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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Nunawading has an estimated 13,364 residents, up from 12,413 at the 2021 Census — a change of 951 people, or 7.7%. Growth has averaged 0.6% a year over five years. 250 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 93.0% of that increase. That puts 2,631 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to demographic research by AreaSearch, the population of Nunawading reaches approximately 13,364 as of Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 951 people (7.7%) compared to the 12,413 people recorded in the 2021 Census. Such growth is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population figure of 13,247 from June 2025 alongside 250 validated new addresses identified following the Census. Consequently, population density stands at 2,630 persons per square kilometer, situating the locality within the highest quartile among Australian areas evaluated by AreaSearch. Outpacing both the wider SA3 area and the SA4 region (3.9%), Nunawading's 7.7% post-2021 census increase establishes it as an area pacesetter.
Net overseas migration served as the core driver of these gains, accounting for roughly 93.0% of recent population additions. Projections for each SA2 region published by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 (using 2022 as their baseline) are utilized by AreaSearch. When specific SA2 regions lack coverage in that dataset, AreaSearch integrates VIC State Government Regional/LGA figures from 2023, adjusting them via weighted aggregation from local government to SA2 scales. Age cohort growth rates derived from these aggregations are similarly projected across all regions from 2032 to 2041. Over the longer horizon, the community is forecasted to exceed median national growth, expanding by 2,220 persons to 2041 according to recent annual ERP data, translating to a cumulative 15.7% rise over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
298 new dwellings have been approved in Nunawading over the past five years, an average of 59 a year. That places the area in the 62nd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 4 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 59 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 51% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential planning activity in Nunawading averages roughly 59 dwellings approved each year, totaling 298 homes across the last 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Local supply appears evenly balanced with demographic influx, as 1.3 people per year entered the locality per newly built residence over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), underpinning balanced conditions while newly constructed dwellings carry an average construction value of $536,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals reached $46.3 million during this financial year, reflecting substantial corporate capital commitment. Compared with Greater Melbourne, building activity in Nunawading is relatively strong (exceeding the per-capita regional benchmark by 27.0% across the 5 year period), which supports buyer choice while maintaining existing asset values.
Recent residential approvals comprise 51.0% detached houses alongside 49.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating an increasing supply of medium-density formats that diversify price points between traditional freestanding houses and lower-cost compact configurations. This marks a meaningful structural transition from the established housing stock (currently 69.0% houses), driven by land constraints as well as changing lifestyle and financial considerations. With approximately 197 people per dwelling approval, the local residential sector demonstrates continued evolution. Looking forward, demographic forecasts indicate Nunawading will add 2,103 residents through to 2041 (utilizing the most recent AreaSearch quarterly figures). Although construction rates remain reasonably aligned with future requirements, prospective purchasers could encounter tighter competition as population numbers increase.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Nunawading
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 14 current infrastructure and development projects inside Nunawading, worth an estimated $3.47 billion. A further 152 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $73.9 billion. 31 are already under construction and 54 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure programs, major developments, and urban planning policies exert a substantial influence on the performance of a district. AreaSearch has pinpointed 18 projects expected to shape the local environment. Prominent developments include the Nunawading Activity Centre Cluster, Tunstall Village, Brand Smart Nunawading Retail Redevelopment, and the Strathdon House Davy Lane Jolimont Reserve Precinct Master Plan, with key initiatives outlined below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Tunstall Village
Tunstall Village is a masterplanned residential development located at the former heritage brickworks site in Nunawading. It comprises 383 townhouses offering 2, 3, and 4 bedroom options with sustainable energy solutions including Tesla solar integration, along with a planned 10,000 sqm retail and hospitality precinct and 3,200 sqm of landscaped parkland.
Eastern Freeway Upgrade (Tram Road to Springvale Road)
A major $1.24 billion road infrastructure upgrade package forming part of the North East Link Program, delivering express lanes, intelligent transport systems, acoustic noise walls, and upgraded cycling bridges along the Koonung Creek corridor.
132-144 Springvale Road Development
Mixed-use development featuring 67 residential apartments across 8 storeys with ground floor commercial and retail spaces. Strategically located near the Golden Mile retail precinct, Nunawading Train Station, and key transport links as part of Nunawading's urban renewal.
