Frankston North
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Frankston North's population was 19,453 people as of Aug 2021. By Aug 2025, it had increased to around 19,859, a rise of 406 people (2.1%). This growth is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 19,841 in June 2024 and an additional 90 validated new addresses since Aug 2021. The population density was 1,499 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Frankston North's growth rate of 2.1% since Aug 2021 is within 1.1 percentage points of the SA4 region's 3.2%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 72.4% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in Jun 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. By 2041, Frankston North is expected to have a population of around 21,597, an increase of 1,638 persons and an 8.2% gain over the 17-year period.

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

Frankston North averaged approximately 32 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Between FY-21 to FY-25, there were 160 homes approved, with 7 approvals so far in FY-26. Despite population decline, the area's development activity has been adequate relative to its population size, benefiting buyers seeking affordable housing options, as new homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $387,000, below the regional average.

This financial year has seen $163.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne and nationally, Frankston North's new dwelling approval rate per person is approximately half, placing it around the 30th percentile of assessed areas, which results in relatively constrained buyer choice, driving interest in existing homes. This activity reflects the area's maturity and potential planning constraints. New building activity shows 61.0% detached dwellings and 39.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density housing options and creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets. This marks a significant change from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (89.0%), reflecting reduced development site availability and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

With approximately 606 people per dwelling approval, Frankston North reflects a highly mature market. Population forecasts indicate the area will gain around 1,620 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Frankston North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Frankston to Baxter Rail Upgrade, Compass Business Park, Karingal Hub Shopping Centre Redevelopment, and Frankston Hospital Redevelopment. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

Employment drivers in Frankston North are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Frankston North's workforce is balanced between white and blue collar jobs, with the construction sector being prominent. Its unemployment rate was 10.2% in June 2025, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.1%. As of June 2025, 8,886 residents were employed, but workforce participation lagged at 54.6% compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries included health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction had particularly high concentration with levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical jobs were limited at 4.7%, compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.1% while labour force grew by 4.4%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 2.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.5%, labour force grow by 4.0%, and unemployment increase by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 showed Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May 2025 projected national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Frankston North's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this was a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Frankston North's median income among taxpayers was $50,434 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $60,098 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% from financial year 2022 to March 2025, current estimates for Frankston North would be approximately $55,533 (median) and $66,174 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household incomes in Frankston North fall between the 21st and 22nd percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 32.6% of locals, with 6,474 people earning between $1,500 and $2,999 annually. This pattern is similar to the surrounding region where 32.8% occupy this income range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Frankston North, with only 80.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 18th percentile nationally.

Frankston North is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Frankston North's dwellings were 88.7% houses and 11.3% other types at the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 79.8% houses and 20.2% others. Home ownership in Frankston North was 28.3%, with mortgages at 34.0% and rentals at 37.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,597, below Melbourne metro's $1,800. Median weekly rent was $341, compared to Melbourne metro's $356. Nationally, Frankston North's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 64.5% of all households, consisting of 22.2% couples with children, 22.8% couples without children, and 18.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 35.5%, with lone person households at 31.1% and group households making up 4.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than Greater Melbourne's average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Frankston North fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.2%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.4% and certificates at 29.3%. Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 10.3% in primary, 7.1% in secondary, and 3.7% in tertiary education.

Thirteen schools serve 4,238 students; Frankston North has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 966) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes eight primary, three secondary, two K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds residential needs (21.3 places per 100 residents vs 14.8 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Frankston North has 122 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 11 different routes that combined offer 3,817 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance to the nearest stop of 185 meters.

The service frequency is high, with an average of 545 trips per day across all routes, translating to about 31 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Frankston North is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates substantial health challenges in Frankston North, affecting various age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50%, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, impacting 12.3% and 9.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 59.6% reported no medical ailments, compared to 65.0% in Greater Melbourne. The area has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,661 people). Health outcomes among seniors largely align with the general population's health profile.

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

Frankston North had a higher-than-average cultural diversity, with 22.8% of its population born overseas and 12.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Frankston North, comprising 39.9% of the population. However, Judaism was notably overrepresented, making up 0.2% compared to Greater Melbourne's 0.3%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (29.6%), Australian (25.9%), and Irish (8.0%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: Hungarian was at 0.5% in Frankston North versus 0.4% regionally, Russian at 0.6% versus 0.5%, and Maori at 1.2% versus 0.7%.

Frankston North's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Frankston North is 38 years, similar to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Frankston North has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (7.0%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (10.9%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 13.5% to 15.1%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 16.4% to 15.4%. By 2041, Frankston North's age composition is projected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 85 and above is expected to grow by 105%, reaching 971 from 472. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 61% of the projected growth. Conversely, declines are projected for the populations aged 35-44 and 0-4 years.