Bunbury (WA)

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

Bunbury's population, as of November 2025, is estimated at approximately 4,212 people. This figure reflects a growth of 264 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,948. The recent increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 4,195 in June 2024, based on ABS ERP data and additional validated new addresses. This results in a density ratio of 879 persons per square kilometer for Bunbury (WA), which aligns with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 6.7% since the census is within 2.2 percentage points of the national average, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains in recent periods for Bunbury (WA).

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and ABS Greater Capital Region projections from 2023 based on 2022 data to estimate growth post-2032. Projected demographic shifts indicate an above median population growth for locations outside capital cities, with Bunbury (WA) expected to grow by 558 persons to reach approximately 4,770 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 12.2% over the 17-year period.

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

Bunbury averaged approximately 17 new dwelling approvals per year based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Around 85 homes were approved in the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional nine approved so far in FY-26. This averages out to about two new residents arriving per new home over these years.

The average construction cost for new properties is around $445,000. There have been $35.7 million in commercial approvals this financial year.

Recent development has consisted entirely of standalone homes, maintaining Bunbury's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. Developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies, reflecting strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 361 people. Bunbury is expected to grow by 515 residents through to 2041 according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Bunbury has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects are Prinsep Street Streetscape, Bunbury Ocean Pool, Transforming Bunbury's Waterfront, and Boulters Heights: A New Chapter Begins. The following list details those 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.

The labour market in Bunbury demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Bunbury has a well-educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.4% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 6.3%.

As of June 2025, 2,393 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.2% higher than Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%. Workforce participation was similar to Rest of WA's 59.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents included health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction, with a particular specialization in health care & social assistance at 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 1.4% compared to the regional average of 9.3%.

The area functioned as an employment hub with 2.1 workers for every resident, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between Jun-25 and Jul-26, employment increased by 6.3%, labour force by 5.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of WA experienced employment growth of 1.1% and labour force growth of 0.5%, with a 0.6 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections suggest Bunbury's employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.8% over ten years based on its industry mix.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Bunbury has a median taxpayer income of $65,012 and an average income of $83,569 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is among the highest in Australia, contrasting with Rest of WA's median income of $57,323 and average income of $71,163. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $74,244 (median) and $95,436 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, personal income ranks at the 70th percentile ($923 weekly), while household income sits at the 42nd percentile. Looking at income distribution, the largest segment comprises 30.2% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,272 residents). After housing, 85.9% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Bunbury displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Bunbury, as per the latest Census, 48.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 51.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In contrast, Non-Metro WA had no recorded houses or other dwellings. Home ownership in Bunbury stood at 36.6%, with mortgaged properties at 25.0% and rented dwellings at 38.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro WA's average. The median weekly rent was $330, whereas Non-Metro WA had no recorded rents. Nationally, Bunbury's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and its rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Bunbury features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a median household size of 2.0 people

Family households constitute 56.8% of all households, including 17.0% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 43.2%, with lone person households at 39.1% and group households comprising 4.2%. The median household size is 2.0 people.

Bunbury performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Educational attainment in Bunbury is significantly higher than broader benchmarks in Western Australia. Specifically, 31.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 17.6% in the rest of WA. This educational advantage is evident in various levels of qualifications: bachelor degrees at 20.3%, postgraduate qualifications at 7.2%, and graduate diplomas at 3.8%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 35.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 23.7%.

A substantial proportion of the population is actively pursuing formal education, with 23.0% engaged in various levels of schooling. This includes 8.7% in secondary education, 6.2% in primary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education. Bunbury's four schools have a combined enrolment reaching 1,611 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1014) offering balanced educational opportunities. Educational provision is conventional, split between one primary and three secondary institutions. The area has strong educational infrastructure, with 38.2 school places per 100 residents serving both local and surrounding communities.

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

Bunbury has 43 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 13 different routes that together facilitate 1,781 weekly passenger trips. The city's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents on average being located 281 metres from the nearest stop.

On a daily basis, there are an average of 254 trips across all routes, which equates to approximately 41 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data for Bunbury indicates significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high, at approximately 60% of the total population (2,543 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.7% and 9.7% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 65.6%, report no medical ailments, compared to 0% in the rest of WA. Bunbury has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over, at 24.1% (1,015 people), performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Bunbury's population, as per the 2016 Census, showed cultural diversity with 10.6% speaking a language other than English at home and 27.1% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 48.1%. Notably, Judaism had a higher representation in Bunbury at 0.2%, compared to 0% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (33.7%), Australian (22.6%), and Irish (9.4%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Welsh at 0.8% (vs 0% regionally), South African at 0.8% (vs 0%), and Polish at 0.9% (vs 0%).

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

Bunbury's median age of 48 years is notably higher than Rest of WA's 40, which is also older than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Rest of WA average, Bunbury has a notably over-represented cohort aged 65-74 (13.5% locally), while those aged 5-14 are under-represented (6.9%). From 2021 onwards, the age group 25 to 34 grew from 11.5% to 14.6%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.2% to 10.3%. Conversely, the 85+ cohort declined from 4.5% to 3.2%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 15.9% to 14.8%. Demographic modeling suggests Bunbury's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow significantly, expanding by 308 people (50%) from 614 to 923. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 85+ cohorts.