Balwyn
Statistical Area - sa2

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, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stands at approximately 16,992 by August 2025. This figure indicates a rise of 829 individuals, representing a 5.1% increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a total of 16,163 residents. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,966 in June 2024 and an additional 86 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,039 persons per square kilometer, placing Balwyn in the upper quartile compared to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 5.1% growth since the Census is within 1.7 percentage points of its SA3 area (6.8%), suggesting competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver for population growth in recent periods.

AreaSearch employs 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 utilizes the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting them using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and the latest population numbers, Balwyn is expected to increase by approximately 927 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of about 5.3% 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. Development approval data from the ABS is produced on a financial year basis, with 518 homes approved over the past five financial years between FY21 and FY25, and 15 approved so far in FY26. The population decline in recent years has been met with adequate development activity relative to other areas, benefiting buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost of $1,367,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment by developers.

There have also been $20.2 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Balwyn has slightly more development, with 12.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, offering buyer choice while supporting current property values. New building activity shows 46.0% detached houses and 54.0% medium and high-density housing, providing affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 166 people per dwelling approval, Balwyn exhibits characteristics of a low-density area.

Population forecasts indicate an increase of 901 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects expected to affect the area. Notable projects are White & Weston Balwyn Village, Threadneedle Apartments, Maleela Rise Balwyn, and Koonung Creek Reserve Restoration. The following list details those likely most relevant.

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

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

Balwyn has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 2.6% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.9%.

As of June 2025, 8784 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.0% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation lags at 57.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. Professional & technical services have a notably high concentration, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

However, construction shows lower representation at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population count versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.9%, and labour force increased by 3.0%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at 2.6%. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a slight rise in unemployment to 5.1%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Balwyn's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.3% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest data for postcode level ATO incomes shows that Balwyn had a median assessed income of $49,941 and an average income of $95,572 in the financial year 2022. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 for the same period. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $54,990 (median) and $105,234 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Balwyn are at the 65th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 26.3% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 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. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Balwyn's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 59.8% houses and 40.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares 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. Median weekly rent was $461, compared to Melbourne metro's $3,000 and $451 respectively. Nationally, Balwyn's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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% couples with children, 23.7% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 27.8%, with lone person households at 25.4% and group households comprising 2.3%. 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

Educational attainment in Balwyn is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. As of the most recent data available (2016), 52.8% of residents aged 15 years or older hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. This high level of educational attainment is led by Bachelor degrees at 33.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 15.2% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Vocational pathways account for 17.9% of qualifications among those aged 15 years or older, with advanced diplomas making up 10.5% and certificates making up 7.4%.

Educational participation is notably high in Balwyn, with 31.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in secondary education, 8.9% in tertiary education, and 8.8% pursuing primary education. As of the latest report (2017), there are approximately 7 schools operating within Balwyn, educating around 3,078 students. Balwyn demonstrates exceptional educational performance, with an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) score of 1153, placing local schools among the most advantaged nationally. The educational mix includes 3 primary schools and 4 K-12 schools.

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

The analysis of public transport in Balwyn indicates that there are currently 60 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops consist of a mix of light rail and bus services. In total, these stops are serviced by 11 individual routes which collectively provide 3,397 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as good with residents typically located an average of 219 meters from the nearest transport stop. The 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 very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Balwyn. The prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups is very low. Approximately 69% of the total population (11,775 people) has private health cover, compared to 77.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 6.8 and 6.1% of residents respectively. 74.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.8% across Greater Melbourne. Balwyn has 24.0% of residents aged 65 and over (4,069 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 45.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 45.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Balwyn, making up 41.7% of people. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 5.8% versus 3.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (26.8%), English (17.6%), and Australian (14.0%). Notably, Greek (3.2%) and Vietnamese (1.6%) populations are higher than the regional averages of 3.4% and 1.2%, respectively, while Sri Lankan ancestry is slightly lower at 0.6% compared to the region's 0.7%.

Balwyn hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Balwyn is 43 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 make up 11.3% of the population, while those aged 25-34 comprise only 10.0%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 7.3% to 8.2%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 14.0% to 13.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that Balwyn's 85+ age cohort will rise substantially, increasing by 647 people (86%) from 751 to 1,399. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 86% of total population growth. Conversely, the 35 to 44 and 0 to 4 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.