Coburg North
Statistical Area - sa2

Coburg North lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Coburg North's population is approximately 8,962 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents a rise of 537 individuals (6.4%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,425 people. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates of 8,935 in June 2024 and an additional 68 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 1,836 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the national average according to AreaSearch assessments. Over ten years (2015-2025), Coburg North has shown steady growth with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, outperforming its SA3 region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 93.5% of recent population gains in the area.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Age group growth rates are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Coburg North is expected to experience exceptional growth in the top 10 percent of statistical areas nationally by 2041. The area's population is projected to increase by 4,040 persons over this period, reflecting a total rise of 44.8%.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Coburg North according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Coburg North has received approximately 23 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that from financial year (FY) 2021 to FY 2025, there were a total of 118 dwelling approvals in Coburg North, with 4 approvals recorded so far in FY 2026. Each dwelling built over these five years has resulted in an average increase of 2 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes is $651,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments.

In FY 2026, commercial approvals totalling $44.6 million have been registered, demonstrating robust commercial development activity. Comparatively, Coburg North has lower building activity than Greater Melbourne, with 59.0% fewer approvals per person. This limited new construction typically strengthens demand and pricing for existing dwellings. Additionally, the level of building activity is also below the national average, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. The types of housing approved in Coburg North are 44.0% detached houses and 56.0% medium to high-density housing, shifting away from the area's current housing composition, which is 75.0% houses. This change may be due to decreasing developable sites and evolving lifestyle preferences. With around 524 people per dwelling approval, Coburg North exhibits signs of a developed market.

Projections indicate that Coburg North will gain approximately 4,013 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply might struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Coburg North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects likely affecting the region. Key initiatives include Assembly Broadmeadows, Gaffney St, Coburg North, Coburg North Station Accessibility Upgrade, and Goosnargh Housing Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis indicates Coburg North maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Coburg North has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.0%.

As of June 2025, 5,359 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training, with education & training having a particularly strong representation at 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, construction had lower representation at 6.9% compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

The ratio of workers per resident was 0.6, indicating a higher level of local employment opportunities than usual. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 4.0%, while labour force increased by 4.4%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% during the same period. State-level data from Sep-25 showed Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coburg North's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though these figures 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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Coburg North is $58,647. Average income stands at $73,573. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Coburg North are approximately $64,576 (median) and $81,011 (average) as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data shows incomes in Coburg North cluster around the 64th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate 33.4% of individuals earn between $1,500 - $2,999. This aligns with Melbourne's metropolitan region where this cohort represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income. Despite this, disposable income is at the 65th percentile and SEIFA income ranking places Coburg North in the 7th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Coburg North, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.4% houses and 24.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 62.8% houses and 37.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg North was at 30.7%, similar to Melbourne metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.0% and rented dwellings at 31.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Coburg North was $401, compared to Melbourne metro's $381. Nationally, Coburg North's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 68.9% of all households, including 33.0% couples with children, 22.8% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 31.1%, with lone person households at 24.7% and group households accounting for 6.5%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Coburg North exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Coburg North is notably high, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, surpassing both the SA4 region average of 27.7% and the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.4%) and graduate diplomas (4.8%). Vocational pathways account for 24.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 13.3%. Educational participation is high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.1% in primary education, 7.3% in tertiary education, and 6.6% pursuing secondary education. Mercy College and Australian International Academy of Education - Senior Campus serve the area, collectively accommodating 410 students. Coburg North has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1045) with balanced educational opportunities, comprising 1 secondary and 1 K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited at 4.6 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 10.0, resulting in many families travelling to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Coburg North has 60 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. Seven individual routes service these stops, collectively providing 5,613 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 149 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility. Across all routes, service frequency averages 801 trips per day, which equates to approximately 93 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Coburg North are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Health indicators for Coburg North show below-average health outcomes. Common health conditions are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population, which is around 5,018 people. This compares to a rate of 52.5% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions in Coburg North are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 10.1% and 7.8% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 68.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.2% across Greater Melbourne. In terms of demographics, 13.2% of Coburg North's residents are aged 65 and over, totaling 1,182 people. Health outcomes among seniors in the area present some challenges that require more attention than those for the broader population.

Coburg North 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 North has a high level of cultural diversity, with 32.5% of its population born overseas and 34.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The dominant religion in Coburg North is Christianity, comprising 41.2% of the population. However, Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne's average, making up 7.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (18.2%), Australian (17.3%), and Other (14.4%), lower than regional averages. Some ethnic groups have notable differences: Italians are slightly overrepresented at 13.0%, Greeks at 4.5%, and Lebanese at 2.6%.

Coburg North's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Coburg North is close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Coburg North has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (17.9%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (5.9%). From the 2021 Census to present, the population aged 55-64 grew from 9.6% to 10.5%, while those aged 85 and above declined from 4.0% to 3.0%. By 2041, Coburg North's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 67%, increasing from 1,225 to 2,048 people.