Balwyn North

An assessment of population growth drivers in Balwyn North reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Balwyn North's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 22,362. This figure shows an increase of 1,239 people from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,123. The growth was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 22,325 in June 2024 and an additional 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,526 persons per square kilometer, placing Balwyn North in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Over the past decade, Balwyn North has exhibited steady growth with a compound annual growth rate of 0.5%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, Balwyn North is expected to experience lower quartile growth in line with national statistical areas. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is projected to grow by 969 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 4.2% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Balwyn North when compared nationally

Balwyn North has granted approximately 124 residential property approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25621 homes were approved, with an additional 57 approved in FY-26 to date. Over these five financial years, an average of 0.6 new residents per dwelling was recorded annually.

This suggests that the supply of new properties is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new properties is $1,020,000, indicating a focus on the premium market. In FY-26, $7.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting limited commercial development activity compared to residential.

Balwyn North's development levels per person are similar to those of Greater Melbourne, maintaining market balance with the broader area. Recent construction comprises 71.0% detached dwellings and 29.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's traditional suburban character. With approximately 165 people per dwelling approval, Balwyn North is a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Balwyn North is projected to gain 932 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Balwyn North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 11 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include North Balwyn Village Upgrade, 2 Sylvander Street Townhouses, Verdure Balwyn North, and Kew Golf Club Residential Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Balwyn North ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Balwyn North has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 3.0% as of September 2025, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%. As of September 2025, 11,845 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 60.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and retail trade. Balwyn North specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

However, construction is under-represented at 6.2% compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 2.5%, while labour force grew by 2.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.0% and a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Balwyn North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Balwyn North SA2 has an exceptionally high national income level according to AreaSearch aggregated ATO data for financial year 2022. The median income among taxpayers is $52,318 and the average income stands at $93,672. This compares to Greater Melbourne's figures of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $58,680 (median) and $105,063 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows household incomes rank at the 85th percentile with a weekly income of $2,350, while personal income ranks lower at the 59th percentile. The largest income segment comprises 27.7% earning $4,000 or more weekly (6,194 residents), contrasting with Greater Melbourne where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. Economic strength is evident through 39.9% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 14.8% of income, with residents ranking in the 86th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

In Balwyn North, as per the latest Census data, 83.3% of dwellings were houses while 16.8% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differed from Melbourne metropolitan area's figures of 55.5% houses and 44.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Balwyn North stood at 47.0%, with mortgaged properties at 33.1% and rented ones at 19.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,102, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $3,000. Median weekly rent in Balwyn North was $554, compared to Melbourne metro's $451. Nationally, Balwyn North's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 81.4% of all households, including 47.7% couples with children, 21.3% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 18.6%, with lone person households at 16.8% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in Balwyn North places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Balwyn North has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 50.9% holding university qualifications. This figure is significantly higher than the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian state average of 33.4%. The area's educational advantage is evident in various qualification types: bachelor degrees are the most common at 32.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.8% and graduate diplomas at 4.3%. Vocational pathways account for 17.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 9.7% and certificates 7.6%.

Educational participation in the area is high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in secondary education, 9.5% in primary education, and 8.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Balwyn North has 109 active transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These are served by 26 different routes that together facilitate 7,829 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 213 meters to the nearest stop.

Daily service frequency averages 1,118 trips across all routes, translating to about 71 weekly trips per individual stop.

Balwyn North's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results throughout Balwyn North, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 68% of the total population (15,250 people), compared to 77.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 5.6 and 5.5% of residents respectively, while 77.8% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.8% across Greater Melbourne.

Balwyn North has 18.9% of residents aged 65 and over (4,228 people), with health outcomes among seniors being particularly strong and broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Balwyn North 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 North has a high level of cultural diversity, with 44.4% of its population born overseas and 48.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Balwyn North, comprising 44.9% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 6.0% compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 3.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (25.9%), English (14.6%), and Australian (11.6%). These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Chinese is substantially higher than the regional average of 13.5%, while English and Australian are notably lower than their respective averages of 21.6% and 17.8%. Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include Greek at 6.6% (vs 3.4%), Italian at 7.3% (vs 4.8%), and Sri Lankan at 0.8% (vs 0.7%).

Balwyn North's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Balwyn North is 42 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 15-24 age group constitutes 17.3% of the population in Balwyn North, compared to Greater Melbourne. The 25-34 age cohort is less prevalent at 8.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15-24 age group has increased from 15.8% to 17.3%, while the 45-54 age group has decreased from 15.9% to 14.6%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 14.4% to 13.3%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in Balwyn North. The 65-74 age group is projected to grow by 25%, reaching 2,581 people from 2,068. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 81% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0-4 and 5-14 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.