Heidelberg West
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Heidelberg West are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Heidelberg West's population was approximately 16,994 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 2,142 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 14,852. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates of 16,834 in June 2024 and validated new addresses since then. This results in a population density of 2,540 persons per square kilometer, placing Heidelberg West in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Its growth rate of 14.4% from the 2021 Census exceeds the SA3 area average (5.0%) and the national average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 67.3% of overall population gains recently, with all drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch projects Heidelberg West's population to grow exceptionally by 9,963 persons to 2041, a gain of 56.9%.

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

Heidelberg West approved approximately 406 residential properties annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that between financial years FY21 and FY25, around 2,032 homes were granted approval, with a further 338 approved in FY26. Over these five years, an average of 0.6 new residents per year was associated with each dwelling constructed. This suggests supply meets or exceeds demand, providing more buyer choices and supporting potential population growth beyond projections.

The average construction cost for new dwellings was $401,000, lower than regional levels, indicating more affordable housing options. In FY26, commercial approvals totaled $71.3 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Heidelberg West had 292.0% more development activity per person as of the provided data. This high level of developer confidence is also substantially higher than national averages. New developments consist of 10.0% detached dwellings and 90.0% medium to high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for buyers. This shift from the current 59.0% houses reflects reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With approximately 91 people per dwelling approval, Heidelberg West's expanding market is forecasted to gain 9,672 residents by 2041.

Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified ten projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Austin Hospital Emergency Department Expansion, North East Link Tunnels, Heidelberg Structure Plan Implementation, and Tarakan Street Social and Affordable Housing.

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

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

Heidelberg West has an educated workforce with key services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 6.8% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.2%.

As of June 2025, 8,752 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.1% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Heidelberg West specializes in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

However, construction is under-represented at 7.9% compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.2%, labour force grew by 1.4%, and unemployment decreased by 1.6 percentage points in Heidelberg West. In contrast, Greater Melbourne had employment growth of 3.5% and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. By September 2025, Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, and employment growth outpaced the national average of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Heidelberg West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.0%% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2022 indicates that median assessed income in Heidelberg West is $54,329, with average income at $66,527. This compares to Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 for the same period. Applying Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% from July 2022 to March 2025, estimated current incomes are approximately $59,822 (median) and $73,253 (average). According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family, and personal incomes in Heidelberg West rank between the 42nd and 45th percentiles. Income distribution data shows that 32.1% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, consistent with broader regional trends of 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Heidelberg West displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Heidelberg West's residential structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 59.0% houses and 41.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metropolitan area had 76.0% houses and 24.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Heidelberg West stood at 21.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.5% and rented ones at 48.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,059, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,167. Median weekly rent was $353, compared to Melbourne metro's $399. Nationally, Heidelberg West's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,059 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $353 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 60.6% of all households, including 23.8% couples with children, 21.8% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 39.4%, with lone person households at 32.5% and group households comprising 6.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Heidelberg West aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 39.6% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's rate of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.0% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (15.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 8.4% in tertiary, 8.2% in primary, and 5.9% in secondary education. Heidelberg West's three schools have a combined enrollment of 116 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1003) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes one primary and two K-12 schools. Local school capacity is limited at 0.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 18.4, leading many families to travel for schooling. Note that where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Heidelberg West has 103 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with 15 individual routes in total. The combined weekly passenger trips across these routes amount to 5,613.

Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 156 meters to the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 801 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 54 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Heidelberg West 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

Heidelberg West shows below-average health outcomes, with common health conditions slightly higher than national averages for older residents. Approximately 52% of its total population (~8,904 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 60.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 10.7% and 8.6% of residents respectively. About 68.3% reported no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 69.3%. The area has 13.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,263 people), less than Greater Melbourne's 19.8%. Seniors' health outcomes require more attention compared to the broader population.

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

Heidelberg West has a high level of cultural diversity, with 32.5% of its population born overseas and 33.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Heidelberg West is Christianity, accounting for 37.8% of the population. However, Islam is significantly overrepresented, comprising 11.2% compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (20.2%), Australian (18.2%), and Other (15.8%), which is higher than the regional average of 8.7%. Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Greek at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 3.0%, Lebanese at 1.5% versus 0.6%, and Italian at 5.9% compared to 7.7%.

Heidelberg West's population is younger than the national pattern

Heidelberg West's median age is 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's median age of 37 and the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 20.5% of Heidelberg West's population, higher than Greater Melbourne's percentage but lower than the national average of 14.5%. The 5-14 age group makes up 9.7% of Heidelberg West's population. Between 2021 and the present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 15.2% to 17.2%, while the 15-24 age group has decreased from 11.4% to 10.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate a significant increase in the 45-54 age cohort, with an expansion of 1,563 people (85%), from 1,847 to 3,411.