Bentleigh - McKinnon
Statistical Area - sa2

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

As of Aug 2025, Bentleigh - McKinnon's population is approximately 26,983. This figure represents an increase from the 24,896 people recorded in the 2021 Census, marking an 8.4% growth over this period. The estimated resident population of June 2024 was 26,825, along with 308 validated new addresses since the Census date, contributing to the population rise. This population density translates to 4,338 persons per square kilometer, placing Bentleigh - McKinnon in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate surpassed that of its SA4 region (7.0%), indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 87.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Bentleigh - McKinnon is projected to experience a significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas nationwide, with an expected growth of 6,406 persons and a total gain of 23.2% over the 17-year period.

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

Bentleigh-McKinnon has received approximately 146 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY2021 to FY2025734 homes were approved, with an additional 37 approved in FY2026 so far. Each new dwelling built over these five years brought an average of 2.2 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new dwellings is $765,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. This financial year has seen $14.3 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bentleigh-McKinnon records 10% less building activity per person but ranks among the 60th percentile nationally for areas assessed. New development comprises 30% detached houses and 70% attached dwellings, marking a shift from existing housing patterns (currently 58% houses), possibly due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With around 252 people per dwelling approval, Bentleigh-McKinnon shows signs of a growing market.

By 2041, the area is expected to grow by approximately 6,248 residents. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Bentleigh - McKinnon has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 51 projects potentially impacting the area. Notable ones are East Village Strategic Site, Laurel, Bentleigh Club Redevelopment, The Aston, and Bentleigh Hodgson Reserve Sporting Facility Upgrades.

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

While Bentleigh - McKinnon retains a healthy unemployment rate of 4.0%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Bentleigh-McKinnon has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 4.0% as of June 2021, slightly below Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Workforce participation was 66.8%, close to the regional average of 64.1%. Major employment sectors were professional & technical (15.7%), health care & social assistance (13.9%), and education & training (9.2%). The area had a notably high concentration in professional & technical roles, at 1.4 times the regional average, but lower representation in construction (7.2% vs regional average of 9.7%). Between June 2020 and June 2021, Bentleigh-McKinnon's labour force increased by 1.4%, while employment declined slightly by 0.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.4 percentage points.

In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.5% over the same period. State-level data from Sep-25 showed Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia projected total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bentleigh-McKinnon's current employment mix suggests potential local growth of approximately 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Bentleigh - McKinnon had a median income among taxpayers of $61,416 and an average of $85,824. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for March 2025 would be approximately $67,625 (median) and $94,501 (average). Census data indicates Bentleigh - McKinnon's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 76th and 80th percentiles. The largest income segment comprises 27.2% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly, with 7,339 residents in this bracket. Higher earners represent a substantial presence at 37.5%, exceeding $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 15.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 80th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Bentleigh-McKinnon's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 58.0% houses and 42.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 47.8% houses and 52.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bentleigh-McKinnon was at 34.8%, with the remainder being mortgaged (35.4%) or rented (29.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,500, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,396. Median weekly rent in Bentleigh-McKinnon was $491, compared to Melbourne metro's $435. Nationally, Bentleigh-McKinnon's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,500 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375 at $491.

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

Family households account for 72.8% of all households, including 38.1% couples with children, 22.8% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 27.2%, with lone person households at 24.1% and group households making up 3.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Bentleigh - McKinnon 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-McKinnon exceeds national and state averages. 48.1% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 30.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational pathways account for 22.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 11.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.8% in primary, 9.4% in secondary, and 7.2% in tertiary education. The area's four schools have a combined enrollment of 4,656 students as of the last reported data. Bentleigh-McKinnon has significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1125). Educational provision is conventional, split between two primary and two secondary institutions. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 17.3 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.2, indicating that the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Public transport analysis shows 80 active transport stops operating within Bentleigh - McKinnon. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. Fourteen individual routes serve these stops, collectively providing 4,414 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 192 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 630 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 55 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows notable results in Bentleigh - McKinnon, with both younger and older age groups experiencing low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is notably high at approximately 63% of the total population (17,080 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma were found to be the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 6.7% and 6.6% of residents respectively. 74.4% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 16.7% of residents aged 65 and over (4,514 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, aligning with the general population's health profile.

Bentleigh - McKinnon 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-McKinnon has notable cultural diversity, with 38.0% of its population born overseas and 32.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bentleigh-McKinnon, comprising 40.5% of the population. While Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne's average (7.6% vs 17.5%), it is still lower than expected.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.2%), Australian (17.8%), and Other (12.4%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Russian (1.9% vs regional 2.2%), Polish (1.9% vs 3.1%), and Greek (4.2% vs 4.6%) are all slightly underrepresented in Bentleigh-McKinnon compared to regional averages.

Bentleigh - McKinnon's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Bentleigh - McKinnon has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38 years. The 45-54 age group is notably over-represented locally at 14.7%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 10.8%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.7% to 14.0% of the population, while the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 15.7% to 14.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Bentleigh - McKinnon's age profile. The 45-54 age group is projected to expand by 1,193 people (30%), growing from 3,958 to 5,152. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 10% (109 people).