Melbourne CBD - West
Statistical Area - sa2

Melbourne CBD - West 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 - West's population was around 22,225 as of Nov 2025. This reflected an increase of 6,577 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,648. The change was inferred from ABS estimates of 21,528 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 22,005 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% nationally. Growth of 42.0% since 2021 exceeded national (8.9%) and state averages. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.5% of overall population gains recently, with all drivers positive.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting via weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, a significant population increase is forecast, with the area expected to grow by 9,241 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 38.4% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Melbourne CBD - West according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Melbourne CBD - West has seen approximately six dwellings granted development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 30 homes were approved for construction. No dwellings have been approved in FY26 as of yet.

On average, each home built over these five years is expected to accommodate 92.6 new residents per year, indicating that demand significantly outstrips supply, which typically exerts upward pressure on prices and intensifies competition among buyers. This financial year has seen $434.4 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Melbourne CBD - West exhibits substantially reduced construction levels, with limited new supply generally supporting stronger demand and values for established dwellings.

This level is also below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potentially suggesting planning limitations. Future projections anticipate Melbourne CBD - West adding 8544 residents by 2041. If current development rates persist, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Melbourne CBD - West has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 50 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives are the Metro Tunnel Project, Metro Tunnel Project, Metro Tunnel Project, and the Greenline Project - Yarra River. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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

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The labour market in Melbourne CBD - West demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Melbourne CBD - West has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 4.9%, with an estimated employment growth of 6.9% over the past year.

There are 16,142 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 5.2% compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation is high at 73.2%, above Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in accommodation & food, professional & technical, and retail trade, with a specialization in accommodation & food at 3.1 times the regional level. Construction employment is under-represented at 3.4% compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.

The area hosts more jobs than residents, with 7.2 workers per resident as of the Census. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.9%, labour force grew by 7.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.5%, labour force expand by 4.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project that national employment will increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Melbourne CBD - West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.0% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

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

Melbourne CBD - West has an average national income level according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY2022. The median income among taxpayers is $41,790, with an average of $63,963. This compares to Greater Melbourne's figures of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median will be approximately $46,872 and the average $71,741, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since FY2022. According to 2021 Census figures, personal income ranks at the 61st percentile ($861 weekly), while household income is at the 32nd percentile. The earnings profile shows 33.0% (7,334 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to the broader area's 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 76.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 22nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Melbourne CBD - West 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-West, as per the latest Census, comprised 0.1% houses and 99.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Melbourne CBD-West stood at 8.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (12.8%) or rented (78.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,710, below Melbourne metro's average of $1,962. Median weekly rent in Melbourne CBD-West was recorded at $376, compared to Melbourne metro's $396. Nationally, mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Melbourne CBD - West features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 36.5% of all households, including 4.9% that are couples with children, 25.9% that are couples without children, and 2.3% that are single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 63.5%, with lone person households at 46.8% and group households comprising 16.8%. The median household size is 1.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 1.8.

The educational profile of Melbourne CBD - West exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Melbourne CBD-West is high, with 61.7% of residents aged 15+ having university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% statewide (Victoria). The area's educational advantage is notable for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 38.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational pathways account for 19.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 7.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 41.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 22.8% in tertiary education, 1.1% in primary education, and 1.0% pursuing secondary education. Eltham College - King Street Campus provides local educational services within Melbourne CBD-West, with an enrollment of 0 students as of the latest data. All 1 schools offer integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. As there are no schools located within Melbourne CBD-West, residents must travel to neighboring areas for educational services. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus details.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis reveals 78 active transport stops operating within Melbourne CBD - West as of July 2021. These stops serve a mix of train, light rail, and bus routes, totaling 87 individual routes. Collectively, these routes provide 45,469 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 66 meters to the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 6,495 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 582 weekly trips per individual stop.

Melbourne CBD - West's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Melbourne CBD - West shows excellent health outcomes, with a low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 51%, slightly lower than the average SA2 area but higher than Greater Melbourne's 47%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 6.8% and 5.3% respectively. Around 85.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 79.8% in Greater Melbourne. The percentage of seniors aged 65 and over is 2.4%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 6.8%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with the general population's profile.

Melbourne CBD - West 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-West has one of the most culturally diverse populations in Australia, with 65.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 75.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, representing 22.6% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented at 11.2%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 7.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (25.5%), Other (21.3%), and English (11.6%). Korean, Indian, and Vietnamese ethnicities are also significantly represented at 2.8%, 8.8%, and 2.5% respectively, higher than the regional averages of 1.5%, 5.5%, and 2.0%.

Melbourne CBD - West hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Melbourne CBD-West has a median age of 29, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, it has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (42.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (1.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 24.0% to 28.8%, while the proportion of those aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 45.8% to 42.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the age cohort of 25-34 year-olds is expected to increase significantly, with an additional 3,188 people (a 34% rise) bringing the total to 12,636 from the current figure of 9,447.