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 approximately 12,888 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 579 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,309. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates of 12,882 in June 2024 and two validated new addresses post-Census. The population density was around 965 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Craigieburn - North's growth rate was 1.7% annually, exceeding national averages. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 64.4% of overall population gains recently.

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, it employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future projections anticipate exceptional growth in Craigieburn - North, placing it within the top 10 percent nationally. By 2041, the population is expected to expand by 7,052 persons based on latest annual ERP numbers, reflecting a total increase of 54.7% over the 17-year period.

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 seen approximately 12 residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 63 homes were approved, with an additional 3 approved so far in FY-26. Despite a decline in population 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 value for new dwellings is $507,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaling $283,000 have been registered, suggesting minimal commercial development activity in the area compared to Greater Melbourne, where building activity is 92.0% higher per person. This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Furthermore, Craigieburn - North's new construction has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space, as reflected by the high population density of around 1865 people per dwelling approval. Looking ahead, Craigieburn - North is projected to grow by 7,046 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the future.

Craigieburn - North has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 31 such projects that could impact this particular region. Notable ones include Donnybrae Estate developed by Dennis Family Corporation, the Donnybrook-Woodstock Precinct Structure Plan, upgrades to Donnybrook Road, and Platform Donnybrook by Blueways & Wolfdene. The following list details those expected to be 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 shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Craigieburn - North has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 5.8%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.5% over the past year. There are 6,864 residents currently employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.9% compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne's at 71.0%. According to Census responses, 19.6% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. The area shows high specialization in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical employs only 4.6% of local workers compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.5%, while labour force grew by 1.8%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimate a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years for national employment. 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's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Craigieburn - North SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $58,779 and an average of $66,842. Nationally, these figures are approximately average, with Greater Melbourne reporting $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Considering Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be around $63,628 (median) and $72,356 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 63rd percentile ($1,958 weekly), with personal income at the 37th percentile. Income distribution indicates that 40.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (5,180 people), 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 structures, per the latest Census, consisted of 89.6% houses and 10.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Craigieburn - North stood at 15.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.1% and rented ones at 27.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Craigieburn - North was $371, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Craigieburn - North's mortgage repayments were below 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 account for 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 make up the remaining 14.5%, with lone person households at 12.4% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 3.4 people, which is 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% currently enrolled in formal education: 13.5% in primary, 10.1% in secondary, and 5.5% in tertiary education.

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, all serving buses. Six routes service these stops, providing a total of 1545 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents located an average of 256 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars are the primary mode of transport at 89%, while trains account for 7%. The area has an average vehicle ownership of 1.7 per dwelling, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 220 trips per day, resulting in approximately 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 indicates strong performance across Craigieburn - North. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are low, particularly among younger cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of the total population (~6714 people), slightly below Greater Melbourne's average of 56.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (5.9%) and mental health issues (5.2%). A majority of residents, 79.9%, report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents show low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 8.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1116 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to 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 highest overrepresentation is seen in Other religions, which make up 10.8% of the population, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 2.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Craigieburn-North are Other (34.0%), Australian (13.5%), and English (10.8%). Notably, Samoan is overrepresented at 2.1%, compared to the regional average of 0.3%, Indian at 10.8% versus 4.2%, and Sri Lankan at 1.3% compared to 0.8%.

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

Craigieburn-North's median age in 2021 was 34 years, lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Craigieburn-North had a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (12.8%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, residents' median age increased by 1.5 years to 34 years. The 45-54 age group grew from 12.7% to 14.9%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 14.2% to 16.1%. Conversely, the 35-44 cohort declined from 18.6% to 15.6%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 18.1% to 15.4%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Craigieburn-North, with the 45-54 age cohort projected to grow by 71%, adding 1,361 residents to reach a total of 3,283.