Bentleigh East - North

Bentleigh East - North lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Bentleigh East - North's population was around 18,544 as of Feb 2026. This reflected an increase of 1,961 people (11.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,583 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,553 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 181 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 4,031 persons per square kilometer, placing Bentleigh East - North in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Bentleigh East - North's growth of 11.8% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (8.7%) and the national average, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilised VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Bentleigh East - North was forecast to experience significant population increase, with an expected rise of 4,626 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 19.6% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Bentleigh East - North among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Bentleigh East - North averaged approximately 129 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 646 homes. As of FY-26146 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.8 people moved to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. The average construction value of new properties is $524,000, suggesting a focus on premium segment development.

This financial year has seen $60.5 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bentleigh East - North has recorded elevated construction levels, 19.0% above the regional average per person over five years, providing reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. New development consists of 27.0% detached houses and 73.0% attached dwellings, representing a shift from the current housing mix of 68.0% houses due to reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands. With around 161 people per dwelling approval, Bentleigh East - North exhibits growth area characteristics. Future projections estimate an addition of 3,635 residents by 2041, with current development well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Future projections show Bentleigh East - North adding 3,635 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Bentleigh East - North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include East Village, Bentleigh East Structure Plan Implementation, East Boundary Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements, and East Village Precinct Infrastructure. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

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The employment landscape in Bentleigh East - North shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Bentleigh East - North has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 4.5%. As of September 2025, 9685 residents are employed, with a local unemployment rate of 4.6%, slightly below Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.

Workforce participation is similar to the regional average at 71.0%. Census data shows 41.6% work from home, possibly influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level but has lower manufacturing representation at 5.3% compared to the regional average of 7.2%.

Limited local job opportunities are indicated by working population versus resident population counts. In the 12 months prior, Bentleigh East - North's labour force increased by 0.6%, while employment declined by 0.7%, raising unemployment by 1.3 percentage points. Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industries. Applying these projections to Bentleigh East - North's employment mix suggests local job growth could reach 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The median taxpayer income in Bentleigh East - North SA2 is $63,946, with an average of $82,184, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. This places it among the highest incomes in Australia, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $69,222 (median) and $88,964 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Bentleigh East - North rank highly nationally, between the 70th and 80th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 28.3% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, consistent with broader trends across the broader area at 32.8%. Economic strength is evident with 36.8% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 16.1% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 79th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Bentleigh East - North's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.7% houses and 32.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is comparable to Melbourne metro's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bentleigh East - North stood at 34.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.0% and rented ones at 25.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,500, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent was $508, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Bentleigh East - North's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,500 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 78.2% of all households, including 43.9% couples with children, 20.7% couples without children, and 12.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 21.8%, with lone person households at 19.6% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Bentleigh East - North 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 Bentleigh East - North is notably higher than broader benchmarks. As of 2016 Census data, 43.3% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. This indicates a significant educational advantage for the area, positioning it favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 11.6% and graduate diplomas at 3.9%.

Vocational pathways account for 24.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and over, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 13.4%. Educational participation is notably high in Bentleigh East - North, with 33.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the 2016 Census. This includes 11.6% in primary education, 10.2% in secondary education, and 6.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bentleigh East - North has 71 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 13 different routes that together facilitate 2,543 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located 191 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 85%, while train usage stands at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 41.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes is 363 trips per day, equating to approximately 35 weekly trips per individual stop.

Bentleigh East - North's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

AreaSearch's assessment shows excellent health outcomes in Bentleigh East - North. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low across both young and old age cohorts.

Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population (11,107 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. The most common conditions were asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.5% and 6.2% of residents respectively. A total of 76.1% of residents declared no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. The area has 15.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,852 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Bentleigh East - 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

Bentleigh East - North has a high level of cultural diversity, with 38.4% of its population born overseas and 38.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bentleigh East - North, comprising 41.5% of its population. Notably, Judaism is significantly overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne's average, making up 10.8% of Bentleigh East - North's population.

For ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian at 17.1%, English at 16.9%, and Other at 14.0%. Some ethnic groups have notable divergences in their representation: Russian is overrepresented at 2.6% (compared to 0.4% regionally), Polish at 1.9% (vs 0.8%), and Greek at 7.4% (vs 2.7%).

Bentleigh East - North's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Bentleigh East - North is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the 45-54 cohort is over-represented at 16.3% locally, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 9.0%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has grown from 12.3% to 14.3%, while the 5-14 cohort has declined from 16.0% to 14.8% and the 35-44 group has dropped from 15.7% to 14.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes for Bentleigh East - North, with the 45-54 group expected to grow by 28%, adding 839 people to reach 3,862 from 3,022. The 0-4 age group is projected to grow by 9%, adding 73 residents.