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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, East Melbourne's population is around 5,261 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 365 people (7.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,896 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,222 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,814 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. East Melbourne's 7.5% growth since the census positions it within 2.4 percentage points of the national average (9.9%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, an above-median population growth of statistical areas across the nation is projected, with the area expected to grow by 821 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 14.9% in total over the 17 years.

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 around 13 residential properties granted approval annually, with 68 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 0 so far in FY-26. With the population declining over recent years, development activity has been adequate in relative terms, which is a positive for buyers, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $1,708,000, revealing that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. Additionally, $541.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, suggesting robust local business investment.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, East Melbourne records markedly lower building activity (80.0% below the regional average per person). This scarcity of new properties typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. Further, new construction has been completely comprised of medium and high-density housing. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

Looking ahead, East Melbourne is expected to grow by 782 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 80 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Punt Road Oval Redevelopment, Simpson Street Residential Development, Arts Centre Melbourne Ian Potter State Theatre Upgrades, and Brenan Place, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of only 3.4%, and 3.8% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 3,631 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.3% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is fairly standard (75.9% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a high 54.1% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in professional & technical, with employment levels at 2.1 times the regional average. On the other hand, construction is under-represented, with only 3.8% of East Melbourne's workforce compared to 9.7% in Greater Melbourne. With 4.2 workers for every resident, as at the Census, the area functions as an employment hub, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 3.8% while the labour force increased by 4.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within East Melbourne. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to East Melbourne's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 15.2% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account 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 shows a median taxpayer income of $78,554 and an average of $144,989 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is exceptionally high nationally, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $85,035 (median) and $156,951 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in East Melbourne, between the 85th and 97th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 30.1% of the community (1,583 individuals), consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 32.8% in the same category. The substantial proportion of high earners (41.7% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout this suburb. High housing costs consume 15.4% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 85th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places 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

Dwelling structure within East Melbourne, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 3.2% houses and 96.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within East Melbourne lagged that of Melbourne metro, at 27.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (18.3%) or rented (54.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Melbourne metro average at $2,383, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $480, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, East Melbourne's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are 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 dominate at 49.9% of all households, comprising 9.6% couples with children, 35.5% couples without children, and 3.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 50.1%, with lone person households at 43.1% and group households comprising 7.1% of the total. The median household size of 1.8 people 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

Educational attainment in East Melbourne significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 67.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in VIC. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 39.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.8%) and graduate diplomas (5.8%). Vocational pathways account for 15.8% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (6.3%).

A substantial 20.7% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 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

Public transport analysis reveals 50 active transport stops operating within East Melbourne, comprising a mix of light rail and buses. These stops are serviced by 47 individual routes, collectively providing 37,841 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 156 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 46%, with 28% walking and 6% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 0.6 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A high 54.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 5,405 trips per day across all routes, 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

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for East Melbourne residents. AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions shows results broadly in line with national benchmarks, with the prevalence of common health conditions remaining low across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 85% of the total population (4,466 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 8.8% and 7.2% of residents, respectively, while 69.4% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 24.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,301 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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 was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 14.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 29.1% born overseas. The main religion in East Melbourne is Christianity, which makes up 39.7% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Judaism, which comprises 0.7% of the population, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in East Melbourne are English, comprising 27.3% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 20.1%, Australian, comprising 16.7% of the population, and Irish, comprising 12.8% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 9.9% of East Melbourne (vs 5.6% regionally), French at 0.7% (vs 0.5%) and Polish at 0.9% (vs 0.8%).

East Melbourne's median age exceeds the national pattern

At 41 years, East Melbourne's median age is significantly above the Greater Melbourne average of 37 as well as somewhat older than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, the 25 - 34 cohort is notably over-represented (24.6% locally), while 5 - 14 year-olds are under-represented (3.3%). This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. Following the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.6% to 9.6% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 7.5% to 8.9%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.3% to 8.9% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 13.6% to 11.7%. Demographic modeling suggests East Melbourne's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 45 to 54 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 49%, adding 226 residents to reach 693. Demographic aging continues as residents 65 and older represent 59% of anticipated growth. On the other hand, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 cohorts.