Whitehorse Civic Centre Upgrade
Proposed modernisation of the Whitehorse Civic Centre in Nunawading, including upgraded council chambers, community meeting spaces, and improved accessibility. The centre serves as the primary local government hub for the City of Whitehorse. No active project page or capital works allocation beyond a minor annual maintenance provision has been confirmed as of May 2026; the project appears to be on hold or in early planning.
Nunawading Activity Centre Cluster
Strategic planning initiative and part of the Victorian Government's expanded 50 train and tram zone activity centres program to transform the Nunawading activity centre. The Nunawading Cluster includes Blackburn, Nunawading, and Mitcham stations precinct development with enhanced public transport integration, mixed-use development, improved connectivity between train and tram services, increased housing density, and commercial facilities.
Whitehorse Activity Centres Program
Strategic planning program to revitalize activity centres across Whitehorse including Nunawading Megamile, Box Hill Metropolitan Activity Centre, Tally Ho Major Activity Centre, Burwood Heights, Mitcham, and other precincts. Focuses on mixed-use development, improved transport connections, enhanced public spaces, and community infrastructure to support population growth and economic vitality.
26-32 McDowall Street Social Housing
Construction of a four-storey social housing development delivering 62 homes comprising 11 one-bedroom, 46 two-bedroom and 5 three-bedroom dwellings. The project is being delivered by Community Housing Victoria Limited in partnership with Homes Victoria under the Victorian Government's Big Housing Build. Works commenced in mid-2025 and include basement parking, bicycle parking, communal open space, landscaping and sustainable design features.
Tunstall Village
Large-scale mixed-use development on former heritage brickworks site comprising 383 townhouses and apartments across multiple levels. Features sustainable design with 7-star NATher rating, Tesla partnership for solar energy, and 10,000sqm shopping precinct.
7,365 residents of Nunawading are employed, from a labour force of 7,609. Unemployment sits at 3.2%, with participation at 68.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Nunawading features a well-credentialed labor pool with noticeable depth in professional services, maintaining a low jobless rate of 3.2% and recording 0.9% in annual employment expansion. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 7,365, while the local unemployment rate sat 1.6% lower than the 4.8% seen across Greater Melbourne, and participation aligned closely with Greater Melbourne's 70.1%. Census data indicated that 39.5% of working residents carried out their duties from home, an outcome influenced by Covid-19 health restrictions. The leading employment sectors among local workers are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training.
The workforce is distinctly concentrated within finance & insurance, where its sector share is 1.4 times greater than the metropolitan benchmark. Conversely, building and trades are less prevalent, accounting for 7.3% of the resident workforce compared with 9.7% in Greater Melbourne. While local positions exist, a comparison of the local Census working cohort against resident numbers indicates that a significant share travels outward for work. AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS and SALM metrics indicates that across the 12-month period, jobs grew by 0.9% while the overall workforce expanded by 1.8%, lifting unemployment by 0.9 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Greater Melbourne registered job growth of 2.1%, labor force expansion of 2.3%, and a 0.2 percentage points rise in joblessness. Long-range projections from Jobs and Skills Australia (dated Mar-26) provide context on prospective labor demand. When these five and ten-year nationwide sector projections are weighted against Nunawading's industry distribution, local employment is modeled to rise by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, against national baseline forecasts of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (this represents a baseline weighted extrapolation without factoring in specific local demographic shifts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Nunawading is $1,938 a week (about $101,000 a year), with median personal income at $839 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $59,451 a year against an average of $75,130. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxation statistics from the ATO at the postcode level for financial year 2023 show Nunawading SA2 residents generating earnings significantly above national benchmarks, with a median of $59,451 and an average of $75,130, compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Incorporating Wage Price Index gains of 9.62% since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of approximately $65,170 (median) and $82,358 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census positions local household, family, and individual incomes near the 59th percentile nationally. The $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket encompasses 30.6% of residents (4,089 individuals), mirroring the broader metropolitan concentration of 32.8%.
