Glenroy - East

Population growth drivers in Glenroy - East are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Glenroy - East's population is around 15,865 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,082 people (7.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,783 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,735 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 372 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,538 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Glenroy - East's 7.3% growth since the census positions it within 1.4 percentage points of the SA3 area (8.7%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 77.7% of overall 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 utilizing 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, exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of national areas, is predicted over the period, with the area expected to grow by 6,646 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 41.1% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Glenroy - East when compared nationally

Glenroy - East has seen around 121 new homes approved annually, totalling 605 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 63 approvals have been recorded. At an average of just 0.3 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice while supporting potential for population growth above projections, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $272,000 —below the regional average—suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

Relative to Greater Melbourne, Glenroy - East has slightly more development (18.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), preserving reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. Recent construction comprises 29.0% standalone homes and 71.0% medium and high-density housing. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 65.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 161 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Population forecasts indicate Glenroy - East will gain 6,516 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Glenroy - East has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 41stth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 42 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Banksia Gardens Social Housing Development, Broadmeadows Kangan Institute Redevelopment Stage 1, Future Homes Program Developments, and Assembly Broadmeadows, 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.

Employment performance in Glenroy - East has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Glenroy - East possesses a well-educated workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 4.9%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 8,080 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.2% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation lags significantly (65.0% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a high 27.4% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area shows particularly strong specialization in administrative & support, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. In contrast, professional & technical services employ just 7.9% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.4% and the labour force decreased by 0.7%, resulting in unemployment falling by 1.0 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, 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 Glenroy - East. 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 Glenroy - East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Glenroy - East SA2's median income among taxpayers is $54,136, with an average of $61,881. This is lower than average on a national basis, and compares to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $58,602 (median) and $66,986 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Glenroy - East, between the 28th and 37th percentiles. Looking at income distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 32.8% of the community (5,203 individuals), reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 35th percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Glenroy - East displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within Glenroy - East, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 65.1% houses and 35.0% 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 Glenroy - East was in line with that of Melbourne metro, at 29.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (32.7%) or rented (38.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Melbourne metro average at $1,885, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $369, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Glenroy - East's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

Glenroy - East features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households dominate at 66.9% of all households, comprising 29.6% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.1%, with lone person households at 28.1% and group households comprising 4.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 people matches the Greater Melbourne average.

Educational attainment in Glenroy - East aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's educational profile stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (33.1% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the SA4 region average of 27.7%, reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 20.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 27.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (16.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 6.9% in tertiary education, and 6.4% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 67 active transport stops operating within Glenroy - East, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 7 individual routes, collectively providing 4,050 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 193 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 76%, with 15% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average. A high 27.4% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 578 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 60 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Glenroy - East is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Glenroy - East faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~7,900 people). This compares 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 7.7% and 7.2% of residents, respectively, while 72.1% 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 14.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,354 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Glenroy - East scores highly on cultural diversity, with 44.6% of its population born overseas and 54.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Glenroy - East is Christianity, which makes up 39.2% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Islam, which comprises 25.4% of the population, substantially higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 5.6%.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Glenroy - East are Other, comprising 26.1% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 14.6%, Australian, comprising 13.9% of the population, and English, comprising 13.6% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 20.1%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Lebanese is notably overrepresented at 7.0% of Glenroy - East (vs 0.8% regionally), Italian at 10.5% (vs 5.2%) and Maltese at 1.8% (vs 1.1%).

Glenroy - East hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

At 34 years, Glenroy - East's median age is somewhat lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and similarly considerably younger than Australia's 38 years. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Glenroy - East has a higher concentration of 25 - 34 residents (19.7%) but fewer 5 - 14 year-olds (10.1%). This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 55 to 64 age group has grown from 9.1% to 10.2% of the population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 20.3% to 19.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Glenroy - East. The 45 to 54 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 63%, adding 1,077 residents to reach 2,789.