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 is around 22,462 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,339 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,123 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 22,454 from the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 89 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,538 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Balwyn North has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.5%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation for areas not covered by this data. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, lower quartile growth is anticipated, with the area expected to grow by 747 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 3.3% in total over the 16 years.

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

Balwyn North has recorded approximately 124 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25621 homes were approved, with an additional 96 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, 0.6 new residents per year have been associated with each dwelling constructed over these five years.

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

However, Balwyn North's development levels per person are similar to those of Greater Melbourne, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. Recent construction in Balwyn North comprises 71.0% detached dwellings and 29.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 165 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population forecasts indicate that Balwyn North will gain 739 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling 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 affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eleven projects that could impact the region. Notable ones are 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 is 3.4%, lower than the national average, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6% over the past year. As of December 2025, 11,855 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation is 65.0%, somewhat lower than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Notably, 41.3% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. Balwyn North specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level, but has fewer construction jobs compared to Greater Melbourne (6.2% vs.

9.7%). Over the year ending December 2025, employment increased by 1.6%, while labour force grew by 2.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.8 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between sectors. 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.

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's aggregation of latest ATO data for the financial year ending June 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Balwyn North is $54,759, with an average income of $92,673. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. By March 2026, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $60,027 and the average will be around $101,588, based on a 9.62% growth in wages since June 2023. Census data indicates that Balwyn North's household incomes rank at the 85th percentile ($2,350 weekly), while personal incomes rank lower at the 59th percentile. The largest income segment comprises 27.7% of residents earning $4,000 or more weekly (6,221 individuals), 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 expenses account for 14.8% of income. Residents rank highly in disposable income, placing them at the 86th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it within the 9th decile.

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

Balwyn North's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 83.3% houses and 16.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Balwyn North was 47.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.1% and rented ones at 19.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,102, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000 average. Median weekly rent in Balwyn North was $554, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Balwyn North's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $3,102 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were 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 18.6%, with lone person households at 16.8% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which exceeds the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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's residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (50.9%) compared to Australia (30.4%) and Victoria (33.4%). Bachelor degrees are the most common (32.8%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.3%). Vocational pathways account for 17.3%, including advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (7.6%). Educational participation is high, with 34.0% currently enrolled in formal education: secondary (11.7%), primary (9.5%), and tertiary (8.5%).

Educational participation is notably 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 good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Balwyn North has 108 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These are served by 26 routes, collectively facilitating 6,564 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 213 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, with cars being the dominant mode at 87%. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.6 per dwelling, above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 41.3% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 937 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 60 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Balwyn North shows excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 67% of Balwyn North's total population (15,004 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%.

This is higher than the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 5.6% and 5.5% of residents respectively. 77.8% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Balwyn North has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.3% (4,328 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors in Balwyn North are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

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, accounting for 44.9% of the population. Notably, Buddhism comprises 6.0% of the population, which is higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups in Balwyn North are Chinese (25.9%), English (14.6%), and Australian (11.6%). These figures differ from regional averages: Chinese representation is substantially higher (25.9% vs 6.5%), while English and Australian representations are notably lower (14.6% vs 20.1%, and 11.6% vs 18.4%, respectively). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include Greek (6.6% vs regional 2.7%) and Italian (7.3% vs 5.2%).

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 17.6% of the population, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 8.9%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 15.8% to 17.6%, whereas the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 15.9% to 14.1% and the 5-14 group has dropped from 14.4% to 12.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Balwyn North, with the 85+ age group expected to grow by 58%, reaching 1,164 people from 738. The combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 72% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.