North Melbourne

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

North Melbourne's population is around 19,125 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 3,488 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,637 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,221 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 101 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 7,902 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. North Melbourne's growth rate of 22.3% since the 2021 Census exceeded the national average of 8.9%. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 95.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For 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. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by 7,774 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 41.1% in total over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions North Melbourne among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

North Melbourne has seen approximately 309 new homes approved annually. Between FY21 and FY25, around 1,545 homes were approved, with a further 3 approved so far in FY26. On average, over the past five financial years, about 0.8 new residents have arrived per new home.

This suggests that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of these homes was $326,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options. In FY26 alone, $299.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, North Melbourne shows moderately higher construction activity, with 30.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This level is significantly above the national average, indicating strong developer interest in the area.

Notably, all new construction has been comprised of attached dwellings, reflecting a trend towards denser development. This provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 223 people per dwelling approval, North Melbourne shows a developing market with growth potential. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, North Melbourne is expected to grow by 7,870 residents through to 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

North Melbourne has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 66 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Errol Street Private Hospital, Abbotsford Street Social Housing, North Melbourne Precinct Public Housing Renewal, and West End Mixed-Use Precinct, with the following list detailing those most relevant.

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.

Employment performance in North Melbourne has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

North Melbourne has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 9.1% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 5.1% over the past year.

In June 2025, 12,092 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in North Melbourne stood at 68.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The leading employment industries among North Melbourne residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specializes particularly in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction has limited presence, with only 3.5% employment compared to the regional average of 9.7%. As at the Census, North Melbourne had a ratio of 0.7 workers per resident, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels in North Melbourne increased by 5.1%, while the labour force grew by 7.1%. This led to an increase in unemployment rate by 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a rise in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. State-level data for Victoria as at Nov-25 shows that employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. This compares to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%, with Victoria's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.14%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to North Melbourne's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.8% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

North Melbourne SA2 had median taxpayer income of $52,026 and average income of $72,226 in financial year 2022, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures compared to Greater Melbourne's $54,892 (median) and $73,761 (average). By September 2025, estimated median income was approximately $58,352 and average income $81,009, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16%. Census 2021 data showed personal income ranked at the 73rd percentile ($953 weekly) and household income at the 48th percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominated with 31.2% of residents (5,967 people). Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 79.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 44th percentile. North Melbourne SA2's SEIFA income rank was in the 8th decile.

North Melbourne features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In North Melbourne, as per the latest Census evaluation, 3.9% of dwellings were houses while 96.1% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Melbourne metropolitan area's figures of 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Melbourne stood at 13.5%, similar to the Melbourne metro level, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.5% and rented ones at 66.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,035, higher than Melbourne's average of $1,962. The median weekly rent figure in North Melbourne was recorded at $381, compared to Melbourne's $396 nationally. Nationally, North Melbourne's mortgage repayments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are higher than the national figure of $375.

North Melbourne features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 47.2% of all households, including 13.9% couples with children, 23.6% couples without children, and 7.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 52.8%, with lone person households at 40.5% and group households comprising 12.1%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 1.8.

North Melbourne performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

North Melbourne's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 60.9% have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.3%). Vocational pathways account for 16.0%, with advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 7.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 39.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 20.8% in tertiary education, 5.7% in primary education, and 5.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

North Melbourne has 56 active public transport stops. These include train, light rail, and bus services. There are 11 routes operating, serving a total of 11,181 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 128 meters. On average, there are 1,597 daily trips across all routes, equating to approximately 199 weekly trips per individual stop.

North Melbourne's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

North Melbourne shows excellent health outcomes, with very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages.

Approximately 55% (~10,576 people) have private health cover. Mental health issues and asthma are most prevalent at 11.0 and 8.0% respectively. About 74.1% report no medical ailments, compared to 79.8% in Greater Melbourne. Around 7.5% (1,430 people) are aged 65 and over, with seniors' health outcomes aligning closely with the general population's profile.

North Melbourne is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

North Melbourne has a high level of cultural diversity, with 41.3% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 46.5% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in North Melbourne, comprising 24.0% of its population. However, Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 5.0% versus 7.0%.

The top three ancestry groups in North Melbourne are English at 17.5%, Other at 17.2%, and Australian at 14.2%. Notably, Vietnamese are overrepresented at 3.0% (versus 2.0%), Chinese at 13.8% (versus 19.1%), and Korean at 0.8% (versus 1.5%).

North Melbourne hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

North Melbourne's median age is 29, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and significantly lower than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, North Melbourne has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (31.9%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, North Melbourne's median age has decreased by 1.7 years from 31 to 29, suggesting a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes in this period include an increase in the 15-24 age group from 18.5% to 23.4%, and an increase in the 25-34 cohort from 29.4% to 31.9%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 7.7% to 5.7%, while the 55-64 age group has dropped from 7.3% to 5.6%. Population forecasts for North Melbourne indicate significant demographic changes by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow strongly at a rate of 37%, adding 2,288 residents to reach a total of 8,397.