Fastest growing Melbourne suburbs (2016-2021)

Kalkallo grew fastest in percentage terms, at +5,184%. Tarneit added the most residents, 21,808. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 340 eligible Melbourne suburbs.

This ranking shows which Melbourne suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.

Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Melbourne's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.

Melbourne suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021

Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.

1

Kalkallo

VIC 3064 · 5,548 residents

5,443 residents added · +5184% · 5,548 residents in 2021

C 100.0
2

Donnybrook

VIC 3064 · 2,100 residents

1,930 residents added · +1143% · 2,100 residents in 2021

C 99.7
3

Mickleham

VIC 3064 · 17,452 residents

14,309 residents added · +455% · 17,452 residents in 2021

C 99.4
4

Wollert

VIC 3750 · 24,407 residents

15,346 residents added · +169% · 24,407 residents in 2021

C 99.1
5

Diggers Rest

VIC 3427 · 5,669 residents

2,906 residents added · +105% · 5,669 residents in 2021

C 98.8
6

Ravenhall

VIC 3023 · 2,295 residents

1,138 residents added · +98% · 2,295 residents in 2021

D 98.5
7

Truganina

VIC 3029 · 36,305 residents

15,618 residents added · +76% · 36,305 residents in 2021

C 98.2
8

Tarneit

VIC 3029 · 56,370 residents

21,808 residents added · +63% · 56,370 residents in 2021

B 97.9
9

West Melbourne

VIC 3003 · 8,025 residents

2,509 residents added · +46% · 8,025 residents in 2021

B 97.6
10

Williams Landing

VIC 3027 · 9,448 residents

2,801 residents added · +42% · 9,448 residents in 2021

B 97.3
11

Mernda

VIC 3754 · 23,369 residents

6,910 residents added · +42% · 23,369 residents in 2021

B 97.0
12

Docklands

VIC 3008 · 15,495 residents

4,531 residents added · +41% · 15,495 residents in 2021

B 96.8
13

Greenvale

VIC 3059 · 21,274 residents

5,807 residents added · +38% · 21,274 residents in 2021

B 96.5
14

Werribee South

VIC 3030 · 2,392 residents

623 residents added · +35% · 2,392 residents in 2021

B 96.2
15

Point Cook

VIC 3030 · 66,781 residents

16,851 residents added · +34% · 66,781 residents in 2021

B 95.9

Ranked from 340 qualifying suburbs.

Melbourne suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021

Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.

1

Tarneit

VIC 3029 · 56,370 residents

21,808 residents added · +63% · 56,370 residents in 2021

B 100.0
2

Point Cook

VIC 3030 · 66,781 residents

16,851 residents added · +34% · 66,781 residents in 2021

B 99.7
3

Truganina

VIC 3029 · 36,305 residents

15,618 residents added · +76% · 36,305 residents in 2021

C 99.4
4

Wollert

VIC 3750 · 24,407 residents

15,346 residents added · +169% · 24,407 residents in 2021

C 99.1
5

Craigieburn

VIC 3064 · 65,178 residents

14,831 residents added · +30% · 65,178 residents in 2021

C 98.8
6

Mickleham

VIC 3064 · 17,452 residents

14,309 residents added · +455% · 17,452 residents in 2021

C 98.5
7

Werribee

VIC 3030 · 50,027 residents

9,682 residents added · +24% · 50,027 residents in 2021

B 98.2
8

Melbourne

VIC 3000 · 54,941 residents

7,655 residents added · +16% · 54,941 residents in 2021

B 97.9
9

Mernda

VIC 3754 · 23,369 residents

6,910 residents added · +42% · 23,369 residents in 2021

B 97.6
10

Doreen

VIC 3754 · 27,122 residents

5,824 residents added · +27% · 27,122 residents in 2021

B 97.3
11

Greenvale

VIC 3059 · 21,274 residents

5,807 residents added · +38% · 21,274 residents in 2021

B 97.0
12

Kalkallo

VIC 3064 · 5,548 residents

5,443 residents added · +5184% · 5,548 residents in 2021

C 96.8
13

Cranbourne West

VIC 3977 · 19,969 residents

4,934 residents added · +33% · 19,969 residents in 2021

B 96.5
14

Cranbourne North

VIC 3977 · 24,683 residents

4,573 residents added · +23% · 24,683 residents in 2021

B 96.2
15

Docklands

VIC 3008 · 15,495 residents

4,531 residents added · +41% · 15,495 residents in 2021

B 95.9

Ranked from 340 qualifying suburbs.

How we ranked these

100% population growth, ranked within Melbourne's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.

Common questions about this ranking

What are the fastest growing Melbourne suburbs (2016-2021)?

Kalkallo grew fastest in percentage terms, at +5,184%. Tarneit added the most residents, 21,808. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 340 eligible Melbourne suburbs.

What period does this cover?

The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.

Why are there two different lists?

Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.

Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?

This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.

Which suburbs are eligible?

Suburbs in Melbourne with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.

Same list in other cities

Related

Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.

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