Bonbeach

Population growth drivers in Bonbeach are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, Bonbeach's population is estimated at around 7,112 people. This reflects an increase of 257 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,855. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 7,095 residents following their examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validation of additional 79 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 2,540 persons per square kilometer, placing Bonbeach in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Bonbeach has exhibited resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.2%, outperforming its SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing around 86% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For future projections, AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia's projections released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year for each SA2 area. By 2041, Bonbeach is projected to grow by an additional 1,230 persons, reflecting a total increase of 17.6% over the 17-year period, based on aggregated SA2-level projections indicating above median population growth for Australian statistical areas.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Bonbeach recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Bonbeach has seen approximately 32 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 160 homes were approved, with an additional 3 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, 1.6 new residents per year have been arriving per new home over the past five financial years, indicating a balanced supply and demand creating stable market conditions. However, this ratio has increased to 4.5 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential supply constraints in the area.

New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $671,000, which is higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. In FY-26, Bonbeach has recorded $10.6 million in commercial development approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity compared to Greater Melbourne. When measured nationally, Bonbeach records 15.0% less building activity per person and places among the 58th percentile of areas assessed. New development consists of 44.0% detached dwellings and 56.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

The location has approximately 262 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Bonbeach is forecasted to gain 1,255 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

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

Five projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area, significantly influencing its performance. These key projects include The Dell developed by Stockland, Bonbeach Station Precinct Redevelopment & Level Crossing Removal, Bonbeach Lifesaving Club Redevelopment, and Carrum Level Crossing Removal and Revitalisation.

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.

Employment drivers in Bonbeach are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Bonbeach has an educated workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 7.0% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, there were 3877 working residents, with an unemployment rate of 2.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation matched Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Major employment sectors included health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction stood out with a share of employment 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, accommodation & food services were under-represented at 3.9% compared to Greater Melbourne's 6.4%. The residential area seemed to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparison between working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Bonbeach's labour force increased by 1.2%, while employment declined by 1.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 2.1 percentage points. This contrasted with Greater Melbourne where employment rose by 3.5% and unemployment increased by only 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 projected overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bonbeach's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Bonbeach's median income among taxpayers was $64,450 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $77,941 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $72,287 (median) and $87,419 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Bonbeach's personal income ranks at the 76th percentile ($975 weekly), while household income sits at the 51st percentile. The earnings profile shows that 31.0% of residents (2,204 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 49th percentile. Bonbeach's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Bonbeach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Bonbeach's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 38.9% houses and 61.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 54.8% houses and 45.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bonbeach was at 30.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.4% and rented ones at 29.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,139, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,167. Median weekly rent in Bonbeach was $391, compared to Melbourne metro's $410. Nationally, Bonbeach's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,139 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $391 than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 63.7% of all households, including 26.4% couples with children, 26.6% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.3%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households making up 3.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than Greater Melbourne's average of 2.4.

Bonbeach shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's university qualification rate is 31.7%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 21.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 35.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (13.2%) and certificates (22.3%). Educational participation is high, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (9.3%), secondary education (6.3%), and tertiary education (4.3%). Bonbeach Primary School serves the area, with an enrollment of 369 students as of 2021. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with ICSEA score of 1080, indicating above-average socio-educational conditions. Secondary schooling options are available in nearby areas due to limited local capacity (5.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.6).

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

Bonbeach has 16 active public transport stops. These are a mix of train and bus services. There are 3 routes operating in total, providing 1,613 weekly passenger trips combined.

The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents typically located 274 meters from their nearest stop. On average, there are 230 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 100 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Bonbeach are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Bonbeach's health indicators show lower-than-average results, with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age groups.

The private health cover rate is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~4,095 people). Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 9.5% and 8.3% of residents respectively. 67.7% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 70.4% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 19.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,393 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Bonbeach's cultural diversity was above average, with 11.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 24.1% born overseas. Christianity was the main religion in Bonbeach, comprising 44.5% of its population. Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 0.5% versus 1.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (29.2%), Australian (24.2%), and Irish (9.3%). Notably, Russian (1.0%), French (0.7%), and Welsh (0.7%) ethnicities showed higher representation compared to regional averages of 1.0%, 0.6%, and 0.5% respectively.

Bonbeach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Bonbeach is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. The 65-74 age group makes up 10.8% of the population in Bonbeach, compared to a lower prevalence of the 15-24 cohort at 8.9%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.6% to 6.4% of the population, while the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 13.8% to 12.5%. Population forecasts for Bonbeach in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 70%, adding 318 people and reaching a total of 774 from the previous 455. Notably, the combined age groups of 65+ will account for 55% of the total population growth, reflecting Bonbeach's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.