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 is approximately 21,130 as of November 2025. This figure represents a growth of 10,469 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,661. The increase is inferred from an estimated resident population of 15,811 in June 2024 and an additional 3,985 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density of 70 persons per square kilometer. Whittlesea's growth rate of 98.2% since the 2021 Census exceeds both national (8.9%) and state averages, positioning it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 88.1% to overall population gains in 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, it employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting via weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth, with Whittlesea expected to increase by 29,824 persons by 2041, representing 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 granted around 929 residential property approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 4,647 homes were approved. As of FY-26503 dwellings have been approved.

The average population increase per dwelling built over these five years is 1.4 people. This indicates a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction cost for new homes is $269,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options. In FY-26, there have been $40.3 million in commercial approvals, reflecting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Whittlesea has 481.0% more construction activity per person.

This high level of activity is also significantly higher than the national average, suggesting robust developer confidence in the area. New development consists predominantly of detached houses (93.0%) with a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (7.0%), maintaining Whittlesea's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With approximately 14 people per dwelling approval, Whittlesea exhibits characteristics of a growth area. By 2041, the population is projected to grow by 24,505 residents. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially facilitating growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 82 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Northern Private Hospital Epping, Peppercorn Hill Estate, Regional Housing Fund Projects, and DB910 Business Park. The following details those most relevant.

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

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

Whittlesea has a skilled labour force with the construction sector being prominent. Its unemployment rate was 4.5% in June 2025, aligning with Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%.

Employment grew by 1.0% over the past year. As of June 2025, 7,289 residents were employed, with workforce participation at 61.0%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries include construction (employing 2.0 times the regional average), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Professional & technical services employ only 4.5% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 1.0%, labour force grew by 1.4%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced higher growth rates. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Whittlesea's industry mix suggests local growth could be approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.2% 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

AreaSearch aggregated the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022. Whittlesea had a median income among taxpayers of $50,296 and an average level of $61,778. These figures are below the national averages of $54,892 and $73,761 in Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated median income is approximately $56,412 as of September 2025, with average income estimated at $69,290 during the same period. The 2021 Census shows household, family and personal incomes in Whittlesea cluster around the 50th percentile nationally. Income distribution data indicates that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 35.7% of residents (7,543 people), similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represents 32.8%. High housing costs consume 15.7% of income, leaving disposable income at the 58th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th 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, comprised 91.8% houses and 8.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 87.2% houses and 12.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Whittlesea was 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 $1,900. Median weekly rent in Whittlesea was $375, compared to Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Whittlesea's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus 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%. 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's university qualification rate is 20.8%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificates at 29.0%. Educational participation is high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 11.2% in primary, 8.7% in secondary, and 3.8% in tertiary.

Six schools operate within Whittlesea, educating approximately 1,707 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1002) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes three primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools. School places per 100 residents stand at 8.1, below the regional average of 13.1, indicating some students may attend adjacent areas' schools. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in 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 has 64 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 14 routes offering 6,217 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is limited with residents usually located 610 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 888 trips daily 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.

Common health conditions among its general population are somewhat typical but higher than the nation's average among older cohorts. Approximately 51% (~10,691 people) of Whittlesea residents have private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. The most common medical conditions in Whittlesea are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.6 and 8.3% of residents respectively. About 68.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. Around 12.0% (2,541 people) of Whittlesea's population are aged 65 and over, lower than the 13.2% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those of 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 has a 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 is the predominant religion in Whittlesea, making up 48.5% of the population. The most notable overrepresentation is in the 'Other' category, comprising 4.4% compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.4%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (26.7%) and English (26.1%) groups are significantly higher than regional averages of 17.3% and 15.5%, respectively. However, the 'Other' group is notably lower at 8.0% compared to the regional average of 17.4%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Macedonian (1.4%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average of 4.6%, Italian (7.0%) is slightly underrepresented from its regional average of 9.6%, and Maltese (1.4%) is roughly equal to the regional average of 1.5%.

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 somewhat younger than the national average of 38 years. The 5-14 age group comprises 14.9% of Whittlesea's population compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 55-64 cohort makes up 8.6%. Between 2021 and present, Whittlesea has seen its median age decrease by 2.1 years to 35 from 37. 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 suggest 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.