Sydenham
Statistical Area - sa2

Sydenham is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Sydenham's population is approximately 11,994 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 268 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,726 people. This growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,972 in June 2024 and an additional 137 validated new addresses post-census. Sydenham's population density stands at 3,036 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's growth rate of 2.3% since the 2021 census surpassed that of its SA3 region (2.2%), indicating Sydenham as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.2% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch employs 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 uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends indicate an increase just below the national median for Sydenham. By 2041, based on current projections, the area's population is expected to expand by 1,218 persons, reflecting a total increase of approximately 10.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Sydenham, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Sydenham averaged approximately 41 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 206 homes approved over the past five financial years, spanning from FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 1 approval in FY-26. During this period, Sydenham's population has been declining, suggesting that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice while new properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $520,000. In the current financial year, $5.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating Sydenham's residential character.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sydenham shows moderately higher new home approvals, with 16.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, balancing buyer choice while supporting current property values. However, building activity has slowed in recent years, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of 24.0% detached houses and 76.0% townhouses or apartments, demonstrating a shift towards denser development that appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This trend differs from Sydenham's existing housing composition, which is currently 66.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 3091 people per dwelling approval, showing an established market. Looking ahead, projections suggest Sydenham will grow by 1,196 residents through to 2041.

With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Sydenham has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Eighteen projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact the area, significantly influencing its performance through changes to local infrastructure. Key projects include the Shared User Paths Upgrade in Taylors Lakes/Sydenham/Hillside, the Plumpton Aquatic and Leisure Centre, the 9 Pecks Road Townhouse Development, and The Marketplace at Watergardens. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

The employment landscape in Sydenham shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Sydenham's workforce comprises skilled individuals from diverse sectors, with an unemployment rate of 5.4% as of June 2025. The area has experienced estimated employment growth of 4.8% over the past year.

There are 6,904 residents employed in Sydenham, while its unemployment rate is 0.8% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Sydenham is similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, transport, postal & warehousing has an employment share that is 2.1 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 5.5% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment in Sydenham increased by 4.8%, while labour force grew by 5.8%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data for Victoria up to Sep-25 shows employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sydenham's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Sydenham has a median taxpayer income of $52,019 and an average income of $61,264 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. This is lower than the national average, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 in the same period. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest approximately $57,278 (median) and $67,458 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household income ranks at the 54th percentile with a weekly income of $1,820, while personal income sits at the 32nd percentile. The largest income segment comprises 37.6% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 4,509 residents falling into this category. This aligns with the regional trend where this cohort represents 32.8%. After accounting for housing costs, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Sydenham displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Sydenham's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.3% houses and 33.7% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sydenham stood at 28.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.7% and rented ones at 31.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,650, below Melbourne's average of $1,700. Median weekly rent in Sydenham was $366, compared to Melbourne's $346. Nationally, Sydenham's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Sydenham features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 77.3% of all households, including 39.6% couples with children, 20.7% couples without children, and 15.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for 22.7%, with lone person households at 19.8% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.8 people, lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

Sydenham performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 26.0%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. This presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common (18.2%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 31.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (20.0%).

Educational participation is high at 29.7%, including primary education (8.3%), secondary education (8.0%), and tertiary education (6.1%). Sydenham's four schools have a combined enrollment of 2,446 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 1036). Educational provision is conventional, split between two primary and two secondary institutions. School capacity exceeds residential needs (20.4 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 14.3), indicating Sydenham serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

The analysis of public transport in Sydenham shows that there are currently 37 active transport stops operating within the area. These include a mix of train stations and bus stops. Nine individual routes service these stops collectively providing 4,689 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility to transport is rated as good with residents typically located approximately 230 meters from their nearest transport stop. On average, across all routes, there are 669 trips per day, which equates to around 126 weekly trips per individual stop.

Sydenham's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Sydenham's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, with common health conditions being somewhat typical of the general population but higher than average for older cohorts. Approximately 51% (~6,068 people) have private health cover, lower than Greater Melbourne's 48.1%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 7.6% and 6.8% of residents respectively. Around 71.6% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to Greater Melbourne's 73.5%. Sydenham has 16.1% (1,927 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Melbourne's 17.9%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting challenges.

Sydenham is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Sydenham has a high level of cultural diversity, with 43.4% of its population born overseas and 47.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The dominant religion in Sydenham is Christianity, comprising 57.7% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' category makes up 5.2% of Sydenham's population, which is higher than the regional average of 2.3%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are Other (18.7%), Australian (14.1%), and English (13.1%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Croatian is overrepresented at 3.0% compared to the regional average of 2.2%, Maltese at 5.2% versus 4.6%, and Macedonian at 2.9% compared to 2.5%.

Sydenham's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Sydenham's median age is 37, matching Greater Melbourne's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The 55-64 age group constitutes 12.9% of Sydenham's population, outpacing Greater Melbourne's percentage. Conversely, the 35-44 cohort makes up 13.0%, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's figure. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group has risen from 7.1% to 8.7%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 3.9% to 4.9%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 14.0% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Sydenham's age structure. Notably, the 65-74 group is projected to grow by 52%, reaching 1,588 people from its current 1,045. This growth represents 78% of the total projected population increase, underscoring an aging population trend. Conversely, the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are expected to experience population declines.