St Albans - South

An assessment of population growth drivers in St Albans - South reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

St Albans - South's population was around 17,722 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 268 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,454. The change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures of 17,705 in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 2,831 persons per square kilometer, placing St Albans - South in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Its 1.5% growth since census positioned it within 0.6 percentage points of the SA3 area's 2.1%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 90.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted 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 utilised the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting with weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected nationally, with St Albans - South expected to increase by 2,675 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 15.0% in total over the 16 years.

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

St Albans - South averaged approximately 47 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, with 238 homes approved between FY21 and FY25, and an additional 22 so far in FY26. The population has decreased during this period, yet housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $265,000, below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers.

Commercial approvals totalled $112.6 million this financial year, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans - South has similar development levels per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area, which is below average nationally and may suggest planning constraints. New developments consist of 22.0% detached dwellings and 78.0% townhouses or apartments, a shift from existing housing patterns (currently 80.0% houses), indicating diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. With around 931 people per dwelling approval, St Albans - South reflects a highly mature market. Future projections estimate an addition of 2,658 residents by 2041, with construction maintaining a reasonable pace alongside projected growth, although buyers may face increasing competition as population increases.

Future projections show St Albans - South adding 2,658 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Construction is maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers could encounter growing competition as population increases.

St Albans - South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 26 projects that could impact the area. Notable projects include Sunshine Energy Park, Sunshine Health, Wellbeing and Education Precinct, St Albans Activity Centre Precinct Structure Plan, and St Albans SDA Housing. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch assessment indicates St Albans - South faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

St Albans - South has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 8.8% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.6%.

As of this date, 8,168 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 4.1%, which is above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation in St Albans - South lagged significantly at 59.0% compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, only 13.5% of residents worked from home. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade sectors.

Manufacturing employment levels were particularly high, at 1.9 times the regional average. Professional & technical services had limited presence with 4.8% employment compared to 10.1% regionally. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 3.6% alongside labour force growth of 4.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 2.4%, labour force grow by 2.8%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that while overall employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to St Albans - South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The St Albans - South SA2's median income among taxpayers was $44,684 in financial year 2023, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $49,717 during this period. In comparison, Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes were $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on a 9.62% growth in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $48,983 (median) and $54,500 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in St Albans - South all fall between the 2nd and 15th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 28.8% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly, with 5,103 residents falling into this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the broader area, where 32.8% of residents earn within the same range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in St Albans - South, with only 83.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 15th percentile nationally.

St Albans - South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

St Albans - South's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.0% houses and 20.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Albans - South was at 37.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (27.3%) or rented (35.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent was $323, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, St Albans - South's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 72.6% of all households, including 31.8% couples with children, 20.5% couples without children, and 17.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.4%, with lone person households at 21.9% and group households comprising 5.4%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in St Albans - South fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 22.8%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 16.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 26.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 16.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 7.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

In St Albans - South, there are currently 56 operational public transport stops serving a variety of bus routes. These routes collectively facilitate 5,258 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents' average proximity to the nearest stop being 253 meters. Primarily residential, most inhabitants commute outward daily. Car remains the prevalent mode of transportation at 79%, while train usage stands at 14%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in the area.

According to the 2021 Census, only 13.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 751 trips daily, translating to approximately 93 weekly trips per individual stop.

St Albans - South's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

St Albans - South residents show positive health outcomes, matching national benchmarks for mortality rates and common health conditions' prevalence, which is low overall but higher among older, at-risk groups. Private health cover stands at 46%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and Australia's 55.7%. Diabetes (6.6%) and arthritis (6.3%) are the most prevalent conditions; 74.0% of residents report no medical ailments, versus 72.6% in Greater Melbourne.

Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 20.3% aged 65 and over (3,594 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

St Albans - South 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-South has a high level of cultural diversity, with 64.8% of its population born overseas and 79.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in St Albans-South, comprising 43.1% of the population. Buddhism is significantly overrepresented compared to the Greater Melbourne average, making up 20.5% of St Albans-South's population.

The top three ancestry groups are Vietnamese (29.2%), Other (18.2%), and Chinese (9.1%). Notably, Maltese (3.7%) Croatian (2.3%), and Filipino (4.4%) ethnicities are also overrepresented compared to regional averages.

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

The median age in St Albans - South is 38 years, similar to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans - South has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (10.1%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (12.2%). According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 increased from 16.9% to 17.9%, while those aged 45-54 decreased from 11.8% to 10.4%. The percentage of residents aged 5-14 also dropped from 10.4% to 9.4%. By the year 2041, St Albans - South's age composition is projected to change significantly. The 55-64 age group is expected to grow by 27%, adding 542 people and reaching a total of 2,559 from 2,016. Conversely, the 5-14 age group is projected to decrease by 51 residents.