Preston - East
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Preston - East are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Preston - East's population was around 23,226 as of Nov 2025. This reflected an increase of 2,515 people 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 rate of 12.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (8.9%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 82.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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 from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the area expected to grow by 13,695 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, with 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 has recorded approximately 311 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 1,558 homes were approved, with a further 517 approved in FY26 as of current figures. The average number of people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these five years is 0.6 per year.

New residential supply has been keeping pace with or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new properties in Preston - East is $397,000. This financial year has seen $209.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Preston - East records 89.0% more building activity per person, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New development consists of 6.0% detached houses and 94.0% townhouses or apartments, providing accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This trend represents a notable shift from the existing housing stock, which is currently 54.0% houses. The location has approximately 78 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Looking ahead to 2041, Preston - East is expected to grow by 13,065 residents. Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Preston - East has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 28 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include North East Link Project, Housing Choices Preston Development, Preston Market Precinct Redevelopment, and 18a Miller Street Development - Small Sites Pilot Program. The following list details 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 professional services showing strong representation. The unemployment rate was 4.6% in June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.0% over the past year.

As of that date, 13,711 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate matched Greater Melbourne's at 4.6%. Workforce participation was 67.3%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Public administration & safety showed particularly strong specialization with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

In contrast, construction employed only 7.1% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.9, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.0%, while the labour force grew by 1.5%, causing a decrease in unemployment rate of 1.4 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne during the same period, employment grew by 3.5%, labour force expanded by 4.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Preston-East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 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's income level is above the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Preston East's median income among taxpayers is $56,364 and the average income stands at $69,700. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $63,218 for the median income and $78,176 for the average income 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 shows the largest segment comprises 34.1% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (7,920 residents). This is consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 32.8% in the same category. High housing costs consume 17.6% of income. Despite this, strong earnings place disposable income at the 51st percentile nationally. 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

The latest Census evaluated dwelling structures in Preston - East with 53.9% houses and 46.1% other dwellings, compared to Melbourne metro's 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Preston - East was 25.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.5% and rented dwellings at 44.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment 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 median monthly mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly 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 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 notably high level of educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above. A total of 42.1% hold university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's average of 32.8%. This indicates a significant educational advantage for the area, positioning it well for knowledge-based opportunities. University-level qualifications are prominent in Preston - East.

Bachelor degrees are the most common, held by 26.9% of residents aged 15 and above. Postgraduate qualifications follow at 11.0%, with graduate diplomas at 4.2%. Vocational pathways also contribute significantly to educational attainment in Preston - East. Among those aged 15 and above, 23.9% have vocational qualifications. Advanced diplomas account for 10.7%, while certificates make up 13.2% of these qualifications. 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. Preston - East has 11 schools serving a total of 3,183 students. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1054. The educational mix includes 3 primary schools, 5 secondary schools, and 3 K-12 schools. School capacity in Preston - East exceeds typical residential needs, with a ratio of 13.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 10.2. This suggests that the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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 individual routes operating in total.

They provide a combined weekly passenger trip count of 17,645. Residential accessibility to transport is rated excellent, with residents typically located 151 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 2,520 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 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

Health data shows Preston - East residents have relatively positive health outcomes.

The prevalence of common health conditions among the general population is quite low but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 54% (~12,634 people) of the total population has private health cover, a rate that is very high. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.1 and 7.9% of residents respectively. About 69.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 13.1% (3,044 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 15.2% in Greater Melbourne but still requires more attention.

Preston - East is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch 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, comprising 38.2% of its population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented in Preston-East compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 4.0% versus 3.4%.

The top three ancestry groups in Preston-East are English (17.9%), Australian (15.6%), and Other (11.4%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Greek is overrepresented at 7.2%, Macedonian at 2.6%, and Italian at 8.1%.

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

Preston-East has a median age of 36 years, nearly matching 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 (21.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 has increased from 17.7% to 19.1%, while the proportion of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 13.6% to 12.7%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes in Preston-East's age profile by 2041, with the strongest growth projected for the 45-54 age group, which is expected to increase by 76%, adding 2,239 residents to reach a total of 5,192.