Doncaster East - South

Doncaster East - South lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Doncaster East - South's population is approximately 16,783 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,329 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,454. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,742 in June 2024 and an additional 197 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,518 persons per square kilometer, placing Doncaster East - South in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's population growth rate of 8.6% since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA3 area (7.0%) and the SA4 region, indicating it is a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.2% of overall population gains 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 utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using 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. By 2041, Doncaster East - South is forecasted to have a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas, with an expected growth of 4,633 persons, reflecting a total increase of 27.2% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Doncaster East - South among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Doncaster East - South has recorded approximately 130 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25654 homes were approved, with a further 44 approved in FY26 as of now. On average, each dwelling constructed over these five years accommodates around 1.4 new residents per year.

This balance between supply and demand has maintained stable market conditions. The average construction value for new properties is $494,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, commercial approvals totaling $6.7 million have been registered, suggesting limited commercial development emphasis compared to residential. Compared to Greater Melbourne's averages, Doncaster East - South has shown slightly more development activity over the past five years, with 40.0% higher approvals per person. This has provided good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

Recent construction trends show a shift towards denser living, with 25.0% detached dwellings and 75.0% medium to high-density housing. This change from the current pattern of 49.0% houses suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability needs. The location has had approximately 152 people per dwelling approval, indicating a growing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Doncaster East - South is projected to gain 4,560 residents by 2041. Construction activity is keeping pace with this projected growth, although increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

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

The performance of a local area can significantly influenced by changes in infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 19 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are The Pines Retirement Living, Arden Residences Doncaster East, 1026-1030 Doncaster Road Luxury Apartments, and Devon Plaza Redevelopment. The following list details those projects deemed 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.

Doncaster East - South has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Doncaster East - South has a highly educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation. The unemployment rate was 5.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.0%.

As of September 2025, 8,181 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 58.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. Retail trade showed notable concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction had lower representation at 6.9% versus the regional average of 9.7%. Limited local employment opportunities were indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 3.0% alongside labour force increasing by 2.8%, resulting in unemployment falling by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasted with Greater Melbourne where employment grew by 3.0%, labour force expanded by 3.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 showed VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Doncaster East - South's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, although this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not take into account localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The median income among taxpayers in Doncaster East - South SA2 was $45,489 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $64,176 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $51,020 (median) and $71,980 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household income ranked at the 44th percentile ($1,656 weekly), while personal income was at the 27th percentile. The largest segment of incomes comprised 30.3% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (5,085 residents). Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 81.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 42nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

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

In Doncaster East - South, as per the latest Census, 48.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 51.2% 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 - South stood at 38.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.3% and rented ones at 30.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,383, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,400. Median weekly rent in the area was $460, slightly higher than Melbourne metro's $462. Nationally, Doncaster East - South's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,383 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $460 compared to the national figure of $375.

Doncaster East - South has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 74.7% of all households, including 38.7% couples with children, 23.1% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.3%, with lone person households at 23.0% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

Educational achievement in Doncaster East - South places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Doncaster East - South shows a significant advantage with 44.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to the broader Australian figure of 30.4%. This is also higher than the Victorian average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Vocational pathways account for 22.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 10.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 5.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Doncaster East - South has 62 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 16 different routes that collectively facilitate 6,506 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 188 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 929 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 104 weekly trips per individual stop.

Doncaster East - South's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Doncaster East - South. Both young and old age cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~8,710 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Melbourne's 55.0%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (6.6%) and asthma (5.3%), with 76.7% of residents declaring themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (3,279 people), lower than the 22.8% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Doncaster East - 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

Doncaster East - South has one of the highest cultural diversities in Australia, with 61.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 55.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, making up 40.6% of its population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented at 7.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 5.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (33.5%), Other (14.0%), and English (11.9%). Some ethnic groups show significant variations: Greek (5.2% vs regional 7.6%), Korean (1.4% vs 0.9%), and Italian (5.3% vs 8.3%).

Doncaster East - South's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age of Doncaster East - South is 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. The 5-14 age group is notably over-represented in Doncaster East - South at 14.5%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 10.7%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.7% to 10.3% of the population, while the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 11.8% to 10.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Doncaster East - South's age profile. The 45-54 age group is projected to expand by 862 people (41%), growing from 2,099 to 2,962. Meanwhile, the 0-4 age cohort is expected to grow modestly by 6% (51 people).