St Albans - North
Statistical Area - sa2

St Albans - North has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

St Albans - North's population was around 21,107 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 526 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 20,581. The change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 21,002 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 3,237 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. St Albans - North's growth of 2.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's 2.2%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, they utilised VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends projected an above median growth, with the area expected to expand by 3,593 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 16.5% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees St Albans - North recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

St Albans - North has averaged approximately 91 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics generates development approval data on a financial year basis, indicating 459 homes approved over the past five years from FY2021 to FY2025, with an additional 11 approvals recorded in FY2026 as of current data. Despite population decline in recent years, new dwelling supply appears to be meeting demand, providing ample choice for buyers. The average construction cost value of new properties is $312,000, which is lower than regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $10.3 million, indicating moderate commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans - North exhibits elevated construction levels, with 48.0% above the regional average per capita over the five-year period ending FY2025. This balance between buyer choice and support for existing property values is notable. Recent construction comprises 21.0% standalone homes and 79.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the area's current housing composition, which is predominantly houses (70.0%). This trend reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles, with an increasing demand for diverse and affordable housing options.

The dwelling approval rate in St Albans - North is approximately 307 people per dwelling, indicating a relatively low-density market. According to projections, the area is expected to grow by 3,488 residents by the year 2041. If current development rates continue, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, fostering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond existing projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 22 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Monmia Primary School Playground Upgrade, Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre, Keilor Downs Recreation Reserve Upgrade, and Milleara Shopping Centre. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The labour market performance in St Albans - North lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

St Albans North has a skilled workforce with strong manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 9.2% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.6% over the past year.

There are 9,599 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 4.6%, which is above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation lags at 48.8% compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among St Albans North residents are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and transport, postal & warehousing. The area has a notably high concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, with employment levels at 2.1 times the regional average.

In contrast, professional & technical services employ only 4.5% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 4.6% while labour force grew by 5.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5%, labour force growth of 4.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. As of Sep-25, state-level data shows Victorian 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 Victoria's employment growth outpaced the national average of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within St Albans North. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to St Albans North's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

St Albans - North had a median taxpayer income of $42,453 and an average of $48,256 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than the national average, with Greater Melbourne having a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761. By March 2025, estimates suggest median income would be approximately $46,745 and average income $53,135, based on a 10.11% growth in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2022. In St Albans - North, incomes fall between the 3rd and 12th percentiles nationally, according to the 2021 Census. The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominated with 28.6% of residents (6,036 people), similar to regional levels at 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 81.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 12th percentile.

St Albans - North is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in St Albans - North, as per the latest Census, was 70.4% houses and 29.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Albans - North was 35.8%, similar to Melbourne metro's figure. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (24.6%) or rented (39.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,473, below Melbourne metro's average of $1,700. Median weekly rent in St Albans - North was $330, compared to Melbourne metro's $346. Nationally, St Albans - North's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

St Albans - North features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 70.5% of all households, including 29.7% couples with children, 21.0% couples without children, and 17.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 24.5% and group households comprising 5.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

St Albans - North faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The university qualification rate in the area is 21.9%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 9.9% and certificates for 16.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 6.1% pursuing tertiary education. There are nine schools operating within St Albans - North, educating approximately 3,066 students. St Albans - North has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 951) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes six primary schools, two secondary schools, and one K-12 school. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

St Albans - North has 77 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 10 individual routes that collectively facilitate 5,480 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average located 196 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 782 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 71 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in St Albans - North is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

St Albans - North shows above-average health outcomes with a low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population, but higher rates in older, at-risk cohorts compared to national averages. Private health cover is extremely low, with approximately 46% of the total population (~9,709 people), compared to 48.1% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and diabetes, affecting 6.7% and 6.2% of residents respectively.

74.3% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 73.5% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 18.1% of residents aged 65 and over (3,809 people).

St Albans - North is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

St Albans-North has a high level of cultural diversity, with 73.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 63.7% born overseas as of 2016 Census data. Christianity is the dominant religion in St Albans-North, comprising 47.6%. Buddhism makes up 14.9%, which is higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 12.5%.

Top ancestry groups are Other at 22.7%, Vietnamese at 21.8% (above regional average of 15.7%), and English at 8.1%. Notable divergences exist in Maltese representation, at 4.8% compared to the regional average of 4.6%, Croatian at 2.5% versus 2.2%, and Serbian at 1.7% against a regional average of 1.0%.

St Albans - North's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

St Albans - North's median age is nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years, which is modestly under the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans - North has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (9.5%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (13.2%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the age group of 75 to 84 years has grown from 5.4% to 6.3%, while the cohort of 0 to 4 years has declined from 6.0% to 5.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that St Albans - North's age profile will evolve significantly. The strongest projected growth is in the 55 to 64 age group, which is expected to grow by 36%, adding 860 residents to reach a total of 3,246. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group is projected to contract by 131 residents.