Bundoora (Vic.)

Bundoora has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

The population of Bundoora (Vic.), estimated by AreaSearch as of May 2026, is around 31,105. This reflects a growth of 3,037 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 28,068. The change was inferred from the resident population of 31,080 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 142 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,782 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Bundoora's growth of 10.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 9.3%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For future projections, AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period to 2041, with the suburb expected to increase by 15,213 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 48.8% in total over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Bundoora when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis indicates that Bundoora averaged around 74 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 371 homes. As of FY-26, 35 approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 2.1 new residents gained annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction cost value of new homes is $441,000, slightly above the regional average.

Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $62.3 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. New development comprises 29.0% standalone homes and 71.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting various buyer types. This shift from the area's existing housing (76.0% houses) suggests decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. Bundoora currently indicates a mature market with around 434 people per approval.

Future projections estimate an addition of 15,188 residents by 2041, potentially leading to increased competition among buyers if current development rates do not keep pace with population growth, thereby supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives greatly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 51 such projects expected to affect the region. Notable ones include M80 Ring Road Completion, Research and Development Centre, Uni Hill Factory Outlets Stage 3A, and 149 McKimmies Road Residential Precinct. 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.

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

Bundoora has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.2%. As of December 2025, 17,523 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.3%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was 66.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. A high 25.3% of residents worked from home, possibly influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction, while professional & technical services employed only 7.7% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.2%, and labour force increased by 1.3%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bundoora's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Bundoora has a median taxpayer income of $48,842 and an average of $60,926 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages, with Greater Melbourne having a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. By March 2026, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $53,541 and the average will be around $66,787, based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 45th percentile ($1,668 weekly), while personal income sits at the 26th percentile. Income distribution shows that 32.6% of residents (10,140 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to regional levels where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Bundoora, with only 84.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 46th percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

As per the latest Census evaluation in Bundoora, dwelling structures consisted of 76.1% houses and 23.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bundoora was at 37.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.6% and rented dwellings at 28.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. The median weekly rent figure was recorded as $381, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Bundoora's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Bundoora features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 70.8% of all households, consisting of 33.3% couples with children, 24.7% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.2%, with lone person households at 23.0% and group households comprising 6.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which matches the Greater Melbourne average.

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

University qualification levels in Bundoora stand at 32.8%, slightly below Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 20.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are held by 27.3% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 16.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in tertiary education, 7.1% in primary education, and 7.0% pursuing secondary education.

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

Bundoora has 134 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These are covered by 19 routes that facilitate 11,862 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 285 meters to the nearest stop. Most commuters travel outward due to Bundoora's residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode at 85%, while train usage stands at 6%. The area has an average vehicle ownership of 1.4 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 25.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Daily service frequency averages 1,694 trips across all routes, equating to about 88 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to Bundoora's location centrepoint.

Bundoora's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data for Bundoora shows positive outcomes overall. Mortality rates and health conditions are largely in line with national averages.

Common health conditions are relatively low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk groups compared to national figures. Approximately 51% of Bundoora's total population (~15,851 people) has private health cover, lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.4% and 7.2% of residents respectively. About 71.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Bundoora has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.7% (5,505 people) than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

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

Bundoora's cultural diversity is high, with 39.5% of its population born overseas and 44.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bundoora, comprising 53.1%. Buddhism, however, is slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 4.5% versus 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (15.4%), Australian (15.2%), and Other (12.4%). Notably, Macedonian (4.0%) is significantly overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.7%. Similarly, Italian (10.1% vs 5.2%) and Greek (5.3% vs 2.7%) are also overrepresented in Bundoora.

Bundoora's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Bundoora has a median age of 37, matching Greater Melbourne's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The 15-24 age group is strongly represented at 19.2%, higher than Greater Melbourne's percentage but lower than the national average of 12.7%. The 35-44 cohort makes up 11.7% of Bundoora's population, less prevalent compared to Greater Melbourne. Between 2021 and now, the median age has decreased by 1.1 years from 38 to 37, suggesting a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the 15-24 age group grew from 15.8% to 19.2%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 15.7% to 18.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.9% to 10.9%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 9.6% to 8.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling predicts significant changes in Bundoora's age profile, with the 25-34 group leading this shift by growing by 49% (2,756 people), reaching a total of 8,355 from its current figure of 5,598.