Montrose

Montrose is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Montrose's population, as of Feb 2026, is approximately 6,926, a decrease of 17 people since the 2021 Census which reported 6,943 inhabitants. This decline is inferred from ABS estimates: 6,921 in June 2024 and six additional validated addresses post-Census. The population density is around 657 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration primarily drove recent population growth. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data, it employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Montrose is expected to grow by 335 persons, reflecting a 4.8% increase over the 17-year period based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

The level of residential development activity in Montrose is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Montrose has recorded approximately four residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 22 homes were approved, with a further five approved so far in FY26. The average construction value of these new properties is $352,000.

In terms of commercial development, $5.8 million in approvals have been recorded this financial year. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Montrose has significantly less development activity, 84.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings, which is also below average nationally, indicating the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. All recent development in Montrose has been standalone homes, preserving its low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population count per dwelling approval is 1442 people.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Montrose is forecasted to gain 330 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Montrose has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Nine projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area, significantly influencing its performance. Key projects include Yarra Ranges Council Drainage Infrastructure Program, Liverpool Road Shared User Path, Sherbrooke Children's Centre Services, and Kilsyth Townhouse Developments. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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Montrose ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Montrose has a skilled workforce with the construction sector being particularly prominent. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 1.3%. As of September 2025, 3660 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.

Workforce participation is somewhat below standard at 67.9% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 26.5% of residents work from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment among residents are construction, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. Construction shows notable concentration with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 6.2% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. In the 12 months prior, employment increased by 1.3%, labour force by 0.6%, leading to a unemployment rate decrease of 0.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne where employment grew by 3.0%, labour force expanded by 3.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Montrose's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The Montrose SA2 had a higher income level than the national average according to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $58,814 and the average income stood at $71,958. These figures compared to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $63,666 (median) and $77,895 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Montrose clustered around the 66th percentile nationally. The largest segment comprised 33.5% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 2,320 residents falling into this bracket, mirroring regional levels where 32.8% occupied this bracket. After housing costs, residents retained 86.7% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

Montrose is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Montrose's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.1% houses and 7.8% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Montrose was at 37.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 53.5% and rented ones at 8.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Montrose was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. The median weekly rent figure in Montrose was $365, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Montrose's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 79.4% of all households, including 42.8% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 8.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 20.6%, with lone person households at 19.2% and group households comprising 1.3%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 23.9%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 16.7% of residents holding one, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.0% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 40.8% of residents aged 15 and above possessing them.

This includes advanced diplomas held by 12.5% of residents and certificates by 28.3%. Educational participation is notably high, with 27.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (10.2%), secondary education (7.3%), and tertiary education (3.5%).

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

Montrose has 39 active public transport stops, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are served by 16 different routes, facilitating 1,605 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is considered good, with residents typically located 368 meters from their nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 95% of residents. On average, there are 1.9 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

Notably, 26.5% of residents work from home (2021 Census data, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions). Across all routes, service frequency averages 229 trips daily, equating to roughly 41 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Montrose is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Montrose faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Notably, common health conditions are prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 55% of Montrose's total population (~3,802 people) has private health cover. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 8.9% and 8.4% of residents respectively. 66.8% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among Montrose's working-age population are generally typical. As of March 2021, 19.4% of Montrose's residents are aged 65 and over (1,342 people), higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. National rankings for health outcomes among older adults in Montrose are even higher than those of the general population.

Montrose is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Montrose's cultural diversity was found to be below average. As of the census, 85.0% of its population were born in Australia, with 92.7% being citizens and 95.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 42.5% of Montrose's population.

However, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 1.0%. In terms of ancestry, Australian was the top group at 31.2%, substantially higher than the regional average of 18.4%. English followed at 30.6%, above the regional average of 20.1%. Scottish ancestry comprised 8.0% of Montrose's population. Notable divergences included Dutch, overrepresented at 3.8% compared to the regional average of 1.2%, Hungarian at 0.4% (vs 0.3%), and South African at 0.5% (vs 0.4%).

Montrose's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Montrose's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and somewhat older than Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Montrose has a notably over-represented 5-14 cohort at 14.5% locally, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 10.1%. Post-2021 Census, the 5-14 age group grew from 13.2% to 14.5%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 11.1% to 12.2%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort declined from 11.2% to 10.1%, and the 65-74 group dropped from 10.1% to 9.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Montrose's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 84%, adding 176 residents to reach 388. Residents aged 65 and older represent 56% of anticipated growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 35-44 age cohorts.