Sandringham - Black Rock
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Sandringham - Black Rock's population is 18,131 as of Aug 2025. From the 2021 Census, it was 17,358 people, reflecting a 4.5% increase of 773 people. This change is inferred from ABS' June 2024 estimate of 18,023 and 129 new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 2,819 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Over a decade, Sandringham - Black Rock grew at a compound annual rate of 0.7%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted to SA2 levels for areas not covered by ABS data. Future growth is projected at just below the median statistical area rate, with an expected increase of 1,743 persons to 2041, a 9.0% total increase over 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Sandringham - Black Rock among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Sandringham - Black Rock has recorded approximately 127 residential properties granted approval per year. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 639 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional four approved so far in FY-26. On average, zero people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years, indicating that supply meets or exceeds demand, providing greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $648,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments.

Additionally, $39.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sandringham - Black Rock has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 89th percentile of areas assessed nationally. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years, with new developments comprising 16.0% detached dwellings and 84.0% townhouses or apartments. This shift towards denser development provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, marking a significant departure from the existing housing pattern of 52.0% houses. Sandringham - Black Rock reflects a low density area with approximately 98 people per approval.

Future projections estimate that Sandringham - Black Rock will add 1,634 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Sandringham - Black Rock has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 such projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones include Sanctuary Sandringham, Miramar, Beach Point Sandringham, and The Coterie. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Sandringham - Black Rock has been broadly consistent with national averages

Sandringham - Black Rock has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.1% as of June 2025.

This rate is 1.6% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is slightly below the standard at 61.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area has a notable concentration in professional & technical jobs, with levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing shows lower representation at 2.6% versus the regional average of 5.2%. Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.1%, labour force by 1.4%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 1.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.5% and unemployment rose by 0.5%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, compared to national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sandringham - Black Rock's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.0%% over five years and 14.2% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Sandringham - Black Rock had a median taxpayer income of $67,010 and an average income of $118,008. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761. By March 2025, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $73,785 and the average $129,939, based on a 10.11% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census ranks Sandringham - Black Rock's household, family, and personal incomes between the 85th and 86th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 30.3% of residents (5,493 people) earn over $4,000 weekly, differing from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 32.8%. Higher earners make up a significant portion, with 41.9% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power. Housing expenses consume 13.6% of income, placing residents in the 87th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Sandringham - Black Rock displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Sandringham - Black Rock's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 52.5% houses and 47.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 62.6% houses and 37.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sandringham - Black Rock was 44.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.5% and rented ones at 22.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,800, below Melbourne metro's average of $3,000. Median weekly rent in the area was $486, compared to Melbourne metro's $520. Nationally, Sandringham - Black Rock's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Sandringham - Black Rock has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 70.5% of all households, including 32.7% couples with children, 29.5% couples without children, and 7.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 28.0% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Sandringham - Black Rock demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Sandringham - Black Rock's educational attainment exceeds national averages; 47.4% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 30.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational pathways account for 23.5%, with advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 11.4%. Educational participation is high, with 28.6% currently enrolled in formal education: secondary (8.9%), primary (8.7%), and tertiary (6.5%).

Seven schools operate within Sandringham - Black Rock educating approximately 2,768 students. The area demonstrates socio-educational advantages with an ICSEA score of 1133. Schools include five primaries, one secondary, and one K-12 school.

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

Sandringham - Black Rock has 69 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 10 different routes, collectively facilitating 5,481 weekly passenger trips. The area enjoys excellent transport accessibility with residents located an average of 199 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency across all routes averages 783 trips per day, resulting in approximately 79 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Sandringham - Black Rock is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Sandringham - Black Rock shows above-average health outcomes for both young and old age groups, with low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 79% of the total population (14,305 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.9 and 6.7% of residents respectively, while 70.8% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 72.0% across Greater Melbourne. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 26.2% (4,757 people), compared to the 22.9% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Sandringham - Black Rock was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Sandringham-Black Rock, surveyed in June 2016, had a higher-than-average cultural diversity with 12.2% speaking languages other than English at home and 26.5% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 48.1%. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.9%, compared to Melbourne's 3.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (29.6%), Australian (21.9%), and Irish (10.3%). Scottish representation was notably higher at 9.5% versus the regional average of 8.3%. Russian and Hungarian representations were also noticeable, at 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively.

Sandringham - Black Rock hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Sandringham - Black Rock's median age is 48 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 13.1% of the population, while those aged 25-34 comprise only 6.2%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 7.4% to 9.3%, and the 15 to 24 cohort has risen from 11.4% to 13.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 15.8% to 14.6%, and the 5 to 14 age group has fallen from 11.8% to 10.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in Sandringham - Black Rock. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow by 51%, adding 862 residents to reach a total of 2,558. Residents aged 65 and above will contribute to 91% of the population growth, emphasizing demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for those aged 25-34 and 55-64.