Bendigo

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bendigo reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, Bendigo's population is estimated at around 5,588 as of Nov 2025. This reflects a decrease of 64 people (1.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,652 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,496 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 47 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,016 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, an above median population growth of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is projected for the Bendigo statistical area (Lv2), with the area expected to increase by 743 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 11.3% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Bendigo according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Bendigo has seen approximately 27 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 137 homes were approved, with an additional 12 approved so far in FY-26. Despite a declining population, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average expected construction cost of new homes is $461,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment. This year, Bendigo has registered $143.6 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Bendigo has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 60th percentile nationally. New building activity consists of 59.0% detached houses and 41.0% attached dwellings, reflecting an increasing blend of housing types offering choices across price ranges.

This shift indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. Bendigo has a low density with around 250 people per approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Bendigo is expected to grow by 629 residents through to 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Bendigo has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include the Water and Sewer Network Program, Regional Sports Infrastructure Program - Bendigo, Bendigo Art Gallery Redevelopment, and Bendigo Stadium and Showgrounds Redevelopment. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Bendigo faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Bendigo's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate stood at 6.2% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6%.

As of September 2025, 2,726 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.5% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Bendigo was 60.7%, slightly higher than Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and accommodation & food. Notably, health care & social assistance employs 1.3 times more residents than the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 1.3% of local workers, below Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%.

With a worker-to-resident ratio of 2.9, Bendigo serves as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the 12 months prior to September 2025, employment increased by 1.6% while labour force grew by 2.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. Meanwhile, Rest of Vic. experienced employment decline of 0.7% and labour force decline of 0.6%. State-level data up to 25-Nov-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.13%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but localised projections for Bendigo suggest a higher growth rate due to its unique employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that median income in Bendigo is $54,568 and average income is $71,376. This contrasts with Rest of Vic., where median income is $50,954 and average income is $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since June 2023, estimated median income in Bendigo as of September 2025 would be approximately $59,070 and estimated average income would be around $77,265. According to Census 2021 data, personal income ranks at the 53rd percentile ($821 weekly) and household income is at the 31st percentile. Income brackets indicate that 29.7% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (1,659 individuals). After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Bendigo is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Bendigo, as per the latest Census evaluation, 82.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 18.1% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments and other types. This differs from Non-Metro Vic., where 90.6% of dwellings were houses and 9.4% were other types. Home ownership in Bendigo stood at 31.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.9% and rented ones at 45.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,482, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,408. Median weekly rent in Bendigo was $290, slightly lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s $295. Nationally, Bendigo's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,482 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $290 versus the national figure of $375.

Bendigo features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 56.5% of all households, including 17.4% composed of couples with children, 25.7% comprising couples without children, and 11.7% being single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 43.5%, with lone person households accounting for 38.5% and group households representing 5.1%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Bendigo exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Bendigo's educational attainment is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 35.2% possess university qualifications, exceeding the Rest of Vic.'s 21.7% and the SA3 area's 23.6%. University qualifications are led by bachelor degrees (21.4%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.2%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 30.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (20.0%). Educational participation is high, with 25.1% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes secondary education (6.7%), primary education (6.6%), and tertiary education (5.6%).

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

Bendigo has 77 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are serviced by 42 individual routes, collectively providing 7,218 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 181 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 1,031 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 93 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Bendigo is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Bendigo faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Approximately 55% (~3,075 people) have private health cover, higher than the Rest of Vic's 50.4%.

Mental health issues affect 11.7% of residents, while arthritis impacts 9.5%. Around 64.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 62.0% in the Rest of Vic. About 19.1% (1,067 people) are aged 65 and over, performing well in health metrics compared to the general population.

Bendigo ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bendigo had a cultural diversity below average, with 87.5% citizens, 86.7% born in Australia, and 91.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 43.3%. Judaism showed overrepresentation at 0.1%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

Top ancestry groups were English (30.8%), Australian (25.8%), and Irish (12.3%). Notable divergences included Scottish at 9.6% (vs regional 8.7%), Welsh at 0.6% (vs 0.4%), and French at 0.5% (vs 0.3%).

Bendigo hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Bendigo's median age is 42 years, similar to Victoria's average of 43, but older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are prominent at 18.9%, while those aged 5-14 are smaller at 7.5%. Between 2021 and the present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 15.3% to 18.9% of Bendigo's population. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.5% to 11.9%, and the 15-24 age group has dropped from 13.0% to 11.7%. By 2041, forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Bendigo. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 50%, adding 527 residents to reach a total of 1,584. In contrast, population declines are forecasted for the 75-84 and 65-74 age cohorts.