St Kilda - West
Statistical Area - sa2

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

St Kilda - West's population is 16,054 as of November 2025. This is an increase of 2,196 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,858. The change was inferred from ABS estimates of 16,059 in June 2024 and 496 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 6,802 persons per square kilometer, placing St Kilda - West in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth of 15.8% since the 2021 Census exceeded both national (8.9%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made through weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to population projections, St Kilda - West is expected to grow significantly in the top quartile of national statistical areas, with an increase of 6,378 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 39.8% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in St Kilda - West according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

St Kilda - West has seen approximately 10 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 53 homes. In the current financial year FY-26, two approvals have been recorded so far. On average, 5.5 new residents per year arrive for each dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a significant lag in supply compared to demand, which typically leads to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction value of new properties is $1,528,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

This financial year has seen $16.1 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting steady commercial investment activity in the area. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Kilda - West has significantly lower building activity, 94.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties. The area's activity is also below national averages, which may reflect its maturity or possible planning constraints. New development in St Kilda - West consists of 10.0% standalone homes and 90.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living that creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 8366 people per dwelling approval, St Kilda - West reflects a highly mature market.

Future projections indicate that the area will add approximately 6,383 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth in the long term.

St Kilda - West has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 37 projects that could affect the region. Notable initiatives include Fareham, 333 StK, St Kilda Pier Foreshore Upgrade, and 52 St Kilda Road. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in St Kilda - West remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

St Kilda - West has a highly educated workforce with a strong technology sector presence. The unemployment rate was 5.8% as of June 2024.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.1%. As of June 2025, 11,516 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.7%, which is 1.1% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in St Kilda - West was 69.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries for employment among residents were professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

The area had a notable concentration in professional & technical jobs, with levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Manufacturing had limited presence, with 3.7% of employment compared to 7.2% regionally. The ratio of workers to residents was 0.7, indicating local employment opportunities above the norm. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.1%, and labour force grew by 7.1%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.5%, labour force grow by 4.0%, and unemployment increase by 0.5 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to St Kilda - West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.2% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

St Kilda West has an extremely high national income level according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2022. The median income among taxpayers is $62,390 and the average income stands at $90,279. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $69,977 (median) and $101,257 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows individual earnings rank at the 93rd percentile nationally ($1,236 weekly), though household income ranks lower at the 56th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 34.4% of locals (5,522 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 32.8% in the same category. High housing costs consume 18.3% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 54th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

St Kilda - West features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

St Kilda - West's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 4.8% houses and 95.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's 8.7% houses and 91.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Kilda - West was at 17.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.9% and rented ones at 59.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,170. Median weekly rent in St Kilda - West was $392, compared to Melbourne metro's $420. Nationally, St Kilda - West's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

St Kilda - West features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 41.4 percent of all households, including 10.8 percent couples with children, 25.4 percent couples without children, and 4.2 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 58.6 percent, with lone person households at 51.3 percent and group households making up 7.3 percent of the total. The median household size is 1.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 1.9.

St Kilda - West demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in St Kilda - West shows a significant advantage with 57.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways account for 23.4% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 12.0%. Educational participation is high, with 27.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.5% in tertiary education, 4.5% in primary education, and 4.1% pursuing secondary education.

St Kilda Park Primary School and Wesley College - St Kilda Road Junior Campus serve a total of 323 students in the area, which has significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1144). The educational mix includes one primary school and one K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited at 2.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 9.6, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

St Kilda - West has 53 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 14 routes that collectively facilitate 9,018 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 133 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 1,288 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 170 weekly trips per individual stop.

St Kilda - West's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout St Kilda - West. Prevalence of common health conditions is very low across all age groups. Approximately 67% of the total population (10,708 people) has private health cover, compared to 73.1% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 10.9% and 7.8% of residents respectively. 72.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.3% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 14.0% of residents aged 65 and over (2,241 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

St Kilda - West 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 Kilda-West has a high level of cultural diversity, with 23.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 40.8% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in St Kilda-West, comprising 30.4% of its population. Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 2.7% of St Kilda-West's population versus 3.7%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (24.6%), Australian (15.0%), and Other (12.5%). Notably, French (1.2%) and Polish (1.3%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.1% and 1.5%, respectively. Russian is represented at the same rate as regionally, with both being 0.9%.

St Kilda - West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in St Kilda - West is close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Kilda - West has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (27.9%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 8.2% to 10.4%, while the 25 to 34 age group increased from 26.8% to 27.9%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 14.0% to 12.6%, and the 35 to 44 age group dropped from 18.1% to 17.0%. By 2041, St Kilda - West is expected to experience significant shifts in its age composition, with the 45 to 54 age group projected to grow by 76%, reaching 3,550 people from 2,019.