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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Population
Melbourne CBD - North lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
Melbourne CBD - North's population is approximately 23,645 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 6,775 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,870 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 23,579 in June 2024 and an additional 74 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 42,223 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 40.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeds both the national average (8.9%) and the state average, indicating strong population growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, although natural growth and interstate migration also played positive roles.
AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to reach SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends predict exceptional growth for Melbourne CBD - North, with an expected increase of 11,857 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 49.9% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Melbourne CBD - North according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
Melbourne CBD - North has seen approximately six dwellings receiving development approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 32 homes were approved, with none yet approved in FY26. On average, 162.9 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built during these years, indicating significant demand exceeding new supply.
This has typically led to price growth and increased buyer competition. In this financial year alone, $76.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. However, compared to Greater Melbourne, Melbourne CBD - North has notably less development activity, which usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings.
This is also below the national average, reflecting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Melbourne CBD - North is projected to add 11,791 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Melbourne CBD - North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Gurrowa Place - QVM Southern Precinct, Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal, Queens Place, and Metro Tunnel Project. The following list details those most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Melbourne Metro 2
Melbourne Metro 2 is a proposed new underground rail tunnel that would connect the Werribee and Mernda lines via Newport, Fishermans Bend, the CBD (new Flagstaff and Parkville stations), and Clifton Hill. It would create a new cross-city rail line, support urban renewal in Fishermans Bend and Arden, and significantly increase capacity on Melbourne's suburban rail network.
Metro Tunnel Project
The Metro Tunnel is Melbourne's largest public transport project, delivering twin 9km rail tunnels and five new underground stations (Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, Anzac). It creates a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham, introduces high-capacity signalling and new High Capacity Metro Trains to enable turn-up-and-go services every 2-3 minutes, and removes four level crossings on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line.
Metro Tunnel Project
The Metro Tunnel is a 9km twin-tunnel underground rail project with five new stations (Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, Anzac). It creates a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham, includes High Capacity Signalling and new High Capacity Metro Trains. Major construction is complete, systems testing and trial operations are underway. Limited passenger services on the tunnel section commence 30 November 2025, with full integration into the metropolitan network and new timetable from early 2026.
Level Crossing Removal Project
State-wide program to remove 110 level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne by 2030, delivering safer roads, less congestion and more reliable train services. Includes rebuilding or upgrading 57 train stations, opening up new community spaces and creating thousands of jobs.
Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (AIID)
A $650 million world-class translational research facility in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, Parkville. Jointly led by the University of Melbourne, Doherty Institute and Burnet Institute. The 7-level building will accommodate over 1,000 researchers and feature PC3/PC4 laboratories, robotic biobanking, a human infection challenge unit, clinical trial capabilities, drug/vaccine development platforms and co-location space for industry partners. Demolition completed mid-2025, main works contractor (Multiplex) appointed September 2025, construction now underway with practical completion targeted for late 2027.
Errol Street Private Hospital
New 8-level private hospital in North Melbourne delivering 223 overnight beds, 10 ICU beds, 7 operating theatres, medical imaging, pathology and specialist consulting suites within the Parkville Biomedical Precinct.
Gurrowa Place - QVM Southern Precinct
$1.7 billion mixed-use urban renewal project by Lendlease, City of Melbourne, and Scape as part of the Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal. The development includes three new buildings: a next-generation office tower, build-to-rent apartments (approx. 1129 total, including over 130 affordable homes), and a student accommodation tower (approx. 1150 residences, total dwellings/beds approx. 2279). It also features the creation of Market Square, a 1.8-hectare public park, the restoration of the heritage Franklin Street Stores for retail and hospitality, and a new 220-space basement car park. Final heritage and planning approvals were secured in August 2025.
Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal
The City of Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal is a multi-stage program to preserve and modernise Australia's largest and most intact 19th-century market. Key completed/ongoing works include heritage shed restorations, new trader facilities, customer amenities and core market infrastructure (largely finished by end-2024). The southern development (Gurrowa Place), delivered in partnership with Lendlease and Scape, received final federal heritage approval in August 2025 and includes a new 1.8 ha public open space (Market Square), restoration of the Franklin Street Stores, a 220-space basement car park, and mixed-use towers providing student accommodation, build-to-rent and affordable housing. Total program value approximately $268 million, with full precinct completion expected later this decade.
