Carnegie

Population growth drivers in Carnegie are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Carnegie's population was approximately 20,995 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 2,461 people from the 2021 Census total of 18,534. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 20,903 in June 2024 and additional validated addresses since then. Carnegie's population density was approximately 5,525 persons per square kilometer as of November 2025, placing it in the top 10% of locations assessed by AreaSearch. Between 2021 and 2025, Carnegie's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (7.1%) and SA3 area, indicating it was a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 91.7% of overall population gains during this period.

For future projections until 2041, AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for SA2 areas and Victorian State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 for other areas. Carnegie is expected to grow by 6,253 persons by 2041, reflecting an increase of 29.4% over the 17-year period based on annual ERP population numbers.

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

Carnegie has recorded approximately 97 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25489 homes were approved, with a further 64 approved in FY-26 so far. Each dwelling built over these years attracted an average of 2.5 new residents per year, indicating robust demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $289,000, below regional norms, reflecting more affordable housing options. In terms of commercial development, $23.0 million in approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating moderate levels of activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Carnegie has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person. Nationally, it ranks among the 55th percentile of areas assessed for new dwelling approvals. The current building activity shows a focus on higher-density living, with 12.0% detached dwellings and 88.0% medium and high-density housing.

This shift from the area's existing housing stock (currently 31.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. With a population density of around 775 people per approval, Carnegie is considered a mature, established area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to grow by 6,161 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match this population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Housing Choices Carnegie - Egan Street, Eighty East, Lord Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment, and Carnegie Station & Level Crossing Removal, with the following list highlighting those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Carnegie has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Carnegie has a highly educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation. Its unemployment rate was 4.4% in the past year.

As of September 2025, 13,025 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation is high at 69.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Carnegie has a particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

However, construction is under-represented, with only 6.1% of Carnegie's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels in Carnegie increased by 0.5%, while the labour force grew by 1.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% and a smaller increase in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows that Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3%, and employment growth outpaced the national average of 0.14%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Carnegie's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Carnegie SA2 is $59,161 and average income stands at $78,494. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures of a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $66,355 (median) and $88,039 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 79th percentile ($1,011 weekly), while household income sits at the 57th percentile. The largest income segment comprises 32.1% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (6,739 residents). High housing costs consume 16.6% of income, placing disposable income at the 57th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking in the 8th decile.

Carnegie features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

As per the latest Census evaluation in Carnegie, 31.1% of dwellings were houses, while 68.8% consisted of other types such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metropolitan area had 47.8% houses and 52.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Carnegie was at 26.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.9% and rented dwellings at 43.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,025, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,396. The median weekly rent figure in Carnegie was recorded at $395, compared to Melbourne metro's $435. Nationally, Carnegie's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher at $2,025 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rents were also higher at $395 compared to the national figure of $375.

Carnegie features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 58.2% of all households, including 24.1% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 6.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 41.8%, with lone person households at 35.5% and group households making up 6.3%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

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

Carnegie's educational attainment notably exceeds broader benchmarks. As of 2016, 55.4% of its residents aged 15 years and above held university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. This significant educational advantage positions Carnegie favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees were the most prevalent at 33.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.3%).

Vocational pathways accounted for 20.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above – advanced diplomas constituted 10.3%, while certificates made up 10.4%. Educational participation was notably high, with 28.6% of residents enrolled in formal education as of the 2016 Census. This included 9.9% in tertiary education, 7.0% in primary education, and 5.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Carnegie has 75 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. There are 14 individual routes collectively providing 6,874 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 165 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 982 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 91 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance across Carnegie, with younger cohorts experiencing particularly low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 59% of the total population (12,345 people) has private health cover, compared to 65.2% in Greater Melbourne.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 8.0% and 6.8% of residents respectively. A total of 74.2% of residents reported being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. Carnegie has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (14.7%, or 3,082 people) compared to Greater Melbourne's 16.8%. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those in the broader population.

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

Carnegie's cultural diversity is notable, with 39.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 44.7% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 34.1%. However, Judaism's representation at 6.5% is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 17.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.7%), Australian (15.8%), and Other (14.5%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Russian (1.7% vs regional 2.2%), Polish (1.5% vs 3.1%), and Hungarian (0.6% vs 0.8%) are notably divergent in Carnegie.

Carnegie's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Carnegie's median age is 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and somewhat younger than the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 23.9%, higher than Greater Melbourne's percentage but lower than the national average of 14.5%. The 5-14 age group is less prevalent at 7.7%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 22.0% to 23.9%, while the 15-24 cohort rose from 11.5% to 13.3%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 9.0% to 7.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Carnegie. The 25-34 age group is projected to increase by 1,298 people (26%), rising from 5,013 to 6,312. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort grows by a modest 6% (160 people).