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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Cranbourne North - West has an estimated 12,313 residents, up from 11,910 at the 2021 Census — a change of 403 people, or 3.4%. That puts 2,576 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to demographic findings from AreaSearch, the resident count in Cranbourne North - West stands at approximately 12,313 as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 403 people (3.4%) compared to the 11,910 people recorded in the 2021 Census. This calculation incorporates the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 12,313 alongside 26 validated new addresses identified following the Census. The resulting population density reaches 2,575 persons per square kilometer, positioning the suburb in the upper quartile among nationally evaluated territories. Overall population growth was predominantly supported by net overseas migration, which generated roughly 56.6% of recent population additions.
Projections compiled by the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 using 2022 as a base year underpin AreaSearch's SA2 modelling, supplemented where required by 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA releases through weighted growth aggregation methods. Age-specific rates from these aggregations are also projected across 2032 to 2041. Future demographic modelling indicates substantial growth placing the district within the top quartile nationwide, with projections anticipating an additional 3,159 persons by 2041 relative to latest annual ERP figures, representing an overall expansion of 25.7% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
87 new dwellings have been approved in Cranbourne North - West over the past five years, an average of 17 a year. That is 1.4 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential construction authorisations in Cranbourne North - West have averaged 17 new dwelling approvals annually, accumulating to 87 homes across the past 5 financial years. In the context of recent population contractions, this construction pace has kept pace with underlying demand to provide sufficient buyer choice, with projects recording an average construction value of $358,000 to deliver more accessible pricing below regional benchmarks. Additionally, $283,000 in commercial approvals was logged during this financial year, underscoring the predominantly residential orientation of the area. Residential building volumes in Cranbourne North - West sit well below metropolitan benchmarks, tracking 89.0% below regional average per person compared to Greater Melbourne.
Such subdued building numbers typically reinforce pricing and demand across the established property segment. This pace also trails national standards, pointing to the suburb's established nature and prospective planning limits. Current development activity comprises 41.0% detached dwellings alongside 59.0% townhouses or apartments. This pivot toward medium and higher density housing provides entry points for first-home buyers, downsizers, and investors, presenting a distinct departure from the historical stock of 96.0% houses while accommodating shifting buyer preferences, lifestyle trends, and development parcel scarcity. The district registers roughly 1438 people per dwelling approval, highlighting an established market. Demographic projections from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate suggest Cranbourne North - West is positioned to welcome 3,159 residents through to 2041. Should current construction tempos persist, residential additions could lag demographic expansion, thereby intensifying buyer demand and exerting upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cranbourne North - West
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 8 current infrastructure and development projects inside Cranbourne North - West, worth an estimated $527 million. A further 130 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $24.8 billion. 34 are already under construction and 52 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Strategic infrastructure improvements and capital works serve as key catalysts for local economic and urban performance. AreaSearch has highlighted a program of 13 projects expected to shape the district. Notable undertakings include Summerset Cranbourne North, Kala Primary School, Lyndhurst Secondary College Upgrade, and Lyndhurst Inland Port and Industrial Hub, among other major developments influencing the area.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Dandenong South Intermodal Terminal
A major inland port and freight hub located within the Nexus Dandenong South Industrial Estate. The $383 million facility connects directly to the Port of Melbourne via a dedicated rail spur, aiming to shift containerised freight from road to rail. Once complete, it will feature automated rail-mounted gantry cranes, operate 24 hours a day, and have the capacity to handle up to 560,000 TEU per annum.
Lyndhurst Secondary College Upgrade
Major upgrade and modernisation of Lyndhurst Secondary College including a rebuilt Block A with a double gym, food technology facilities, music and drama spaces, a 300-plus seat auditorium, canteen and new classrooms, together with internal refurbishment of Block E. Construction is underway with forecast completion in Q1 2028.
Summerset Cranbourne North
Summerset's first Australian retirement village features 161 villas, 34 serviced apartments, and a 72-bed care centre alongside resort-style amenities. The main building opened following an investor showcase in May 2026, with additional residential stages continuing rollout throughout the year.
Ironwood Estate
Premium residential estate by Lennium Group featuring 98 contemporary residences and 32 home sites neighbouring Cranbourne Golf Course. Architecturally designed homes with modern aesthetics, European appliances, stone benchtops and soaring ceilings.
