Preston - East

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

Preston - East's population was around 23,226 as of November 2025. This reflected an increase of 2,515 people (12.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,711 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 22,596 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 748 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 2,996 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Preston - East's growth of 12.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (8.9%) and marked it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 82.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilised VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting with 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. Considering projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth was predicted over the period, with the area expected to grow by 13,695 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 56.2% in total over the 17 years.

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

Preston East recorded approximately 311 residential properties approved annually. Between Financial Year 2021 (FY-21) and FY-25, 1,558 homes were approved, with another 522 approved in FY-26 so far. The average population growth per dwelling built over these five years was 0.6 people annually.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choices and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new properties was $397,000. In FY-26, there have been $209.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Preston East has 89.0% more building activity per person. New development consists of 6.0% detached houses and 94.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 54.0% houses. The location has approximately 78 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. By 2041, Preston East is projected to grow by 13,065 residents.

Development is keeping pace with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Preston - East has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects expected to impact the area. Notable projects include North East Link Project, Preston Market Precinct Redevelopment, 18a Miller Street Development - Small Sites Pilot Program, and Preston Central Infrastructure Contributions. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Preston - East has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Preston - East has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 5.1% as of September 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.2%. There were 13,735 residents employed by September 2025, with an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is 0.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Preston - East was 67.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

The area shows strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, construction employs only 7.1% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. As at the Census, there were 0.9 workers for each resident, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.2%, while labour force increased by 0.4%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0% over the same period, with labour force expanding by 3.3%. However, unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points during this time. State-level data from 25-Nov shows that Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs. The state unemployment rate was at 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Victoria's employment growth outpaced the national average of 0.14%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, as of May-25, project an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Preston - East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Preston-East SA2 had median taxpayer income of $56,364 and average income of $69,700 in financial year 2022. These figures are higher than Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 respectively. By September 2025, estimates based on 12.16% Wage Price Index growth suggest median income will be approximately $63,218 and average income $78,176. Census 2021 data shows incomes in Preston-East cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. Income distribution indicates that 34.1% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, consistent with broader metropolitan trends at 32.8%. Housing costs consume 17.6% of income. Despite this, disposable income is at the 50th percentile, placing Preston-East in the 6th decile based on SEIFA income ranking.

Preston - East displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Preston - East's dwelling structures, as assessed in the latest Census, consisted of 53.9% houses and 46.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Melbourne metro's 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Preston - East was at 25.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.5% and rented ones at 44.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. The median weekly rent figure was $391, compared to Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Preston - East's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 59.6% of all households, including 23.3% couples with children, 24.5% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.4%, with lone person households at 31.4% and group households comprising 8.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4.

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

Preston - East has a high level of educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 42.1% holding university qualifications. This is higher than the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's average of 32.8%. The area's educational advantage is reflected in its knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 26.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%).

Vocational pathways account for 23.9% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 10.7% and certificates 13.2%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.5% in tertiary education, 6.9% in primary education, and 5.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Preston - East has 148 active public transport stops. These include train, light rail, and bus services. There are 20 routes operating in total, serving 17,645 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 151 meters. Daily service frequency averages 2,520 trips across all routes, equating to around 119 weekly trips per individual stop.

Preston - East's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Preston - East's health data shows a relatively positive picture.

The prevalence of common health conditions among its general population is quite low, although it is higher than the national average for older and at-risk cohorts. Approximately 54% (~12,634 people) of Preston - East residents have private health cover, which is very high compared to other areas. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.1 and 7.9% of residents respectively. Around 69.5% of Preston - East residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Greater Melbourne. The area has a lower percentage of seniors aged 65 and over (13.1%, or 3,044 people) than Greater Melbourne (15.2%). Health outcomes among seniors in Preston - East require more attention than those for the broader population.

Preston - East 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

Preston-East has a high level of cultural diversity, with 35.3% of its population born overseas and 36.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Preston-East, accounting for 38.2% of people. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 4.0% versus 3.4%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.9%), Australian (15.6%), and Other (11.4%). Notably, Greek (7.2%) and Macedonian (2.6%) populations are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 6.1% and 2.1%, respectively. Italian population is underrepresented at 8.1% versus the regional average of 12.3%.

Preston - East's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Preston-East's median age is nearly 36 years, close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Preston-East has a higher proportion of 25-34 year-olds at 21.1%, but fewer 5-14 year-olds at 8.2%. This 25-34 age group is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 17.7% to 19.1%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 13.6% to 12.7%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest Preston-East's age profile will change significantly. The 45 to 54 age group is projected to grow by 76%, adding 2,239 residents to reach a total of 5,192.