Doncaster East - North

Population growth drivers in Doncaster East - North are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Doncaster East - North's population was approximately 16,528 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 856 people, a 5.5% rise from the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 15,672. The growth is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 16,355 in June 2024 and the addition of 111 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,582 persons per square kilometer, placing Doncaster East - North in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 5.5% growth since the census is within 1.5 percentage points of the SA3 area's 7.0%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Doncaster East - North is expected to have an above median population growth, increasing by 2,698 persons to reach a total of 19,226 by 2041, reflecting a 15.3% increase over the 17-year period.

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

Doncaster East - North has seen around 73 dwellings receive development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, approximately 369 homes were approved, with an additional 11 approved in FY26 so far. On average, each dwelling constructed over these five years accommodates about 1.1 new residents per year. However, this figure has increased to 4.3 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing demand and tightening supply.

The average construction value of new homes is around $546,000, indicating a focus on premium market properties. In FY26, there have been approximately $6.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting limited commercial development activity compared to residential. When compared to Greater Melbourne, Doncaster East - North shows about 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 59th percentile nationally. New developments consist of roughly 23.0% standalone homes and 77.0% attached dwellings, which creates more affordable entry points and caters to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift from the current housing mix (currently 78.0% houses) reflects reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands.

With approximately 259 people per dwelling approval, Doncaster East - North exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts indicate that Doncaster East - North will gain around 2,522 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Construction activity is maintaining pace with projected growth, but increasing population may lead to growing competition among buyers.

Doncaster East - North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 14 projects that could impact the region. Notable initiatives include 1-15 Andersons Creek Road Mixed Use Development, The Pines Retirement Living, Arden Residences Doncaster East, and Donvale Residences. Relevant projects are listed below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional 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 was 3.6% as of September 2025, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.9%. In September 2025, 8,280 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 59.2%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. The area specializes in professional & technical employment, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction employs only 7.2% of local workers, lower than Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by Census data. From September 2024 to September 2025, employment increased by 1.9%, while labour force grew by 2.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly above the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Doncaster East - North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 indicates that Doncaster East - North SA2 has an average national income. The median income is $45,494 and the average income stands at $64,183. In contrast, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% from July 2022 to September 2025, current estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $51,026 and the average income around $71,988 by that period. According to Census 2021 income data, household income ranks at the 61st percentile with a weekly income of $1,934, while personal income is at the 29th percentile. Distribution data shows that 30.9% of residents (5,107 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, which aligns with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 32.8%. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses. 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, as per the latest Census, 78.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 22.0% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. 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 dwellings at 35.5% and rented ones at 17.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,400, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $497, compared to Melbourne metro's $462. Nationally, Doncaster East - North's median mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 17.2%, with lone person households at 15.8% and group households making up 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 shows a significant advantage with 43.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. The area's highest qualification is bachelor degrees at 28.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.4% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational pathways account for 22.5% of qualifications, 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, including 9.4% in primary, 7.5% in secondary, and 6.6% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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 shows that there are 75 active transport stops currently operating. These stops are a mix of bus services. There are 20 individual routes servicing these stops, which collectively provide 10,739 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility to transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 191 meters away from the nearest stop. On average, there are 1,534 trips per day across all routes, equating 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 a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is approximately 52%, totaling around 8,578 people, which leads that of the average SA2 area but is lower than Greater Melbourne's 55.0%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 6.7% and 5.3% of residents respectively. About 75.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly higher than the 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.2%, totaling around 3,994 people, compared to Greater Melbourne's 22.8%. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line 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 has a culturally diverse population, with 57.4% speaking a language other than English at home and 52.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Doncaster East - North, comprising 46.0% of its population. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 5.1% of Doncaster East - North's population.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (31.2%), English (13.1%), and Other (12.4%). Greek (6.4%) and Italian (6.7%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages, while Macedonian remains at 0.7%.

Doncaster East - North's median age exceeds the national pattern

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 those aged 65-74 make up 11.8% of the population, while those aged 25-34 constitute only 9.3%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of those aged 75-84 has increased from 7.5% to 8.5%, while the percentage of those aged 55-64 has decreased from 13.7% to 12.0%. By 2041, projections indicate that the age group 85+ will grow significantly, increasing by 815 people (126%) from 649 to 1,465. The combined age groups of 65+ are expected to account for 63% of total population growth. Conversely, the cohorts aged 0-4 and 35-44 are projected to experience population declines.