Coburg North

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 was around 8,949 as of May 2026. This showed an increase of 524 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,425. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates: 8,932 in June 2025 and 149 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,833 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Coburg North had a compound annual growth rate of 1.4%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 88.2% of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted to SA2 levels for areas not covered by ABS data. These projections predict exceptional growth for Coburg North, placing it in the top 10 percent of statistical areas nationally. By 2041, the population is expected to increase by 3,918 persons, reflecting a total increase of 43.6% over the 16 years based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

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 per year over the past five financial years, totalling 118 homes from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 14 approvals have been recorded. On average, around two people move to the area annually for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes is $311,000, aligning with regional trends.

In FY-26, $44.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Coburg North has 59.0% lower building activity per person, which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. This activity is also below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New building activity comprises 44.0% detached houses and 56.0% medium to high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift from the existing 75.0% houses indicates decreasing developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles requiring diverse, affordable housing options. With approximately 524 people per dwelling approval, Coburg North exhibits a developed market. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Coburg North to gain 3,901 residents by 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include Assembly Broadmeadows, Kodak Lands Redevelopment (Merri-bek Gardens Estate), Gaffney St, Coburg North, and Coburg North Village and Lincoln Mills Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch assessment positions Coburg North ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Coburg North has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 3.2%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%. Over the past year, employment remained stable.

As of December 2025, 5,215 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.3% and workforce participation at 72.8%. A high proportion of residents work from home (42.2%). Employment is concentrated in healthcare & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area has a specialisation in education & training, with employment share at 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 6.9% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.6, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.8%, with a 0.2% decline in employment, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coburg North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 North SA2 has a high national median income of $62,133 and an average income of $77,387. This is higher than Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, the estimated current median income is approximately $68,110 and the average income is around $84,832 as of March 2026. According to Census 2021 income data, incomes in Coburg North cluster around the 64th percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 33.4% of the community (2,988 individuals), which is similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort also represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 64th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Coburg North is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Coburg North, as per the latest Census, 75.4% of dwellings were houses, with 24.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg North was 30.7%, similar to Melbourne metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.0% and rented ones at 31.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Coburg North was $401, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Coburg North's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 31.1%, with lone person households at 24.7% and group households comprising 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

Coburg North's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 42.2% hold university qualifications, compared to 27.7% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. University graduates comprise 25.0%, postgraduate qualifications account for 12.4%, and graduate diplomas make up 4.8%. Vocational pathways are pursued by 24.2% of residents aged 15 and above, 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.

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, comprising lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 7 routes, providing a total of 7,366 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 149 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 74%, followed by train at 11% and cycling at 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 42.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,052 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 122 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Coburg North faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~5,190 people). Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 10.1 and 7.8% of residents respectively. 68.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 13.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,169 people), which is lower than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Coburg North 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 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. Christianity is the predominant religion in Coburg North, making up 41.2% of people. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 7.5% versus 5.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (18.2%), Australian (17.3%), and Other (14.4%). Notably, Italian (13.0%) and Greek (4.5%) populations in Coburg North exceed regional averages of 5.2% and 2.7%, respectively. Lebanese population is also higher at 2.6% compared to the regional average of 0.8%.

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

The median age in Coburg North is 38 years, similar to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Coburg North has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (17.9%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.1%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the age group of 55 to 64 has increased from 9.6% to 10.6%. Conversely, the 0 to 4 age group has decreased from 6.6% to 5.3%, and the 85+ age group has dropped from 4.0% to 2.8%. By the year 2041, Coburg North is projected to experience significant changes in its age composition. Notably, the 45 to 54 age group is expected to grow by 64%, reaching a total of 2,031 people from the current figure of 1,236.