Craigieburn - North

Craigieburn - 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

Craigieburn - North's population was around 12,849 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 540 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,309 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,846 in June 2025 and an additional 12 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 962 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 67.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch used VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predicted exceptional growth, placing Craigieburn - North in the top 10 percent of national areas. By 2041, the area was expected to expand by 6,810 persons, reflecting a total increase of 53.0% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Craigieburn - North is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Craigieburn - North has recorded approximately 12 residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 63 homes were approved, with a further 4 approved in FY26 so far. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average expected construction cost of new dwellings is $507,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, $283,000 worth of commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting minimal commercial development activity in the area. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Craigieburn - North has significantly lower building activity, at 92.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Furthermore, construction has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1865 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Craigieburn - North is expected to grow by 6,807 residents through to 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.

Craigieburn - North has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 31 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include Donnybrae Estate by Dennis Family Corporation, Donnybrook-Woodstock Precinct Structure Plan, Donnybrook Road Upgrades, and Platform Donnybrook by Blueways & Wolfdene. 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.

Craigieburn - North has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Craigieburn - North has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.8% as of December 2025, showing relative stability over the past year. In December 2025, 6,849 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate matching Greater Melbourne's at 4.8%.

Workforce participation was 71.9%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 19.6% of residents worked from home. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. The area has a notable concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, with employment levels at 2.0 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services show lower representation at 4.6% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Over the year ending December 2025, employment increased by 0.3%, while labour force decreased by 0.8%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne had employment growth of 2.4% and unemployment rose by 0.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Craigieburn - North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023. Craigieburn - North SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $58,779 and an average income of $66,842, which is approximately national average. This compares to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates are approximately $64,434 (median) and $73,272 (average) as of March 2026. Census data shows household income ranks at the 63rd percentile ($1,958 weekly), while personal income is at the 37th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 40.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 (5,165 individuals), aligning with regional levels where this cohort represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 17.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 60th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Craigieburn - North's dwelling structure in the latest Census showed 89.6% houses and 10.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Craigieburn - North was 15.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.1% and rented ones at 27.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, below Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent was $371 compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Craigieburn - North's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Craigieburn - North features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 85.5% of all households, including 56.0% couples with children, 15.1% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for 14.5%, with lone person households at 12.4% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 3.4 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Craigieburn - North performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 26.7%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 31.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.6%) and certificates (18.6%). Educational participation is high, with 37.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including primary (13.5%), secondary (10.1%), and tertiary (5.5%) levels.

Educational participation is notably high, with 37.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.5% in primary education, 10.1% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Craigieburn - North has 30 operational public transport stops serving mixed bus routes. These provide a total of 1545 weekly passenger trips via six individual routes. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility with an average distance of 256 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, predominantly by car at 89%. Train use stands at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, exceeding regional norms.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.6% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes is approximately 220 trips daily, translating to about 51 weekly trips per individual stop.

Craigieburn - North's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Craigieburn - North. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low, particularly among younger cohorts.

Private health cover was at approximately 52% of the total population (~6,694 people), slightly lagging the average SA2 area's 56.7%. The most common medical conditions were asthma and mental health issues, impacting 5.9 and 5.2% respectively. 79.9% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area had 8.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,088 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors presented some challenges but ranked lower nationally than the broader population.

Craigieburn - 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

Craigieburn-North is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 47.4% of its population born overseas and 59.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Craigieburn-North, comprising 44.9% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Other religions, which comprises 10.8% of the population, substantially higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups in Craigieburn-North are Other (34.0%), Australian (13.5%), and English (10.8%). Notably, Samoan ancestry is overrepresented at 2.1%, compared to the regional average of 0.3%. Indian ancestry also stands out at 10.8% versus the regional average of 4.2%, while Sri Lankan ancestry is slightly higher than average at 1.3%.

Craigieburn - North hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Craigieburn - North has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Craigieburn - North has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (13.4%). Between the 2021 Census and now, residents have aged on average by 1.4 years, with the median age rising from 32 to 33. Specifically, the 45 to 54 age group has increased from 12.7% to 15.0%, while the 65 to 74 cohort has risen from 4.3% to 5.9%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 age group has declined from 18.6% to 15.8%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 18.1% to 15.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Craigieburn - North's age profile will change significantly. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to rise substantially, with an increase of 1,339 people (69%), from 1,928 to 3,268.