Balwyn

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

Balwyn's population is 17,007 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 844 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,163. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,966 in June 2024 and an additional 92 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,042 persons per square kilometer, placing Balwyn in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Balwyn's growth rate of 5.2% since the census is within 1.7 percentage points of the SA3 area's 6.9%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for this population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made using weighted aggregation for areas not covered by the first data set. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Balwyn is expected to grow by approximately 927 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of around 5.2% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Balwyn when compared nationally

Balwyn has seen approximately 103 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25518 homes were approved, with an additional 37 approved in FY26 so far. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely been meeting demand, providing good options for buyers.

Developers focus on the premium market, with average construction values of $946,000 per property. In terms of commercial development, $20.2 million in approvals have been registered this financial year, indicating balanced activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Balwyn has slightly more development, measuring 12.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. New building activity comprises 46.0% detached houses and 54.0% medium and high-density housing, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers with affordable entry pathways.

Balwyn has around 166 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density area. Population forecasts estimate an increase of 886 residents by 2041, suggesting that current development patterns should readily meet demand and potentially facilitate population growth beyond projections.

Balwyn has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include White & Weston Balwyn Village, Koonung Creek Reserve Restoration, Parring Collection, and Maleela Rise Balwyn. The following list details those likely to be 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.

The labour market in Balwyn shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Balwyn has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.7% as of September 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.3%. As of September 2025, 8,681 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 57.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. The area has a notably high concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.3%, while labour force grew by 2.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. State-level data from November 25 shows that 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 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Balwyn's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Balwyn SA2 is $49,941 and average income is $95,572. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes are approximately $56,014 (median) and $107,194 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, Balwyn's household, family and personal incomes cluster around the 64th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 26.3% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, aligning with surrounding regions at 32.8%. Notably, 34.3% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 15.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 67th percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking is in the 9th decile.

Balwyn displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Balwyn's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 59.8% houses and 40.2% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 55.5% houses and 44.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Balwyn stood at 44.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented ones at 27.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $461, compared to Melbourne metro's $3,000 and $451 respectively. Nationally, Balwyn's median mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Balwyn has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 72.2% of all households, including 36.1% that are couples with children, 23.7% that are couples without children, and 11.4% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 27.8%, with lone person households at 25.4% and group households comprising 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

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

Balwyn's educational attainment notably exceeds national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 52.8% possess university qualifications, contrasting with Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (33.2%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational pathways make up 17.9%, including advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (7.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 31.8% currently enrolled in formal education: 9.6% in secondary, 8.9% in tertiary, and 8.8% pursuing primary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 60 active stops operating within Balwyn. These include lightrail and bus services. Eleven routes serve these stops, collectively facilitating 3,397 weekly passenger trips.

Residential accessibility to transport is rated good, with typical distances to the nearest stop being 219 meters. Service frequency averages 485 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 56 weekly trips per individual stop.

Balwyn's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Balwyn. Both young and old age cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 69% of the total population (11,785 people), compared to 77.7% across Greater Melbourne.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 6.8 and 6.1% of residents respectively. A total of 74.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.8% across Greater Melbourne. Balwyn has 24.0% of residents aged 65 and over (4,073 people), which is higher than the 19.4% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Balwyn is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Balwyn has a high level of cultural diversity, with 45.5% of its population born overseas and 45.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Balwyn is Christianity, which accounts for 41.7% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented in Balwyn, comprising 5.8% compared to the regional average of 3.5%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are Chinese (26.8%), English (17.6%), and Australian (14.0%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Greek at 3.2% in Balwyn versus 3.4% regionally, Sri Lankan at 0.6% versus 0.7%, and Vietnamese at 1.6% versus 1.2%.

Balwyn's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Balwyn is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 years are particularly prominent, making up 11.3% of the population, while the 25-34 year-olds comprise only 10.0%. Between 2021 and the present, the percentage of the population aged 75 to 84 has increased from 7.3% to 8.2%, while the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 14.0% to 13.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Balwyn's age structure. The number of people aged 85 and above is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 647 individuals (an 86% increase) from 751 to 1,399. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 86% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the populations aged 0-4 years and 35-44 years are expected to decline.