Hurstbridge
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Hurstbridge's population was 3,549 as of August 2025, showing a decrease of 5 people from the 2021 Census figure of 3,554. This change is inferred from ABS data: the estimated resident population in June 2024 was 3,541, with an additional 8 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 239 persons per square kilometer. Hurstbridge's population decline contrasts with its SA3 area's growth of 2.3%. Natural growth contributed approximately 64.2% to recent population gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Nationally, above median population growth is projected, with Hurstbridge expected to grow by 583 persons to 2041, an increase of 16.2% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Hurstbridge is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Hurstbridge has recorded approximately four residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis: 24 homes over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, and one so far in FY-26. The population decline in recent years indicates adequate development activity relative to population changes, favourable for buyers. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $698,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY-26, $2.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Hurstbridge's residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hurstbridge has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 13th percentile nationally, offering limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. This activity is below the national average, suggesting an established area with potential planning limitations. Recent development consists entirely of standalone homes, maintaining Hurstbridge's traditional low-density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

With 1324 people estimated per dwelling approval, it reflects a quiet, low-activity development environment. Future projections show Hurstbridge adding 574 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Hurstbridge has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project that may affect this region: Diamond Creek Trail Extension to Hurstbridge. Other notable projects include North East Link - Connections, North East Link - Tolling Services Package, and North East Link - Early Works. The following details those most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Hurstbridge ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Hurstbridge has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.1% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.8%. As of June 2025, 2,150 residents were employed, with a participation rate of 69.6%, higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence, at 7.0% compared to the regional 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as Census data shows fewer working residents than expected based on population. In the past year, employment increased by 1.8%, labour force by 1.5%, reducing unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Meanwhile, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and a rise in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. State-wide in Victoria as of Sep-25, 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 was 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hurstbridge's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Hurstbridge's median income among taxpayers was $53,901, with an average of $71,047. Nationally, the median income was lower at $46,857 and the average was $66,888. In Greater Melbourne, the median income was $54,892 and the average was $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Hurstbridge would be approximately $59,350 (median) and $78,230 (average) as of March 2025. The 2021 Census showed household, family and personal incomes in Hurstbridge cluster around the 71st percentile nationally. In terms of earnings profile, 35.2% of residents (1,249 people) fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, mirroring the surrounding region where 32.8% occupied this bracket. Economic strength was evident with 31.4% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000. After housing costs, residents retained 86.7% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

Hurstbridge is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Hurstbridge's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 97.5% houses and 2.5% other dwellings. Melbourne metro had 93.9% houses and 6.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hurstbridge was 36.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 53.0% and rented at 10.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,167. Median weekly rent in Hurstbridge was $420, compared to Melbourne metro's $431. Nationally, Hurstbridge's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Hurstbridge features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 81.5% of all households, including 43.1% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 18.5%, with lone person households at 17.3% and group households comprising 1.2%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

Hurstbridge shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

University qualification levels in Hurstbridge stand at 32.2%, slightly below Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, held by 20.9% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 37.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (26.0%).

Educational participation is high at 29.5%, with 10.4% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education. Hurstbridge Primary School and Launch Campus serve a total of 180 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1062). There is one primary school and one K-12 school in the educational mix. Local school capacity is limited, with only 5.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.9, 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 moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Hurstbridge has four active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by two routes that collectively facilitate 1,433 weekly passenger trips. Residents' access to transport is limited, with an average distance of 777 meters to the nearest stop.

Services operate at an average frequency of 204 trips daily across all routes, resulting in approximately 358 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hurstbridge's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data shows relatively positive outcomes for Hurstbridge residents. Prevalence of common health conditions is quite low across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~1,951 people), compared to 60.1% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 9.5 and 8.5% of residents respectively. A total of 67.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.6% across Greater Melbourne. As of June 2021, the area has 19.3% of residents aged 65 and over (685 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Hurstbridge, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census in 2016, had a population with 87.8% born in Australia, 94.3% being citizens, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 34.9% of Hurstbridge's population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented in Hurstbridge compared to Greater Melbourne, with 0.3% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents were English (28.6%), Australian (28.4%), and Irish (11.3%). Other notable divergences included Welsh being overrepresented at 1.0% compared to the regional average of 0.5%, Scottish at 9.6% versus 8.2%, and Maltese at 1.0% matching the regional figure.

Hurstbridge's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Hurstbridge is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years, and also older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 55-64 age group constitutes 14.6% of the population in Hurstbridge, compared to a lower prevalence of the 25-34 cohort at 9.3%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 12.4% to 14.1%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 4.3% to 5.9%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 14.0% to 11.5%, and the 35 to 44 age group has dropped from 12.6% to 11.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Hurstbridge, with the 75 to 84 age group expected to grow by 106% (223 people), reaching a total of 433 from 209. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 66% of total population growth, reflecting Hurstbridge's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.