Burwood (Vic.)
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Burwood are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Burwood, Victoria's population was 14,994 as of August 2025. This showed an increase of 2,658 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,336. The change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 14,918 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 2,975 persons per square kilometer, placing Burwood in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. Burwood's growth rate of 21.5% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA4 region (8.1%) and the national average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 97.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving this growth.

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 Victorian Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made via weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future trends suggest a significant population increase in Burwood, expected to expand by 4,835 persons by 2041 based on latest numbers, recording a gain of 31.7% over these 17 years.

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

Burwood averaged approximately 74 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25372 homes were approved, with an additional 23 approved so far in FY-26. This results in around 4 new residents arriving per year for each dwelling constructed during these years.

Consequently, demand significantly exceeds supply, leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction value of new properties is $766,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment by developers. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaled $62.6 million, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Burwood has approximately two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 56th percentile nationally when measured against other areas assessed. The current building activity shows 34.0% detached dwellings and 66.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift towards compact living that offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

This change is notable compared to the current housing mix of 55.0% houses. With around 276 people per dwelling approval, Burwood exhibits a developing market. Population forecasts project an increase of 4,759 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Burwood has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include the Burwood Heights Activity Centre Structure Plan, the development at 145-155 Burwood Highway, the Suburban Rail Loop East - Burwood Station project, and the development at 133 Burwood Highway. The following list details those 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 Vic has highly educated workforce with professional services strongly represented. Unemployment rate was 4.9% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.4%. As of June 2025, 8,085 residents were in work while unemployment rate was 4.6%, 0.3% above Greater Melbourne's rate. Workforce participation was 59.1%, below Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents comprised health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Accommodation & food showed strong specialization with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Construction had limited presence at 6.2% compared to 9.7% regionally. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.6, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 4.4% while labour force grew by 3.1%, causing unemployment rate to fall by 1.2 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne, employment rose by 3.5%, labour force grew by 4.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Burwood's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Burwood had a median taxpayer income of $44,956 and an average of $65,067. Nationally, the median was $48,136 and the average was $71,452. Greater Melbourne's median was $54,892 with an average of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022 until September 2025 (an increase of 12.16%), Burwood's estimated median income would be approximately $50,423 and the average around $72,979. Census data shows individual incomes at the 17th percentile ($637 weekly), while household incomes are at the 39th percentile. The earnings profile indicates that 27.6% of residents (4,138 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket. This 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. Burwood's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Burwood displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Burwood's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 55.4% houses and 44.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burwood stood at 31.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.2% and rented dwellings at 41.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,457, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,300. Median weekly rent in Burwood was $401, slightly above Melbourne metro's $412. Nationally, Burwood's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,457 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $401 versus the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise 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 2.5.

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 is notably high with 47.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational pathways account for 20.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 10.8% and certificates 10.0%. Educational participation is high, with 37.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 18.2% in tertiary, 7.0% in secondary, and 6.1% pursuing primary education.

Burwood's five schools have a combined enrollment reaching 3,123 students as of the latest available data. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages with an ICSEA score of 1139. The educational mix includes two primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs at 20.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.5, indicating that Burwood serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Transport analysis indicates 76 active stops operating within Burwood. These include lightrail and bus services. There are 16 routes serving these stops, collectively facilitating 6532 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 204 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 933 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 85 weekly trips per individual stop.

Burwood's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Burwood. Younger cohorts particularly have a very low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~7,781 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.0%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 7.4 and 6.1% of residents respectively. A majority, 74.4%, declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.9% across Greater Melbourne. As of 2016 data, Burwood has 13.9% of residents aged 65 and over (2,088 people), which is lower than Greater Melbourne's 17.7%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention 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 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. Christianity is the main religion in Burwood, making up 39.2% of people. However, Buddhism is overrepresented, comprising 7.3% of the population compared to 6.0% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (21.1%), English (16.4%), and Australian (14.7%). Some ethnic groups have notable representation differences: Sri Lankan at 1.7% (regional average 0.8%), Greek at 3.7% (vs regional 3.0%), and Indian at 5.9% (regional average 3.7%).

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

Burwood's median age is 31 years, lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Burwood has a higher percentage of residents aged 15-24 (28.7%) compared to Greater Melbourne but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.6%). This 15-24 concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, younger residents have decreased Burwood's median age by 2.4 years to 31. During this period, the 15-24 age group grew from 21.1% to 28.7%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 19.3% to 20.4%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 10.8% to 8.8%, and the 5-14 group decreased from 8.4% to 6.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Burwood. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by 1,398 people (46%), increasing from 3,054 to 4,453 residents.