St Kilda - West

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 was around 16,062 as of Feb 2026. This reflected an increase of 2,204 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,858. The change was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 16,059 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 6,805 persons per square kilometer, placing St Kilda - West in the top 10% nationally. Its growth of 15.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both national (9.9%) and state averages, making it a growth leader. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, they use VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is forecasted to increase by 6,378 persons based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 39.7% over the 17-year period.

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 averaged approximately 10 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 53 homes. As of FY26, 41 approvals have been recorded. On average, 5.5 people have moved to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating significant demand outpacing supply. This typically exerts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $1,528,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY26, there have been $16.1 million in commercial approvals, suggesting moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Kilda - West has markedly lower building activity, at 94.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties. The area's level is also below national average, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 10.0% standalone homes and 90.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points and suiting downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With around 8366 people per dwelling approval, St Kilda - West reflects a highly mature market. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 6,375 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

St Kilda - West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 37 potential impact projects. Notable initiatives are Fareham, St Kilda Pier Foreshore Upgrade, 52 St Kilda Road, and St Kilda Marina Redevelopment. The following details projects likely most relevant.

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

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St Kilda - West has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

St Kilda-West has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 5.7% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.7% over the past year. As of that date, 11,334 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.0% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation in St Kilda-West stood at 79.8%, above Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 47.5% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries of employment among residents were professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. St Kilda-West had a high specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level, while manufacturing showed lower representation at 3.7% compared to the regional average of 7.2%.

The ratio of workers to residents was 0.7 as at the Census, indicating above-norm local employment opportunities. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.7% and labour force grew by 5.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a similar increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to St Kilda-West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The St Kilda - West SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $63,511 and an average of $88,253 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is notably high compared to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 during the same period. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $68,751 (median) and $95,534 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%. According to 2021 Census figures, individual earnings rank at the 92nd percentile nationally ($1,236 weekly), but household income ranks lower at the 55th percentile. The predominant income cohort spans 34.4% of locals (5,525 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting a similar pattern seen in the broader area where 32.8% occupy this range. High housing costs consume 18.3% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 53rd percentile. 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 structure of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Kilda - West stood at 17.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.9% and rented ones at 59.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. Median weekly rent was $392, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, St Kilda - West's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and 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% of all households, including 10.8% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 4.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 58.6%, with lone person households at 51.3% and group households comprising 7.3%. The median household size is 1.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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 is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 57.1% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% statewide (Victoria). This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 17.7% and graduate diplomas at 4.7%.

Vocational pathways account for 23.4% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 12.0%. Educational participation is notably high, with 27.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in tertiary education, 4.5% in primary education, and 4.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

St Kilda-West has 52 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 14 routes that facilitate 14,404 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent with residents typically located 133 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 56%, followed by walking at 10% and train at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 47.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 2,057 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 277 weekly trips per stop.

St Kilda - West's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data for St Kilda - West shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks in mortality rates and health conditions. Common health issues are seen across both young and old age groups. Private health cover is high at approximately 65% of the total population (10,472 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues affect 10.9% of residents, while asthma impacts 7.8%. A total of 72.5% declare no medical ailments, similar to the 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. The area has 14.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,359 people), with strong health outcomes among seniors ranking higher than the general population nationally.

St Kilda - West 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-West has high cultural diversity, with 23.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 40.8% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 30.4%. Judaism is overrepresented at 2.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%.

Top ancestry groups are English (24.6%), Australian (15.0%), and Other (12.5%). French (1.2% vs regional 0.5%), Polish (1.3% vs 0.8%), and Russian (0.9% vs 0.4%) are notably overrepresented.

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 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, St Kilda-West has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (27.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.1%). This concentration of residents aged 25-34 is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 8.2% to 10.4%, while the proportion of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 14.0% to 12.5%. The proportion of residents aged 35-44 has also dropped, from 18.1% to 16.9%. By the year 2041, St Kilda-West is projected to experience notable changes in its age composition. Notably, the number of residents aged 45-54 is expected to grow by 77%, reaching 3,550 from 2,010.