Burwood (Vic.)

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

Burwood's population is 15,033 as of February 2026. This shows an increase of 2,697 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,336. The growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 14,918 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,982 persons per square kilometer, placing Burwood in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessment. Burwood's growth of 21.9% since the 2021 census exceeds the national average of 9.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 97.5% of overall population gains recently.

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 utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Burwood is projected to have a significant population increase in the top quartile nationally, growing by 4,835 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 31.4% over the 17-year period.

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

Burwood has averaged approximately 74 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25372 homes were approved, with an additional 91 approved so far in FY26. Each year, on average, around four new residents have been arriving for every dwelling constructed during these five financial years.

This significant demand outpaces supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction value of new properties is $453,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. In FY26 alone, $62.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Burwood has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 55th percentile nationally when assessed for areas with new dwelling approvals. The current building activity shows 34.0% detached dwellings and 66.0% attached dwellings, a shift from the current housing mix of 55.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

With approximately 276 people per dwelling approval, Burwood indicates a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Burwood is forecasted to gain around 4,720 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

AreaSearch has identified a total of 17 projects that are likely to impact the area, significantly influencing its performance through changes to local infrastructure and planning initiatives. Key projects include the Burwood Heights Activity Centre Structure Plan, the development at 145-155 Burwood Highway, and two Suburban Rail Loop East projects involving Burwood Station. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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's workforce is highly educated with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate in September 2025 was 4.6%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.7%.

As of that date, 8,463 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate matching Greater Melbourne's 4.7%. Workforce participation was lower at 66.0% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. Census responses indicated 33.7% of residents worked from home. Leading industries for employment include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

The area specializes in accommodation & food services with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Construction has limited presence at 6.2% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.6 at Census time, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 4.7%, while labour force grew by 3.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.0% with a slight increase in unemployment to 4.0%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Burwood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple 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 SA2 had a median income of $46,183 and an average income of $66,071. These figures are slightly lower than the national averages. In Greater Melbourne, the median income was $57,688 with an average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $49,993 (median) and $71,522 (average). Census data indicates individual incomes are at the 17th percentile ($637 weekly), while household incomes are at the 39th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 27.6% of residents (4,149 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which is similar to regional levels where 32.8% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 35th percentile. 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

Burwood's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 55.4% houses and 44.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burwood was at 31.4%, similar to Melbourne metro's level, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (27.2%) or rented (41.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Burwood was $2,457, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure for Burwood was $401, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Burwood's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 60.5% of all households, including 25.4% couples with children, 22.5% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 39.5%, with lone person households at 29.6% and group households comprising 9.9%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which 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

Burwood has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 47.3% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian state average of 33.4%. The area's strong educational profile is highlighted by its Bachelor degree holders at 28.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 15.8% and graduate diplomas at 3.4%. Vocational pathways are also prevalent, accounting for 20.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.8% and certificates 10.0%.

Educational participation is notably high in Burwood, 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

Burwood has 75 active public transport stops serving a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are covered by 16 different routes that collectively facilitate 8,591 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically residing 204 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Burwood residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 74%, followed by trains at 8% and buses at 7%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

Notably, 33.7% of residents work from home (2021 Census), a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 1,227 trips daily, equating to roughly 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

Burwood's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are low, particularly in younger cohorts.

Private health cover is at approximately 52% of Burwood's total population (~7,802 people), slightly below Greater Melbourne's average of 56.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (7.4%) and asthma (6.1%), with 74.4% of residents reporting no medical ailments. This compares to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Burwood has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,133 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average but rank lower nationally compared to 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 49.0% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 50.7% born overseas. The predominant religion in Burwood is Christianity, accounting for 39.2% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented in Burwood, comprising 7.3%, compared to the regional average of 4.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Chinese at 21.1%, English at 16.4%, and Australian at 14.7%. Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Sri Lankan is overrepresented at 1.7% (regional average 0.8%), Greek at 3.7% (regional average 2.7%), and Indian at 5.9% (regional average 4.2%).

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

Burwood's median age is 31 years, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Burwood has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (28.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.5%). This concentration of young adults is significantly higher than the national average of 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, younger residents have lowered Burwood's median age by 2.3 years to its current figure of 31. During this period, notable shifts include an increase in the proportion of residents aged 15-24 from 21.1% to 28.4%, and a slight rise in the 25-34 cohort from 19.3% to 20.5%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 has decreased from 10.8% to 8.7%, while the 5-14 age group has dropped from 8.4% to 6.5%. Population forecasts for Burwood in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to grow by 1,368 people (44%), increasing from 3,084 to 4,453 residents.