Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury

Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Surrey Hills West Canterbury's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 16,363. This figure represents an increase of 419 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 15,944. The change is inferred from ABS estimates: June 2024's estimated resident population was 16,231, with an additional 61 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density of 2,870 persons per square kilometer, placing the area in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration 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, it employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic trends suggest lower quartile growth nationally. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, Surrey Hills West Canterbury is expected to grow by 424 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 1.8% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Surrey Hills West Canterbury has seen approximately 54 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 273 homes were approved, with a further 23 approved in FY26 so far. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely been keeping pace with demand, providing good options for buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $1,219,000, indicating a focus on the premium market by developers. This financial year, $18.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Surrey Hills West Canterbury has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 58th percentile nationally when assessed against other areas. This lower-than-average national activity reflects the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of approximately 48% standalone homes and 52% medium to high-density housing, indicating a shift towards denser development for accessibility and affordability. The location has around 308 people per dwelling approval, suggesting a low-density market.

Population forecasts estimate Surrey Hills West Canterbury will gain approximately 292 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 25 projects likely affecting the area. Notable projects include Maling Road Mixed-Use Development (Canterbury Hill), 359-365 Canterbury Road Retail Development, Highfield Park Residential Estate, and 426-430 Canterbury Road Development. Below is a list of 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.

Employment conditions in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Surrey Hills West - Canterbury has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.1% in September 2025, below Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%. There were 9,020 residents employed by September 2025, with workforce participation similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. Professional & technical employment is notably high at 1.6 times the regional average, while construction employs only 5.6% of local workers compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 2.5%, labour force grew by 2.3%, reducing unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.0% and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections vary based on industry-specific growth rates.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year ended 30 June 2022, Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $64,479 and an average income of $125,238. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $72,320 (median) and $140,467 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Census 2021 data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury rank between the 85th and 93rd percentiles nationally. Income distribution indicates 35.9% of residents earn over $4000 annually, contrasting with surrounding regions where the $1,500-$2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. Affluence is evident with 46.6% earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting premium retail and services. After housing costs, residents retain 87.5% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.7% houses and 34.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 55.5% houses and 44.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury stood at 46.4%, with the rest being mortgaged (33.3%) or rented (20.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,150, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $3,000. The median weekly rent was $475, compared to Melbourne metro's $451. Nationally, Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $3,150 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375 at $475.

Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.6% of all households, including 38.8% couples with children, 27.1% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.4%, with lone person households at 22.3% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury is notable. Among residents aged 15 and above, 56.4% hold university qualifications, exceeding Australia's national average of 30.4% and Victoria's rate of 33.4%. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 16.6% and graduate diplomas at 5.5%.

Vocational pathways account for 16.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.1% and certificates at 7.1%. Educational participation is high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in secondary education, 8.8% in tertiary education, and 8.6% pursuing primary education.

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

Public transport analysis conducted in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury reveals 73 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. Nine individual routes service these stops, collectively facilitating 4,156 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 203 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 593 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 56 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Surrey Hills West - Canterbury shows better-than-average health outcomes for both young and elderly residents, with low prevalence of common conditions such as arthritis (6.9%) and asthma (6.9%). Approximately 80% of its total population of 13,123 has private health cover, higher than Greater Melbourne's 77.7% and the national average of 55.3%. Most residents (71.7%) report no medical ailments, compared to 73.8% in Greater Melbourne.

The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.7% (3,878 people), versus Greater Melbourne's 19.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with the general population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Surrey Hills West-Canterbury is more culturally diverse than most local areas, with 29.2% of its population born overseas and 23.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Surrey Hills West-Canterbury, accounting for 45.6% of people. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to 0.9% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (24.3%), Australian (20.1%), and Chinese (11.6%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Sri Lankan is slightly overrepresented at 0.6% (vs 0.7% regionally), Greek at 2.2% (vs 3.4%), and Welsh at 0.7% (vs 0.5%).

Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (17.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.3%). According to the 2021 Census, the age group 15-24 grew from 15.0% to 17.1%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 6.3% to 8.2%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 15.2% to 13.9%, and the 5-14 age group decreased from 12.6% to 11.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury's age structure. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 47%, reaching 1,964 from 1,333. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 100% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 45-54 and 25-34 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.