Dandenong - South

Population growth drivers in Dandenong - South are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Dandenong - South's population is approximately 10,047 as of February 2026. This represents an increase of 697 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 9,350. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,032 in June 2024 and an additional 152 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 186 persons per square kilometer. Dandenong - South's population grew by 7.5% from 2021 to February 2026, outpacing the SA3 area's growth rate of 6.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 71.6% of overall population gains during this period.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation for areas not covered by the former data. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Dandenong - South is projected to have an above median population growth with an increase of 2,339 persons, reflecting a total gain of 23.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Dandenong - South, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Dandenong - South has seen approximately 27 new homes approved annually on average over the past five financial years, totalling 137 homes. As of FY-26, there is one approval recorded so far. The average number of new residents arriving per new home in Dandenong - South between FY-21 and FY-25 has been around 0.3 per year, indicating that supply meets or exceeds demand, offering greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections. The average construction value of new properties in the area is $214,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

In the current financial year, Dandenong - South has recorded $15.0 million in commercial development approvals, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Dandenong - South records about three-quarters of the building activity per person and ranks among the 17th percentile of areas assessed nationally, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established properties. This lower-than-average activity reflects the area's maturity and may indicate possible planning constraints. New development in Dandenong - South consists of approximately 55% standalone homes and 45% townhouses or apartments, with a growing mix providing options across different price points, from family homes to more affordable compact living.

The estimated population density is around 972 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections estimate that Dandenong - South will add approximately 2,324 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth in the area.

Dandenong - South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 68 projects that could impact the region. Major initiatives include Webster Street Level Crossing Removal, Casey Green Estate, Glismann Road Development Plan, and Princes Highway Intersection Upgrades. 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.

The labour market performance in Dandenong - South lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Dandenong - South has a skilled workforce with notable representation in the construction sector. The unemployment rate was 13.3% as of September 2025, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%.

There were 3,982 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 8.7%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation lagged at 58.2% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. Census responses showed that only 10.6% of residents worked from home. Key industries of employment among residents were manufacturing, construction, and health care & social assistance, with a notable concentration in manufacturing at 2.3 times the regional average.

Professional & technical services had limited presence with 4.2% employment compared to the regional average of 10.1%. As of the Census, there were 6.2 workers for every resident, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.5% and labour force increased by 4.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne where employment rose by 3.0%, the labour force grew by 3.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Dandenong - South's local employment should increase by 5.4% over five years and 11.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The Dandenong-South SA2's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $47,084. The average income stood at $54,279 during the same period. These figures are lower compared to Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. By September 2025, based on an 8.25% growth in wages since financial year 2023, estimated median income would be approximately $50,968 and average income around $58,757. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Dandenong-South fall between the 10th and 19th percentiles nationally for household, family, and personal incomes. Income analysis reveals that 28.4% of locals (2,853 people) predominantly earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 category, which is consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 32.8% in the same income bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Dandenong-South, with only 80.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 16th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Dandenong - South, as per the latest Census, comprised 59.9% houses and 40.2% 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 - South was at 29.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (25.4%) or rented (45.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,647, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $341, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Dandenong - South's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Dandenong - South features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 65.8% of all households, including 34.4% couples with children, 17.9% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.2%, with lone person households at 27.2% and group households comprising 7.2% of the total. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Dandenong - South faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 19.2%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational pathways account for 24.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.1% and certificates at 15.5%. Educational participation is high, with 33.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.4% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 5.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Dandenong - South has 131 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 14 different routes that collectively facilitate 4,214 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 207 metres from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 86%, while trains account for 6%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 602 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 32 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Dandenong - South's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data shows excellent results in Dandenong - South, as assessed by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence among younger cohorts, who exhibit very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 47% (~4,701 people) of the total population has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are diabetes and mental health issues, affecting 5.3 and 5.3% of residents respectively, while 79.6% report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents display low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 14.3% (1,439 people) of residents aged 65 and over, ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

Dandenong - South 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-South has a population where 60.4% were born overseas, with 73.6% speaking languages other than English at home. The dominant religion is Islam, practiced by 54.4%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 5.6%. In terms of ancestry, 'Other' is the largest group at 53.8%, significantly higher than the regional average of 14.6%.

English and Australian ancestries are lower in Dandenong-South at 10.1% and 9.7% respectively, compared to regional averages of 20.1% and 18.4%. Notably, Macedonian (2.2%), Sri Lankan (1.1%), and Russian (0.8%) ethnic groups are overrepresented in Dandenong-South compared to the region's averages.

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

Dandenong-South has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Dandenong-South has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (13.9%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (8.0%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 12.6% to 13.3%, while the 25-34 age group has decreased from 19.3% to 17.1%. By 2041, Dandenong-South's population is projected to see substantial demographic shifts. The 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 40%, adding 440 residents to reach a total of 1,544. Meanwhile, the 0-4 age group is projected to grow by a modest 6% (an increase of 43 people).