Bulleen

Bulleen is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, Bulleen's population is estimated at around 11,788 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 569 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,219 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 11,692 residents following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and an additional 94 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,799 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 93.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, 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, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the national median, with Bulleen expected to grow by 810 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 6.1% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Bulleen had approximately 70 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 351 homes. In FY26 so far, 25 approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per dwelling built was 0.4 people per year between FY21 and FY25, indicating supply meeting or exceeding demand. Average new property construction value was $835,000, suggesting focus on premium market developments.

Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $8.1 million. Bulleen's development levels are similar to Greater Melbourne's per capita, supporting market stability. Recent construction comprised 33% detached dwellings and 67% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift towards denser development. Bulleen is currently estimated at around 222 people per approval, indicating low density. By 2041, AreaSearch projects a population growth of 714 residents.

At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current projections.

Bulleen has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that may impact this area. Notable projects include North East Link, Manningham Road Interchange, Bulleen Park Sports Upgrade, and Yarra Link Green Bridge. The following list details those likely to be most 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 analysis reveals Bulleen recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Bulleen has a well-educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.8%. As of December 2025, 6,010 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is 0.8% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation in Bulleen was 62.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. According to Census responses, 34.2% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. Retail trade shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while construction has limited presence at 8.2%, compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.8% and labour force grew by 2.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, and an unemployment increase of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bulleen's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Bulleen had a median income among taxpayers of $51,305. The average income stood at $74,606. Nationally, these figures are high compared to $57,688 and $75,164 across Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $55,538 (median) and $80,761 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 54th percentile ($1,814 weekly), while personal income sits at the 36th percentile. Income brackets indicate 27.8% of Bulleen's population falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 32.8%. After housing costs, 85.8% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Bulleen is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bulleen's latest Census data shows 79.6% houses and 20.4% other dwellings, contrasting with Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Bulleen's home ownership rate was 49.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.5% and rented at 20.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bulleen was $2,400, above Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Bulleen was $459, higher than Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Bulleen's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Bulleen has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 75.3% of all households, including 35.2% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.7%, with lone person households at 22.3% and group households making up 2.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 38.0%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 50.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational pathways account for 23.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 13.3%. Educational participation is high, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 7.6% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bulleen has 58 active public transport stops, all bus services. These are spread across 15 routes, serving a total of 2,262 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 188 meters. Most commuters travel outward from Bulleen, with cars being the primary mode at 87%, and buses at 7%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm. In 2021 Census data, 34.2% of residents worked from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

Daily service frequency averages 323 trips across all routes, equating to approximately 39 weekly trips per individual stop.

Bulleen's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance across Bulleen.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups, as assessed by AreaSearch. Private health cover was found to be high at approximately 56% of the total population (around 6,635 people). The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis, affecting 8.0% of residents, and mental health issues, impacting 5.4%. Notably, 72.6% of residents reported being completely free from medical ailments, similar to Greater Melbourne's figure of 72.6%. Working-age residents exhibited low chronic condition prevalence. Bulleen has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 25.0% (around 2,947 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors were strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Bulleen is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bulleen has a high level of cultural diversity, with 42.3% of its population born overseas and 50.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bulleen, comprising 59.8% of its people, compared to 43.0% across Greater Melbourne. The top three ancestry groups in Bulleen are Chinese (16.5%), Italian (16.4%), and Australian (12.5%).

These figures differ from the regional averages: Chinese is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%, Italian is also notably higher at 16.4% compared to 5.2%, while Australian is lower at 12.5% versus 18.4%. Other ethnic groups with notable differences include Greek (10.4% in Bulleen vs 2.7% regionally), Macedonian (1.2% vs 0.7%), and Croatian (1.1% vs 0.7%).

Bulleen hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Bulleen is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bulleen has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (14.3%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.4%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 increased from 11.4% to 13.2%, while the 55-64 age group rose from 13.0% to 14.3%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group decreased from 13.8% to 12.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Bulleen's age structure. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow by 24%, reaching 1,539 people from the current 1,237. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 63% of total population growth, reflecting Bulleen's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 15-24 and 0-4 age groups are projected to decrease in number.