Although accommodation costs absorb 15.5% of earnings, solid remuneration maintains disposable income at the 62nd percentile, placing the district in the 7th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Nunawading had 4,579 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 69% detached houses and 3% apartments. 37% are owned with a mortgage, 30% rented and 33% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $391 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 20.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, Nunawading's housing stock consisted of 68.9% houses and 31.1% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, semi-detached properties, and 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Melbourne metro's distribution of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Outright home ownership reached 33.4%, surpassing the metropolitan rate, while 36.5% of homes were held under a mortgage and 30.1% were tenanted. Monthly mortgage commitments averaged $2,167 (median) and weekly rents stood at $391 (median), outpacing Melbourne metro averages of $2,000 and $390. Relative to nationwide benchmarks, local mortgage obligations substantially exceed the Australian figure of $1,863, and rents remain above the national level of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Nunawading counted 4,579 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,930 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 35% are couples with children, against 24% couples without children. 26% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.4 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the predominant living arrangement at 69.6% of total households, made up of couples with children (35.0%), childless couples (23.8%), and single parent families (9.3%). Non-family living situations account for the remaining 30.4%, consisting of single-person households at 26.3% and group households at 4.1%. The average household size stands at a median of 2.6 people, matching Greater Melbourne.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
45.2% of adults in Nunawading hold a university qualification, including 28.3% with a bachelor degree and 12.7% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 92% of areas nationally. A further 13.1% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 994 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,099 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment in Nunawading outpaces wider geographic averages, with 45.2% of individuals aged 15+ holding a higher education degree, compared against 30.4% across Australia and 31.2% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees represent the largest category at 28.3%, alongside postgraduate qualifications (12.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Meanwhile, technical and vocational training accounts for 24.3% of credentials among residents aged 15+, divided between advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (13.1%). Engagement with formal study is substantial throughout the community, with 30.7% of residents currently enrolled in education. This proportion includes 9.5% attending primary schools, 7.0% in secondary institutions, and 6.9% undertaking tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Nunawading reaches 73 stops on 25 routes, timetabled for about 8,900 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local transit analysis identifies 73 active bus stops across Nunawading, which are integrated across 25 individual routes providing 8,854 weekly passenger trips. Network connectivity is strong, placing residents an average of 184 meters from their closest transit stop. Given the area's residential character, commuter flow is predominantly outbound, with private vehicles accounting for 80% of travel and train transport representing 12%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, while 39.5% of working residents performed their jobs from home at the 2021 Census under pandemic-related conditions. Across the entire network, transport operations average 1,264 trips per day, translating to roughly 121 weekly trips for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
72.8% of residents in Nunawading report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 75% of areas nationally. 6.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators across Nunawading are broadly favorable according to AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illness rates and mortality statistics, with younger demographics exhibiting minimal incidence of typical ailments and private medical insurance coverage reaching roughly 57% of residents (~7,564 people). Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent reported health challenges, diagnosed in 7.4 and 7.3% of the populace respectively, while 72.8% of residents indicated no long-term illnesses, slightly exceeding Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age cohorts demonstrate good general health with low chronic disease burdens. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 18.9% of the population (2,528 people), higher than the 15.1% metropolitan benchmark, though placing lower on national rankings than the overall community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
39.7% of Nunawading residents were born overseas and 38.8% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 83% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (19.9%) and Australian (18.2%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity is pronounced in Nunawading, where 39.7% of the community was born overseas and 38.8% speak a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the largest religious affiliation at 41.1% of the populace. Notably, Buddhism exhibits distinct representation, comprising 5.8% of local residents compared with 4.2% across Greater Melbourne. Based on parental birthplaces, the principal ancestries reported in Nunawading are English (19.9%), Australian (18.2%), and Chinese (16.5%), with the Chinese cohort substantially exceeding the regional level of 6.5%. Other ancestries show varying local distributions, including Indian at 4.3% (vs 4.2% regionally), Vietnamese at 1.6% (vs 1.9%), and Sri Lankan at 0.6% (vs 0.8%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Nunawading is 39. 25.6% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age profile of Nunawading mirrors Greater Melbourne across all primary age brackets, with the maximum divergence across the four broad cohorts reaching 3.8 percentage points. The median age is an estimated 39 as at August 2026, identical to the 2021 Census result and 2 years older than the Greater Melbourne median of 37 recorded at that Census. Projections indicate that senior demographics (65+) will capture the majority of future expansion by 2041, increasing by 1,024 residents (40%) to reach a total of 3,552.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Nunawading
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 14 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 250 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (12,413 at the 2021 Census → 13,364 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (211041271). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.