St Kilda East
Statistical Area - sa2

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

St Kilda East's population is approximately 17,352 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,539 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 15,813. The estimated resident population was 17,332 in June 2024, with an additional 101 validated new addresses contributing to the growth. This results in a population density ratio of 7,200 persons per square kilometer, placing St Kilda East within the top 10% of locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's population grew by 9.7% between the 2021 Census and August 2025, exceeding both the national average (8.6%) and state growth rates. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 80.8% of overall population gains during this period.

AreaSearch's projections for St Kilda East are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. The area is forecast to experience significant population growth, with an increase of 4,162 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 23.9% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in St Kilda East is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

St Kilda East has received approximately 30 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides development approval data on a financial year basis, with a total of 154 approvals in the past five years from FY-21 to FY-25, and one so far in FY-26. Despite population decline, new supply has likely met demand, offering buyers good choice. The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $821,000, indicating developers target premium market segments with higher-end properties.

Commercial development approvals this financial year amount to $6.3 million, suggesting limited commercial focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Kilda East has significantly lower building activity, 84.0% below the regional average per person, which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This activity is also below national averages, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 12.0% standalone homes and 88.0% medium to high-density housing, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers with affordable entry pathways. With around 4826 people per dwelling approval, St Kilda East indicates a highly mature market. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by 4,142 residents.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

St Kilda East has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 31 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Hampden by RMA, Small Parks Program - Balaclava/St Kilda East, Coles Carlisle Street Precinct Development, and 191-193 Carlisle Street Mixed Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The labour market in St Kilda East demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

St Kilda East has a highly educated workforce with the technology sector prominently represented. Its unemployment rate is 5.3%, with an estimated employment growth of 6.4% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 12,332 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 0.7% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in St Kilda East is 75.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Notably, the area has a high specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, manufacturing is under-represented at 3.7% compared to Greater Melbourne's 7.2%. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 6.4%, while labour force grew by 7.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne had employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with an unemployment rate increase of 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Nationally, employment growth was 0.26%, and the unemployment rate was 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to St Kilda East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.1%% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows median income in St Kilda East at $62,268 and average income at $90,601. In Greater Melbourne, median income is $54,892 and average income is $73,761. By March 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $68,563 and average income $99,761, considering a 10.11% increase since financial year 2022. St Kilda East's individual earnings rank at the 92nd percentile nationally ($1,210 weekly), but household income ranks lower at the 65th percentile. The predominant income cohort is 34.2% of locals (5,934 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. This aligns with the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 17.2% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 63rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

St Kilda East features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

St Kilda East's dwelling structure in its latest Census report showed 14.5% houses and 85.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 8.7% houses and 91.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Kilda East stood at 18.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.4% and rented ones at 52.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,170. Median weekly rent in St Kilda East was $384, compared to Melbourne metro's $420. Nationally, St Kilda East's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,100 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $384 than the national figure of $375.

St Kilda East features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 47.0% of all households, including 15.5% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 5.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 53.0%, with lone person households at 42.7% and group households comprising 10.3%. The median household size is 1.9 people, matching the Greater Melbourne average.

Educational achievement in St Kilda East places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

St Kilda East has a notably high level of educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above. 55.4% hold university qualifications, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 35.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.9%) and graduate diplomas (4.8%). Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 11.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in tertiary education, 6.3% in primary education, and 4.4% pursuing secondary education. The area's three schools have a combined enrollment of 607 students as of the latest available data. St Kilda East demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1101. Education provision is balanced with two primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. However, local school capacity is limited at 3.5 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 9.6, leading many families to travel to nearby areas for schooling. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 51 active transport stops operating within St Kilda East. These comprise a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. They are serviced by 10 individual routes, collectively providing 6,307 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 168 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 901 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 123 weekly trips per individual stop.

St Kilda East's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

St Kilda East shows excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 67% of its total population (11,573 people) has private health cover, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's 73.1%, and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.4% and 7.7% of residents respectively.

Around 72.9% of residents report having no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 73.3%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 10.4% (1,804 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 14.3%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in St Kilda East are strong and largely aligned with the general population's health profile.

St Kilda East was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

St Kilda East had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 22.8% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 34.3% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in St Kilda East, comprising 25.6% of people. Judaism, however, was significantly overrepresented, making up 12.5% of the population compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 3.7%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (22.4%), Australian (17.9%), and Other (14.8%). Notably, Polish (2.6%) and Russian (1.5%) groups were overrepresented in St Kilda East relative to regional averages of 1.5% and 0.9%, respectively. Hungarian representation was also higher at 0.8%.

St Kilda East hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

St Kilda East's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Kilda East has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (28.7%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 10.4% to 11.5%, while the 25 to 34 age group increased from 27.7% to 28.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group declined from 7.5% to 6.3% and the 45 to 54 age group decreased from 12.7% to 11.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in St Kilda East. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to grow by 51%, adding 1,028 residents to reach a total of 3,052. In contrast, the 0 to 4 age cohort shows minimal growth of just 8%, with an increase of 59 people.