Manor Lakes - Quandong

Manor Lakes - Quandong lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Manor Lakes - Quandong's population is around 13,030 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,414 people (22.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,616 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,575 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 1,396 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 180 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Manor Lakes - Quandong's 22.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, which contributed approximately 36.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including overseas migration and interstate migration, were positive factors.

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. Anticipating future population dynamics, exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of statistical areas across the nation, is predicted over the period, with the area expected to increase by 12,219 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 90.3% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Manor Lakes - Quandong was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Manor Lakes - Quandong has recorded around 309 residential properties granted approval each year, with 1,545 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 199 so far in FY-26. With an average of 2.2 new residents per year gained for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), suggesting solid demand that supports property values, new homes are being built at an average construction cost of $278,000—below regional norms—reflecting more affordable housing options for purchasers.

When measured against Greater Melbourne, Manor Lakes - Quandong has 79.0% more construction activity (per person), creating greater choice for buyers. This activity is substantially higher than nationally, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 97.0% detached houses and 3.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 34 people per dwelling approval, Manor Lakes - Quandong shows characteristics of a growth area.

Looking ahead, Manor Lakes - Quandong is expected to grow by 11,764 residents through to 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.

Manor Lakes - Quandong has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 24 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Manor Lakes Park Hub - Bunnings & Retail Precinct, Parkbrook, Manor Lakes Central Bunnings Expansion, and Manor Lakes Estate Development, 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.

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Employment performance in Manor Lakes - Quandong has been broadly consistent with national averages

Manor Lakes - Quandong possesses a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector a particular standout in terms of representation, an unemployment rate of 5.2%, and 3.6% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 7,084 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.5% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (85.7% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a high 38.4% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. The area has particular employment specialization in finance & insurance, with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level. In contrast, construction employs just 6.1% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 3.6% and labour force increased by 4.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Manor Lakes - Quandong. 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 Manor Lakes - Quandong's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

The Manor Lakes - Quandong SA2's income level is slightly lower than average on a national basis according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Manor Lakes - Quandong SA2's median income among taxpayers is $57,089 and the average income stands at $65,722, which compares to figures for Greater Melbourne's of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $61,799 (median) and $71,144 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Manor Lakes - Quandong, between the 75th and 83rd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 44.3% of residents (5,772 people), mirroring the surrounding region where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 31.4% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 17.1% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 81st percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Manor Lakes - Quandong is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure within Manor Lakes - Quandong, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 94.8% houses and 5.2% 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 Manor Lakes - Quandong was lagging that of Melbourne metro, at 6.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (66.4%) or rented (27.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Melbourne metro average at $1,930, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $361, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Manor Lakes - Quandong's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

Manor Lakes - Quandong features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 89.3% of all households, comprising 59.2% couples with children, 17.9% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 10.7%, with lone person households at 8.4% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size of 3.3 people is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Manor Lakes - Quandong shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Manor Lakes - Quandong significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 46.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.0% in the SA4 region. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 27.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 25.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (15.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 36.8% of residents aged 15+ currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.8% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 4.6% 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 14 active transport stops operating within Manor Lakes - Quandong, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 2 individual routes, collectively providing 539 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 464 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 74%, with 20% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling. A high 38.4% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 77 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

Manor Lakes - Quandong's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Manor Lakes - Quandong residents. AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions shows results broadly in line with national benchmarks, with the prevalence of common health conditions remaining low among the general population, though higher than the national average across older, at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover slightly lags that of the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~6,762 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne.

The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 6.5% and 5.6% of residents, respectively, while 81.8% of residents declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 4.3% of residents aged 65 and over (557 people), which is lower than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Manor Lakes - Quandong is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Manor Lakes - Quandong is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country, with 58.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 55.9% born overseas. The main religion in Manor Lakes - Quandong is Christianity, which makes up 33.0% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Hinduism, which comprises 28.4% of the population, substantially higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.4%.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Manor Lakes - Quandong are Other, comprising 25.7% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 14.6%, Indian, comprising 24.0% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 4.2%, and Australian, comprising 13.0% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 18.4%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Filipino is notably overrepresented at 4.4% of Manor Lakes - Quandong (vs 1.3% regionally), Sri Lankan at 0.8% (vs 0.8%) and Maori at 1.2% (vs 0.3%).

Manor Lakes - Quandong hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

At 32 years, Manor Lakes - Quandong's median age is materially younger than the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and also significantly lower than the 38-year national average. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Manor Lakes - Quandong has a higher concentration of 35 - 44 residents (24.9%) but fewer 55 - 64 year-olds (4.6%). This 35 - 44 concentration is well above the national 14.3%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 45 to 54 age group has grown from 8.8% to 10.8% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 10.1% to 11.2%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 18.7% to 13.7%. Demographic modeling suggests Manor Lakes - Quandong's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 45 to 54 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 155%, adding 2,166 residents to reach 3,567.