Glen Iris - East
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Glen Iris - East's population is approximately 17,658 as of August 2025. This figure indicates an increase of 829 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 16,829. The growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 17,537 in June 2024 and validated new addresses totalling 151 since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,097 persons per square kilometer, placing Glen Iris - East in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's 4.9% growth since the census is within 1.9 percentage points of its SA3 area's growth rate of 6.8%, indicating strong fundamentals for population growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.8% of Glen Iris - East's recent population gains.

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 the 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, Glen Iris - East's population is projected to decline by 84 persons overall, but specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 65 to 74 age group, which is forecasted to increase by 394 people.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Glen Iris - East recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Glen Iris - East has averaged approximately 74 new dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 374 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, and 8 so far in FY26. Over these five years, an average of 0.1 people have moved to the area per dwelling built, suggesting that supply has met or exceeded demand, providing more buyer choices while supporting potential population growth above projections. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $1,146,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

This financial year has seen $19.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Glen Iris - East has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 56th percentile of areas assessed nationally. New building activity shows 57% detached houses and 43% townhouses or apartments, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets.

The location has approximately 291 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Glen Iris - East is likely to see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Glen Iris - East has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Thirty projects identified by AreaSearch may impact the area, significantly influencing its performance. Key projects include High Street Bus Priority Improvements, 9 Glentilt Road Townhouse Development, Glen Iris Community Health Hub, and 18-20 Scott Grove Townhouses. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Glen Iris - East demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Glen Iris - East has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 2.5%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.0%. As of June 2025, there are 10,248 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.1% and workforce participation at 67.6%. Key industries include professional & technical (employment share is 1.7 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction has limited presence with 5.4% employment compared to 9.7% regionally.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. From Jun-24 to Jun-25, employment increased by 3.0%, labour force by 2.9%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 2.1%. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.5%, labour force expand by 4.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National forecasts from May 2025 project employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Glen Iris - East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.4% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

In Glen Iris - East, median taxpayer income was $69,390 and average income was $119,774 in financial year 2022. These figures placed it among the top percentile nationally. In Greater Melbourne, median income was $54,892 and average income was $73,761. By March 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $76,405 and average income would be around $131,883, based on a 10.11% increase in Wage Price Index since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census showed Glen Iris - East's household incomes ranked between the 89th and 96th percentiles nationally, with personal incomes also ranking highly. Income brackets indicated that 37.1% earned $4000+ weekly (6,551 residents), differing from the region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominated at 32.8%. Glen Iris - East's affluence was evident with 48.9% earning over $3,000 per week. After housing costs, residents retained 87.8% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 10th decile.

Glen Iris - East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Glen Iris - East had 70.2% houses and 29.7% other dwellings in its dwelling structure as of the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 55.5% houses and 44.5% other dwellings. Home ownership was at 43.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.3% and rented dwellings at 21.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent figure was $522 compared to Melbourne metro's $451. Nationally, Glen Iris - East had significantly higher mortgage repayments at $3,000 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and substantially higher rents at $522 compared to the national figure of $375.

Glen Iris - East features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 77.0% of all households, including 43.3% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 23.0%, with lone person households at 20.4% and group households making up 2.6%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Glen Iris - East demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Glen Iris - East is notably higher than broader Australian figures. 57.4% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 36.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.9%) and graduate diplomas (5.5%). Vocational pathways account for 16.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.1% and certificates at 7.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary, 9.6% in secondary, and 8.6% in tertiary education. Glen Iris - East's three schools have a combined enrollment of 1,122 students and demonstrate high educational performance, with an ICSEA score of 1177. The three schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School capacity is limited locally (6.3 places per 100 residents vs 19.2 regionally), leading many families to travel for schooling.

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 Glen Iris - East shows that there are currently 51 active transport stops in operation. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. In total, these stops are serviced by 12 individual routes, collectively providing 5,254 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 273 meters from the nearest transport stop. The service frequency averages around 750 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly 103 weekly trips per individual stop.

Glen Iris - East's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Glen Iris - East shows excellent health outcomes with low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Private health cover stands at approximately 80% (14,108 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 77.7%. Nationally, this figure is 55.3%.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 7.4% and 6.0% respectively. Overall, 75.1% report no medical ailments, compared to 73.8% in Greater Melbourne. The area has 17.9% seniors (3,169 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 19.4%. Despite this, senior health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

Glen Iris - East was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Glen Iris-East had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 27.2% of its population born overseas and 22.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Glen Iris-East, making up 46.7%. Notably, Judaism comprised 2.0%, which was higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 0.9%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.1%), Australian (21.2%), and Chinese (9.8%). Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Polish at 1.1% compared to 0.8% regionally, Sri Lankan at 0.8% versus 0.7%, and Greek at 3.5% against a regional average of 3.4%.

Glen Iris - East's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Glen Iris - East is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and slightly older than Australia's median age of 38 years. Comparing it with Greater Melbourne, the 55-64 age group is notably over-represented at 13.6% locally, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 9.6%. Post the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 14.3% to 15.6%, whereas the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 15.5% to 13.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Glen Iris - East's age profile. The 65 to 74 age group is expected to grow by 21%, adding 342 residents to reach 1,988. This growth is attributed entirely to residents aged 65 and older. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups.