Reservoir - North West
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Reservoir - North West reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Reservoir - North West's population is around 9,891 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 90 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,801 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,834 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 14 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,183 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

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. Based on the latest population numbers, a significant increase is forecast in the top quartile of statistical areas across the nation. The area is expected to increase by 3,300 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 32.8% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Reservoir - North West, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Reservoir - North West has averaged approximately 18 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY2021 to FY2025, there have been 91 dwellings approved in total, with 4 approvals so far in FY2026.

The population has declined in recent years, suggesting that new supply has likely kept up with demand, offering good choice to buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $572,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Reservoir - North West has significantly less development activity, being 76.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years. When measured against the national average, the area's level of development is similarly under, indicating its established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations.

New development consists of 58.0% standalone homes and 42.0% attached dwellings, showing an expanding range of medium-density options creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets, from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 88.0% houses. This shift may indicate decreasing availability of developable sites and reflect changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 455 people per dwelling approval, Reservoir - North West shows a developed market. Looking ahead, projections suggest that Reservoir - North West is expected to grow by 3,243 residents through to 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 West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Two projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area: Reservoir Leisure Centre Redevelopment, John Fawkner Secondary College Upgrade and Modernisation, Reservoir Suburban Revitalisation Program, and Fawkner Leisure Centre Redevelopment.

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

Employment performance in Reservoir - North West has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Reservoir - North West has a skilled workforce with the construction sector notably represented. Its unemployment rate was 5.0% in June 2024, showing an estimated employment growth of 3.2%.

As of June 2025, there are 4,594 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is 0.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate. Workforce participation in the area is lower at 51.2% compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area specializes in construction employment, with a share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 7.3%, compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.2% while labour force grew by 1.4%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate by 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with an increase in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, and the national average employment growth outpaced Victoria's. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Reservoir - North West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Reservoir North West had a median taxpayer income of $44,314 and an average income of $52,456 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was lower than the national average, with Greater Melbourne having a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761 in the same period. As of March 2025, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $48,794 and the average income $57,759, based on a 10.11% growth rate since financial year 2022. In 2021 Census figures, individual incomes were at the 10th percentile of $580 weekly, while household incomes performed better at the 32nd percentile. Income distribution showed that 29.9% of locals (2,957 people) fell into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting a broader area pattern where 32.8% occupied this range. After accounting for housing costs, 85.6% of income remained for other expenses.

Reservoir - North West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Reservoir - North West had 87.5% houses and 12.5% other dwellings at the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Reservoir - North West was 51.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.0% and rented ones at 21.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $371, also matching Melbourne metro figures. Nationally, Reservoir - North West's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

Reservoir - North West has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 73.9% of all households, including 32.8% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for 26.1%, with lone person households at 22.8% and group households making up 3.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4 people.

Educational outcomes in Reservoir - North West fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 23.6%, significantly lower than the SA3 average of 37.9%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 26.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (17.7%). Educational participation is high at 26.1%, comprising primary (8.0%), secondary (6.6%), and tertiary education (5.7%).

The area's four schools have a combined enrollment of 965 students, serving typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities.

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

Reservoir - North West has 68 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five distinct routes that collectively facilitate 2462 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 179 meters from the nearest transport stop.

On average, there are 351 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 36 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Reservoir - North West is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

North West Reservoir faces significant health challenges. Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~4,569 people).

This compares to 52.6% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 10.2%) and mental health issues (6.8%). Approximately 68.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Greater Melbourne. As of the latest data (March 20XX), 24.6% of residents are aged 65 and over (2,436 people). This is higher than the 15.2% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Reservoir - North West 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 West has a high cultural diversity with 40.7% of its population born overseas and 52.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 64.9% of the population, compared to 45.0% in Greater Melbourne. The top three ancestry groups are Italian (29.9%), Australian (12.4%), and Other (12.0%).

Notably, Greek (6.1%) and Lebanese (5.2%) groups are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 6.1% and 1.8%, respectively. Macedonian representation is also slightly higher at 2.2%.

Reservoir - North West hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Reservoir - North West is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 are particularly prominent, making up 10.2% of the population, while the 25-34 age group is smaller at 13.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 12.5% to 13.5% of the population. Conversely, the 65 to 74 age cohort has decreased from 10.4% to 9.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the 45 to 54 age group is expected to increase significantly, with an additional 574 people (a 48% rise) bringing the total in this age cohort to 1,762 from 1,187.