Hadfield
Statistical Area - sa2

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 6,679 as of August 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 438 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,241. The change is inferred from ABS estimates of 6,654 in June 2024 and an additional 117 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,189 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Hadfield has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%, outperforming its SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 51.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Hadfield is forecast to increase by 2,718 persons based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 40.3% 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 FY21 to FY25, around 298 homes were approved, with an additional 11 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 1.3 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these years.

This suggests a balance between supply and demand, supporting stable market conditions. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $397,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options. In FY26, around $4.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hadfield has shown slightly higher development activity, with 40.0% more approvals per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice and supports existing property values.

The new building activity in Hadfield comprises approximately 26.0% detached dwellings and 74.0% medium to high-density housing. This shift towards higher-density living creates more affordable entry points, benefiting downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This is a notable change from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 73.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles. Hadfield reflects a developing area with around 142 people being added to the population for every approval granted. Population forecasts indicate that Hadfield will gain approximately 2,693 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 very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Seven projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. Key projects include: Alva Court Fawkner development (4 projects), Moray Street Fawkner residential development (1 project), Broadmeadows Kangan Institute Redevelopment Stage 1, and Assembly Broadmeadows. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Hadfield has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Hadfield's skilled workforce has an unemployment rate of 5.1% with a 4.5% estimated employment growth in the past year as of June 2025. There are 3,339 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 0.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%.

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. However, professional & technical services are under-represented at 7.3% compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.5%, labour force by 4.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% with a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, outpacing the national average of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hadfield's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 shows that income in Hadfield is lower than average nationally. The median income was $48,652 while the average stood at $57,343. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures of a median income of $54,892 and an average of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year ending June 2022, current estimates would be approximately $53,571 (median) and $63,140 (average) as of March 2025. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes in Hadfield rank modestly between the 25th and 38th percentiles. Income distribution shows that the largest segment comprises 32.1% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (2,143 residents), similar to the surrounding region where 32.8% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Hadfield, with only 83.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 37th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places 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 structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 72.9% houses and 27.1% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 62.8% houses and 37.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hadfield was 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. Median weekly rent was $376, compared to Melbourne metro's $381. Nationally, Hadfield's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute 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, which is 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 benchmarks. 27.7% of Hadfield residents aged 15+ hold university degrees, compared to 37.0%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 18.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%).

Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 28.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (18.2%). Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.8% in primary, 6.8% in secondary, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education. St Thomas More's School serves Hadfield, enrolling 389 students as of a specific date, while the area has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1073). The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School places per 100 residents are lower than the regional average (5.8 vs. 10.0), suggesting some students attend schools outside Hadfield.

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

The analysis of public transport in Hadfield shows that there are currently 34 active transport stops operating. These include a mix of train and bus services. Seven individual routes service these stops, collectively providing 3,177 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 211 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages around 453 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly 93 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hadfield's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia 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 metrics are close to national benchmarks, with common health conditions similar to those of the general population but somewhat higher among older cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48%, affecting around 3,225 people, compared to 52.5% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 8.7%) and asthma (7.6%), while 69.3% report being free from any medical ailments, compared to 72.2% in Greater Melbourne.

Residents aged 65 and over constitute 16.5%, or around 1,104 people, which is higher than the 14.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those of 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 shows with 34.7% of its population born overseas and 44.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, accounting for 49.6%. Islam, however, is significantly higher than the Greater Melbourne average at 23.1%.

Top ancestry groups are Other (16.4%), Italian (16.2%), and Australian (16.1%). Notably, Lebanese (9.3%) Maltese (2.8%) and Greek (4.3%) populations are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 4.2%, 1.7% and 3.6% respectively.

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 and over represented 4.5%, higher than Greater Melbourne's percentage, while those aged 15 to 24 made up 10.7%. Between 2016 and 2021, the age group of 35 to 44 grew from 14.3% to 17.0% of Hadfield's population. Conversely, the 75 to 84 age cohort declined from 6.7% to 5.4%, and the 45 to 54 age group decreased from 11.5% to 10.2%. By 2041, forecasts suggest significant demographic changes in Hadfield. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 454 people (67%) from 683 to 1,138.