Whittlesea
Statistical Area - sa2

Whittlesea lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Whittlesea's population was around 21,132 as of August 2025. This figure shows a growth of 10,471 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,661. The increase is inferred from an estimated resident population of 15,815 in June 2024 and an additional 3,984 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 70 persons per square kilometer. Whittlesea's growth rate of 98.2% since the 2021 census exceeded both national (8.6%) and state averages, indicating significant population growth driven primarily by interstate migration contributing approximately 88.1%. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 for areas not covered by ABS data.

Future population predictions anticipate exceptional growth, placing Whittlesea in the top 10 percent of statistical areas nationally, with an expected increase of 29,824 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, indicating a total increase of 116.0% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Whittlesea was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Whittlesea has recorded approximately 929 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 4647 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 267 in FY-26 so far. On average, 1.4 new residents have arrived per new home each year over these five financial years. This suggests a balanced supply and demand, creating stable market conditions, with new dwellings developed at an average expected construction cost of $361,000, below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers.

There has been $40.3 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Whittlesea shows 481% higher development activity per person, providing buyers with greater choice and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New development consists of 93% detached houses and 7% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 14 people per dwelling approval, Whittlesea exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Future projections indicate Whittlesea adding 24503 residents by 2041.

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.

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

Changes to local infrastructure can greatly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 85 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Northern Private Hospital Epping, Peppercorn Hill Estate, Regional Housing Fund Projects, and DB910 Business Park. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Whittlesea has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Whittlesea's workforce is skilled with a notable construction sector. The unemployment rate was 4.5% in June 2025, with an employment growth of 1.0% over the past year.

There were 7,289 residents employed by June 2025, with an unemployment rate matching Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation was lower at 61.0%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries are construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction is particularly specialized, employing twice the regional average.

Professional & technical services employed only 4.5% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 1.0%, labour force by 1.4%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne had employment growth of 3.5% and a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. Statewide, Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year to September 2025, adding 39,880 jobs. The state's unemployment rate was 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Whittlesea's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

Whittlesea had a median income among taxpayers of $50,296 and an average level of $61,778 in the financial year 2022. These figures are lower than the national averages of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively for Greater Melbourne. By March 2025, estimated median income is approximately $55,381 and average income is around $68,024 based on a 10.11% growth in wages since the financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Whittlesea cluster around the 50th percentile nationally. The income distribution shows that 35.7% of residents (7,544 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represents 32.8%. In Whittlesea, housing costs consume 15.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 58th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Whittlesea is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Whittlesea's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.8% houses and 8.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 87.2% houses and 12.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Whittlesea stood at 33.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 50.1% and rented ones at 16.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,900. Median weekly rent in Whittlesea was $375, slightly higher than Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Whittlesea's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were comparable at $375.

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

Family households account for 78.6% of all households, including 38.8% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.4%, with lone person households at 19.7% and group households comprising 1.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

Educational attainment in Whittlesea aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 20.8%, significantly lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (29.0%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.2% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education. There are six schools operating within Whittlesea, educating approximately 1,707 students. The educational mix includes three primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools. School places per 100 residents (8.1) fall below the regional average (13.1), indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Whittlesea's public transport analysis shows 64 active stops operating within the area as of June 2018. These comprise a mix of train and bus services, serviced by 14 individual routes providing 6,217 weekly passenger trips combined. Transport accessibility is rated limited with residents typically located 610 meters from their nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 888 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 97 weekly trips per individual stop.

Whittlesea'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

Whittlesea's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, with common health conditions among its general population being somewhat typical but higher than the national average for older cohorts.

Approximately 51% (~10,692 people) of Whittlesea's total population has private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. The most prevalent medical conditions in Whittlesea are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.6 and 8.3% of residents respectively. A total of 68.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. In Whittlesea, 12.0% (2,542 people) of residents are aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 13.2% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors in Whittlesea require more attention compared to the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Whittlesea was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Whittlesea, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016, exhibited higher than average cultural diversity with 20.2% of its population born overseas and 17.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Whittlesea, accounting for 48.5% of residents. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprised 4.4%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 4.4%.

Regarding ancestry (country of birth of parents), Australians were the largest group at 26.7%, substantially higher than Greater Melbourne's 17.3%. English heritage was also prominent at 26.1% compared to the regional average of 15.5%. However, the 'Other' category was notably lower at 8.0% against a regional average of 17.4%. Specific ethnic groups showed significant variations: Macedonian residents were overrepresented at 1.4%, while Italian (7.0%) and Maltese (1.4%) were slightly underrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne's averages.

Whittlesea's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Whittlesea's median age is 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and the national average of 38. The 5-14 age group makes up 14.9% of Whittlesea's population compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 55-64 cohort is less prevalent at 8.6%. Between 2021 and present, Whittlesea's median age has decreased by 2.1 years to 35 from 37. During this period, the 35-44 age group grew from 12.9% to 17.6%, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 14.4% to 16.2%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort declined from 9.5% to 6.4%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 13.1% to 10.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Whittlesea, with the 35-44 age group projected to grow by 126%, adding 4,703 residents to reach a total of 8,433.