Dandenong - North

Dandenong - North has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Dandenong - North's population is around 24,036 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,549 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,487 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 23,067 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 249 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,989 persons per square kilometer. Dandenong - North's growth rate of 11.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 6.9%, as well as the national average. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 86.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made employing 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 trends project an above median growth rate, with the area expected to increase by 5,287 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 18.0% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Dandenong - North according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Dandenong - North has received approximately 105 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 527 homes. In FY-26 so far, 45 approvals have been recorded. The area has experienced population decline, yet housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $219,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers.

This financial year, $39.4 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum in the area. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Dandenong - North has slightly more development activity, with 25.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values, although recent development activity has moderated. New building activity shows 18.0% detached houses and 82.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift towards compact living that offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 37.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles.

Dandenong - North reflects a transitioning market with around 315 people per approval. Looking ahead, Dandenong - North is projected to grow by 4,318 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Construction activity is maintaining pace with projected growth, although buyers may face growing competition as population increases.

Dandenong - North has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include Dandenong Wellbeing Centre, Dandenong Community Hub, Dandenong New Art (DNA), and The Lonsdale. Below is a list detailing 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.

Employment conditions in Dandenong - North face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Dandenong - North has a skilled workforce with notable representation in construction. Its unemployment rate was 16.2% as of September 2025, which is 11.6% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%.

As of Census data, 9,312 residents are employed with a workforce participation rate of 58.8%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. Only 12.3% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and construction, with manufacturing at 2.1 times the regional average. Professional & technical employment is limited at 4.8%, compared to the regional average of 10.1%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.9. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 2.5% while the labour force grew by 4.7%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0%, labour force by 3.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dandenong - North's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The Dandenong - North SA2's income level is below the national average according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Dandenong - North SA2 is $47,072 and the average income stands at $54,265. In Greater Melbourne, these figures are $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Dandenong - North SA2 would be approximately $50,955 (median) and $58,742 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Dandenong - North fall between the 10th and 13th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 29.0% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (6,970 residents), consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 32.8% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 11th percentile.

Dandenong - North displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Dandenong - North, as per the latest Census, consisted of 37.0% houses and 63.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dandenong - North was at 20.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (22.9%) or rented (56.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,500, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Weekly rent was recorded at $310, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Dandenong - North's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Dandenong - North features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 63.1% of all households, including 28.5% couples with children, 19.1% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 36.9%, with lone person households at 29.7% and group households comprising 7.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

Educational outcomes in Dandenong - North fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 26.2%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 29.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (17.7%). Educational participation is high, with 34.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.3% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 6.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Dandenong - North has 133 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 50 unique routes, facilitating 9,728 weekly passenger trips in total. The area boasts excellent transport accessibility with residents located an average of 148 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most commuters travel outward using cars (80%), followed by train (8%) and bus (7%). Vehicle ownership stands at 1.0 per dwelling, lower than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 12.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, service frequency is 1,389 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 73 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Health performance in Dandenong - North is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Dandenong - North faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~11,248 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues impacting 7.7% of residents and arthritis impacting 5.9%. 74.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 15.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,708 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Dandenong - 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

Dandenong-North is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 71.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 67.8% born overseas as of the latest available data. Christianity is the main religion in Dandenong-North, comprising 32.7% of people, while Islam makes up 29.2%, substantially higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 5.6%. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Other at 43.0%, English at 9.7%, and Australian at 8.7%.

These figures differ notably from regional averages: Other is substantially higher (43.0% vs 14.6%), while English and Australian are lower (9.7% vs 20.1% and 8.7% vs 18.4%). Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Serbian at 2.6%, Sri Lankan at 2.5%, and Indian at 8.2%.

Dandenong - North's population is younger than the national pattern

Dandenong - North's median age in 2021 was 35 years, slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constituted 18.4%, higher than Greater Melbourne's percentage. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort made up 11.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 5-14 age group grew from 10.4% to 11.2% of the population. Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort decreased from 20.7% to 18.4%. By 2041, projections indicate significant demographic changes. The 45-54 age group is expected to increase by 844 people (32%), rising from 2,643 to 3,488. The 0-4 cohort is projected to grow modestly by 3%, adding 48 people.