Glenroy - West

Glenroy - West lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Glenroy - West's population is approximately 9,594 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 737 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,857. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,563 in June 2025 and an additional 144 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,675 persons per square kilometer, placing Glenroy - West in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth of 8.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 7.9%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving Glenroy - West's population growth.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate exceptional growth, placing Glenroy - West in the top 10 percent of national areas. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by 4,694 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 48.6% over the 16-year period.

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

Glenroy-West has recorded approximately 58 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 291 homes were approved, with an additional 22 approved so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling constructed over these years accommodated about 1.7 new residents per year. However, this figure has increased to 4.8 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting rising demand and tightening supply.

The average construction value of development projects is $251,000, which is below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers. This financial year has seen $64,000 in commercial approvals registered, reflecting minimal commercial development activity. Glenroy-West maintains similar construction rates per capita compared to Greater Melbourne, keeping its market balanced with the broader area. New developments consist of 24.0% detached houses and 76.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 47.0% houses. This change may be due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences.

The location has approximately 164 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. By 2041, Glenroy-West is projected to grow by 4,663 residents according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Glenroy - West has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 38thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects likely to impact the region. Notable initiatives include the Glenroy Structure Plan, 71 May Street Townhouses, 60 Daley Street Townhouses, and Glenroy College Modernisation. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Glenroy - West demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Glenroy-West has a highly educated workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% as of December 2025. Over the past year, there has been relative employment stability.

As of that date, 5,785 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation was at 73.1%, similar to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 28.0% of residents worked from home. The key industries of employment were health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and professional & technical services.

Specialization in accommodation & food was particularly strong at 1.7 times the regional level. Retail trade showed lower representation at 7.6%, compared to the regional average of 9.8%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to December 2025, employment levels remained stable at 0.0% while labour force decreased by 0.8%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with a rise in unemployment rate of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Glenroy-West. These projections estimate that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Glenroy-West's employment mix suggests local employment should also increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The Glenroy-West SA2 postcode shows a median taxpayer income of $65,457 and an average of $74,820 in the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than national averages, with Greater Melbourne having a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since FY 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $71,754 (median) and $82,018 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, Glenroy-West's household, family, and personal incomes fall around the 58th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 34.7% of locals (3,329 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999 per week, similar to broader area patterns where 32.8% occupy this range. High housing costs consume 16.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 57th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Glenroy - West, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 47.4% houses and 52.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glenroy - West was at 25.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (34.6%) or rented (39.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,980, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $369. Nationally, Glenroy - West's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 69.3% of all households, including 29.3% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.7%, with lone person households at 25.8% and group households comprising 5.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with Greater Melbourne's average.

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

Educational attainment in Glenroy-West significantly surpasses broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 40.8% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 27.7% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 24.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%).

Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 27.1% of residents aged 15 years and above holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (15.3%). Educational participation is notably high, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.0% in primary education, 7.8% in tertiary education, and 5.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Glenroy - West has 25 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These are served by four different routes that together facilitate 2,006 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average located 230 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 66% of residents, while 24% use trains. On average, there is one vehicle per dwelling, which is lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 28% of residents work from home, a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 286 trips per day, equating to roughly 80 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Glenroy - West is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Glenroy - West faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The area has a substantially higher prevalence of common health conditions compared to averages, with this trend being even more pronounced among older age cohorts. Approximately 56% (~5,382 people) of the total population has private health cover, which is very high. Mental health issues and arthritis were found to be the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 7.5 and 6.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 74.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 12.0% (1,153 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to broader population figures.

Glenroy - 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

Glenroy-West has a high cultural diversity, with 48.0% of its population born overseas and 50.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Glenroy-West, comprising 38.1%. Hinduism is overrepresented at 17.0%, substantially higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 4.4%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (28.1%), Australian (14.4%), and English (14.2%). Polish is notably overrepresented at 1.3% compared to the regional average of 0.8%. Maltese is also overrepresented at 1.7% versus the regional average of 1.1%. Italian is overrepresented at 7.1%, higher than the regional average of 5.2%.

Glenroy - West's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Glenroy-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, Glenroy-West has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (25.2%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 15.5% to 17.7% of the population. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has decreased from 3.6% to 2.4%, and the 0-4 age group has dropped from 7.2% to 6.2%. By 2041, Glenroy-West's population is projected to see substantial demographic changes, with the strongest growth expected in the 25 to 34 age cohort, which is forecast to grow by 34%, adding 825 residents to reach a total of 3,241.