Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury's population is around 16,285 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 341 people (2.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,944 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,231 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 74 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,857 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising 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. Regarding demographic trends, lower quartile growth of national areas is anticipated, with the area expected to grow by 424 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 2.3% in total over the 17 years.

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 around 54 new homes approved each year, with 273 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 25 so far in FY-26. With population declining over recent years, new supply has likely been keeping up with demand, offering good choice to buyers, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $1,219,000, showing that developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. Additionally, $18.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

When measured against Greater Melbourne, Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 58th percentile of areas assessed nationally. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. New development consists of 48.0% standalone homes and 52.0% medium and high-density housing. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 66.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 308 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

Population forecasts indicate Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury will gain 370 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 25 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Maling Road Mixed-Use Development (Canterbury Hill), 359-365 Canterbury Road Retail Development, Highfield Park Residential Estate, and 426-430 Canterbury Road Development, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 possesses a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of just 2.4%, and 1.9% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 9,035 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 2.4% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (66.5% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a high 50.5% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. In contrast, construction employs just 5.6% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of the Census working population relative to the local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.9% while the labour force increased by 2.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne, where employment rose by 2.4%, the labour force grew by 2.8%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.9% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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 the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $64,071 with the average level standing at $122,203. This is exceptionally high nationally and compares to levels of $57,688 and $75,164 across Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $69,357 (median) and $132,285 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury, between the 85th and 93rd percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows 35.9% of the population (5,846 individuals) fall within the $4000+ income range, contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. The area demonstrates considerable affluence with 46.6% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 87.5% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and 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

Dwelling structure within Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 65.7% houses and 34.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury was well beyond that of Melbourne metro, at 46.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (33.3%) or rented (20.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Melbourne metro average at $3,150, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $475, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 75.6% of all households, comprising 38.8% couples with children, 27.1% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 24.4%, with lone person households at 22.3% and group households comprising 2.0% of the total. The median household size of 2.7 people is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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 significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 56.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in VIC. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 34.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.5%). Vocational pathways account for 16.2% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (9.1%) and certificates (7.1%).

Educational participation is notably 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 high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis reveals 73 active transport stops operating within Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury, comprising a mix of light rail and buses. These stops are serviced by 13 individual routes, collectively providing 7,231 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 204 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 79%, with 10% by train and 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. A high 50.5% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 1,033 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 99 weekly trips per individual stop.

Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Younger cohorts in particular see very low prevalence of common health conditions, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 79% of the total population (12,832 people). This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 6.9% and 6.9% of residents, respectively, while 71.7% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 24.8% of residents aged 65 and over (4,030 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, though they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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 was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 29.2% of its population born overseas and 23.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury is Christianity, which makes up 45.6% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Judaism, which comprises 0.4% of the population, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury are English, comprising 24.3% of the population, Australian, comprising 20.1% of the population, and Chinese, comprising 11.6% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Sri Lankan is notably overrepresented at 0.6% of Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury (vs 0.8% regionally), Greek at 2.2% (vs 2.7%) and Welsh at 0.7% (vs 0.4%).

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

The 45-year median age in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury is significantly above Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and similarly considerably older than Australia's 38 years. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury has a higher concentration of 15 - 24 residents (17.2%) but fewer 25 - 34 year-olds (7.1%). Following the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.3% to 8.6% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 15.0% to 17.2%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 15.2% to 13.3% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 12.6% to 11.2%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 40% (556 people), reaching 1,964 from 1,407. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 92% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both 35 to 44 and 0 to 4 age groups will see reduced numbers.