Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square's population is approximately 21,735 as of August 2025. This represents an increase of 692 people, a 3.3% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 21,043. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,491 in June 2024 and an additional 50 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 531 persons per square kilometer. Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square's growth rate of 3.3% since the census is within 1.3 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.6%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods for this area.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation for areas not covered by the first data set. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square is forecasted to have a population increase of 5,544 persons based on the latest numbers, marking a total gain of 24.1% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square when compared nationally

Kangaroo Flat-Golden Square has received approximately 118 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics' financial year-based data shows 592 homes approved between FY-2021 and FY-2025, with 8 approvals so far in FY-2026. Each new home attracts about 1.2 new residents yearly on average over the past five years. This results in a balanced supply-demand ratio, maintaining stable market conditions.

New properties' average construction cost is $382,000, aligning with regional trends. Commercial approvals totalled $21.0 million in FY-2026, indicating moderate commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Kangaroo Flat-Golden Square exhibits about three-quarters the building activity per capita and ranks at the 61st percentile nationally when assessed areas are considered. Recent construction comprises 62.0% standalone homes and 38.0% medium-high density housing, with an increasing mix of townhouses and apartments offering diverse price points from family homes to compact living options.

This shift contrasts with the area's current 91.0% houses, suggesting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles' influence on housing preferences. With around 310 people per approval, Kangaroo Flat-Golden Square reflects low-density development. Projections estimate an additional 5,232 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply might lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 37 potential impact projects in total. Key ones include Kangaroo Flat Lifestyle Estate Expansion, Crusoe College Infrastructure, Kangaroo Flat Skate Park, and Kangaroo Rise Estate. The following list details those likely most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment indicates Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.1% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

There were 9,438 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 1.3% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in the area was somewhat lower at 54.3%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.5% of local workers, lower than Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 0.6%, while labour force rose by 1.8%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.2 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic. saw employment decline by 0.9% and labour force decline by 0.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May 2025 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square's employment mix suggests local growth could be approximately 6.2%% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square had a median taxpayer income of $47,895 and an average income of $55,677. This is below the national averages of $51,348 (median) and $64,732 (average). The Rest of Vic had median and average incomes of $48,741 and $60,693 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes are approximately $52,737 (median) and $61,306 (average), as of March 2025. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square fall between the 16th and 24th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 29.5% of residents (6,411 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to regional patterns where 30.3% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 17th percentile nationally.

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census in 2016, consisted of 90.6% houses and 9.3% other dwellings. Comparatively, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structures were 90.6% houses and 9.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square stood at 36.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.2% and rented ones at 31.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300 as of 2016, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,408. The median weekly rent figure was $290, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $295. Nationally, Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 63.2% of all households, including 22.2% couples with children, 26.3% couples without children, and 13.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 36.8%, with lone person households at 33.4% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates of 18.6% significantly lower than the VIC average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 12.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (28.2%). Educational participation is high at 26.9%, comprising 9.6% in primary, 7.3% in secondary, and 3.1% in tertiary education.

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square has a network of 9 schools educating approximately 2,492 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 958) offering balanced educational opportunities. The mix includes 5 primary, 2 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. School places per 100 residents (11.5) are below the regional average (18.0), with some students likely attending adjacent area schools. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in 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

The analysis indicates 135 active public transport stops in Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. There are 21 individual routes serving these stops, collectively facilitating 1649 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 286 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 235 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 12 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Critical health challenges are evident across Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square. A range of health conditions impact both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~10,345 people), compared to 50.5% across Rest of Vic., which is below the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 11.5% and 11.3% of residents respectively. Conversely, 58.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.0% across Rest of Vic.. The area has 23.4% of residents aged 65 and over (5,081 people), which is higher than the 18.9% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kangaroo Flat-Golden Square has a below average cultural diversity, with 89.3% of its population being Australian citizens born in Australia speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 46.2% of the population. The 'Other' religious category is overrepresented at 1.0%, compared to 0.7% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (32.7%), Australian (30.2%), and Irish (9.0%). Scottish ethnicity is notably overrepresented at 8.7%, Welsh at 0.5%, and Serbian at 0.2%.

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of Vic.'s average of 43, but older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 25-34 year-olds are particularly prominent at 14.7%, while the 55-64 group is smaller at 10.7% compared to Rest of Vic.. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 11.9% to 13.3%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 11.9% to 10.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 56%, adding 1,786 residents to reach 4,990. Meanwhile, numbers in the 55-64 age range are expected to fall by 82%.