Employment
The labour market strength in Melbourne CBD - North positions it well ahead of most Australian regions
Melbourne CBD - North has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.6% as of September 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.
Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.3%. As of that date, 16,774 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0%, and workforce participation at 66.2%. Dominant employment sectors among residents include accommodation & food, professional & technical, and retail trade. The area has a strong specialization in accommodation & food (3.8 times the regional level), but lower representation in construction (2.9% vs regional average of 9.7%).
There are 1.6 workers for every resident, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 6.3%, labour force by 6.0%, leading to a unemployment fall of 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts suggest a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Melbourne CBD - North's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Melbourne CBD - North SA2 has an income below the national average. The median income is $30,966 and the average income stands at $47,396. In contrast, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $34,731 (median) and $53,159 (average). Census data reveals that Melbourne CBD - North's incomes fall between the 6th and 17th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that the $800 - 1,499 bracket dominates with 26.5% of residents (6,265 people), differing from metropolitan patterns where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 70.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 3rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Melbourne CBD - North features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Dwelling structure in Melbourne CBD - North, as per the latest Census, consisted entirely of non-household dwellings such as semi-detached units, apartments, and others. This is unlike Melbourne metropolitan area's 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Melbourne CBD - North was at 10.4%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 9.3% and rented ones at 80.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,725, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $1,962. Median weekly rent was recorded at $361, compared to Melbourne metro's $396. Nationally, Melbourne CBD - North's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Melbourne CBD - North features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 32.0% of all households, including 3.4% couples with children, 21.9% couples without children, and 2.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 68.0%, with lone person households at 47.7% and group households comprising 20.2%. The median household size is 1.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 1.8.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational attainment in Melbourne CBD - North aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics
Educational attainment in Melbourne CBD - North is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 59.4% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% state-wide. This significant educational advantage positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 37.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%).
Vocational pathways account for 16.3% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and over, with advanced diplomas making up 10.4% and certificates 5.9%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 53.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 36.2% in tertiary education, 1.2% in secondary education, and 1.1% pursuing primary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Public transport analysis shows that Melbourne CBD - North has 31 active transport stops. These include train, light rail, and bus stops. There are 65 individual routes servicing these stops, providing a total of 29,873 weekly passenger trips.
Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 95 meters to the nearest stop. Daily service frequency averages 4,267 trips across all routes, which amounts to approximately 963 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Melbourne CBD - North's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups
Melbourne CBD - North shows excellent health outcomes, with very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Private health cover stands at approximately 46%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.0% and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affect 5.8% and asthma impacts 4.3% of residents.
88.1% report no medical ailments, higher than Greater Melbourne's 79.8%. The area has 2.9% seniors (690 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 6.8%. Seniors' health outcomes align with the general population's profile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Melbourne CBD - North is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics
Melbourne CBD - North has a population where 75.1% speak a language other than English at home and 82.4% were born overseas. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 20.7%. Buddhism is significantly higher here at 13.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 7.0%.
The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (43.5%), Other (18.4%), and English (8.5%). Korean (2.8%), Vietnamese (3.1%), and Indian (4.9%) are notably overrepresented in Melbourne CBD - North compared to regional averages of 1.5%, 2.0%, and 5.5% respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Melbourne CBD - North hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide
Melbourne CBD - North's median age at 25 years is significantly below the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and lower than the national average of 38. It has a higher concentration of 25-34 residents at 43.8% compared to Greater Melbourne, but fewer 5-14 year-olds at 1.3%. This concentration is well above the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 39.9% to 43.8%, while the 15-24 cohort has decreased from 38.1% to 35.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes with the 25-34 age cohort projected to grow significantly, expanding by 5,787 people (56%) from 10,356 to 16,144.