Hadfield

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

Hadfield's population is approximately 6,681 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 440 people, a rise of 7.1% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 6,241. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,656 in June 2024 and an additional 117 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,190 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Hadfield's growth rate of 7.1% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (7.0%), indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving the primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch is employing ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting them using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic trends forecast a significant population increase for Hadfield, with an expected expansion of 2,718 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers. This reflects a gain of 40.3% in total over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Hadfield when compared nationally

Hadfield has recorded approximately 59 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), around 298 homes have been approved, with an additional 25 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 1.3 people moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these five years.

This suggests a balanced supply and demand dynamic, fostering stable market conditions. The average construction cost of new properties is around $275,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options for purchasers. In FY-26, approximately $4.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hadfield has seen slightly higher development activity, with 40.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

The new building activity shows a shift towards denser living, with 26.0% detached dwellings and 74.0% medium to high-density housing. This change reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and evolving lifestyles, creating more diverse and affordable housing options. Hadfield currently has around 142 people per approval, indicating a developing area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to grow by 2,691 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Hadfield has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Seven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Alva Court Fawkner Development (4 projects), Moray Street Fawkner Residential Development (1 project), Assembly Broadmeadows, and Broadmeadows Kangan Institute Redevelopment Stage 1. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Hadfield has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Hadfield's skilled workforce has an unemployment rate of 5.2% with a construction sector that stands out in terms of representation, experiencing 1.6% employment growth over the past year. As of September 2025, 3,274 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation lags at 56.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services are under-represented at 7.3% compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.6%, with labour force also increasing by 1.6%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 5.2%. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with unemployment rising to 5.0%. State-level data from November 25 shows Victorian employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hadfield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is an illustrative extrapolation not accounting for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Hadfield SA2 had lower than average national incomes in financial year 2022. The median income was $48,652 and the average income was $57,343. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $54,568 (median) and $64,316 (average), based on a 12.16% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, Hadfield's household, family, and personal incomes ranked modestly between the 25th and 37th percentiles. The largest income segment comprised 32.1% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, with 2,144 residents in this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 83.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 37th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 4th decile.

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

Hadfield's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 72.9% houses and 27.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Melbourne metro's 62.8% houses and 37.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hadfield stood at 38.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.8% and rented ones at 27.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $376, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $381 respectively. Nationally, Hadfield's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Hadfield has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households compose 69.4% of all households, including 32.4% couples with children, 24.0% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.6%, with lone person households at 27.4% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Hadfield's educational qualifications trail Greater Melbourne's regional benchmarks. As of [date], 27.7% of Hadfield residents aged 15+ held university degrees, compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement in Hadfield. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 18.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%).

Trade and technical skills were prominent, with 28.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (18.2%). Educational participation was notably high in Hadfield, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of [date]. This included 9.8% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Hadfield has 34 operational public transport stops, serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 7 different routes, facilitating 3,177 weekly passenger trips in total. The accessibility of these transports is rated as good, with residents on average being located 211 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 453 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 93 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Hadfield are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Hadfield's health indicators show below-average results. Common health conditions are somewhat typical of the general population but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~3,226 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 52.5% and the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 8.7%) and asthma (7.6%), while 69.3% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 72.2% in Greater Melbourne. Hadfield has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 16.5% (~1,105 people) than Greater Melbourne's 14.0%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

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

Hadfield's cultural diversity is notable, with 34.7% of its population born overseas and 44.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Hadfield, comprising 49.6% of the population. However, Islam is significantly overrepresented at 23.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 17.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (16.4%), Italian (16.2%), and Australian (16.1%). Notably, Lebanese (9.3% vs regional 4.2%), Maltese (2.8% vs 1.7%), and Greek (4.3% vs 3.6%) ethnic groups are overrepresented in Hadfield compared to the region.

Hadfield's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Hadfield's median age in 2021 was 35 years, slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and the national average of 38. The population aged 85+ stood at 4.5%, higher than Greater Melbourne's figure. The 15-24 age group was less prevalent at 10.7%. Between 2021 and the present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 14.3% to 17.0% of the population. Conversely, the 75-84 cohort declined from 6.7% to 5.4%, and the 45-54 group decreased from 11.5% to 10.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Hadfield. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to rise substantially, with an increase of 454 people (67%), from 683 to 1,138.