Mooroolbark

Mooroolbark has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Mooroolbark's population is around 25,200 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,054 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 23,146. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 24,258 in June 2024 and an additional 320 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,009 persons per square kilometer. Mooroolbark's growth rate of 8.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (4.0%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 54.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to grow by 2,574 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 6.5% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Mooroolbark when compared nationally

Mooroolbark has seen approximately 126 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25633 homes were approved, with an additional 37 approved in FY-26 to date. Over these five years, the area has experienced an average of 0.7 people moving in per dwelling built.

This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new properties is $300,000, aligning with regional patterns. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaling $66.5 million have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mooroolbark has seen slightly more development, measuring at 35.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This balance supports both buyer choice and current property values.

The new building activity shows a shift in housing types: 41.0% detached houses and 59.0% medium to high-density housing. This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This is a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 95.0% houses. This shift may reflect decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles that require more diverse and affordable housing options. With around 230 people per dwelling approval, Mooroolbark indicates a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain approximately 1,632 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Mooroolbark has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Influence on an area's performance is significantly impacted by local infrastructure changes, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 37 such projects that could affect the area. Notable projects include Cloverlea Estate, Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village, Little Scribblers Mooroolbark Early Learning Centre, and 270 Maroondah Highway Industrial Development. 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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The employment landscape in Mooroolbark shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Mooroolbark has a skilled workforce with notable representation in the construction sector. The unemployment rate was 5.2% as of September 2014. Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 0.8%.

As of September 2025, 13,027 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is 0.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Mooroolbark is broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's at 71.0%. According to Census responses, 25.5% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Construction shows strong specialization with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 6.9%, compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 0.8% while labour force increased by 0.9%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 3.3%, and an increase in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Mooroolbark's employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections to the local employment mix.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median income in Mooroolbark SA2 is $57,886 and average income is $67,686. In Greater Melbourne, median income was $57,688 and average income was $75,164 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% from financial year ending June 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income for Mooroolbark would be approximately $62,662 and average income would be around $73,270. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Mooroolbark cluster around the 60th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 36.0% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually, which is similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 32.8%. Housing costs consume 15.1% of income in Mooroolbark, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 66th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Mooroolbark, as per the latest Census, 95.4% of dwellings were houses while 4.6% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mooroolbark stood at 32.2%, similar to Melbourne metro's figure. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 47.1%, and rented ones made up 20.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with the Melbourne metro average but higher than Australia's national average of $1,863. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Mooroolbark was $400, slightly higher than Melbourne metro's $390 and Australia's national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 78.6% of all households, including 38.8% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 12.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 21.4%, consisting of 19.3% lone person households and 2.1% group households. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Mooroolbark aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 23.5%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (26.3%). Educational participation is high at 28.1%, with 9.9% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Mooroolbark has 46 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by 19 different routes that collectively provide 3,418 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 422 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Mooroolbark being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 92%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.7, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 25.5% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 488 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 74 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mooroolbark'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

Mooroolbark residents have shown relatively positive health outcomes, with AreaSearch's analysis revealing mortality rates and health conditions largely aligning with national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts compared to national averages.

Approximately 53% of Mooroolbark's total population (~13,255 people) has private health cover, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 56.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (9.2%) and asthma (8.7%), while 68.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are generally typical. Mooroolbark has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 17.0% (4,294 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%, but ranks lower nationally than the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Mooroolbark was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mooroolbark's cultural diversity is above average, with 22.1% of its population born overseas and 15.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mooroolbark, making up 46.4% of people. The most notable overrepresentation is seen in the 'Other' category, comprising 0.8% compared to Greater Melbourne's 2.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are English at 28.5%, Australian at 27.4%, and Other at 9.0%. Notably, Dutch ancestry is overrepresented at 2.7% in Mooroolbark compared to the regional average of 1.2%. Similarly, Sri Lankan ancestry stands at 0.4% versus the region's 0.8%, and South African ancestry is at 0.5% compared to 0.4%.

Mooroolbark's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Mooroolbark's median age is 37, matching Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and remaining comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 6.3% of Mooroolbark's population compared to Greater Melbourne, whereas the 25-34 cohort makes up 13.3%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has risen from 4.9% to 6.3%, while the 35-44 cohort has increased from 14.5% to 15.7%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 14.6% to 13.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Mooroolbark's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 group is projected to grow by 22%, reaching 3,701 people from its current figure of 3,044. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are expected to decrease in number.