Highett (West) - Cheltenham

Highett (West) - Cheltenham lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Highett (West) - Cheltenham's population is around 13,923 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,484 people (11.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,439 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,098 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 203 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,617 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Highett (West) - Cheltenham's 11.9% 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 75.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 utilises 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 significant population increase in the top quartile of national statistical areas is forecast, with the area expected to expand by 4,109 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, recording a gain of 23.6% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Highett (West) - Cheltenham among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Highett (West) - Cheltenham has experienced around 153 dwellings receiving development approval per year, totalling 766 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. With an average of only 1 person per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice while supporting potential for population growth above projections, while new homes are being built at an average value of $496,000, demonstrating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Additionally, $11.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development.

When measured against Greater Melbourne, Highett (West) - Cheltenham records somewhat elevated construction (26.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), balancing buyer choice with support for current property values. This activity is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. New building activity shows 15.0% standalone homes and 85.0% medium and high-density housing. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shows a considerable change from the current housing mix (currently 62.0% houses), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With around 56 people per dwelling approval, Highett (West) - Cheltenham shows characteristics of a growth area.

Future projections show Highett (West) - Cheltenham adding 3,284 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Highett (West) - Cheltenham has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 28 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Banksia Apartments Cheltenham, Highett Common, Highett Gasworks, and Sanctuary Sandringham, 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.

Highett (West) - Cheltenham has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Highett (West) - Cheltenham possesses a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of 4.5%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 7,403 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.2% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. Based on Census responses, a high 45.7% 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 education & training. The area shows particularly strong specialization in professional & technical, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing shows lower representation at 2.8% versus the regional average of 5.2%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw the labour force decrease by 0.3% alongside a 0.2% employment decline, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne, where employment rose by 2.4%, the labour force grew by 2.8%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Highett (West) - Cheltenham. 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 Highett (West) - Cheltenham's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 13.9% 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 Highett (West) - Cheltenham SA2 is among the highest in Australia, with the median assessed at $66,892 while the average income stands at $87,651. This contrasts to 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 $72,411 (median) and $94,882 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Highett (West) - Cheltenham, between the 80th and 83rd percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 27.3% of residents (3,800 people), mirroring the broader area where 32.8% occupy this bracket. A significant 38.2% earn above $3,000 weekly, reflecting pockets of prosperity that drive robust local economic activity. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 81st percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Highett (West) - Cheltenham displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure within Highett (West) - Cheltenham, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 61.7% houses and 38.3% 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 Highett (West) - Cheltenham was in line with that of Melbourne metro, at 30.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (42.3%) or rented (27.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Melbourne metro average at $2,500, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $450, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Highett (West) - Cheltenham's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Highett (West) - Cheltenham has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 71.9% of all households, comprising 36.9% couples with children, 22.6% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.1%, with lone person households at 25.6% and group households comprising 2.6% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Highett (West) - Cheltenham 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 Highett (West) - Cheltenham significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 43.5% 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 28.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.3%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 26.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (14.1%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 5.6% 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 79 active transport stops operating within Highett (West) - Cheltenham comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 17 individual routes, collectively providing 3,162 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 157 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward - the car remains the dominant mode at 81%, with 9% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling. A high 45.7% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 451 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 40 weekly trips per individual stop.

Highett (West) - Cheltenham's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Highett (West) - Cheltenham residents, with AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions showing results broadly in line with national benchmarks. A fairly standard level of common health conditions is seen across both young and old age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 63% of the total population (8,813 people). This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.0% and 7.8% of residents, respectively, while 71.8% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 16.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,281 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Highett (West) - Cheltenham was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Highett (West) - Cheltenham was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 18.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 28.8% born overseas. The main religion in Highett (West) - Cheltenham is Christianity, which makes up 43.7% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 1.3% 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 Highett (West) - Cheltenham are English, comprising 26.2% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 20.1%, Australian, comprising 22.7% of the population, and Irish, comprising 9.0% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Russian is notably overrepresented at 0.9% in Highett (West) - Cheltenham (vs 0.4% regionally), Hungarian at 0.5% (vs 0.3%) and Polish at 1.1% (vs 0.8%).

Highett (West) - Cheltenham's population is slightly older than the national pattern

With a median age of 40, Highett (West) - Cheltenham is somewhat higher than the Greater Melbourne figure of 37 and similarly marginally higher than Australia's 38 years. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, the 45 - 54 cohort is notably over-represented (15.7% locally), while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented (10.0%). In the period since 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 10.9% to 12.6% of the population, while the 55 to 64 cohort increased from 10.7% to 12.2%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 13.8% to 12.3%. Demographic modeling suggests Highett (West) - Cheltenham's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to see notable expansion, growing by 655 people (30%) from 2,190 to 2,846.