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 is around 17,900 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 446 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,454 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,764 from the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 141 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,859 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, St Albans - South has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.1%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 92.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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. Looking at population projections moving forward, an above median population growth is projected, with the area expected to increase by 2,804 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 14.9% in total over the 17 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, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 238 homes approved during this period. An additional 13 dwellings have been approved in FY26 as of now. Despite a decline in population, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average value of new dwellings developed is $265,000, which is below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY26, there have been $112.6 million worth of commercial approvals, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans - South has 11.0% less new development per person and ranks among the 18th percentile nationally in terms of new development, offering limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties. This is reflective of the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New developments consist of 22.0% detached dwellings and 78.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 80.0% houses. This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

With around 931 people per dwelling approval, St Albans - South reflects a highly mature market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, St Albans - South is projected to add approximately 2,668 residents by 2041. Construction activity is maintaining a reasonable pace with this projected growth, although buyers may face increasing competition as the population grows.

St Albans - South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 26 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives 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. The unemployment rate was 8.9% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.6% over the past year.

There are 8,170 residents employed, but the unemployment rate is higher than Greater Melbourne's at 4.2%. Workforce participation lags significantly at 48.6%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing employment is particularly notable, at 1.9 times the regional average.

Professional & technical services have limited presence with only 4.8% of employment compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 4.6%, while the labour force grew by 5.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.8 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. 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, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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 $41,595 in financial year 2022 according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $47,281 during this period. In comparison, Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes were $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $46,653 and the average income around $53,030 by September 2025. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in St Albans - South fall between the 2nd and 15th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that the largest segment comprises 28.8% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (5,155 residents), which is consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 32.8% in the same category. 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

The dwelling structure in St Albans - South, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.0% houses and 20.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Albans - South was 37.1%, similar to Melbourne metro, with the rest being mortgaged (27.3%) or rented (35.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,500, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $1,700. The median weekly rent figure was $323, compared to Melbourne metro's $346. 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 fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 72.6% of all households, including 31.8% that are couples with children, 20.5% that are couples without children, and 17.6% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up 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, which matches the Greater Melbourne average.

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%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 26.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (16.0%). Educational participation is high at 33.5%, with 9.1% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 7.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably 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

The analysis of public transport in St Albans - South indicates that there are 58 active transport stops currently operating. These include a mix of train and bus stations. The services are provided by 10 individual routes which collectively facilitate 8,043 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 253 meters from the nearest stop. On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to 1,149 trips per day, equating to roughly 138 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in St Albans - South 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 - South shows superior health outcomes with fewer common health conditions among its general population compared to national averages, but higher prevalence among older and at-risk groups. Private health insurance coverage is low, around 46% (approximately 8,234 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 48.1% and the national average of 55.3%. Diabetes and arthritis are prevalent conditions in the area, affecting 6.6% and 6.3% of residents respectively.

Around 74.0% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 73.5%. The area has a larger senior population, with 20.3% aged 65 and over (3,630 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 17.9%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to these challenges.

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 one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in Australia, 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, making up 43.1% of the population. However, Buddhism is significantly more prevalent in St Albans - South compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 20.5% versus 12.5%.

The top three ancestry groups in St Albans - South are Vietnamese (29.2%), Other (18.2%), and Chinese (9.1%). Notably, Maltese (3.7%) and Filipino (4.4%) populations are higher than the regional averages of 4.6% and 3.7%, respectively.

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

The median age in St Albans - South was 38 years in 2021, close to Greater Melbourne's average age of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans - South had a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (10.3%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (12.0%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the percentage of the population aged 65-74 increased from 9.7% to 10.3%, while the percentage aged 45-54 decreased from 11.8% to 10.6%. By 2041, St Albans - South's age composition is projected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 55-64 is expected to grow by 29%, reaching 2,615 from 2,022. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 51% of the projected growth. Conversely, the number of residents aged 5-14 is expected to decrease by 91%.