Mooroolbark

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Mooroolbark's population is around 25,200 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,054 people (8.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 23,146 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 24,258 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 320 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,009 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mooroolbark's 8.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (4.0%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, which contributed approximately 54.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the area expected to grow by 2,574 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, 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 around 126 new homes approved each year, with 633 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 40 so far in FY-26. With an average of only 0.7 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $300,000, consistent with regional patterns. Additionally, $66.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting robust local business investment.

When measured against Greater Melbourne, Mooroolbark has slightly more development (35.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), balancing buyer choice with support for current property values. New building activity shows 41.0% detached houses and 59.0% medium and high-density housing. This skew toward compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 95.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 230 people per dwelling approval, Mooroolbark shows a developing market.

Population forecasts indicate Mooroolbark will gain 1,632 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on 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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 37 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Cloverlea Estate, Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village, Little Scribblers Mooroolbark Early Learning Centre, and 270 Maroondah Highway Industrial Development, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

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.

The employment landscape in Mooroolbark shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Mooroolbark features a skilled workforce, with the construction sector a particular standout in terms of representation, an unemployment rate of 5.5%, and 1.0% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 13,039 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.8% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. Based on Census responses, a high 25.5% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area shows particularly strong specialization in construction, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 6.9% versus the regional average of 10.1%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.0% while the labour force increased by 1.6%, resulting in unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Mooroolbark. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Mooroolbark's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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 FY-23 reveals that income in the Mooroolbark SA2 is in line with national averages, with the median assessed at $57,886 while the average income stands at $67,686. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures of a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $62,662 (median) and $73,270 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Mooroolbark cluster around the 60th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 36.0% of the community (9,072 individuals), aligning with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 15.1% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 66th percentile and 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

Dwelling structure within Mooroolbark, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 95.4% houses and 4.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Mooroolbark was in line with that of Melbourne metro, at 32.2%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (47.1%) or rented (20.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was in line with the Melbourne metro average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Mooroolbark's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 78.6% of all households, comprising 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%, with lone person households at 19.3% and group households comprising 2.1% of the total. The median household size of 2.8 people 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 faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (23.5%) substantially below the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 16.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (26.3%).

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

Public transport analysis reveals 46 active transport stops operating within Mooroolbark, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 19 individual routes, collectively providing 3,418 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 422 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward, and the car remains the dominant mode at 92%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. A high 25.5% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 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

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Mooroolbark residents, with AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions showing results broadly in line with national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low among the general population, though higher than the national average across older, at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover just leads the average SA2 area at approximately 53% of the total population (~13,255 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 9.2% and 8.7% of residents, respectively, while 68.2% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 17.0% of residents aged 65 and over (4,294 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne, though ranking 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 was found to be above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 22.1% of its population born overseas and 15.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Mooroolbark is Christianity, which makes up 46.4% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Other, which comprises 0.8% of the population, compared to 2.3% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Mooroolbark are English, comprising 28.5% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 20.1%, Australian, comprising 27.4% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 18.4%, and Other, comprising 9.0% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 14.6%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Dutch is notably overrepresented at 2.7% of Mooroolbark (vs 1.2% regionally), Sri Lankan at 0.4% (vs 0.8%) and South Australian at 0.5% (vs 0.4%).

Mooroolbark's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

With a median age of 37, Mooroolbark is equal to the Greater Melbourne figure of 37 and remains comparable to Australia's 38 years. The 75 - 84 age group shows strong representation at 6.3% compared to Greater Melbourne, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is less prevalent at 13.3%. In the period since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 4.9% to 6.3% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 14.5% to 15.7%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 14.6% to 13.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Mooroolbark's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 45 to 54 group will grow by 22% (656 people), reaching 3,701 from 3,044. Meanwhile, both 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age groups will see reduced numbers.