Charlemont
Statistical Area - sa2

Charlemont lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Charlemont's population was around 14,848 as of August 2025. This reflected an increase of 4,548 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,300 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,032 in June 2024 and an additional 2,471 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 819 persons per square kilometer. Charlemont's growth of 44.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro area (5.5%) and the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 83.3% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, they utilized the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting with weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Exceptional growth was predicted over this period, placing Charlemont in the top 10 percent of national non-metropolitan areas. The area was expected to grow by 18,965 persons to 2041 based on latest population numbers, with an increase of 122.2% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Charlemont was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Charlemont has recorded approximately 528 residential properties granted approval annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 2,641 homes approved over the past five years from FY-2021 to FY-2025, and an additional 81 approved in FY-2026 so far. Each dwelling built has resulted in an average of 2.5 new residents per year over these five financial years, indicating strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value for new homes is $352,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options.

This financial year has seen $10.4 million in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating balanced commercial development activity compared to other Victorian regions. Charlemont records 417.0% more building activity per person than the Rest of Vic., providing ample choice for buyers but with a slowing trend in recent years. This is significantly above the national average, reflecting robust developer interest in the area. New building activity consists of 92.0% detached dwellings and 8.0% attached dwellings, maintaining Charlemont's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With approximately 26 people per approval, Charlemont reflects a developing area with projected population growth of 18,143 residents by 2041.

Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

Charlemont has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 41 projects that may impact this region. Notable ones include Armstrong Creek Town Centre, Charlemont Rise Estate, Stockland Banksia Armstrong Creek, and Yirrama Primary School. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment positions Charlemont ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Charlemont's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.0% as of June 2025, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 3.8%, and it experienced a 1.4% employment growth over the past year.

There were 7,522 employed residents in June 2025 with workforce participation at 71.8%, exceeding Rest of Vic.'s rate of 57.4%. The dominant sectors for Charlemont residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance is particularly strong, employing 39.1% of local workers compared to the regional level of 29.8%. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.6% of local workers, below Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%.

Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.4%, while labour force grew by 2.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest Charlemont's growth could be approximately 6.9%% over five years and 14.2% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Charlemont's median income was $57,406 and average income was $66,375. This is higher than Rest of Vic.'s median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. By March 2025, estimates suggest Charlemont's median income will be approximately $63,210 and average income $73,086, based on a 10.11% growth in wages since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Charlemont are at the 67th percentile nationally. Most locals (43.8%, or 6,503 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week, similar to metropolitan areas where 30.3% fall into this category. High housing costs consume 17.3% of income in Charlemont, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 63rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Charlemont is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Charlemont's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.5% houses and 9.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 84.6% houses and 15.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charlemont stood at 16.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 53.8% and rented ones at 30.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,755, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,712. Median weekly rent in Charlemont was $420, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $335. Nationally, Charlemont's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $375.

Charlemont features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 71.2% of all households, including 32.7% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 22.2% and group households comprising 6.6%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of Vic average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 29.9% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of Vic average of 21.7%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are held by 38.0% of residents aged 15+, including advanced diplomas (13.7%) and certificates (24.3%). Currently, 28.9% of residents are enrolled in formal education, with 9.2% in primary, 6.7% in tertiary, and 4.7% in secondary education.

Iona College Geelong and Geelong Lutheran College - Armstrong Creek Campus collectively serve 2,322 students. Charlemont has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1088). The educational mix includes one secondary school and one K-12 school.

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

Charlemont has 57 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 17 different routes that together facilitate 2,455 weekly passenger trips. The city's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 234 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 350 daily trips across all routes, which equates to approximately 43 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Charlemont is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Charlemont faces significant health challenges with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~7,780 people), leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 10.8 and 8.9% of residents respectively. 68.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.9% across Rest of Vic.. The area has 10.4% of residents aged 65 and over (1,539 people), which is lower than the 16.8% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges requiring more attention than the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Charlemont was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Charlemont's population showed above-average cultural diversity, with 19.1% born overseas and 14.5% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 41.8%. The 'Other' category comprised 2.4%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 1.2%.

Top ancestry groups were English (28.0%), Australian (27.3%), and Irish (8.9%). Dutch (1.9% vs regional 2.0%), Indian (3.2% vs 1.6%), and Filipino (1.6% vs 0.9%) were notably overrepresented.

Charlemont hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Charlemont's median age is 30 years, which is considerably lower than the Rest of Vic. average of 43 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Rest of Vic., Charlemont has a higher concentration of 25-34 residents at 25.0%, but fewer 65-74 year-olds at 5.0%. This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 15.2% to 18.6%, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 23.8% to 25.0%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 cohort has declined from 12.4% to 10.3%, and the 85+ group dropped from 3.4% to 2.0%. Demographic modeling suggests Charlemont's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 126%, adding 4,670 residents to reach a total of 8,382.