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 is approximately 23,164 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 2,453 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,711. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 22,596 in June 2024 and an additional 753 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 2,988 persons per square kilometer, placing Preston-East in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 11.8% since the 2021 census exceeds the national average of 9.9%. Population growth was predominantly driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 82.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Preston-East is predicted to experience exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent nationally over the period. The area is expected to grow by 13,695 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 56.7% 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 has recorded approximately 311 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 1,558 homes were approved, with an additional 538 so far in FY26. The average number of people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these five years was 0.6 per year.

This indicates that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $397,000. In FY26 alone, there have been $209.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Preston - East records 89.0% more building activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. The new development consists of 6.0% detached houses and 94.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a trend toward denser development that provides accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift represents a notable change from the existing housing stock, which is currently 54.0% houses, suggesting decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 78 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Looking ahead, Preston - East is expected to grow by 13,127 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Development in the area is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Preston - East has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects likely 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. Below is a list of those 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.

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. Its unemployment rate was 5.1% as of September 2025, showing an estimated employment growth of 1.2% over the past year. In September 2025, 13,735 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is 0.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation was 73.6%, slightly above Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 39.1% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The area had a particularly strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction employed only 7.1% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. As of 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 grew by 0.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and a labour force expansion of 3.3%, with an increase in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth 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, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

The Preston-East SA2 has an income level above the national average, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Its median income among taxpayers is $59,358 and average income stands at $71,817, compared to Greater Melbourne's figures of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $64,255 (median) and $77,742 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Preston-East cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. Distribution data indicates the largest segment comprises 34.1% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (7,898 residents), consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 32.8% in the same category. High housing costs consume 17.6% of income, placing disposable income at the 50th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Preston - East, as evaluated in the latest Census, 53.9% of dwellings were houses while 46.1% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. In contrast, Melbourne metro had a higher proportion of houses at 67.9%. Home ownership in Preston - East stood at 25.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.5% and rented ones at 44.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. However, the median weekly rent was higher in Preston - East at $391 compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863 while rents exceeded 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 account for 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 constitute 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 2.6.

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

Educational attainment in Preston - East shows significant superiority over broader standards. Among residents aged 15 and above, 42.1% possess university qualifications, outstripping the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's 32.8%. This notable educational advantage favours the area for knowledge-based prospects. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 26.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%).

Vocational pathways account for 23.9% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 13.2%. Educational participation is notably high, 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 153 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and buses. These stops are served by 22 routes, providing 12,523 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have excellent accessibility to transport, with an average distance of 150 meters to the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, with most residents commuting outward. Cars dominate as the primary mode of transport at 69%, while trains account for 11% and walking for 4%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 39.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 1,789 trips per day, equating to approximately 81 weekly trips per individual stop. The provided map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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 residents show relatively positive health outcomes, according to AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions.

The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low among the general population but higher than the national average in older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 55% (~12,717 people) of Preston - East residents have private health cover, which is fairly high. Mental health issues (11.1%) and asthma (7.9%) are the most common medical conditions in the area. Around 69.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 13.5% (3,120 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they rank lower nationally than those of 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 cultural diversity, with 35.3% of its population born overseas and 36.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Preston-East, comprising 38.2% of its population. Buddhism is overrepresented in Preston-East compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 4.0% versus 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.9%), Australian (15.6%), and Other (11.4%). Notably, Greek (7.2%) Macedonian (2.6%) and Italian (8.1%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Preston-East compared to regional averages of 2.7%, 0.7% and 5.2% respectively.

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 residents aged 25-34 (20.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 has increased from 17.7% to 19.2%, while the proportion of those aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 21.9% to 20.5%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Preston-East's age profile. The strongest projected growth is in the 45 to 54 cohort, with an increase of 78%, adding 2,273 residents to reach a total of 5,192.