Healesville - Yarra Glen

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Healesville - Yarra Glen's population is around 14,150 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 85 people (0.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,065 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,040 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 93 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 38 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of 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 utilising 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. As we examine future population trends, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected, with the area expected to expand by 791 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 4.8% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Healesville - Yarra Glen, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Healesville - Yarra Glen has averaged around 40 new dwelling approvals per year, with 203 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 19 so far in FY-26. With population declining over recent years, new supply has likely been keeping up with demand, offering good choice to buyers, while new homes are being built at an average value of $340,000. Additionally, $29.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating strong commercial development momentum.

When measured against Greater Melbourne, Healesville - Yarra Glen has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person while it places among the 34th percentile of areas assessed nationally, meaning somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established properties. This activity is likewise lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints. Recent construction comprises 76.0% standalone homes and 24.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 92.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated count of 501 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Looking ahead, Healesville - Yarra Glen is expected to grow by 681 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Healesville - Yarra Glen has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 9 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Yarra Valley Railway Heritage Line Restoration, the Maroondah Highway & Don Road Interchange Upgrade, Graceburn Gardens Estate, and The Memo Healesville Redevelopment, 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 conditions in Healesville - Yarra Glen remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Healesville - Yarra Glen possesses a skilled workforce, with the construction sector a particular standout in terms of representation, an unemployment rate of 4.3%, and 1.5% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 7,129 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.5% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation lags significantly (63.6% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 23.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise construction, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in construction, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. In contrast, professional & technical services employ just 5.3% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The 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, the 12-month period saw employment increasing by 1.5% alongside the labour force increasing by 1.4%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, with 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 Healesville - Yarra Glen. 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 Healesville - Yarra Glen's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Healesville - Yarra Glen SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $52,464 and an average of $67,370 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is approximately average nationally, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $56,792 (median) and $72,928 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Healesville - Yarra Glen, between the 35th and 41st percentiles. The data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 33.3% of residents (4,711 people), mirroring regional levels where 32.8% occupy this bracket. After housing, 85.8% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Healesville - Yarra Glen, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 91.8% houses and 8.2% 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 Healesville - Yarra Glen was well beyond that of Melbourne metro, at 41.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (44.0%) or rented (14.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Melbourne metro average at $1,733, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $350, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Healesville - Yarra Glen's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

Healesville - Yarra Glen has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 73.8% of all households, comprising 30.9% couples with children, 31.0% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.2%, with lone person households at 24.2% and group households comprising 2.0% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in Healesville - Yarra Glen fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (21.9%) substantially below the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 14.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.6%) and certificates (28.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 48 active transport stops operating within Healesville - Yarra Glen, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 3 individual routes, collectively providing 389 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 537 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward, and the car remains the dominant mode at 92%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.8 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. Some 23.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 55 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Healesville - Yarra Glen is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Healesville - Yarra Glen faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover just leads the average SA2 area at approximately 53% of the total population (~7,442 people). This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.4 and 8.9% of residents, respectively, while 64.0% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents show an above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 26.2% of residents aged 65 and over (3,705 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Healesville - Yarra Glen is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Healesville - Yarra Glen was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 85.0% of its population born in Australia, 90.8% being citizens, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Healesville - Yarra Glen is Christianity, which makes up 37.2% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Judaism, which comprises 0.1% 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 Healesville - Yarra Glen are English, comprising 33.2% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 20.1%, Australian, comprising 28.4% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 18.4%, and Irish, comprising 9.2% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Dutch is notably overrepresented at 2.8% of Healesville - Yarra Glen (vs 1.2% regionally), Scottish at 8.9% (vs 5.6%) and Hungarian at 0.3% (vs 0.3%).

Healesville - Yarra Glen hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The 45-year median age in Healesville - Yarra Glen is significantly above Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and similarly considerably older than Australia's 38 years. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Healesville - Yarra Glen has a higher concentration of 65 - 74 residents (13.3%) but fewer 25 - 34 year-olds (8.4%). Following the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.3% to 9.7% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 11.4% to 12.8%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 10.7% to 8.4% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 14.7% to 13.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Healesville - Yarra Glen's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 33% (451 people), reaching 1,824 from 1,372. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 83% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both 25 to 34 and 55 to 64 age groups will see reduced numbers.