East Melbourne

East Melbourne is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

East Melbourne's population was approximately 5,261 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 365 people, a 7.5% rise since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 4,896. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,222 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density of 1,814 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. East Melbourne's growth rate of 7.5% since the census is within 2.4 percentage points of the national average of 9.9%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in 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, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future projections indicate above median population growth nationally, with East Melbourne expected to grow by 821 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.9% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in East Melbourne is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

East Melbourne has recorded approximately 13 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 68 homes were approved, with none so far in FY26. The population has been declining recently, yet development activity has been adequate relative to this decline, benefiting buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $1,708,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In commercial development approvals, $541.8 million has been recorded in FY26 alone, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, East Melbourne records significantly lower building activity, with 80.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, this activity is also below average, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

All new construction has been medium or high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. By 2041, East Melbourne is projected to grow by 782 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

East Melbourne has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 80 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Punt Road Oval Redevelopment, Simpson Street Residential Development, Arts Centre Melbourne Ian Potter State Theatre Upgrades, and Brenan Place. 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 in East Melbourne shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

East Melbourne has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.1%. As of September 2025, 3,599 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.3% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation is at 75.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 54.1% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. East Melbourne has a notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 2.1 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction is under-represented, with only 3.8% of East Melbourne's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The area functions as an employment hub with 4.2 workers per resident. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 4.1%, while labour force grew by 4.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% and an unemployment increase of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to East Melbourne's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The East Melbourne SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $78,554 and an average of $144,989 in financial year 2023, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is notably higher than Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $85,035 and an average of $156,951, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023. In East Melbourne, household, family, and personal incomes ranked highly between the 85th and 97th percentiles nationally in 2021 Census figures. Income analysis showed that 30.1% of individuals (1,583) earned between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, consistent with broader regional trends at 32.8%. A significant proportion, 41.7%, earned above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity in the suburb. Despite high housing costs consuming 15.4% of income, disposable income remained at the 85th percentile, with the area's SEIFA income ranking placing it in the 10th decile.

East Melbourne features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

East Melbourne's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 3.2% houses and 96.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Melbourne stood at 27.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 18.3% and rented ones at 54.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,383, higher than the Melbourne metro average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in East Melbourne was $480, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, East Melbourne's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

East Melbourne features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 49.9% of all households, including 9.6% couples with children, 35.5% couples without children, and 3.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 50.1%, with lone person households at 43.1% and group households comprising 7.1%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

East Melbourne performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

East Melbourne has a notably higher educational attainment than national averages. As of the latest data (2016), 67.4% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. This high level of educational attainment is driven by a significant proportion of residents holding bachelor degrees (39.8%), postgraduate qualifications (21.8%), and graduate diplomas (5.8%). Vocational pathways are also pursued, with advanced diplomas accounting for 9.5% and certificates for 6.3%.

Notably, 20.7% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, with 10.6% in tertiary education, 3.1% in primary education, and 2.8% pursuing secondary education.

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

East Melbourne has 50 operational public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 47 distinct routes, facilitating 37,841 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance to the nearest transport stop for residents is 156 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 46%, followed by walking at 28% and train at 6%. On average, there are 0.6 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 54.1% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. All routes combined operate an average of 5,405 trips daily, equating to approximately 756 weekly trips per individual stop.

East Melbourne's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

East Melbourne's health data shows positive results, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health conditions are relatively low across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 85% of the total population (4,466 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (8.8%) and arthritis (7.2%), with 69.4% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes for the under-65 population are better than average. East Melbourne has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.7%, compared to 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors rank even higher than those of the general population nationally.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in East Melbourne was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

East Melbourne, as per data from the Australian Census conducted on Tuesday 10 August 2016, exhibited greater cultural diversity compared to most local areas. In East Melbourne, 14.9% of residents spoke a language other than English at home, while 29.1% were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in East Melbourne, comprising 39.7% of its population.

However, Judaism showed significant overrepresentation with 0.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%. Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English (27.3%), Australian (16.7%), and Irish (12.8%). Notably, Scottish (9.9%) and French (0.7%) groups were overrepresented in East Melbourne compared to regional averages of 5.6% and 0.5%, respectively.

East Melbourne's median age exceeds the national pattern

East Melbourne's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and somewhat older than Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, East Melbourne has a notably over-represented 25-34 cohort at 24.6%, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 3.3%. This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.4%. According to the 2021 Census, East Melbourne's population structure has shifted since then. The 75-84 age group grew from 6.6% to 9.6%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 7.5% to 8.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 11.3% to 8.9%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 13.6% to 11.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that East Melbourne's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 49%, adding 226 residents to reach 693. Residents aged 65 and older represent 59% of the anticipated growth, indicating demographic aging. However, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 15-24 cohorts.