Reservoir - North East

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

Reservoir - North East's population is around 16,042 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,247 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,795 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,976 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 294 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,349 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 demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 1.0% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 84.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising 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 increase by 7,906 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 48.9% 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 per year over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. A total of 590 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 54 approved in FY26 as of now. On average, 0.7 people moved to the area for each dwelling built annually between FY21 and FY25, indicating that new supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new homes in the area is $243,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more accessible housing choices for buyers. This financial year, $210,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Reservoir - North East has shown comparable new home approvals per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. The new development composition consists of 26.0% standalone homes and 74.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift towards higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a notable change from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 55.0% houses.

With approximately 137 people moving into the area per dwelling approval, Reservoir - North East exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain around 7,840 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the future.

Reservoir - North East has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects likely to affect this region. Key initiatives 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 an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 4.7% in September 2025, with estimated employment growth of 1.1% over the past year.

There were 9,030 residents employed as of that date, with an unemployment rate matching Greater Melbourne's at 4.7%. Workforce participation was lower than Greater Melbourne's, at 61.8%. Leading industries for local workers are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Retail trade employs only 8.7% of residents, below the Greater Melbourne average of 9.8%. Employment opportunities appear limited locally based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.1%, labour force grew by 0.5%, reducing unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and unemployment rose slightly. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Nationally, employment grew by 0.14%, with a lower unemployment rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Reservoir - North East's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

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

The Reservoir - North East SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $58,983 and an average of $69,820 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was higher than the national average, compared to Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $66,155 and average income around $78,310, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes ranked modestly in Reservoir - North East, between the 38th and 43rd percentiles. The earnings profile indicated that 33.8% of locals (5,422 people) fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket, similar to the broader area where 32.8% occupied this category. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 81.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 36th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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

In Reservoir - North East, as per the latest Census evaluation, 55.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 44.6% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. In contrast, Melbourne metro had 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Reservoir - North East stood 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 average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in the area was $358, compared to Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Reservoir - North East's mortgage repayments aligned with the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $358 versus 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 constitute 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

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

Educational participation is high, with 27.1% currently enrolled in formal education: 7.0% in tertiary, 6.7% in primary, and 5.0% in secondary education.

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. These are a mix of train and bus services. They are served by 8 different routes that together facilitate 7,404 weekly passenger trips.

The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents located an average of 192 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency across all routes averages 1,057 trips per day, equating to approximately 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 for older cohorts. Private health cover is very high at approximately 54% of the total population (~8,726 people). The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 9.4% and 7.4% of residents respectively. 69.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 70.2% across Greater Melbourne. As of 2021, 14.9% of residents are aged 65 and over (2,395 people). Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than 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, comprising 46.1%. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 5.4% versus 3.8%.

Top ancestry groups are English (15.5%), Australian (15.1%), and Other (14.4%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Greek at 6.6% (regional average is 6.1%), Italian at 11.5% (versus 12.3%), and Macedonian at 2.6% (compared to 2.1%).

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

At 36 years, Reservoir-North East's median age is nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37. This is modestly under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Reservoir-North East has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (21.9%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the age group of 35 to 44 has grown from 16.4% to 18.1% of the population in Reservoir-North East. Conversely, the age cohort of 0 to 4 has declined from 6.4% to 5.9%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Reservoir-North East's age profile will evolve significantly. The strongest projected growth is for the 45-54 age group, which is expected to grow by 72%, adding 1,306 residents to reach a total of 3,110.