Hampton

An assessment of population growth drivers in Hampton reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Hampton's population is around 20,435 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,235 people (12.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,200 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,208 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 264 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 3,597 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Hampton's 12.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (8.7%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 84.5% 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. Anticipating future population dynamics, an above-median population growth of statistical areas across the nation is projected, with the area expected to expand by 2,653 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 7.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Hampton among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Hampton has recorded around 283 residential properties granted approval annually, with 1,417 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 80 so far in FY-26. With an average of only 0.2 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $556,000, demonstrating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Additionally, $10.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hampton has 57.0% more construction activity (per person), which should provide buyers with ample choice. This activity is substantially higher than nationally, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 9.0% detached dwellings and 91.0% medium and high-density housing. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shows a considerable change from the current housing mix (currently 61.0% houses), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The location has approximately 63 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Future projections show Hampton adding 1,426 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Hampton has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 35 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Hampton Community Hub, Bluff Road Hampton East Housing Development, Bayside Park Improvement and Habitat Linkage Plan, and Highett Common, 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 Hampton has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Hampton possesses a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. As of December 2025, 10,391 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.4% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (67.5% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a high 50.0% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area has a particular employment specialization in professional & technical, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. On the other hand, transport, postal & warehousing is under-represented, with only 2.5% of Hampton's workforce compared to 5.2% in Greater Melbourne. 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, the labour force decreased by 0.3% while employment declined by 0.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, and 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 Hampton. 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 Hampton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Hampton SA2 is exceptionally high nationally, with the median assessed at $67,509 while the average income stands at $118,041. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures of a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $73,078 (median) and $127,779 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Hampton, between the 81st and 88th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals the $4000+ earnings band captures 31.8% of the community (6,498 individuals), differing from patterns across the region where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 32.8%. The substantial proportion of high earners (43.0% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Hampton. High housing costs consume 15.3% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 87th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Hampton displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Hampton, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 61.0% houses and 39.0% 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 Hampton was well beyond that of Melbourne metro, at 38.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (35.4%) or rented (26.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Melbourne metro average at $3,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $471, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Hampton's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 71.4% of all households, comprising 36.7% couples with children, 24.4% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.6%, with lone person households at 26.4% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Hampton 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 Hampton significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 48.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in VIC. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 31.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational pathways account for 22.2% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (11.1%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 7.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 85 active transport stops operating within Hampton, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 15 individual routes, collectively providing 2,985 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 167 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 82%, with 8% by train and 4% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. A high 50.0% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 426 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 35 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Hampton, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 78% of the total population (16,041 people). This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be asthma and mental health issues, impacting 7.5 and 7.1% of residents, respectively, while 71.8% 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 20.9% of residents aged 65 and over (4,268 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Hampton was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Hampton was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 16.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 28.8% born overseas. The main religion in Hampton is Christianity, which makes up 45.9% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 1.4% of the population, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Hampton are English, comprising 27.9% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 20.1%, Australian, comprising 21.2% of the population, and Irish, comprising 9.2% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Russian is notably overrepresented at 1.1% of Hampton (vs 0.4% regionally), Polish at 1.3% (vs 0.8%) and Greek at 2.8% (vs 2.7%).

Hampton's median age exceeds the national pattern

The 43-year median age in Hampton is considerably higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 as well as substantially exceeding the 38-year national average. The age profile shows 55 - 64 year-olds are particularly prominent (14.9%), while the 25 - 34 group is comparatively smaller (8.1%) than in Greater Melbourne. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.7% to 7.3% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 12.5% to 14.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 16.3% to 14.7% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 13.0% to 11.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Hampton's age structure. The 65 to 74 age cohort is projected to increase solidly, expanding by 505 people (23%) from 2,217 to 2,723. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 74% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. On the other hand, the 0 to 4 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.