Collingwood
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Collingwood's population was approximately 11,293 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 2,114 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 9,179. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates and additional validated addresses between June 2024 and the Census date. Collingwood's density ratio was 8,892 persons per square kilometer as of Aug 2025, placing it in the top 10% nationally according to AreaSearch. This high demand for land is driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 75.3% of overall population gains during recent periods. All migration types and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for SA2 areas, and Vic State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 for areas not covered by ABS data. Future population growth is predicted to be exceptional, with Collingwood expected to gain approximately 6,881 persons by 2041, representing a total increase of 59.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Collingwood recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Collingwood has recorded approximately 41 residential properties granted approval each year. Development approval data from the ABS indicates around 208 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with one approval so far in FY-26. On average, about 6.3 new residents have arrived per dwelling constructed annually during this period. This has led to demand significantly outpacing supply, which typically impacts prices and increases buyer competition.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $1,543,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket dwellings. In terms of commercial activity, around $182.3 million in approvals have been registered this financial year. Comparing Collingwood to Greater Melbourne, it has roughly two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 9th percentile nationally for housing choices, which supports demand for existing dwellings. New building activity shows a focus on higher-density living, with approximately 5% detached dwellings and 95% attached dwellings.

This suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers seeking more affordable entry points. With around 3242 people per approval, Collingwood exhibits characteristics of a mature, established area. Population forecasts project an increase of 6733 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Collingwood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 46 projects likely impacting the region. Key initiatives include Eastern Freeway Upgrade (Hoddle Street Section), Walk Up Village, Cambridge Street Collingwood Development, and Derby Street Apartment Development. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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

Collingwood has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Collingwood has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 9.1% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 5.6% over the past year.

As of this date, 7465 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Collingwood was at 74.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Professional & technical services showed a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 2.1 times the regional average.

However, construction was under-represented, with only 4.0% of Collingwood's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. There were 1.5 workers for every resident in Collingwood as per the Census, indicating that it functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 5.6% while labour force increased by 7.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5%, labour force growth of 4.0%, with unemployment rising 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year (adding 39,880 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Collingwood's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.4%% over five years and 14.9% over ten years.

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

Collingwood had a median taxpayer income of $70,312 and an average income of $89,360 in financial year 2022. This is significantly higher than the national averages for median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 in Greater Melbourne. By March 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $77,421 (median) and $98,394 (average), based on a 10.11% increase since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census showed individual earnings at the 95th percentile nationally were $1,338 weekly. In Collingwood, 32.2% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, aligning with regional trends where 32.8% fell into this band. A substantial proportion (33.1%) earned above $3,000 weekly, indicating strong economic capacity in the suburb. Housing costs consumed 18.6% of income, but disposable income remained at the 70th percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

Collingwood features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Collingwood's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 5.8% houses and 94.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Compared to Melbourne metro's 12.8% houses and 87.2% other dwellings, Collingwood had a lower proportion of houses. Home ownership in Collingwood stood at 11.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.2% and rented ones at 65.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,326. The median weekly rent figure in Collingwood was $425, compared to Melbourne metro's $451. Nationally, Collingwood's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Collingwood features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 46.6% of all households, including 8.9% couples with children, 29.3% couples without children, and 7.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 53.4%, with lone person households at 42.6% and group households making up 10.8%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.0.

Collingwood shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

In Collingwood, residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 60.2% hold university qualifications compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. This advantage positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 38.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%).

Vocational pathways account for 18.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 8.7% and certificates at 9.8%. Educational participation is notably high, with 26.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.1% in tertiary education, 4.7% in primary education, and 3.1% pursuing secondary education. Collingwood's schools have a combined enrollment of 1,163 students. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions with an ICSEA score of 967, indicating balanced educational opportunities. There are four schools in total, including one primary school and three K-12 schools.

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

Collingwood has 20 active public transport stops, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 31 different routes, facilitating 10,840 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average residing just 176 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 1,548 daily trips across all routes, translating to about 542 weekly trips per individual stop.

Collingwood's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Collingwood. Prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups is very low. Private health cover rate is exceptionally high at approximately 64% of the total population (7227 people), compared to 69.8% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 12.6 and 9.4% of residents respectively. Seventy-one point four percent of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.6% across Greater Melbourne. Seven point seven percent of residents are aged 65 and over (866 people), lower than the 12.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Collingwood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Collingwood has a high level of cultural diversity, with 26.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 37.4% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Collingwood, accounting for 21.8% of people. Judaism, however, is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 0.8% of Collingwood's population.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.4%), Australian (15.7%), and Other (14.7%). Notably, Vietnamese (3.2%) and French (0.8%) populations in Collingwood are higher than the regional averages of 2.4% and 0.8%, respectively. Polish people also make up a slightly larger proportion at 1.0%.

Collingwood's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Collingwood has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Collingwood has a higher concentration of 25-34 year-olds at 34.8%, but fewer 5-14 year-olds at 5.3%. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 19.1% to 20.3% of Collingwood's population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group has decreased from 36.4% to 34.8%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 11.2% to 10.2%. By 2041, Collingwood's population is projected to see substantial demographic changes, with the 25 to 34 age cohort showing the strongest growth at 36%, adding 1,419 residents to reach a total of 5,346 in that age group.