Reservoir - North East
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Reservoir - North East's population was around 16,031 as of Aug 2025, reflecting an increase of 1,236 people since the 2021 Census. The population in 2021 was reported as 14,795. This increase is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 15,976 in June 2024 and an additional 289 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3,346 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Reservoir - North East has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 84.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the area expected to increase by 7,906 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 49.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Reservoir - North East among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Reservoir - North East averaged approximately 118 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, with a total of 590 homes approved between FY21 and FY25. In FY26 up to May, 24 dwellings have been approved. The average population increase per year for each dwelling built in the area during these five financial years was 0.7 people.

This indicates that new housing supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choices and creating capacity for future population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value of new homes being built is $381,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more accessible housing options for buyers. In FY26 up to May, $210,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Reservoir - North East has comparable new home approvals per capita, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. The current new development composition is 26.0% standalone homes and 74.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 55.0% houses.

This increase in higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With approximately 137 people per dwelling approval, Reservoir - North East exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts predict an increase of 7,851 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially leading to increased competition among buyers and stronger price growth in the future.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects likely impacting this region. Notable ones include Reservoir Leisure Centre Redevelopment, Suburban Rail Loop North, Bundoora Centre Expansion, and The Plenty Residences.

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

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

Reservoir - North East has a highly educated workforce with professional services being well-represented. The unemployment rate in June 2025 was 4.3%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.9%. As of June 2025, 8,966 residents were employed, with a workforce participation rate of 61.8%, slightly below Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Retail trade employs only 8.7% of local workers, lower than Greater Melbourne's 9.8%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.9%, while labour force grew by 1.5%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate of 1.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with an increase in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that overall employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Reservoir - North East's employment mix indicates potential local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Reservoir - North East had a median taxpayer income of $58,983 and an average income of $69,820 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is higher than the national average, but lower than Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $66,155 and an average income of $78,310, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Reservoir - North East ranked modestly, between the 38th and 43rd percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 33.8% of locals (5,418 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 income category, similar to the broader area where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 36th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Reservoir - North East had 55.4% houses and 44.6% other dwellings as of the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Reservoir - North East was at 27.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.0% and rented ones at 39.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,863, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent was $358, compared to Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Reservoir - North East's mortgage repayments were similar to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 62.7% of all households, including 24.0% couples with children, 25.6% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 37.3%, with lone person households at 31.9% and group households comprising 5.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4.

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

Reservoir - North East has 34.5% of residents aged 15+ with university qualifications, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 28.0% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (17.0%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.0% in tertiary education, 6.7% in primary education, and 5.0% pursuing secondary education. The area has 4 schools with a combined enrollment of 819 students, demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1022) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 3 primary schools and 1 K-12 school. School capacity is limited (5.1 places per 100 residents vs 10.2 regionally), leading many families to travel 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

Reservoir - North East has 62 active public transport stops, served by a mix of train and bus routes. These routes total eight, offering 7,404 weekly passenger trips combined. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 192 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

On average, there are 1,057 trips daily across all routes, equating to around 119 weekly trips per individual stop.

Reservoir - North East's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

North East's health metrics are close to national benchmarks.

Common health conditions among its general population are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Approximately 54% (~8,720 people) of North East residents have private health cover, which is very high compared to other areas. The most common medical conditions in North East are mental health issues (9.4%) and arthritis (7.4%). About 69.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 70.2%. North East has 14.9% (2,393 people) of residents aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting some challenges compared to the broader population.

Reservoir - North 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

Reservoir-North East has high cultural diversity, with 40.1% of its population born overseas and 43.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Reservoir-North East, accounting for 46.1%. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 5.4% versus 3.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (15.5%), Australian (15.1%), and Other (14.4%). Notable divergences include Italian (11.5% vs regional 12.3%), Greek (6.6% vs 6.1%), and Macedonian (2.6% vs 2.1%) populations in Reservoir-North East.

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

Reservoir-North 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, Reservoir-North East has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.9%) 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 the present, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 has increased from 16.4% to 18.1%, while the proportion of those aged 0-4 has decreased from 6.4% to 5.9%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Reservoir-North East's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 73%, adding 1,308 residents and reaching a total of 3,110 residents.