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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 | --
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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 - 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 approximately 22,225 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 6,577 people, a 42.0% rise from the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 15,648. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 21,528 in June 2024 and an additional 372 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 22,005 persons per square kilometer, placing Melbourne CBD - West among the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making its land highly sought after. Melbourne CBD - West's population growth rate of 42.0% since the 2021 Census surpassed both the national average (8.9%) and the state average. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 87.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.
AreaSearch's projections for Melbourne CBD - West are based on 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 uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting them employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead with demographic trends, Melbourne CBD - West is forecasted to experience significant population increase. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to gain an additional 9,241 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 38.4% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
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 approved for development each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 30 homes received approval. As of FY26, zero dwellings have been approved so far.
On average, these developments have brought in about 92.6 new residents per year over the last five years. This high demand outpaces supply, potentially driving up prices and intensifying competition among buyers. In the current financial year, $434.4 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating strong business investment locally.
Compared to Greater Melbourne, construction levels in Melbourne CBD - West are significantly lower, which typically supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. This level is also below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and possible planning constraints. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Melbourne CBD - West is projected to add 8,544 residents by 2041. If current development rates persist, housing supply may struggle to keep up with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Melbourne CBD - West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally
Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 50 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include the Metro Tunnel Project, another Metro Tunnel Project, Greenline Project - Yarra River, and Level Crossing Removal Project. The following list details those most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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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.
Greenline Project - Yarra River
A city-shaping transformation of the Yarra River's north bank into a 4km continuous green promenade connecting Birrarung Marr to the Bolte Bridge. The project features five distinct precincts: Birrarung Marr, The Falls, River Park, Maritime, and Saltwater Wharf, delivering interconnected parklands, boardwalks, and cultural spaces. Construction has commenced on the first stage at Birrarung Marr, with the project expected to generate significant economic and social benefits.
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.
Metro Tunnel Project
Twin 9-kilometre rail tunnels and five new underground stations (Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, Anzac) creating a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham. The project includes high-capacity signalling, platform screen doors and will remove four major level crossings. Testing and commissioning are well advanced with full opening now scheduled for late 2025.
Metro Tunnel Project
The Metro Tunnel is a 9km twin-rail tunnel project creating a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham through central Melbourne. Five new underground stations (Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, Anzac) have been delivered. The project opened for passenger services on 30 November 2025 with limited timetable, with full turn-up-and-go Metro Tunnel services commencing 1 February 2026.
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.
Employment
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. Its unemployment rate was 4.7% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 5.9% over the past year.
In this period, 16,501 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate matching Greater Melbourne's at 4.7%, and workforce participation higher at 73.2%. Key employment sectors for residents are accommodation & food, professional & technical, and retail trade. The area has a notable specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 3.1 times the regional level. Conversely, construction is under-represented, with only 3.4% of Melbourne CBD - West's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.
As of the Census, there are 7.2 workers for every resident, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 5.9% and labour force grew by 5.7%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0%, labour force expand by 3.3%, and unemployment rise 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%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3%, with employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.14%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Melbourne CBD - West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch
The Melbourne CBD - West SA2 had a median income of $41,790 and an average income of $63,963 in financial year 2022, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. By September 2025, adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 12.16%, these figures are estimated to be approximately $46,872 (median) and $71,741 (average). In the 2021 Census, personal income ranked at the 61st percentile ($861 weekly), while household income was at the 32nd percentile. The earnings profile shows that 33.0% of the population, equating to 7,334 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the broader area where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 76.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 21st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
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, consisted of 0.1% houses and 99.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Melbourne CBD-West was at 8.4%, with the rest either mortgaged (12.8%) or rented (78.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,710, below Melbourne metro's average of $1,962. Median weekly rent was $376, compared to Melbourne metro's $396. Nationally, Melbourne CBD-West's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,710 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $376 compared to the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Melbourne CBD - West features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 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 make up 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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
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 significantly higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 61.7% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 38.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 20.5% and graduate diplomas at 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.
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
The public transport analysis indicates that within Melbourne CBD - West there are 78 active transport stops currently operating. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. They are serviced by a total of 87 individual routes, which collectively facilitate 45,469 weekly passenger trips.
The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located an average distance of 66 meters from the nearest transport stop. Across all routes, service frequency averages at 6,495 trips per day, equating to approximately 582 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
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 very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Private health cover stands at approximately 51%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56%.
Mental health issues and asthma are most prevalent, affecting 6.8% and 5.3% respectively. 85.6% report no medical ailments, higher than Greater Melbourne's 79.8%. The area has 2.4% residents aged 65+, 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 - 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 a population where 65.1% speak a language other than English at home and 75.3% were born overseas. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 22.6% of its population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented at 11.2%, compared to 7.0% across Greater Melbourne.
The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (25.5%), Other (21.3%), and English (11.6%). Korean (2.8%) and Indian (8.8%) are also overrepresented, while Spanish (0.8%) has a slightly higher representation compared to the regional average of 0.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
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, Melbourne CBD-West 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 figure of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 24.0% to 28.8%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 45.8% to 42.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the number of residents aged 25-34 in Melbourne CBD-West is expected to increase by 3,188 people (34%), rising from 9,447 to 12,636.