Delacombe
Statistical Area - sa2

Delacombe lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Delacombe's population was approximately 15,081 as of August 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 4,420 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,661. The increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 14,320 in June 2024 and an additional 2,142 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 441 persons per square kilometer. Delacombe's growth rate of 41.5% since the 2021 census surpassed both the non-metro area (5.5%) and its SA4 region, indicating significant growth. Interstate migration accounted for approximately 85.3% of population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and overseas migration also contributing positively.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024, based on 2022 data, for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, it utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made via 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. Based on these trends, Delacombe is predicted to experience exceptional growth in the top 10 percent of Australia's regional areas, increasing by approximately 18,326 persons to reach a total population of 33,407 by 2041, marking an increase of 116.2% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Delacombe was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Delacombe has averaged approximately 571 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 2,856 dwellings approved over the past five financial years from FY-2021 to FY-2025, and 46 so far in FY-2026. On average, about 1.9 new residents have been added per year for each dwelling constructed during these five financial years. This suggests a balanced supply and demand dynamic, contributing to stable market conditions.

The average construction cost of new homes in Delacombe is around $392,000, aligning with regional patterns. In the current financial year, there have been $41.2 million in commercial approvals, indicating significant local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Delacombe exhibits 362.0% higher construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice while development activity has shown some moderation recently. This high level of activity is notably above national averages, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location's prospects. Recent construction predominantly comprises detached dwellings (94.0%) with a smaller proportion of attached dwellings (6.0%), maintaining Delacombe's traditional low-density character and focus on family homes.

With approximately 43 people per dwelling approval, Delacombe displays characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate that Delacombe is expected to gain around 17,516 residents by the year 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Delacombe has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

AreaSearch has identified a total of 36 projects likely to impact the area, significantly influencing its performance. Key projects include Delacombe Village (Stage 3 - Delacombe Town Centre), Delacombe Village, Winterfield Estate, and Delacombe Big Housing Build - Leawarra Neighbourhood. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Delacombe has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Delacombe's workforce comprises skilled individuals with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate stood at 5.0% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 6.5%.

As of June 2025, 6,592 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.2% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Delacombe was 65.0%, exceeding the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 57.4%. Employment concentration among residents lies in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction sectors.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing showed a lower representation at 1.3% compared to the regional average of 7.5%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 6.5%, and labour force increased by 6.7%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In comparison, Rest of Vic. saw employment fall by 0.9%, labour force contract by 0.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. By Sep-25, state-level data showed VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Delacombe's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2022, Delacombe had a median income among taxpayers of $50,208 with the average level standing at $57,876. This is lower than national averages which were $48,741 and $60,693 respectively for Rest of Vic. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 10.11% since financial year ended June 2022, current estimates would be approximately $55,284 (median) and $63,727 (average) as of March 2025. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data from 2021, household incomes rank at the 43rd percentile, family incomes at the 44th percentile, and personal incomes also rank modestly in Delacombe, indicating a median position among Australian areas. Income distribution shows that 39.6% of Delacombe's population (5,972 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket, reflecting broader area patterns where 30.3% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Delacombe, with only 84.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 44th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fourth decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Delacombe, as evaluated at the Census conducted on 27 August 2016, comprised 94.6% houses and 5.4% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s figures of 85.6% houses and 14.5% other dwellings during the same period. In Delacombe, home ownership stood at 27.3%, with mortgaged properties at 46.2% and rented dwellings at 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,500 as of August 2016, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $360. Nationally, Delacombe's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 reported in June 2017, and rents were less than the national figure of $375 for the same period.

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

Family households comprise 74.6% of all households, including 30.7% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 14.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.4%, with lone person households at 21.4% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Delacombe shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate of 19.1% is significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas comprise 9.7% and certificates make up 30.1%.

Educational participation is notably high at 30.0%, including 10.6% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education. Delacombe Primary School and Lumen Christi School serve a total of 915 students, with Delacombe demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 994) and balanced educational opportunities. Both schools focus exclusively on primary education; secondary options are available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited at 6.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 18.0, resulting in many families traveling for schooling.

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

Public transport analysis shows 36 active transport stops in Delacombe. These are served by buses on six different routes, offering a total of 620 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated moderate, with residents typically located 558 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 88 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Delacombe is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a slightly higher degree among older age cohorts

Delacombe faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across all age groups, but slightly more so among older cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 49% of the total population (~7,374 people), compared to 50.9% in Rest of Vic and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affect 10.8% of residents, while asthma impacts 10.3%, and 64.1% report no medical ailments, compared to 62.3% across Rest of Vic.

The area has 11.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,762 people), lower than the 17.8% in Rest of Vic. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those for the broader population.

Delacombe ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Delacombe's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.1% of its population being citizens, 88.5% born in Australia, and 92.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Delacombe, comprising 41.1% of people. Notably, the category 'Other' is overrepresented in Delacombe, with 1.8%, compared to Rest of Vic's 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (31.0%), English (30.9%), and Irish (8.5%). Some ethnic groups show notable divergences: Dutch at 1.9% (regionally 2.1%), Scottish at 8.3% (regionally 9.2%), and Maltese at 0.5% (regionally 0.4%).

Delacombe's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Delacombe has a median age of 31, which is lower than the Rest of Vic's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprises 22.9% of Delacombe's population, higher than the Rest of Vic.'s percentage and significantly above the national average of 14.5%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort makes up 6.5%, which is less prevalent compared to other regions. Between 2021 and the present, Delacombe's median age has decreased by 1.6 years from 33 to 31, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the 25-34 age group grew from 18.5% to 22.9%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 12.1% to 14.2%. Meanwhile, the 65-74 cohort declined from 8.2% to 6.5%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 9.6% to 7.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Delacombe's age profile, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 150% (an increase of 5,170 people), reaching a total of 8,621 from its current figure of 3,450.