Emerald - Cockatoo

An assessment of population growth drivers in Emerald - Cockatoo reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Emerald-Cockatoo's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 19,091, indicating a growth of 458 people (2.5%) since the 2021 Census which reported 18,633 residents. This increase was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 18,958 in June 2024 and an additional 85 validated new addresses post-Census. The population density is around 51 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed approximately 55.9% to recent population gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For uncovered SA2 areas, it employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics suggest a median increase, with Emerald-Cockatoo expected to grow by 1,184 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of approximately 5.5% over the 17-year period based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Emerald - Cockatoo, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Emerald - Cockatoo has recorded approximately 30 residential property approvals per year. Between FY21 and FY25153 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved in FY26 to date. The average new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five years is 0.8.

This indicates that the supply of new properties has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new properties is $498,000, suggesting a focus on premium developments. In FY26, commercial approvals totaling $53.8 million have been registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Emerald - Cockatoo has significantly less development activity, at 85.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction in the area comprises 84.0% standalone homes and 16.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining its traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 99.0% houses. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Emerald - Cockatoo is 680 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections indicate that the area will add 1,051 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Emerald - Cockatoo has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that could impact the region. Notable projects include Kaduna Park Estate, Arbor Officer, Golden Win Estate (formerly Starling Road Residential Subdivision), and Officer Fields. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment performance in Emerald - Cockatoo ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Emerald - Cockatoo has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 2.3% as of September 2025. This is below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. The employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.3%.

There are 11,065 residents in work, and workforce participation is 73.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 25.9% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction has a notable concentration with levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Professional & technical services have limited presence with 6.2% employment compared to 10.1% regionally. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. In the 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 4.3% while labour force increased by 4.5%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment rate during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Emerald - Cockatoo's employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Emerald - Cockatoo SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $57,595 and an average of $73,617. This is higher than the national average, with Greater Melbourne having a median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $62,347 (median) and $79,690 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Emerald - Cockatoo's household, family, and personal incomes cluster around the 69th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 35.7% of residents (6,815 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, mirroring the surrounding region where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Economic strength is evident with 30.3% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 86.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Emerald - Cockatoo is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Emerald - Cockatoo's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.2% houses and 0.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is in contrast to Melbourne metro's structure, which was 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Emerald - Cockatoo stood at 35.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (56.9%) or rented (7.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,980, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure for Emerald - Cockatoo was $370, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Emerald - Cockatoo's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

Emerald - Cockatoo features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 82.0% of all households, including 43.5% couples with children, 29.0% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 18.0%, with lone person households at 16.3% and group households making up 1.7%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than Greater Melbourne's average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Emerald - Cockatoo exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 23.6%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.9% and certificates at 28.4%. Educational participation is high, with 31.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 11.3% in primary, 9.6% in secondary, and 4.1% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Emerald-Cockatoo has 82 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by nine different routes that together facilitate 999 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically located 1375 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound and cars remain the dominant mode at 95%. Vehicle ownership averages 2.2 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 25.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 142 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Emerald - Cockatoo's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data for Emerald - Cockatoo residents shows positive outcomes overall.

Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks. Common health issues affect both young and old age groups similarly. Private health cover is high at approximately 55% of the total population (~10,576 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (8.7%) and asthma (8.3%). 68.6% of residents report no medical ailments compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have typical health outcomes. The area has 18.7% of residents aged 65 and over (3,570 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Seniors' health outcomes rank nationally higher than the general population.

Emerald - Cockatoo is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Emerald-Cockatoo, found in a study to have low cultural diversity, had 85.3% of its population born in Australia and 89.5% being citizens. English was spoken at home by 95.3%. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 35.6%.

Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%. In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (30.8%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (8.1%). Notably, Dutch (3.1%) Hungarian (0.5%), and Welsh (0.7%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Emerald - Cockatoo's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Emerald - Cockatoo'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, Emerald - Cockatoo has a notably over-represented cohort aged 55-64 (14.1%) and an under-represented cohort aged 25-34 (7.4%). Post the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 4.3% to 6.1%, while the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 9.9% to 7.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Emerald - Cockatoo's age profile. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 49%, adding 576 residents to reach 1,743. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 69% of the population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 25 to 34 cohorts.