Doncaster East - North
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Doncaster East - North are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Doncaster East - North's population is approximately 16,528 as of November 2025. This figure shows an increase of 856 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,672. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses between June 2024 and the Census date. The population density is around 2,582 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Doncaster East - North's growth rate of 5.5% since the census is within 1.5 percentage points of its SA3 area (7.0%), indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

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, AreaSearch employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Doncaster East - North is projected to have an above median population growth, increasing by 2,698 persons, a total increase of 15.3% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Doncaster East - North when compared nationally

Doncaster East - North has averaged approximately 73 dwelling approvals annually. Between financial years 2021 (FY-21) and 2025 (FY-25), around 369 homes received approval, with an additional 10 approved in FY-26 as of now. Over the past five financial years, each dwelling has attracted an average of 1.1 new residents annually. However, this figure has increased to 4.3 people per dwelling over the last two financial years, suggesting growing demand and tightening supply.

The average construction value for new homes is $546,000, indicating a focus on premium market segments. In FY-26, commercial approvals have totaled $6.0 million thus far, reflecting limited commercial development activity compared to residential growth. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Doncaster East - North exhibits around 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks in the 60th percentile nationally when considering areas assessed for new developments. New dwellings consist of approximately 23.0% standalone homes and 77.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living to cater to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift from the current housing mix (78.0% houses) reflects reduced development site availability and evolving lifestyle demands and affordability needs.

With around 259 people per dwelling approval, Doncaster East - North maintains characteristics of a low-density area despite its growth trajectory. Population forecasts project an increase of 2,522 residents by 2041 in Doncaster East - North, which construction activity is keeping pace with, although growing competition among buyers can be expected as the population continues to rise.

Doncaster East - North has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 14 projects potentially affecting the area. Notable ones include 1-15 Andersons Creek Road Mixed Use Development, Monte 8 Montgomery Street, The Pines Retirement Living, and Arden Residences Doncaster East. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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Employment performance in Doncaster East - North has been broadly consistent with national averages

Doncaster East - North has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 3.4%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

In June 2025, 8,441 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.2% below the metropolitan average. Workforce participation is 59.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. The area specialises in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level.

Construction employs only 7.2% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.0%, while labour force grew by 3.1%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that Doncaster East - North's employment could grow by approximately 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that income in Doncaster East - North is approximately average nationally, with a median assessed at $45,494 and an average income of $64,183. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures of a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $51,026 (median) and $71,988 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household income ranks at the 62nd percentile ($1,934 weekly), while personal income sits at the 29th percentile. Distribution data shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.9% of residents (5,107 people), aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort likewise represents 32.8%. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Doncaster East - North is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Doncaster East - North's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, 78.0% were houses while 22.0% comprised semi-detached dwellings, apartments and others. This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 67.1% houses and 32.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Doncaster East - North stood at 47.0%, with mortgaged properties at 35.5% and rented ones at 17.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,400, matching Melbourne metro's average. Weekly rent median was $497, compared to Melbourne metro's $462. Nationally, Doncaster East - North's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,400 against Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Doncaster East - North features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 82.8% of all households, including 44.4% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 10.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for 17.2%, with lone person households at 15.8% and group households comprising 1.3%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Doncaster East - North shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Doncaster East - North is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. 43.6% of residents aged 15+ hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% statewide (VIC). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.4% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational pathways account for 22.5%, with advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 11.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary, 7.5% in secondary, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education. Milgate Primary School serves the area, with an enrollment of 794 students as of a recent report. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with ICSEA score of 1148. Secondary options are available in surrounding areas. Local school capacity is limited at 4.8 places per 100 residents, compared to the regional average of 12.9, indicating many families travel for schooling.

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

The analysis of public transport in Doncaster East - North found 75 active transport stops operating, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 20 individual bus routes, together offering 10,739 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 191 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 1,534 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 143 weekly trips per individual stop.

Doncaster East - North's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Doncaster East - North, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is approximately 52%, which is slightly higher than the average SA2 area (55.0% in Greater Melbourne).

This equates to around 8,578 people having private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 6.7 and 5.3% of residents respectively. A total of 75.4% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.2%, or approximately 3,994 people, compared to 22.8% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with the general population's health profile.

Doncaster East - 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

Doncaster East-North is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 57.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 52.0% born overseas as of the latest census data. Christianity is the predominant religion in Doncaster East-North, making up 46.0% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 5.1% versus 5.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Chinese (31.2%), English (13.1%), and Other (12.4%). There are also notable differences in the representation of Greek (6.4% vs regional average of 7.6%), Italian (6.7% vs 8.3%), and Macedonian (0.7%) groups compared to Greater Melbourne.

Doncaster East - North hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Doncaster East - North is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 65-74 years make up 11.8% of the population, while those aged 25-34 years constitute 9.3%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 75-84 years has increased from 7.5% to 8.5%, while the proportion of those aged 55-64 years has decreased from 13.7% to 12.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Doncaster East - North's age structure. The number of individuals aged 85 and above is projected to grow by 815 people (126%), from 649 to 1,465. Notably, the combined population of all age groups above 65 years will account for 63% of total population growth. Conversely, the populations in the 0-4 and 35-44 age cohorts are expected to decline.