Burwood East

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Burwood East's population is around 12,465 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,790 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,675 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,460 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 482 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,926 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Burwood East's growth of 16.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (8.9%) and the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 96.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made employing 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. Examining future trends, a significant population increase is forecast, with the area expected to increase by 3,022 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 24.2% in total over the 16 years.

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

Burwood East averaged approximately 127 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. A total of 639 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 42 approved in FY-26 up until now. On average, 2.2 people moved to the area per new home constructed each year over these five financial years.

This reflects strong demand that supports property values, with new homes being built at an average construction cost of $339,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals valued at $18.5 million have been registered, indicating steady commercial investment activity in the area. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Burwood East exhibits moderately higher development activity, 36.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This balanced buyer choice while supporting current property values. However, development activity has moderated recently. Nationally, Burwood East's development activity is substantially higher, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location.

Recent construction comprises 26.0% detached houses and 74.0% attached dwellings. This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 74.0% houses. This trend may indicate decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. Burwood East reflects a transitioning market with approximately 313 people per approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Burwood East is forecasted to gain 3,017 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

AreaSearch has identified seven projects that could impact the area significantly. These include SRL East - Works Package F - Stations - Glen Waverley to Box Hill, Tally Ho Activity Centre Structure Plan, East Burwood Reserve Master Plan, and Mirrabooka Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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

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Employment conditions in Burwood East remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Burwood East has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 5.0% in December 2025, 0.3% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Employment grew by 2.0% over the past year.

Workforce participation lagged at 62.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. A significant portion, 34.2%, worked from home according to Census responses. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. The area specializes in accommodation & food services with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Construction has limited presence at 7.1% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over December 2024 to December 2025, employment increased by 2.0%, labour force by 2.7%, raising unemployment by 0.7 percentage points. Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4% with a 0.3 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Burwood East's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Burwood East SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $48,529 and an average of $63,006. This is below the national average. Greater Melbourne's median was $57,688 with an average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $53,197 (median) and $69,067 (average). Census 2021 income data ranks Burwood East's household income at the 42nd percentile ($1,610 weekly), with personal income at the 23rd percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 30.2% of the community (3,764 individuals). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 42nd percentile. Burwood East's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Burwood East's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 73.9% houses and 26.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burwood East was at 44.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.2% and rented ones at 26.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,147, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Burwood East was $439, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Burwood East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Burwood East features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 72.3 percent of all households, including 33.7 percent couples with children, 26.5 percent couples without children, and 10.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.7 percent, with lone person households at 22.5 percent and group households making up 5.1 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which matches the Greater Melbourne average.

Burwood East shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Burwood East's residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than national averages. 42.5% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 26.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational pathways account for 22.6%, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 11.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.0% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.2% in tertiary, 7.2% in primary, and 6.1% in secondary education.

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

Burwood East has 64 active public transport stops, consisting of a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 15 different routes, facilitating a total of 4,326 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 224 meters from the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 82% of residents, while train usage stands at 8%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 34.2%, work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 618 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 67 weekly trips per individual stop.

Burwood East's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Burwood East's health outcomes show notable results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low, especially among younger cohorts. Approximately 50% of Burwood East's total population (~6,282 people) had private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis (7.2%) and asthma (6.2%). 73.6% of residents reported no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Burwood East has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 22.4% (2,793 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. While health outcomes among seniors are strong, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Burwood East has one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in Australia, with 56.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 53.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Burwood East, comprising 43.5% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 8.5% of Burwood East's population versus the regional average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups in Burwood East are Chinese at 25.3%, English at 13.5%, and Other at 11.9%. Some ethnic groups show significant divergence: Greek is overrepresented at 7.8% compared to 2.7% regionally, Sri Lankan at 1.5% versus 0.8%, and Vietnamese at 2.1% versus 1.9%.

Burwood East's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Burwood East has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, Burwood East has an over-representation of the 75-84 age cohort (8.3% locally) and an under-representation of the 5-14 age group (9.3%). Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group grew from 14.9% to 17.3%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 3.5% to 4.7%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group declined from 12.8% to 10.8%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 11.1% to 10.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Burwood East's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to expand by 575 people (27%), growing from 2,151 to 2,727.