Blackburn
Statistical Area - sa2

Blackburn has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Blackburn's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 23,723. This figure represents an increase of 1,617 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,106. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 23,471 in June 2024 and an additional 528 validated new addresses since the Census date. Blackburn's population density stands at 2,755 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile compared to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 7.3% growth since the census is within 1.0 percentage point of the SA4 region's 8.3%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest population numbers, Blackburn is expected to increase by approximately 2,736 persons by 2041, recording a gain of around 10.5% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Blackburn among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Blackburn approved around 162 residential properties annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25810 homes were approved, with a further 59 approved in FY-26. The average number of people moving to Blackburn per dwelling built over these five years was 0.7.

New construction has been matching or outpacing demand, providing more buying options and facilitating population growth that could exceed expectations. The average expected construction cost value for new properties is $403,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $136.4 million, indicating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Blackburn has 17.0% less new development per person but ranks among the 78th percentile nationally in terms of new development. Building activity comprises 43.0% detached dwellings and 57.0% medium and high-density housing.

This shift towards higher-density living offers more affordable entry points, suiting downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. Blackburn's current population growth rate is around 149 people per approval. By 2041, Blackburn is projected to grow by 2,484 residents. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Blackburn has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 34 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include 104 Main Street Blackburn townhouses, 9-13 Frankcom Street townhouses, Blackburn Activity Centre, and 30 Whitehorse Road townhouses, with the following list detailing those most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Blackburn has been broadly consistent with national averages

Blackburn has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate is 4.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 3.9% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 13,236 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.1%, 0.5% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne's at 64.1%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Blackburn shows strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

However, construction is under-represented, with only 6.9% of Blackburn's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The predominantly residential area offers limited local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.9%, while the labour force grew by 3.0%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% and a rise in unemployment of 0.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Blackburn's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Blackburn's median income among taxpayers was $54,699 with an average of $79,417. Nationally, this is high compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761. By September 2025, estimates suggest Blackburn's median income will be approximately $61,350 and the average will be around $89,074, based on a 12.16% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Blackburn cluster around the 68th percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant with 28.8% of residents (6,832 people). This trend is similar to surrounding regions where 32.8% fall within this range. Significantly, 32.8% earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 14.2% of income, and residents rank high with disposable income in the 72nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Blackburn's latest Census data shows 71.6% houses and 28.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Blackburn was 39.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.3% and rented at 24.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,300, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $420, compared to Melbourne metro's $412. Nationally, Blackburn's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 71.1% of all households, including 36.7% couples with children, 24.4% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.9%, with lone person households at 25.2% and group households comprising 3.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Blackburn demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Blackburn's educational attainment exceeds national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 48.1% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (29.9%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.4%) and graduate diplomas (4.8%). Vocational pathways account for 21.9%, with advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 11.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.3% in primary, 8.6% in secondary, and 7.4% in tertiary education. As of 2021, Blackburn has a robust network of 8 schools educating approximately 4,003 students. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages with an ICSEA score of 1131. Education provision is balanced with 7 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

Blackburn has 126 active public transport stops. These include train stations and bus stops. There are 21 different routes serving these stops, with a total of 10,551 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 176 meters. On average, there are 1,507 trips per day across all routes, which equals approximately 83 weekly trips per individual stop.

Blackburn's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Blackburn. Both young and old age cohorts saw low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 59% of the total population (14,091 people), compared to 56.0% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions in the area were asthma and mental health issues, impacting 7.2 and 7.1% of residents respectively. 72.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.9% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 18.3% of residents aged 65 and over (4,334 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Blackburn is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Blackburn has high cultural diversity, with 34.5% of its population born overseas and 32.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Blackburn, comprising 43.3% of people. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 3.8% of Blackburn's population versus 6.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.0%), Australian (19.7%), and Chinese (15.0%). Notably, Sri Lankan, Korean, and Greek ethnicities have higher representation in Blackburn compared to regional averages: Sri Lankan at 0.6% versus 0.8%, Korean at 0.6% versus 0.7%, and Greek at 2.1% versus 3.0%.

Blackburn's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Blackburn has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38. The 55-64 age cohort makes up 12.3% of Blackburn's population, compared to the Greater Melbourne average, indicating an over-representation of this age group locally. Conversely, the 25-34 age cohort is under-represented in Blackburn at 11.8%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.9% to 14.6% of the population, while the 5-14 age group has decreased from 12.8% to 11.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Blackburn's age profile. The 65-74 age cohort is projected to grow by 621 people (29%), from 2,158 to 2,780. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 55% of total population growth. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 35-44 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.