Glen Waverley (Vic.)

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According to ABS demographic updates and post-Census address verification by Districts, the suburb of Glen Waverley has an estimated 46,295 residents as of May 2026. This represents an 8.6% rise, or an additional 3,653 individuals, relative to the 42,642 people recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment stems from an Estimated Resident Population of 46,237 calculated by Districts using the ABS release from June 2025, combined with 314 validated new addresses established post-Census. With these figures, the suburb of Glen Waverley shows a population density of 2,749 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top quartile of domestic regions analyzed by Districts. The area's 8.6% post-Census growth is just 0.7 percentage points below the state average of 9.3%, reflecting strong underlying growth. This demographic increase was almost entirely fueled by overseas migration, which served as the primary source of population growth in recent times.

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Data compiled by Districts shows that the suburb of Glen Waverley has a highly skilled labor force, with strong numbers of professionals, a low unemployment rate of 2.0%, and an annual job growth rate estimated at 4.3%. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 24,120, while the local unemployment rate sat 2.8 percentage points below the Greater Melbourne average of 4.8%. However, the local workforce participation rate of 63.2% is considerably lower than the metropolitan average of 70.2%. Census data revealed that a substantial 36.5% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure was likely influenced by pandemic restrictions.

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Based on Districts compiles of the financial year 2023 postcode tax returns from the ATO, the suburb of Glen Waverley recorded a median taxpayer income of $45,319 and an average income of $70,506. These figures exceed the national averages, compared to metropolitan Melbourne figures of $57,688 for median income and $75,164 for average income. Adjusting these values for WPI growth of 9.62% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated values of approximately $49,679 for median income and $77,289 for average income as of March 2026. The 2021 Census ranks local household incomes at the 60th percentile ($1,918 weekly) and personal incomes at the 29th percentile. Income brackets show 29.2% of residents (13,518 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring the metropolitan trend where fall in this bracket. While housing expenses consume of local incomes, high overall earnings keep disposable incomes at the th percentile, placing the area in the th SEIFA income decile.

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At the time of the latest Census, housing types in the suburb of Glen Waverley consisted of 79.2% separate houses and 20.8% semi-detached, apartment, or other dwelling types, compared to metropolitan Melbourne averages of 67.9% separate houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership rates in the suburb of Glen Waverley stood at 42.6%, well above the metropolitan Melbourne average, with remaining properties either being purchased under a mortgage (29.4%) or rented (28.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,500 was notably higher than the metropolitan Melbourne average of $2,000, while the median weekly rent of $480 also exceeded the metropolitan average of $390. On a national scale, local mortgage repayments are considerably higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are well above the national median of $375.

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Families make up 78.3% of households in the suburb of Glen Waverley, consisting of couples with children (42.3%), couples without children (24.1%), and single-parent households (10.7%). The remaining 21.7% are non-family households, which are comprised of single-person households (18.1%) and group shared homes (3.6%). The median household size of 2.8 residents is higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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Educational attainment levels in the suburb of Glen Waverley are high relative to broader areas, with 48.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 29.8% in the SA4 region and 30.4% across Australia. This educational profile positions the community well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 29.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 15.6% and graduate diplomas at 3.3%. Vocational qualifications are held by 19.9% of the population aged 15+, which includes advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (9.0%).

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Public transport options in the suburb of Glen Waverley include 176 active bus stops. These stops serve 35 separate routes, providing a combined 9,301 weekly passenger journeys. Commuters are generally located within 240 meters of their nearest stop, indicating good transport accessibility. As the area is predominantly residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 81% and trains accounting for 10%. Households own an average of 1.4 vehicles. In the 2021 Census, 36.5% of residents worked from home, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

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Health assessments indicate favorable outcomes in the suburb of Glen Waverley, based on Districts analysis of mortality statistics and chronic health conditions. Younger demographics show low rates of common illnesses, and private health insurance coverage is high, held by approximately 55% of the population, which equates to about 25,318 residents.

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The suburb of Glen Waverley exhibits high levels of cultural diversity, with 63.1% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 60.7% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 34.0% of the population. A notable religious concentration is observed in Buddhism, which is practiced by 11.1% of the population, compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 4.2%.

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The median age in the suburb of Glen Waverley is 40 years, slightly higher than the Greater Melbourne median of 37 and the national median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the suburb has a higher proportion of residents in the 75 - 84 age bracket (7.1%) and a lower proportion in the 25 - 34 bracket (12.4%). Since 2021, the 15 to 24 demographic has increased from 13.6% to 14.7% of the population, while the 55 to 64 demographic has declined from 11.5% to 10.5%. Projections suggest changes to the age profile by 2041, with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow by 29% (an increase of people, moving from to residents) and the to cohort projected to increase by (adding people).

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Glen Waverley currently has an estimated 1,435 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 856 children aged 0-2 and 569 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 11% since the previous census. though population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 10% by 2041 (to approximately 1,572 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 4,782. Birth rates in the area have averaged 5.4 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a low rate (among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.