Coburg - West

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

Coburg - West's population was around 15,561 as of February 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 1,530 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,031. The increase is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 14,835 in June 2024 and an additional 108 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 4,878 persons per square kilometer, placing Coburg - West in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 10.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving this growth.

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 utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future trends predict exceptional growth for Coburg - West, placing it in the top 10 percent of Australian statistical areas. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 6,120 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 34.7% over the 17 years.

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

Coburg-West has seen approximately 40 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 203 homes were approved, with an additional 25 approved so far in FY26. On average, 1 person moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years. However, this figure has increased to 9.4 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, indicating growing demand and tightening supply.

The average construction value of development projects was $356,000. This year, there have been $418,000 in commercial development approvals, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Coburg-West has significantly lower construction activity (74% below the regional average per person), which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, this activity is also below average, suggesting possible planning constraints. New building activity comprises 41% detached houses and 59% medium to high-density housing. This shift from the area's existing housing (77% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. With around 382 people per dwelling approval, Coburg-West has a developed market.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain approximately 5,394 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Coburg - West has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 40thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects that may impact this region. Notable projects include Pentridge Precinct, Murray Road Shopping Centre Expansion, 477 Sydney Road Mixed-Use Development, and Coburg North Medical Centre. 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.

The employment landscape in Coburg - West shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Coburg-West has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 6.1% as of September 2025. This rate is 1.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 44.1% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Education & training shows particularly strong specialization with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, manufacturing has lower representation at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 7.2%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the count of working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.9% while labour force grew by 4.9%, keeping unemployment relatively stable. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a slight rise in unemployment to 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coburg-West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Coburg - West SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $62,169 and an average level of $77,407. These figures are high compared to national levels of $57,688 and $75,164 across Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth, current estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $67,298 (median) and $83,793 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Coburg - West cluster around the 72nd percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 30.6% of residents. Economic strength is evident through 34.1% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 14.6% of income, and residents rank within the 78th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Coburg - West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Coburg-West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 76.9% houses and 23.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coburg-West stood at 35.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.4% and rented ones at 29.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,299, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in the area was $450, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Coburg-West's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Coburg - West features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 69.8% of all households, including 34.6% couples with children, 24.0% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.2%, with lone person households at 22.1% and group households comprising 8.2%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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

Coburg - West's residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than Australia's average. 44.1% hold university qualifications, compared to the national figure of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.1%). Vocational pathways account for 21.3% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 12.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.8% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 7.5% in tertiary education, and 6.5% pursuing secondary education.

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

Coburg - West has 55 operational public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 12 unique routes, collectively facilitating 5,859 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated highly with residents typically residing 181 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 70%, followed by train at 10% and cycling at 6%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.0, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 44.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 837 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 106 weekly trips per individual stop.

Coburg - West's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Coburg - West residents show positive health outcomes, according to AreaSearch's analysis.

Mortality rates and health conditions are largely in line with national benchmarks. Common health conditions' prevalence is low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover stands at 58% of the total population (around 9,025 people). Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.4 and 8.0% respectively. About 69.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age population health outcomes are typical. The area has 14.2% seniors (2,203 people), with some challenges but ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Coburg - West was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Coburg-West was found to be culturally diverse, with 28.2% of its population born overseas and 31.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Coburg-West, comprising 42.4% of the population. Islam is overrepresented, making up 5.6% compared to Greater Melbourne's 5.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (18.5%), Australian (17.1%), and Italian (12.3%), which is higher than the regional average of 5.2%. Notably, Greek (7.0%) and Lebanese (3.8%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 2.7% and 0.8%, respectively. Maltese representation is equal at 1.1%.

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

The median age of Coburg-West is 37 years, matching Greater Melbourne's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The 45-54 age group constitutes 13.5% of Coburg-West's population, higher than Greater Melbourne's percentage. Conversely, the 5-14 age cohort makes up 9.8%, lower than Greater Melbourne's figure. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 11.0% to 12.4%. During this period, the 5-14 age group decreased from 11.3% to 9.8%, while the 45-54 age group fell from 14.7% to 13.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Coburg-West's age structure, with the 55-64 age group expected to grow by 61%, reaching 2,777 people from its current figure of 1,725.