Mooroolbark
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Mooroolbark's population is approximately 24,387 as of August 2025. This represents an increase of 1,241 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 23,146. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 24,289 in June 2024 and an additional 309 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,944 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mooroolbark's growth rate of 5.4% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.3%) and SA4 region, positioning 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 a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest population numbers, Mooroolbark is expected to grow by approximately 2,574 persons to 2041, resulting in a total increase of around 10.0% over the 17-year period.

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

Mooroolbark has seen approximately 126 new homes approved annually. Development approval data, produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, shows 633 homes over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with 7 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 0.7 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these years, indicating supply meeting or exceeding demand and supporting potential population growth above projections. The average expected construction cost value of new properties is $398,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

There has been $66.5 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mooroolbark has slightly more development, with 35.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years, balancing buyer choice while supporting current property values. New building activity shows 41.0% detached houses and 59.0% medium and high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift from the area's existing housing composition of 95.0% houses indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. With around 230 people per dwelling approval, Mooroolbark exhibits characteristics of a low density area.

Population forecasts indicate Mooroolbark will gain 2,445 residents by 2041. 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 very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 35 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include Cloverlea Estate, Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village, Mt View Residences, and Little Scribblers Mooroolbark Early Learning Centre. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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 4.8% as of June 2025, showing an estimated employment growth of 0.7% over the past year.

In Mooroolbark, 13,025 residents were employed by June 2025, with an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is 0.2% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. The workforce participation rate was 67.4%, slightly above Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents were construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction showed particularly strong specialization with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services had lower representation at 6.9% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 0.7% while labour force increased by 0.7%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged in Mooroolbark. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5%, labour force growth of 4.0%, and an increase in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 showed VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mooroolbark's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3%% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized 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 financial year 2022 shows median income in Mooroolbark at $54,116 and average income at $64,722. This is comparable to national averages but lower than Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761. Using Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $59,587 (median) and $71,265 (average). Census 2021 data indicates Mooroolbark's household, family, and personal incomes are around the 61st percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 36.0% of individuals in Mooroolbark earn between $1,500 - $2,999 annually, similar to metropolitan regions where this group represents 32.8%. After housing costs, 84.9% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Mooroolbark is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Mooroolbark's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 95.4% houses and 4.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 93.8% houses and 6.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mooroolbark was at 32.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 47.1% and rented ones at 20.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Melbourne metro's $1,950 and the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Mooroolbark was $400, exceeding Melbourne metro's $380 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 21.4%, with lone person households at 19.3% and group households making up 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.7.

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 prominent, 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.

There are 10 schools operating within Mooroolbark, educating approximately 4,788 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1009) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 6 primary, 2 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds residential needs at 19.6 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.5, indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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, served by a mix of train and bus routes. These routes total 22, providing 3,656 weekly passenger trips combined. The accessibility rating is moderate, with residents usually located 422 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, services run 522 times daily across all routes, equating to about 79 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mooroolbark's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Mooroolbark's health metrics are close to national benchmarks.

Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~12,656 people), just leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 9.2 and 8.7% of residents respectively. 68.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.9% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 16.5% of residents aged 65 and over (4,023 people), which is lower than the 19.4% in Greater Melbourne. This indicates that Mooroolbark's health profile is broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Mooroolbark was found to be 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 dominates Mooroolbark's religious landscape, comprising 46.4%. The overrepresentation in the 'Other' category stands out, with 0.8% compared to Greater Melbourne's 0.7%.

Top ancestry groups include English (28.5%), Australian (27.4%), and Other (9.0%). Notable divergences exist for Dutch (2.7% vs regional 3.2%), Sri Lankan (0.4% vs 0.3%), and Italian (3.7% vs 3.4%) groups.

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 38 years. The 5-14 age group comprises 13.0%, higher than Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort stands at 13.8%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group grew from 4.9% to 6.0%, and the 35-44 cohort increased from 14.5% to 15.5%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort declined from 14.6% to 13.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Mooroolbark's age structure. The 45-54 group is projected to grow by 25%, reaching 3,701 people from 2,963. Meanwhile, both the 5-14 and 0-4 age groups are expected to decrease in number.