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 was approximately 11,994 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 268 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,726. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 11,972 residents in June 2024 and 137 new addresses validated after the census date. Sydenham's population density was 3,036 persons per square kilometer as of November 2025, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's growth rate of 2.3% since the Census is close to its SA3 region's growth rate of 2.6%. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 96.2% of Sydenham's 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 employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Sydenham's population is projected to increase by approximately 1,218 persons, reflecting a total increase of about 10.0% over the seventeen-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 per year. Between FY21-FY25206 homes were approved, with one more approved so far in FY26. The population has declined recently, suggesting demand is being met by new supply.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $223,000, lower than regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices for buyers. In FY26, $5.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sydenham has moderately higher new home approvals (16.0% above average per person over five years), balancing buyer choice with property value support. However, building activity has slowed recently, possibly due to planning constraints. New development consists of 24.0% detached houses and 76.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a shift towards denser development to cater to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Sydenham currently has around 3091 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market.

By 2041, the location is expected to grow by 1,196 residents. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond forecasts.

Sydenham 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 twenty projects likely to affect the region. Notable ones include the Shared User Paths Upgrade in Taylors Lakes/Sydenham/Hillside, Plumpton Aquatic and Leisure Centre, 9 Pecks Road Townhouse Development, and The Marketplace at Watergardens. The following list details 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.

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

Sydenham's workforce is skilled with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 5.4% in June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.8%. As of that date, 6,904 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Dominant employment sectors among residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Sydenham had particular specialization in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services showed lower representation at 5.5% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 4.8% while labour force increased 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 rise in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Sydenham's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years.

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

Sydenham had a median taxpayer income of $52,019 and an average income of $61,264 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest approximately $58,345 (median) and $68,714 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household income ranks at the 54th percentile ($1,820 weekly), while personal income sits at the 32nd percentile. The largest income segment comprises 37.6% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (4,509 residents). After housing expenses, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses. Sydenham'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 dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.3% houses and 33.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Melbourne metro had 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 metro's average of $1,700. The median weekly rent in Sydenham was $366, compared to Melbourne metro'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 comprise the remaining 22.7%, with lone person households at 19.8% and group households at 2.8%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is smaller 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%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 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 such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 20.0%. Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 8.3% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 6.1% in tertiary education.

Sydenham has four schools with a combined enrollment of 2,446 students, serving typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1036) with balanced educational opportunities. Educational provision consists of two primary and two secondary institutions, with school capacity exceeding residential needs (20.4 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 14.3), indicating the area serves as an educational hub for the broader region.

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

Public transport analysis shows that Sydenham has 37 active transport stops operating. These are a mix of train and bus services. There are 9 individual routes servicing these stops, providing a total of 4689 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 230 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 669 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 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 levels of common health conditions among the general population being somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~6,068 people), compared to 48.1% across Greater Melbourne.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 7.6% and 6.8% of residents respectively, while 71.6% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.5% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 16.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,927 people), which is lower than the 17.9% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges that require more attention than those of the broader population.

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's population shows high cultural diversity, with 43.4% born overseas and 47.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sydenham, comprising 57.7% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' category represents 5.2%, higher than Greater Melbourne's 2.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (18.7%), Australian (14.1%), and English (13.1%). Sydenham has notable overrepresentations of Croatian (3.0% vs regional 2.2%), Maltese (5.2% vs 4.6%), and Macedonian (2.9% vs 2.5%) ethnic groups.

Sydenham's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Sydenham's median age is 37, matching Greater Melbourne's figure and remaining comparable to Australia's 38 years. The 55-64 age group comprises 12.9%, higher than Greater Melbourne, while the 35-44 cohort stands at 13.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group grew from 7.1% to 8.7%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 3.9% to 4.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 14.0% to 12.2%. By 2041, projections show significant shifts in Sydenham's age structure. The 65-74 group is expected to grow by 52% (542 people), reaching 1,588 from 1,045. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 78% of the population growth. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 35-44 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.