Burwood (Vic.)

Population growth drivers in Burwood are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Burwood's population is around 15,033 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,697 people (21.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,336 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,918 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 166 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,982 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Burwood's 21.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 97.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the 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 from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas is forecast, with the area expected to grow by 4,835 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 31.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Burwood among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Burwood has averaged around 74 new dwelling approvals per year, with 372 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 93 so far in FY-26. Given an average of 4 new residents per year arriving per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand significantly exceeds new supply, which usually results in price growth and increased buyer competition, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $453,000—slightly above the regional average—suggesting a focus on quality developments. Additionally, $62.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting robust local business investment.

When measured against Greater Melbourne, Burwood has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person while it places among the 55th percentile of areas assessed nationally. New building activity shows 34.0% detached dwellings and 66.0% attached dwellings. This skew toward compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This reflects a considerable change from the current housing mix (currently 55.0% houses), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With around 276 people per dwelling approval, Burwood shows a developing market.

Population forecasts indicate Burwood will gain 4,720 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Burwood has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 17 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Burwood Heights Activity Centre Structure Plan, 145-155 Burwood Highway Development, Suburban Rail Loop East - Burwood Station, and Suburban Rail Loop East - Burwood Station, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

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The employment landscape in Burwood shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Burwood has a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of 5.2%, and 2.5% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 8,452 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.4% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (66.3% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a high 33.7% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area shows particularly strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Meanwhile, construction has a limited presence with 6.2% employment compared to 9.7% regionally. The ratio of 0.6 workers for each resident, as at the Census, indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 2.5% while the labour force increased by 2.8%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne, where employment rose by 2.4%, the labour force grew by 2.8%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Burwood. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Burwood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Burwood SA2's median income among taxpayers is $46,183, with an average of $66,071. This is slightly lower than average on a national basis, and compares to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $49,993 (median) and $71,522 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals individual incomes lag at the 17th percentile ($637 weekly), while household income performs better at the 39th percentile. The earnings profile shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 27.6% of residents (4,149 people), reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 35th percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Burwood, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 55.4% houses and 44.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Burwood was in line with that of Melbourne metro, at 31.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (27.2%) or rented (41.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Melbourne metro average at $2,457, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $401, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Burwood's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

Burwood features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 60.5% of all households, comprising 25.4% couples with children, 22.5% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 39.5%, with lone person households at 29.6% and group households comprising 9.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Burwood places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Burwood significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 47.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in VIC. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 28.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational pathways account for 20.8% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (10.0%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 37.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 18.2% in tertiary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 6.1% pursuing primary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 75 active transport stops operating within Burwood, comprising a mix of light rail and buses. These stops are serviced by 16 individual routes, collectively providing 8,591 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 204 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 74%, with 8% by train and 7% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A high 33.7% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 1,227 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 114 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Burwood, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Younger cohorts in particular see very low prevalence of common health conditions, and the rate of private health cover slightly lags that of the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~7,802 people). This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be mental health issues and asthma, impacting 7.4 and 6.1% of residents, respectively, while 74.4% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,133 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, though ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

Burwood 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 scores highly on cultural diversity, with 49.0% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 50.7% born overseas. The main religion in Burwood is Christianity, which makes up 39.2% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which comprises 7.3% of the population, compared to 4.2% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Burwood are Chinese, comprising 21.1% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%, English, comprising 16.4% of the population, and Australian, comprising 14.7% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of other ethnic groups: Sri Lankan is overrepresented at 1.7% of Burwood (vs 0.8% regionally), Greek at 3.7% (vs 2.7%), and Indian at 5.9% (vs 4.2%).

Burwood's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

At 31 years, Burwood's median age is notably under the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and is significantly lower than the Australian median of 38. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Burwood has a higher concentration of 15 - 24 residents (28.4%) but fewer 5 - 14 year-olds (6.5%). This 15 - 24 concentration is well above the national 12.5%. In the period since 2021, younger residents have shifted the median age down by 2.3 years to 31. Notable shifts include the 15 to 24 age group, which has grown from 21.1% to 28.4% of the population, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 19.3% to 20.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 10.8% to 8.7% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 8.4% to 6.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Burwood. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to experience strong growth, expanding by 1,368 people (44%) from 3,084 to 4,453.