children at 27.4%, and single parent families at 11.9%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 19.6%, composed of lone person households at 17.1% and group households at 2.1%. The average household size stands at 2.7 people, slightly above the Greater Melbourne figure of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
32.7% of adults in Upwey hold a university qualification, including 21.3% with a bachelor degree and 7.0% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 85% of areas nationally. A further 23.6% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,229 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,074 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment in the area is prominent across the broader region, with 32.7% of residents aged 15+ holding higher education qualifications compared to the SA3 average of 23.8%. Bachelor degrees represent the largest tertiary qualification at 21.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 7.0% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Vocational pathways are also widely held, with 36.7% of residents aged 15+ possessing technical qualifications, consisting of 13.1% holding advanced diplomas and 23.6% possessing certificates. Community engagement in formal education is substantial, with 28.5% of the local population actively attending educational institutions.
This encompasses 9.8% attending primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 4.7% undertaking tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Upwey reaches 35 stops on 11 routes, timetabled for about 1,800 services a week. The typical home sits about 270 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.8 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity in Upwey is supported by 35 active transport stops dedicated to bus services across 11 routes, which together generate 1,753 weekly scheduled passenger trips. Transit access is convenient, with residents situated an average of 270 meters from their nearest boarding point. Due to the area's residential profile, outward commuting is standard, with private motor vehicles serving as the primary mode of travel at 90%. Vehicle availability averages 1.8 per dwelling, exceeding regional averages. Additionally, 32.6% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census under prevailing COVID-19 settings.
Bus services provide a combined frequency of 250 trips per day across all operating routes, representing an average of roughly 50 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
69.1% of residents in Upwey report no long-term health condition. 3.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments compiled by AreaSearch indicate positive overall well-being in Upwey, characterized by low mortality and minimal prevalence of chronic illnesses across both younger and older demographics. Private health insurance coverage covers roughly 54% of the population (~3,700 people), slightly exceeding typical SA2 levels and comparing against 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. The primary reported health conditions among residents are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 9.6 and 9.0% of the community respectively. Meanwhile, 69.1% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Overall health among working-age individuals remains broadly typical.
Residents aged 65 and over represent 17.5% of the local population (1,203 people), higher than the 15.1% recorded for Greater Melbourne, with older residents registering above-average health outcomes that track consistently with national standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Upwey is largely Australian-born, at 82.6% of residents, with 6.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.3%) and Australian (26.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures indicate that 82.6% of residents in Upwey were born in Australia, 92.4% hold Australian citizenship, and 93.5% communicate exclusively in English at home. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation, accounting for 31.4% of the population. In terms of proportional variation from regional patterns, Judaism accounts for 0.3% of local residents, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne. Looking at parental country of birth, the primary ancestries in Upwey are English at 31.3% (above the 20.1% regional benchmark), Australian at 26.5% (exceeding the 18.4% regional average), and Irish at 9.9%.
Other distinct representations include Dutch at 2.9% (versus 1.2% regionally), Polish at 1.0% (versus 0.8%), and Hungarian at 0.5% (versus 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Upwey is 41. 21.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age distribution in the suburb of Upwey aligns closely with Greater Melbourne benchmarks, with no broad demographic band deviating by more than 9.7 percentage points from the regional baseline. The median age stands at an estimated 41 as at August 2026, unchanged from the 2021 Census and 4 years older than the Greater Melbourne median of 37 recorded at that Census. Seniors and retirees aged 65+ expanded from 14.7% at the Census to an estimated 17.5% of the local population. Looking toward 2041, the 65+ cohort is projected to generate the largest absolute gain, increasing by 220 (18%) to reach 1,423, whereas cohorts of children, young adults, and young-to-middle aged adults are anticipated to experience contractions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Upwey
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 11 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (6,818 at the 2021 Census → 6,876 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL22620). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.