Parkville
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Parkville's population, as of Nov 2025, is approximately 8,205. This figure represents a growth of 908 people, marking a 12.4% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,297. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 8,293 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,025 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Parkville's growth rate exceeded both the national average (8.9%) and state averages, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this population growth.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest population numbers, Parkville is projected to experience above median growth in national statistical areas. By 2041, the area's population is expected to increase by 1,936 persons, resulting in a total gain of 24.7% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Parkville, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Parkville has seen approximately 32 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 161 homes. In FY-26 so far, there have been 0 approvals recorded. On average, between FY-21 and FY-25, around 0 new residents per year arrived for each new home approved, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $344,000.

This financial year has seen $323.7 million in commercial approvals registered, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Parkville records significantly lower building activity, approximately 72.0% below the regional average per person. Recent development has consisted entirely of attached dwellings, providing accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. Population forecasts indicate that Parkville will gain around 2,024 residents by 2041.

Development is keeping pace with projected growth, but increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

Parkville has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 65 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (AIID), Parkville Materials Handling Building (RMH Parkville) - Decommissioning and Demolition, Parkville Quarter, and Parkside Parkville Residential Development. The following list details those projects likely to be 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 Parkville has been broadly consistent with national averages

Parkville has a highly educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 4.9% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.9%. In June 2025, 5,407 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.9%, 0.3% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries of employment among residents are education & training, accommodation & food, and professional & technical services.

The area shows strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level. Construction employs only 3.8% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. There were 4.4 workers for every resident as at the Census, indicating Parkville functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.9% and labour force increased by 7.1%, resulting in unemployment rising by 0.1 percentage points. Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5%, labour force growth of 4.0%, with unemployment rising 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Parkville. These projections estimate national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Parkville's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Parkville had a median income of $47,575 and an average income of $81,577. These figures are among the highest in Australia. In comparison, Greater Melbourne had a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $53,360 (median) and $91,497 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, individual incomes at the 10th percentile were $588 weekly, while household incomes were at the 58th percentile. Income distribution shows that 35.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999. This is similar to regional levels where 32.8% fall into this earnings band. High housing costs consume 17.6% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 57th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Parkville features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Parkville's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This was similar to Melbourne metro's breakdown of 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkville stood at 18.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 14.8% and rented ones at 66.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,962. Median weekly rent in Parkville was $396, matching Melbourne metro's figure. Nationally, Parkville's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 47.7% of all households, including 14.5% that are couples with children, 25.9% that are couples without children, and 5.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 52.3%, with lone person households at 36.2% and group households making up 16.0%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 1.8.

The educational profile of Parkville exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Parkville's residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than national averages. 51.3% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (28.0%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Technical qualifications make up 11.9%, including advanced diplomas (5.8%) and certificates (6.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 51.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 41.2% in tertiary education, 3.1% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing primary education. Six schools operate within Parkville, educating approximately 1,915 students. The area has a high socio-educational advantage and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1121). Secondary education dominates with six schools, while primary students typically attend schools in adjacent catchments. Parkville functions as an education hub with 23.4 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 6.9, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Parkville has 54 operational public transport stops. They offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are served by 22 different routes that together facilitate 17,081 weekly passenger trips.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 148 meters to the nearest stop. The service frequency is 2,440 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 316 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Parkville is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Parkville has a lower prevalence of common health conditions among its general population compared to the national average, but a higher prevalence among older and at-risk cohorts. Approximately 61% of Parkville's total population (4,988 people) have private health cover, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's 56.0% and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions in Parkville are mental health issues affecting 11.8% of residents and asthma impacting 8.6%.

However, 71.6% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 79.8% across Greater Melbourne. Parkville has a higher percentage of seniors aged 65 and over at 8.7%, with 712 people in this age group, compared to Greater Melbourne's 6.8%. While health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population, specific details on these challenges were not provided.

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

Parkville has high cultural diversity, with 30.4% speaking a language other than English at home and 39.2% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 29.1%. Judaism's representation is notable at 0.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 0.4%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (21.2%), Australian (17.9%), and Other (12.6%). Some ethnic groups have different representations: Chinese (Parkville 9.5% vs regional 19.1%), Hungarian (Parkville 0.4% vs regional 0.2%), Korean (Parkville 0.7% vs regional 1.5%).

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

Parkville's median age of 24 years is notably lower than Greater Melbourne's 37 and significantly below the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Parkville has a higher concentration of residents aged 15-24 (42.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.2%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is well above the national figure of 12.5%. Since the 2021 Census, younger residents have shifted the median age down by 1.8 years to 24. Notably, the percentage of residents aged 15-24 has grown from 37.9% to 42.5%, while the proportion of those aged 65-74 has declined from 4.7% to 3.7%. By 2041, Parkville's age composition is expected to see notable shifts. Leading this demographic shift, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 27%, adding 496 people to reach a total of 2,367 from 1,870.