Kala Primary School
New primary school in Cranbourne North accommodating up to 525 students from Prep to Year 6, including 2 learning neighbourhoods, an administration and library building, outdoor hard courts, a community hub with indoor multi-use court, canteen and arts/music spaces, a sports field, and a car park. The school name derives from the Boonwurrung language word meaning dog, chosen following community and Traditional Owner group consultation. Tracy Knight was appointed the first principal. The school opened to students in late January 2026, one of 19 new government schools to open across Victoria that year.
Hunt Club Village Retail and Dining Additions
Hunt Club Village is expanding its Cranbourne East neighbourhood shopping centre with new pad-site retail, dining and convenience additions. Current works include an El Jannah Charcoal Chicken drive-through, My Kebabz and a 7-Eleven fuel station, with the new tenancies reported as on track to open in late September 2026. The centre is anchored by Woolworths, Aldi and Dan Murphy's and serves the growing City of Casey trade area.
Thompsons Road Business Park
Business park comprising 44 industrial warehouse and storage units ranging from approximately 90sqm to 514sqm within a Commercial 2 Zone estate fronting Thompsons Road. The development has been completed, with only a limited number of units remaining available for sale.
The Avenue at Casey
A fully master planned community featuring residential lots, parklands, reserves, and over 12 hectares of wetlands, now home to over 800 households. Includes The Avenue Village Shopping Centre anchored by Woolworths, completed in 2013, providing comprehensive retail services to residents.
6,411 residents of Cranbourne North - West are employed, from a labour force of 6,980. Unemployment sits at 8.2%, with participation at 71.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 9,397, about 76% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour pool in Cranbourne North - West features strong representation in the construction trade, alongside an unemployment rate of 8.2% and estimated employment expansion of 3.4% across the prior twelve months. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 6,411, while the jobless rate exceeded Greater Melbourne's 4.8% by 3.4%, indicating room for labour market gains; participation levels closely mirrored the metropolitan rate of 70.1%. Furthermore, Census metrics recorded 15.7% of workers operating from home, an outcome influenced by historical Covid-19 health directives. Local workforce engagement is heavily concentrated within health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and construction.
Notably, manufacturing demonstrates high representation, tracking at 1.9 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical roles account for only 5.0% employment locally relative to 10.1% regionally. Given the gap between working-age locals and Census-recorded local employment positions, the residential suburb generates relatively limited workplace openings within its own boundaries. SALM and ABS assessments compiled by AreaSearch indicate that over the year leading to March 2026, local employment grew by 3.4% as the labour pool widened by 4.3%, driving a 0.8 percentage points increase in unemployment. Across Greater Melbourne over the same timeframe, job numbers lifted 2.1%, the workforce rose 2.3%, and the unemployment rate inched up 0.2 percentage points. Forward-looking employment estimates published by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future workforce requirements for Cranbourne North - West over five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, jobs are projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance differing notably across sectors. Weighting these sectoral forecasts against the area's industrial makeup suggests local job counts could rise by 5.9% across five years and 12.6% over ten years, representing a baseline extrapolation that excludes localised population dynamics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cranbourne North - West is $1,686 a week (about $88,000 a year), with median personal income at $727 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $49,762 a year against an average of $55,938. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Based on ATO postcode figures compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, taxpayers across the Cranbourne North - West SA2 recorded a median income of $49,762 and an average income of $55,938. These figures sit below nationwide benchmarks as well as the Greater Melbourne averages of $57,688 and $75,164. Adjusting for a 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 brings estimated March 2026 earnings to approximately $54,549 (median) and $61,319 (average). Census returns position personal, family, and household earnings within moderate tiers between the 33rd and 46th percentiles.
