Prahran - Windsor
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Prahran - Windsor reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Prahran - Windsor's population was around 21,113 as of August 2025. This reflected an increase of 1,994 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,119. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,928 in June 2024 and an additional 738 validated new addresses since the Census date. This levelled out to a density ratio of 7,255 persons per square kilometer, placing Prahran - Windsor in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's population growth exceeded the national average (8.6%) and state average since the 2021 Census, marking it as a growth leader. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilised 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 were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends projected an above median growth, with the area expected to expand by 4,316 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 19.6% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Prahran - Windsor among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Prahran - Windsor averaged approximately 249 new dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, there were 1,246 homes approved, with no approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Despite recent population decline, new supply has likely met demand, providing good options for buyers.

The average construction value of new properties is $800,000, indicating a focus on the premium market. This financial year saw $104.2 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high local commercial activity. Comparing Prahran - Windsor to Greater Melbourne, it maintains similar construction rates per person, preserving market equilibrium with surrounding areas. This rate is well above the national average, suggesting strong developer confidence in the area. New development comprises 3.0% detached houses and 97.0% townhouses or apartments, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

With around 83 people per dwelling approval, Prahran - Windsor exhibits growth area characteristics. By 2041, it is projected to grow by 4,131 residents. Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth exceeding current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 54 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Essex Street Public Housing Redevelopment, Society Armadale, Prahran Market Restoration, and Grandview Prahran. The following details projects considered most relevant.

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

The labour market in Prahran - Windsor demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Prahran-Windsor has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 4.6% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 6.0% over the past year.

There were 15,544 residents employed at that time, and the unemployment rate matched Greater Melbourne's figure of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Prahran-Windsor was higher at 75.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Prahran-Windsor has a particular specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Conversely, manufacturing shows lower representation at 3.2% compared to the regional average of 7.2%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 6.0%, while labour force grew by 7.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.0 percentage points. Meanwhile, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. As of Sep-25, state-level data shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Prahran-Windsor's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localised population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Prahran - Windsor has exceptionally high income levels nationally. The median income is $70,733 and the average income stands at $105,030. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures of a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $77,884 (median) and $115,649 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings in Prahran - Windsor stand out at the 96th percentile nationally ($1,343 weekly). Income brackets indicate that 32.9% of locals (6,946 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, aligning with the region where this cohort also represents 32.8%. A significant 32.8% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 17.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 70th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Prahran-Windsor's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 16.5% houses and 83.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 16.9% houses and 83.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Prahran-Windsor was 19.3%, with mortgages at 24.4% and rentals at 56.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,200, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,287. Median weekly rent was $421, compared to Melbourne metro's $425. Nationally, Prahran-Windsor's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Prahran - Windsor features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 44.1% of all households, including 11.9% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 4.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 55.9%, with lone person households at 44.9% and group households making up 11.0%. The median household size is 1.8 people, smaller than Greater Melbourne's average of 1.9.

Prahran - Windsor shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Prahran-Windsor is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. 58.3% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% statewide (Victoria). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 39.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 14.2% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Vocational pathways account for 19.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 9.6%.

A substantial 23.6% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 10.7% in tertiary education, 3.5% in primary education, and 3.2% in secondary education. Prahran-Windsor has a robust network of schools, with six operating within its boundaries educating approximately 1481 students. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1108. The educational mix includes two primary schools, three secondary schools, and one K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited at 7.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.1, resulting in many families traveling to nearby areas for schooling. Note: where schools show '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

Prahran-Windsor has 77 active public transport stops serving a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are covered by 9 different routes, collectively facilitating 6,647 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average proximity of 137 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency across all routes averages 949 trips per day, equating to about 86 weekly trips per individual stop.

Prahran - Windsor's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Prahran-Windsor, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 74% of the total population (15,560 people), compared to 81.8% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 10.3 and 8.1% of residents respectively, while 72.3% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 73.3% across Greater Melbourne.

The area has 12.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,662 people), which is lower than the 16.3% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Prahran - Windsor was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Prahran-Windsor was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 21.0% of its population speaking languages other than English at home and 33.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Prahran-Windsor, accounting for 33.7% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 3.4% versus 0.5%.

The top three ancestral groups based on parental country of birth are English (24.8%), Australian (17.4%), and Other (10.8%). There are also significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Polish is overrepresented at 1.6% compared to 1.9% regionally, French remains similar at 1.0%, while Greek is notably higher at 5.0% versus 3.2%.

Prahran - Windsor hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Prahran-Windsor has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Prahran-Windsor has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (33.9%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of Prahran-Windsor's population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 32.2% to 33.9%, while the percentage of residents aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 10.8% to 9.5%. By 2041, Prahran-Windsor's population is projected to experience substantial demographic changes. The 25 to 34 age group is forecasted to grow by 14%, adding 1,020 residents to reach a total of 8,174. Conversely, the 15 to 24 age group is projected to decrease by 47 residents.