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 11,293 as of November 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 2,114 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 9,179. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,145 in June 2024 and an additional 122 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 8,892 persons per square kilometer, placing Collingwood in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The growth rate of 23.0% since the 2021 census exceeds both the national average (8.9%) and state averages, indicating strong population growth in the area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 75.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, with interstate migration and natural growth also being positive factors.

AreaSearch's projections for Collingwood are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made through 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 grow by 6,881 persons by 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain 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 annually, with a total of 208 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, including one approval so far in FY-26. On average, about 6.3 new residents have arrived per dwelling constructed each year during these five financial years. This supply has substantially lagged demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $360,000. In the current financial year, Collingwood has recorded $182.3 million in commercial development approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Collingwood records about 59% of the building activity per person and ranks among the 9th percentile nationally for housing choices, suggesting limited options for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties. The new building activity shows a skew towards compact living, with 5.0% standalone homes and 95.0% townhouses or apartments.

This trend offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. Collingwood's population density is around 3242 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area. Population forecasts suggest Collingwood will gain 6,733 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.

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

The performance of a region can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, notable projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 45 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are Walk Up Village, Cambridge Street Collingwood Development, Derby Street Apartment Development, and 21 Northumberland Street Mixed-Use Development. The following list provides details on those projects deemed most relevant.

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

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

Collingwood has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 9.1%, with estimated employment growth of 5.6% in the past year as of June 2025.

There are 7,465 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, higher than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation is high at 74.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries for employment among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Collingwood specializes in professional & technical jobs with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level, while construction employs only 4.0%, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.

The area hosts more jobs than residents, attracting workers from nearby regions. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 5.6% and labour force grew by 7.2%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.5%, labour force grow by 4.0%, and unemployment increase by 0.5 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project growth of approximately 7.4% over five years and 14.9% over ten years for Collingwood, based on its employment mix.

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

Collingwood has a median taxpayer income of $70,312 and an average income of $89,360 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is significantly higher than the national averages of $54,892 median and $73,761 average in Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022 until September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $78,862 median and $100,226 average. According to census data, individual earnings at the 95th percentile nationally are $1,338 weekly. In Collingwood, 32.2% of individuals fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band (3,636 individuals), which is consistent with broader trends in the area showing 32.8%. High weekly household earnings exceeding $3,000 are achieved by 33.1%, indicating strong consumer spending power despite high housing costs consuming 18.6% of income. Disposable income ranks at the 70th percentile nationally, with the area's SEIFA income ranking placing 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, was 5.8% houses and 94.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Melbourne metro had 12.8% houses and 87.2% other dwellings. 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 $2,326. Median weekly rent in Collingwood was $425, compared to Melbourne metro's $451. Nationally, Collingwood's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863. Rents in Collingwood 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 constitute 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 account for the remaining 53.4%, with lone person households at 42.6% and group households comprising 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

Collingwood's educational attainment is notably high, with 60.2% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This surpasses the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. The most common qualification is a bachelor degree, held by 38.0% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 17.8%, and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Vocational pathways account for 18.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 8.7% and certificates 9.8%.

Educational participation is high in Collingwood, 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. The area has four schools with a combined enrollment of 1,163 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 967). The educational mix includes one primary school and three K-12 schools. Note that for schools showing 'n/a' in enrollments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

The analysis of public transport in Collingwood shows that there are currently 20 operational transport stops. These include a mix of light rail and bus services. A total of 31 individual routes serve these stops, collectively enabling 10,840 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically living within 176 meters of the nearest stop. On average, there are 1,548 daily trips across all routes, equating to approximately 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 reveals strong performance across Collingwood, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 64% of the total population (7,227 people) has private health cover, compared to 69.8% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, impacting 12.6% and 9.4% of residents respectively.

A total of 71.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.6% in Greater Melbourne. As of 8th June 2021, 7.7% of Collingwood's residents are aged 65 and over (866 people), which is 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's population includes 26.6% who speak a language other than English at home, with 37.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 21.8%. Judaism is equally represented in Collingwood and Greater Melbourne at 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.4%), Australian (15.7%), and Other (14.7%). Notably, Vietnamese people make up 3.2% of Collingwood's population compared to the regional average of 2.4%, while French and Polish populations are also slightly higher at 0.8% each.

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

Collingwood's median age is 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Collingwood has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (34.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of Collingwood's population aged 35 to 44 has grown from 19.1% to 20.3%, while the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has declined from 36.4% to 34.8%. The proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 has also decreased, from 11.2% to 10.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic shifts in Collingwood. Notably, the number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to grow by 36%, adding 1,419 individuals to reach a total of 5,346.