Specifically, the largest earning band includes 4,949 residents (40.2%) receiving $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, aligning with the 32.8% observed regionally. Mortgage and rental costs create noticeable strain, leaving 82.4% of income remaining and placing the location at the 45th percentile for affordability.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cranbourne North - West had 3,742 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 0% apartments. 53% are owned with a mortgage, 25% rented and 22% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $355 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,709 a month. Rent absorbs 21.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that standalone houses constitute 95.5% of local residential stock in Cranbourne North - West, with alternative dwellings including semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings accounting for 4.6%, contrasting with the 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings reported across Melbourne metro. Outright home ownership stands at 22.3%, trailing metropolitan levels, with remaining homes either subject to a mortgage (53.1%) or occupied by tenants (24.6%). Typical monthly mortgage commitments averaged $1,709 and median weekly rents were $355, remaining below Melbourne metro figures of $2,000 and $390 respectively. When assessed against national averages, Cranbourne North - West remains lower than the Australian baseline mortgage payment of $1,863 and median rent of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cranbourne North - West counted 3,742 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.0 people each. 43% are couples with children, more than in 84% of areas nationally, against 21% couples without children. 18% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 79.6% of local residences, comprising couples with children at 42.6%, couples without children at 20.7%, and single parent families at 14.8%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 20.4%, consisting of lone person households at 17.8% and group households at 2.7%. The typical household size sits at a median of 3.0 people, exceeding the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.8% of adults in Cranbourne North - West hold a university qualification, including 12.2% with a bachelor degree and 4.1% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 25.0% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,891 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 990 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment within the locality is relatively low, with university qualifications held by 17.8% of the populace compared to the Greater Melbourne benchmark of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees represent the most prevalent university credential at 12.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.1% and graduate diplomas at 1.5%. Conversely, vocational and technical credentials are substantially represented, with 36.7% of residents aged 15+ possessing trade qualifications comprising advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (25.0%). Current participation across formal schooling and study is significant, with 32.9% of local residents actively undertaking education. Within this cohort, 11.7% are enrolled in primary education, 8.8% attend secondary education, and 4.2% are pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Cranbourne North - West reaches 48 stops on 6 routes, timetabled for about 2,700 services a week. The typical home sits about 210 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity within Cranbourne North - West comprises 48 active transport stops dedicated to bus operations. These stops connect to 6 individual routes that together deliver 2,713 weekly passenger trips. Access to the network is convenient, with residents situated an average of 210 meters from their closest transport facility. In this commuter-oriented residential setting, private vehicle use dominates with 91% of trips taken by car, supported by an average of 1.7 motor vehicles per dwelling above regional norms. Working from home accounted for 15.7% of the workforce in the 2021 Census under prevailing COVID-19 settings.
Bus services run at an average rate of 387 trips per day across the collective network, translating to roughly 56 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
71.2% of residents in Cranbourne North - West report no long-term health condition. 6.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators compiled by AreaSearch reveal noticeable health hurdles across Cranbourne North - West across chronic illness rates and mortality statistics, with conditions showing elevated prevalence among older cohorts alongside a comparatively low private health insurance adoption rate of approximately 48% (~5,848 people). This compares against 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%. Asthma and mental health issues represent the primary reported health conditions locally, diagnosed in 8.3% and 8.5% of residents respectively, while 71.2% reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health metrics for working-age cohorts track closely to general benchmarks.
Residents aged 65 and over comprise 11.5% of the community (1,413 people), sitting below the 15.1% recorded for Greater Melbourne, with senior health indicators reflecting some specific needs despite broader national comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
38.3% of Cranbourne North - West residents were born overseas and 37.1% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 81% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (20.7%) and English (20.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cranbourne North - West exhibits high cultural diversity, with 38.3% of the community born overseas and 37.1% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the largest faith group at 38.3% of the population. Notably, Islamic affiliation shows substantial presence at 11.9%, exceeding the Greater Melbourne benchmark of 5.6%. Regarding parental ancestry, the primary reported backgrounds in Cranbourne North - West are Other at 22.2% (exceeding the regional level of 14.6%), Australian at 20.7%, and English at 20.5%. Certain ethnic communities display above-average representation, including Sri Lankan at 1.3% (against 0.8% regionally), Samoan at 1.1% (versus 0.3%), and Indian at 5.5% (compared to 4.2% across the broader region).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cranbourne North - West is 34, younger than 84% of areas nationally. 29.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic profile of Cranbourne North - West features a substantial youthful cohort alongside parents advancing into middle age. Younger residents aged 0 - 24 represent 34.7% of the population as at August 2026 compared to 30.5% across Greater Melbourne, while retiree and elderly cohorts (65+) make up 11.5% against a regional share of 15.1%. The estimated median age stands at 34 as at August 2026, holding steady from the 2021 Census and remaining 3 years lower than the Greater Melbourne median of 37 recorded during that Census. The most noticeable cohort shift since the Census occurred among retiree and elderly cohorts, rising from 9.3% to an estimated 11.5%.
Looking ahead to 2041, retiree and elderly cohorts will drive primary expansion, adding 1,128 residents (80%) to total 2,542.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cranbourne North - West
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 last month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 8 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 26 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (11,910 at the 2021 Census → 12,313 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (212031560). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.