Epping (Vic.) - West
Statistical Area - sa2

Epping - West lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

AreaSearch's analysis indicates that Epping West's population is approximately 13,221 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,078 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,143. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates showing an estimated resident population of 12,905 in June 2024 and the addition of 325 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 1,796 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Epping West's growth rate of 8.9% since the 2021 Census exceeds the national average (8.6%), positioning it as a growth leader in its region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 58.1% to overall population gains recently.

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. Based on these projections, Epping West is expected to experience exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of national statistical areas. By 2041, its population is projected to increase by 7,841 persons, reflecting a total increase of 56.9% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Epping - West according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Epping - West averages around 80 new dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, showing 403 homes approved over the past five years from FY20 to FY25, with none yet in FY26. Each dwelling built has resulted in an average of 2.2 new residents per year over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values. New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $333,000, below regional levels, offering more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year has seen $116.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Epping - West records significantly lower building activity, 86.0% below the regional average per person, which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. This is also below national averages, suggesting planning constraints or area maturity. New developments consist of 56.0% detached houses and 44.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current 84.0% houses and reflecting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles seeking diverse, affordable housing options. The area has approximately 3389 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. By 2041, Epping - West is projected to grow by 7525 residents.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Epping - West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects that may impact the area. Notable ones include O'Herns Logistics Park, Epping Road Upgrade, New Epping, and Cooper Street Employment Precinct. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

The employment landscape in Epping - West shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Epping - West, Victoria, has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 4.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.8% over the past year.

As of June 2025, there are 6940 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is 0.4% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation stands at 67.9%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Health care & social assistance has a particularly high representation, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 5.5% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.8%, while labour force grew by 1.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced higher employment growth of 3.5% and a slight rise in unemployment rate. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Nationally, employment grew by 0.26%, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Epping - West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Epping - West has a median taxpayer income of $54,485 and an average of $62,415 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is slightly lower than average on a national basis, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $59,993 (median) and $68,725 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Epping - West cluster around the 50th percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 41.3% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, with 5,460 residents falling into this category. This aligns with the regional trend where this cohort represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 18.2% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 54th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Epping - West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Epping - West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.1% houses and 15.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 87.2% houses and 12.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Epping - West was at 17.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 51.5% and rented ones at 31.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, lower than Melbourne metro's $1,900 but close to the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Epping - West was $381, higher than Melbourne metro's $371 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 82.1% of all households, including 50.8% couples with children, 16.7% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 17.9%, with lone person households at 15.2% and group households making up 2.7% of the total. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

Epping - West shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational qualifications in Epping-West show that 31.3% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees, compared to 37.0% in Greater Melbourne. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.3% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 29.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 13.3% and certificates at 16.6%. Educational participation is high, with 35.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 14.4% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education. The four schools in Epping-West have a combined enrollment of 2,337 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1046) with balanced educational opportunities. There are three primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds residential needs, with 17.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.1, indicating that Epping-West serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

The analysis of public transport in the Epping-West area shows that there are currently 36 active transport stops operating, all of which involve buses. These stops are served by four different routes combined, resulting in a total of 3,265 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these transport services is considered good, with residents generally living within 250 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 466 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 90 weekly trips per individual stop.

Epping - West's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Epping - West shows excellent health outcomes with low prevalence of common conditions across both young and elderly residents.

Private health cover stands at approximately 51%, slightly below the average SA2 area (~6,755 people). Asthma and mental health issues are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 5.8% and 5.0% respectively. 80.9% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than Greater Melbourne's 74.0%. Only 8.0% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,059 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 13.2%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Epping - West is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Epping-West has a population where 47.0% were born overseas, with 62.2% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 44.8%. Islam's representation is notably higher at 17.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 9.1%.

Ancestry-wise, 'Other' is highest at 28.9%, exceeding the regional average of 17.4%. Australian ancestry is lower at 10.7% versus 17.3%. Indian ancestry stands at 10.7%. Notable ethnic group differences include Macedonian (6.4% vs regional 4.6%), Sri Lankan (1.3% vs 0.8%), and Italian (9.3% vs 9.6%).

Epping - West hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Epping-West has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Epping-West has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (16.0%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (2.1%). Between the 2021 Census and now, residents have aged by an average of 1 year, with the median age rising from 32 to 33 years. Specifically, the 55-64 age group has grown from 7.7% to 9.0%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 11.8% to 13.0%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 18.1% to 16.0%, and the 0-4 age group dropped from 8.3% to 7.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Epping-West's age profile, with the 45-54 age cohort set to rise substantially, expanding by 1,537 people (91%) from 1,697 to 3,235.