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 19,334 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 3,697 people (23.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,637 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,286 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 140 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 7,989 persons per square kilometer, making land in the area highly sought after. North Melbourne's growth rate exceeded the state (9.3%) and national average since the 2021 census, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 94.5% 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, AreaSearch utilises 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 are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to expand by 7,099 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 36.5% in total over the 16 years.

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 an additional 4 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 0.8 new residents arrived per year for each new home over the past five financial years.

This suggests that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of these homes was around $301,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. In FY26 alone, approximately $299.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, North Melbourne shows moderately higher construction activity, at 28.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This level is significantly above the national average, suggesting strong developer interest in the area.

Notably, all new construction has been comprised of attached dwellings, reflecting a trend towards denser development. This type of development offers accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 223 people per dwelling approval, North Melbourne indicates a growing market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, North Melbourne is expected to grow by approximately 7,051 residents through to 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

North Melbourne has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 65 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Errol Street Private Hospital, Abbotsford Street Social Housing, West End Mixed-Use Precinct, and Hotham Hill Apartments. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

North Melbourne has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

North Melbourne has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 8.3%, with an estimated employment growth of 5.2% over the past year as of December 2025. There are 12,493 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation is at 77.0%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Census responses indicate that 44.4% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Construction has limited presence at 3.5%, compared to 9.7% regionally. There is a ratio of 0.7 workers per resident, indicating local employment opportunities above the norm. Between December 2024 and 2025, employment levels increased by 5.2% and labour force grew by 4.8%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with industry-specific projections suggesting local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.8% over ten years.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

The North Melbourne SA2's median income among taxpayers was $52,715 in financial year 2023, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $71,612 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for North Melbourne SA2 would be approximately $57,786 (median) and $78,501 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows personal income ranks at the 73rd percentile ($953 weekly), while household income sits at the 48th percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominates with 31.2% of residents (6,032 people). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 44th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

North Melbourne features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

North Melbourne's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 3.9% houses and 96.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Melbourne was at 13.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.5% and rented ones at 66.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,035, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in North Melbourne was $381, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, North Melbourne's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,035 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $381 against the national figure of $375.

North Melbourne features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-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 making up 12.1%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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 high, with 60.9% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and Victoria's average of 33.4%. This significant advantage reflects well on the area for knowledge-based opportunities. 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% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas making up 8.2% and certificates 7.8%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 39.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 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

Public transport analysis indicates 62 active transport stops operating within North Melbourne, consisting of a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 10 individual routes, collectively facilitating 13,005 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 127 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain dominant at 38%, followed by walking at 23% and train at 13%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 per dwelling, below regional average.

Notably, 44.4% of residents work from home (2021 Census). Service frequency averages 1,857 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 209 weekly trips per stop.

North Melbourne's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance across North Melbourne.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low for both young and elderly cohorts. Approximately 55% (~10,614 people) had private health cover, which was relatively high. The most prevalent conditions were mental health issues (11.0%) and asthma (8.0%). Around 74.1% declared no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Under-65 residents showed better-than-average health outcomes. North Melbourne had 7.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,409 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors were notably strong, ranking higher nationally than the general population.

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 predominant religion in North Melbourne, comprising 24.0% of its population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 5.0% compared to the regional average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.5%), Other (17.2%), and Australian (14.2%). There are significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Vietnamese at 3.0% (regional average is 1.9%), Chinese at 13.8% (regional average is 6.5%), and Korean at 0.8% (regional average is 0.3%).

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 Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, North Melbourne has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (33.5%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, North Melbourne's median age has decreased by 2.1 years from 31 to 29, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes include an increase in the 15-24 age group from 18.5% to 22.8%, and the 25-34 cohort from 29.4% to 33.5%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 7.7% to 5.4%, and the 55-64 age group has dropped from 7.3% to 5.5%. Population forecasts for North Melbourne in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 cohort (33%), adding 2,151 residents to reach a total of 8,638.