Coburg - East

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 approximately 14,471 as of May 2026, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 1,936 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,535. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,457 in June 2025 and the addition of 492 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,858 persons per square kilometer, placing Coburg - East in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 15.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state average (9.3%) and the national average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 74.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers of growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using 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. Based on projected demographic shifts and exceptional growth, Coburg - East is expected to increase by 8,140 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 56.1% in total over the 16-year period.

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

Coburg - East has seen approximately 258 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. A total of 1,294 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 18 approvals recorded in FY-26 as of now. The average number of new residents per year arriving for each new home approved over these five financial years is 0.4, indicating that supply meets or exceeds demand.

This has resulted in greater buyer choice and supports potential population growth beyond projections. The average construction value of new properties during this period was $398,000. In FY-26 up to now, $5.3 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Coburg - East has shown 77.0% higher new home approvals per person since FY-21. This high level of developer confidence is above the national average and offers buyers greater choice in the area. New building activity in Coburg - East is primarily focused on compact living, with 4.0% detached houses and 96.0% townhouses or apartments approved. This shift from the current housing pattern of 54.0% houses suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs.

With around 117 people per dwelling approval, Coburg - East exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is projected to add approximately 8,126 residents by 2041. Building activity in the area is keeping pace with these growth projections, although buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

Coburg - East has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 41stth percentile nationally

Thirty projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. Key projects include Coburg Health and Community Services Precinct, Sydney Road Coburg BTR (511-537), Holstep Health Community Hub (Coburg), and The Avenue, Coburg. Below is a list detailing those likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Coburg - East recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Coburg - East has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 8.1% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.3%.

As of that date, 8,297 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 3.3% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation in Coburg - East was broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's figure of 69.9%. According to Census responses, 44.1% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

The area shows strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, construction is under-represented, with only 5.7% of Coburg - East's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents appear to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 4.3% while labour force increased by 4.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 2.4%, labour force expanded by 2.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Coburg - East. These projections estimate 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 Coburg - East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Coburg - East SA2 has an income well above the national average. The median income is $62,085 and the average income is $77,360. In comparison, Greater Melbourne's median income is $57,688 with an average of $75,164. Based on a 9.62% growth in wages since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $68,058 (median) and $84,802 (average). The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and personal incomes in Coburg - East are at the 63rd percentile nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 32.4% of locals (4,688 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to the regional pattern where 32.8% fall into this category. High housing costs consume 15.9% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 62nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Coburg - East, as evaluated in the latest Census, comprised 53.6% houses and 46.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg - East was 30.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (30.4%) or rented (39.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,100, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Coburg - East was $416, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Coburg - East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Coburg - East features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-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 make up the remaining 38.2%, consisting of 28.5% lone person households and 9.6% group households. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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 higher than broader benchmarks. As of 2016, 46.5% of residents aged 15 years and above held university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. This indicates a significant educational advantage for the area, positioning it strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 27.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%).

Vocational pathways accounted for 22.1% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above – advanced diplomas made up 10.4% and certificates were at 11.7%. Educational participation was notably high, with 28.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2016. This included 10.2% in tertiary education, 6.4% 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

Coburg - East has 84 active public transport stops, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 16 different routes, collectively facilitating 12,723 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 165 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 63%, followed by train at 10% and cycling at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

In 2021 Census data, 44.1% of residents worked from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,817 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 151 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' health outcomes are relatively positive according to health data.

AreaSearch's analysis shows mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks, with common health issues seen across both young and old age groups. Private health cover is high at approximately 58% of the total population (~8,393 people). Mental health issues impact 12.6% of residents, while asthma affects 8.2%. About 66.8% report no medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Health outcomes among working-age residents are typical. The area has 13.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,887 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Coburg - East was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Coburg-East has a high level of cultural diversity, with 33.5% of its population born overseas and 34.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Coburg-East, accounting for 35.1% of the population. Islam is notably overrepresented in Coburg-East compared to Greater Melbourne, with 8.2% versus 5.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (18.6%), Australian (16.0%), and Other (13.2%). Some ethnic groups are significantly more represented in Coburg-East than regionally: Italian (11.9% vs 5.2%), Lebanese (3.4% vs 0.8%), and Greek (4.4% vs 2.7%).

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 closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 22.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.5%. This concentration in the 25-34 bracket exceeds the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 21.3% to 22.8%, while the 5-14 age group has declined from 8.4% to 7.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Coburg-East's age structure, with the 45-54 age group expected to grow by 80%, reaching a total of 3,228 people from its current figure of 1,794.