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 17,906 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 452 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,454. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,764 in June 2024 and an additional 141 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,860 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. As we examine future population trends, an above median population growth is projected, with the area expected to grow by 2,804 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 14.9% 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 has received approximately 47 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 238 homes. As of FY-26, 14 approvals have been recorded. The population decline in recent years has resulted in adequate development activity relative to other areas, benefiting buyers with more affordable housing options as new properties are constructed at an average cost of $265,000. This financial year has seen $112.6 million in commercial development approvals, indicating 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 for development activity, leading to relatively constrained buyer choice and increased interest in existing dwellings. New developments consist of 22.0% detached houses and 78.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles. The area has approximately 931 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, St Albans - South is expected to grow by 2,662 residents through to 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, but buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

Looking ahead, St Albans - South is expected to grow by 2,662 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

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 may 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 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 manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented. Its unemployment rate was 8.9% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.6%. As of September 2025, 8,170 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 4.2%, which is above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation lags at 59.0% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, only 13.5% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade, with a particular specialization in manufacturing at 1.9 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services show lower representation at 4.8% compared to the regional average of 10.1%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period ending May-25, employment increased by 4.6% while labour force grew by 5.5%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.8 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 3.3%, and unemployment increase of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% expansion 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, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released on June 29, 2023, St Albans - South SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $44,684 and an average income of $49,717. This was below the national average. In comparison, Greater Melbourne's median income was $57,688 with an average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $48,370 (median) and $53,819 (average). Census data showed that household, family, and personal incomes in St Albans - South fell between the 2nd and 15th percentiles nationally. Distribution data indicated that 28.8% of individuals (5,156 people) earned between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring regional levels where 32.8% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 83.0% of income remaining, 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

As of the latest Census, dwelling structures in St Albans - South comprised 80.0% houses and 20.0% 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 mortgaged dwellings at 27.3% and rented dwellings at 35.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was $323, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, St Albans - South's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,500 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375 at $323.

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

Family households account for 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 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, 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%. 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, 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, a total of 56 active public transport stops operate, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are served by 10 different routes, together facilitating 5,258 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically residing 253 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most inhabitants commute outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 79%, while train usage stands at 14%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

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, equating to roughly 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

Health data for St Albans - South shows positive outcomes overall. Mortality rates and health conditions are broadly in line with national benchmarks. Common health conditions have low prevalence among the general population but are higher among older, at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~8,236 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are diabetes (6.6%) and arthritis (6.3%). 74.0% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors at 20.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some 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 culturally diverse population, with 64.8% born overseas and 79.0% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in St Albans-South, comprising 43.1%. Buddhism is overrepresented, making up 20.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 4.2%.

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 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, close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and similar to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Albans - South has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (10.5%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (11.9%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the percentage of residents aged 65 to 74 increased from 9.7% to 10.5%, while those aged 45 to 54 decreased from 11.8% to 10.6%. By 2041, St Albans - South's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 55 to 64 is projected to grow by 27%, reaching 2,615 from 2,066. Conversely, the population aged 5 to 14 is expected to decrease by 54 residents.