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 around 14,731 as of Feb 2026. This showed an increase of 2,196 people (17.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,535. The change was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 13,966 as of June 2024 and an additional 452 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 3,928 persons per square kilometer, placing Coburg - East in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration 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 VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted 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. Future population dynamics anticipate exceptional growth, with the area expected to expand by 8,504 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 52.5% in total over the 17 years.

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

Coburg - East recorded approximately 258 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, 1,294 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved in FY-26 so far. The average number of new residents per year arriving for each new home over these five years was 0.4.

This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and supporting population growth that may surpass current projections. The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings during this period was $398,000. In FY-26, $5.3 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Coburg - East has 76.0% more new home approvals per capita, offering buyers greater choice and indicating strong developer confidence in the area. The new development consists of 4.0% detached dwellings and 96.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 54.0% houses). This trend is likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With approximately 117 people per approval, Coburg - East reflects a developing area.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to grow by 7,739 residents through to 2041. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Coburg - East has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 30 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Coburg Health and Community Services Precinct, Sydney Road Coburg BTR (511-537), Holstep Health Community Hub (Coburg), and The Avenue, Coburg. Details of most relevant projects are provided below.

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

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Employment conditions in Coburg - East remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Coburg - East has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 7.9% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.8% over the previous year. As of that date, 8,238 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 3.3% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation was fairly standard at 73.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 44.1% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Coburg - East showed strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

However, construction was under-represented at 5.7% compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents appeared to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 4.8% while labour force grew by 4.9%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 3.3%, and an increase in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coburg - East's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Coburg - East SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $62,085. The average income stood at $77,360. Both figures were above national averages of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively for Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% from financial year ended June 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $67,207 and average income $83,742 as of that date. From the 2021 Census, incomes in Coburg - East clustered around the 63rd percentile nationally. Income distribution showed that 32.4% (4,772 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, similar to regional levels at 32.8%. Housing costs consumed 15.9% of income. Despite this, disposable income was at the 62nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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

In Coburg - East, as per the latest Census evaluation, 53.6% of dwellings were houses while 46.5% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments and 'other' dwellings. In contrast, Melbourne metropolitan area had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg - East stood at 30.5%, closely aligned with Melbourne metro's figure. Mortgaged dwellings comprised 30.4%, while rented dwellings accounted for 39.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,100, exceeding Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent 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, and 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 high, with 46.5% of residents aged 15 years and over holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. The area's educational advantage is reflected in its strong showing for bachelor degrees (27.5%), postgraduate qualifications (14.1%), and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational pathways are also well-represented, with advanced diplomas accounting for 10.4% and certificates for 11.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and over.

Educational participation is high in the area, 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.

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 lightrail and bus services. These are served by 16 routes facilitating 12,723 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 165 meters to the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode at 63%, followed by train at 10% and cycling at 6%. The area has a lower than average vehicle ownership rate of 0.9 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 44.1% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,817 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 151 weekly trips per 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 positive health outcomes, matching national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions.

Common health issues affect both young and old equally. Private health cover is high at approximately 58%, covering around 8,543 people. Mental health issues and asthma are most prevalent, affecting 12.6% and 8.2% respectively. About 66.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are typical. The area has 13.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,963 people), lower than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. National rankings for this age group align with general population figures.

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. The dominant religion in Coburg-East is Christianity, comprising 35.1% of the population. Islam is overrepresented, making up 8.2% compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 5.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (18.6%), Australian (16.0%), and Other (13.2%). Notably, Italian (11.9%) and Lebanese (3.4%) populations are higher than regional averages of 5.2% and 0.8%, respectively. Greek population is also relatively high at 4.4%, compared to the regional average of 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 remaining close to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 21.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.8%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 11.4% to 12.0% of the population. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has decreased from 7.1% to 6.5%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Coburg-East's age structure. Notably, the 45 to 54 group is projected to grow by 75%, increasing from 1,907 to 3,344 people.