Coburg - East
Statistical Area - sa2

Coburg - East has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Coburg - East's population was around 14,724 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 2,189 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,535. The change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 13,966 in June 2024 and additional 558 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 3,926 persons per square kilometer, placing Coburg - East in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 17.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both national (8.6%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, with other drivers like natural growth and interstate migration also being positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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 are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period, with the area expected to expand by 8,504 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, resulting in a total increase of 52.6% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Coburg - East among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Coburg - East has recorded approximately 258 residential property approvals per year. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with around 1,294 homes approved over the past five years from FY-21 to FY-25. As of now in FY-26, there have been 2 approvals recorded. The average number of new residents per dwelling constructed over these five years is approximately 0.4.

This suggests that new construction is keeping pace with or outstripping demand, providing more options for buyers and facilitating population growth beyond current projections. The average expected construction cost value of new homes in the area is around $454,000, aligning with regional trends. In this financial year so far, approximately $5.3 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating limited focus on commercial development compared to residential. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Coburg - East has 76.0% more development activity per person, providing buyers with ample choice and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. Recent construction trends show a shift towards denser development, with approximately 4.0% detached dwellings and 96.0% townhouses or apartments being built. This trend caters to accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers, marking a significant departure from the current housing pattern of 54.0% houses. With around 117 people per dwelling approval, Coburg - East exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

Looking ahead, it is projected that the area will grow by approximately 7,746 residents through to 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Coburg - East has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 29 projects potentially affecting the region. Notable initiatives include the Coburg Health and Community Services Precinct, Sydney Road Coburg BTR (511-537), The Avenue, Coburg, and Sydney Road Transport Corridor Upgrade. Details on projects of greatest relevance follow.

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

Coburg - East has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Coburg - East has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector prominent. Its unemployment rate is 8.0%, having seen an estimated employment growth of 5.9% over the past year (as of June 2025).

There are 8,407 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 3.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is at 67.9%, slightly above Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, the area has a high concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

However, construction has limited presence, with only 5.7% of residents employed in this sector compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Many residents appear to commute elsewhere for work, based on Census data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 5.9%, while labour force grew by 7.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coburg - East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

Coburg - East median taxpayer income is $58,593, average is $73,532, according to latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Nationally, this is high compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761. By March 2025, estimated median income is approximately $64,517 and average is $80,966, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022. Coburg - East incomes cluster around the 63rd percentile nationally, with largest segment earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (4,770 residents), mirroring surrounding region's 32.8%. High housing costs consume 15.9% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 62nd percentile. Area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Coburg - East's dwellings, as recorded in the latest Census, 53.6% were houses while 46.5% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures: 46.2% houses and 53.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg - East stood at 30.5%, with mortgaged properties at 30.4% and rented ones at 39.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,149. Median weekly rent in Coburg - East was $416, similar to Melbourne metro's figure of $418. Nationally, Coburg - East's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,100 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 61.8% of all households, including 25.0% couples with children, 26.3% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 38.2%, comprising 28.5% lone person households and 9.6% group households. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than Greater Melbourne's average of 2.3.

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

Educational attainment in Coburg - East is notably high, with 46.5% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications. This exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 27.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational pathways account for 22.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 11.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in tertiary education, 6.4% in primary education, and 5.2% pursuing secondary education. There are 11 schools serving 4,568 students in Coburg - East as of the latest available data. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1077. The educational mix includes 4 primary, 4 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. As of the current statistics, Coburg - East functions as an education hub with 31.0 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 10.4. This attracts students from surrounding communities. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to their parent campus for accurate figures.

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

Coburg - East has 83 operational public transport stops. These include train stations, light rail stops, and bus stops. There are 16 different routes serving these stops, which together facilitate 11,771 weekly passenger trips.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 165 meters to the nearest stop. Daily service frequency across all routes is 1,681 trips, equating to approximately 141 weekly trips per individual stop.

Coburg - East's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Coburg - East residents show relatively positive health outcomes, with common conditions seen across young and old age groups. Approximately 56% (~8,245 people) have private health cover, compared to 58.3% in Greater Melbourne.

Mental health issues affect 12.6% of residents, while asthma impacts 8.2%. About 66.8% declare no medical ailments, compared to 68.5% in Greater Melbourne. Residents aged 65 and over make up 13.3%, or 1,955 people, higher than the 12.1% in Greater Melbourne. Overall health profile is broadly similar to that of the general population.

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

Coburg-East has high cultural diversity, with 33.5% born overseas and 34.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 35.1%. Islam is overrepresented at 8.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

Top ancestry groups are English (18.6%), Australian (16.0%), and Other (13.2%). Italian (11.9%) and Lebanese (3.4%) are notably overrepresented, while Greek is slightly underrepresented at 4.4% compared to the regional average of 5.1%.

Coburg - East's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Coburg-East has a median age of 37, matching Greater Melbourne's figure and remaining close to Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 21.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.9%. This 25-34 concentration is above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 21.3% to 21.9% of the population. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has decreased from 7.1% to 6.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Coburg-East's age structure, with the 45-54 group expected to grow by 75%, reaching 3,344 people from its current figure of 1,911.