Hawthorn - South
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Hawthorn - South's population is around 13,499 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,542 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,957 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,481 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 455 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,192 persons per square kilometer. Hawthorn - South's growth of 12.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (6.8%), along with the SA4 region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 95.0% 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 areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises 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 are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth, with the area expected to expand by 2,509 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 18.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Hawthorn - South among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Hawthorn - South has received approximately 180 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Between FY20 and FY25, there were a total of 903 approvals, with 6 approvals recorded so far in FY26. Despite population decline in recent years, new supply appears to have kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $758,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. In FY26, commercial approvals totaled $14.3 million, reflecting moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hawthorn - South has 137.0% more building activity per person, suggesting robust developer interest in the area and ample choice for buyers. New developments consist of 5.0% detached houses and 95.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living and affordability for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 22.0% houses. With approximately 938 people per dwelling approval, Hawthorn - South reflects a mature market. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by 2,491 residents, and with current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Looking ahead, Hawthorn - South is expected to grow by 2,491 residents through to 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Hawthorn - South has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 36 projects that may affect the area. Notable ones are Audrey Auburn, 14-16 Queens Avenue Apartments, Auburn Station Activity Centre Development, and Burke Road Retail Precinct Upgrades. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

The labour market in Hawthorn - South demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Hawthorn-South has an educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 4.4%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Over the past year, employment grew by 2.4%. As of June 2025, 8,873 residents are employed, with a participation rate of 71.2% compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Professional & technical services show strong specialization, employing 1.7 times the regional average.

Construction employs only 5.0% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.8, indicating ample employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.4%, labour force by 2.9%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 3.5% and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. Statewide in Victoria, as of Sep-25, employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Nationally, employment grew by 0.26%, and the unemployment rate was 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's May 2025 forecasts project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hawthorn-South's industry mix suggests local growth could be approximately 7.3% over five years and 14.7% over ten years.

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 financial year 2022 shows that median income in Hawthorn - South is $66,086, with average income at $150,486. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates for median income are approximately $72,767 as of March 2025, with average income at around $165,700. According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings in Hawthorn - South stand out at the 91st percentile nationally, at $1,207 weekly. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 32.4% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (4,373 residents). This aligns with the surrounding region where this cohort likewise represents 32.8%. Economic strength is evident through 32.0% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 70th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Hawthorn - South features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Hawthorn-South's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 22.1% houses and 77.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 55.5% houses and 44.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hawthorn-South was at 25.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.7% and rented ones at 48.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, below Melbourne metro's average of $3,000. Median weekly rent in Hawthorn-South was $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $451. Nationally, Hawthorn-South's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,100 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were higher at $400 than the national figure of $375.

Hawthorn - South features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 50.8% of all households, including 18.6% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 5.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for 49.2%, with lone person households at 41.4% and group households making up 7.8%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in Hawthorn - South places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Hawthorn-South significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 62% hold university qualifications compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 37.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.4%). Vocational pathways account for 16.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.1% and certificates at 7.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.2% currently enrolled in formal education: 13.7% in tertiary, 6.7% in secondary, and 5.6% pursuing primary education. Nine schools operate within Hawthorn-South, educating approximately 3,172 students. The area demonstrates high educational performance (ICSEA: 1156), placing local schools among the most advantaged nationally. This includes three primary, four secondary, and two K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs at 23.5 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 19.3, indicating Hawthorn-South serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 47 active transport stops operating within Hawthorn - South. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. They are serviced by 9 individual routes, collectively providing 3,706 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 153 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 529 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 78 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hawthorn - South's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis shows Hawthorn - South performed well in health metrics, with low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Approximately 87% of residents had private health cover, higher than Greater Melbourne's 77.7% and Australia's national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affected 8.7%, asthma impacted 7.8%, while 73.0% reported no medical ailments, close to Greater Melbourne's 73.8%.

Residents aged 65+ constituted 14.8% (1,996 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 19.4%. Senior health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

Hawthorn - South was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Hawthorn-South was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 32.1% of its population born overseas and 24.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Hawthorn-South is Christianity, comprising 37.3% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Hawthorn-South at 1.3%, compared to 0.9% across Greater Melbourne.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (24.0%), Australian (18.2%), and Other (10.0%). There are also significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Polish is overrepresented at 1.0%, Sri Lankan at 0.6%, and Scottish at 9.0%.

Hawthorn - South hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Hawthorn-South's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and considerably younger than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hawthorn-South has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (24.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.0%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 15.6% to 19.3%, while the 35-44 age group has declined from 14.5% to 12.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Hawthorn-South, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 14%, adding 469 residents and reaching a total of 3,717. Conversely, the 0-4 age group is expected to show minimal growth of just 2%, adding only 5 people.