Mount Martha

Population growth drivers in Mount Martha are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Mount Martha's population was around 20,298 as of Nov 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 452 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,846 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,166 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 103 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 671 persons per square kilometer. Mount Martha's 2.3% growth since census positions it within 0.8 percentage points of the SA4 region (3.1%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

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. An above median population growth of national areas is projected, with the area expected to grow by 3,188 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 15.1% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Mount Martha according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Mount Martha has seen approximately 67 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 339 homes. As of FY26, 12 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were noted between FY21 and FY25. This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth above projections.

The average construction value of new homes was $1,722,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY26, $10.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mount Martha shows approximately 65% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 49th percentile nationally for buyer options, suggesting limited choices while strengthening demand for established properties. This activity is also below the national average, reflecting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations.

Recent construction consists of 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Mount Martha's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 385 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low-activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate that Mount Martha will gain approximately 3,056 residents by 2041 (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Mount Martha has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects potentially influencing this region. Notable projects are Mount Martha North Foreshore Toilet Renewal, Briars Wildlife Sanctuary Expansion, Briars Class A Recycled Water Project, and Mount Martha Village Parking and Footpath Upgrade, Watson Road. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Mount Martha performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Mount Martha has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors being well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 1.5% and it has seen an estimated employment growth of 4.3% over the past year.

As of June 2025, there are 10,302 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 3.1% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is somewhat below standard at 60.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction stands out as it has an employment share that is 1.4 times the regional level.

Meanwhile, transport, postal & warehousing has limited presence with only 2.1% employment compared to the regional average of 5.2%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.3%, while labour force grew by 4.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% with unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points during the same period. State-level data from Nov-25 shows that Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.3%, and employment growth outpaces the national average of 0.14%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Martha's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple 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 aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Mount Martha SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $53,074 and an average income of $82,981. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to $54,892 and $73,761 for Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $59,528 (median) and $93,071 (average). Census data indicates Mount Martha's household, family, and personal incomes cluster around the 65th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 29.7% of residents (6,028 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, similar to the metropolitan region where 32.8% occupy this range. A substantial proportion of high earners (32.4%) indicates strong economic capacity in Mount Martha. After housing costs, residents retain 86.7% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Mount Martha is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Mount Martha's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 85.5% houses and 14.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Martha was 43.9%, similar to Melbourne metro, with the rest being mortgaged (43.5%) or rented (12.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's $1,989. The median weekly rent was $496, compared to Melbourne metro's $380. Nationally, Mount Martha's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $496 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 78.2% of all households, including 37.5% couples with children, 31.1% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.8%, with lone person households making up 20.8% and group households comprising 1.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4.

Mount Martha shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Mount Martha has 29.3% of residents aged 15+ with university degrees, compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational credentials are held by 36.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 14.4% and certificates at 21.8%. Educational participation is high, with 29.9% currently enrolled in formal education: 10.9% in primary, 9.7% in secondary, and 3.9% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Mount Martha has 76 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 1,349 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents on average being located 341 meters from the nearest stop.

Each route operates an average of 192 trips per day, which equates to approximately 17 weekly trips per stop.

Health outcomes in Mount Martha are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Mount Martha's health indicators show below-average results, with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age groups. The area has a private health cover rate of approximately 61% (12,442 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 57.9%. Nationally, the average is 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.1 and 7.7% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.7% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 63.9%. Mount Martha has 26.7% (5,415 people) of its population aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Melbourne's 29.9%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Mount Martha are above average and perform better than the general population in health metrics.

Mount Martha ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Martha's population showed low cultural diversity, with 79.1% born in Australia and 91.2% being citizens. English was the primary language spoken at home by 94.9%. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 47.1% of residents.

Notably, Judaism was slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 0.3% versus 0.2%. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.1%), Australian (25.8%), and Irish (9.7%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Scottish (9.5%) and Dutch (1.9%) were slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages, while Welsh (0.7%) was also marginally higher than the regional figure of 0.6%.

Mount Martha hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Mount Martha is 46 years, which is notably higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and also above Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the 75-84 age cohort is significantly over-represented in Mount Martha at 10.7%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 5.0%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of people aged 75 to 84 has increased from 8.4% to 10.7%, while those aged 15 to 24 have risen from 11.4% to 13.3%. Conversely, the 35-44 age group has decreased from 11.3% to 9.3%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 14.6% to 13.5%. Population forecasts for Mount Martha in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes, with the 75-84 age cohort projected to grow by 1,335 people (61%), from 2,173 to 3,509. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 78% of this projected growth. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.