Busselton

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

According to the analysis of ABS population adjustments for the broader region and recent address validations conducted by AreaSearch since the Census, the resident count for the suburb of Busselton is projected to be approximately 1,933 in May 2026. This represents an expansion of 95 people (5.2%) compared to the 2021 Census, which documented 1,838 people. The adjustment is calculated from a resident base of 1,922 estimated by AreaSearch using the ABS ERP release from June 2025, alongside 49 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This population size results in a density of 433 persons per square kilometer, which allows for substantial personal space and opportunities for future expansion. Overseas migration was the primary driver of growth, accounting for approximately 35.0% of the overall population rise, though other components, including interstate arrivals and natural increase, also registered positive trends.

AreaSearch incorporates regional demographic projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024, utilizing 2022 as the baseline. For locations omitted from these datasets, or to project growth past 2032, AreaSearch applies age-specific growth rates from the latest Greater Capital Region projections published in 2023 using 2022 data. Based on these anticipated demographic transitions, population gains are projected to sit slightly below the median for non-metropolitan locations nationwide, with the suburb of Busselton expected to grow by 193 persons by 2041 under consolidated SA2-level estimates, representing a 9.4% rise over the 16 years.

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

According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS building consent statistics distributed from local area data, the suburb of Busselton averaged approximately 19 residential approvals annually, with 95 homes approved over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 11 recorded during FY-26. With an average of only 0.5 new residents added per year for each built home during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, the supply of new dwellings is keeping pace with or outstripping demand, providing buyers with abundant options and enabling population growth beyond baseline predictions. The average construction cost of these new properties stands at $576,000, which points to developer activity concentrated in the higher-end market. In addition, commercial development consents totaling $4.6 million were registered in the current financial year, demonstrating minimal developer attention toward commercial projects.

Compared to Regional WA, the rate of residential approvals per capita in the suburb of Busselton is approximately three-quarters of the regional standard, though it ranks in the 93rd percentile of areas evaluated across the country, indicating a recent rise in building activity. Every single newly approved dwelling has been a detached house, preserving the established low-density aesthetic of the area and focusing on spacious family residences. Interestingly, the proportion of traditional houses being built exceeds the existing housing split recorded at the Census (71.0%), showing sustained demand for detached family living despite pressure to increase density. A density profile of 65 people per approved dwelling highlights the low-density nature of the suburb of Busselton.

Demographic projections indicate the suburb of Busselton will add 182 residents by 2041, measured from the latest quarterly figures compiled by AreaSearch. If building activity continues at its current pace, the addition of residential properties should easily satisfy demand, maintaining favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially allowing growth to exceed current forecasts.

Busselton has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development initiatives are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 4 projects that are likely to influence the local area. The most relevant projects include City of Busselton Local Planning Scheme No. 22, Busselton Health Campus Expansion, Brown Street Busselton, and Home HQ Busselton, with specific details of their local impact provided below.

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

The suburb of Busselton has a qualified labor force with strong representation in the hospitality and tourism sectors, alongside an unemployment rate of 4.6% compiled from AreaSearch regional aggregations. As of March 2026, there are 893 employed residents. The local unemployment rate sits 1.1% above the Regional WA level of 3.5%, while the labor participation rate of 53.2% is considerably lower than the Regional WA figure of 65.6%. Census data reveals that a minimal 6.5% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic containment measures.

The primary employment sectors for local workers are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and construction. The community exhibits a strong concentration in accommodation & food jobs, with a local share that is 2.0 times the regional average. In contrast, sectors like agriculture, forestry & fishing are underrepresented, accounting for 1.8% of employment compared to the regional benchmark of 9.3%. Despite the presence of local employment options, a comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests a large portion of the workforce travels outside the area for employment.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics for the broader region shows that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, the local labor force contracted by 0.7% while overall employment fell by 0.8%, maintaining a stable unemployment rate. Conversely, Regional WA saw employment fall by 0.1% and the labor force grow by 0.3%, leading to a rise of 0.4 percentage points. The national projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future labor needs in the suburb of Busselton. These estimates, looking five and ten years ahead, have been aligned with the local industry breakdown to project growth. Nationwide employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but trends differ between industries. Weighting these projections against the employment structure of the suburb of Busselton suggests local job numbers could increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, assuming local population trends are not factored in.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Based on consolidated ATO tax statistics for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the suburb of Busselton registered a median income of $42,807 and an average income of $56,535. These figures are below national benchmarks and compare to regional averages of $59,973 and $74,392 for Regional WA. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated values of $47,486 for the median and $62,714 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Busselton between the 2nd and 14th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket contains 33.9% of residents (655 people) earning between $400 - 799 weekly, which contrasts with the broader region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is most common at 31.1%. Financial strain is common, with 44.0% of households living on modest budgets under $800 weekly. Housing costs consume a large portion of earnings, leaving just 79.9% of income disposable, which ranks in the 3rd percentile.

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

The housing stock in the suburb of Busselton at the time of the latest Census consisted of 70.9% detached houses and 29.0% alternative dwellings such as townhouses, units, or other types of housing, compared to Regional WA where the mix was 88.5% houses and 11.6% alternative dwellings. Home ownership rates were high at 43.2%, while the remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (16.9%) or rented (39.8%). The median mortgage payment of $1,635 was higher than the Regional WA median of $1,560, and the median weekly rent was $320 compared to the regional median of $265. Nationally, mortgage payments in the suburb of Busselton are below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family units account for 54.3% of all households in the suburb of Busselton, consisting of couples with children at 12.0%, couples without children at 33.4%, and single parent households at 7.6%. The remaining 45.7% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 43.0% and group households making up 2.8% of the total. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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

The region shows lower rates of higher education, with university degree attainment at 18.0%, which is below the national average of 30.4%. This highlights a clear area for targeted educational programs. Among university graduates, Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational and technical qualifications are common, with 37.3% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 9.0% and certificates at 28.3%.

A total of 19.9% of the population is enrolled in an educational institution. This is made up of 7.2% attending high school, 6.2% attending primary school, and 1.9% enrolled in higher education.

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

Analysis of local transit shows there are 34 active transport stops operating within the suburb of Busselton, consisting of bus services. These stops are connected by 4 routes, which together provide 341 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is good, with residents living an average of 238 meters from the nearest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 87%, followed by walking at 5% and cycling at 4%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.0 car per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A low proportion of 6.5% of the workforce worked from home, based on 2021 Census data collected during pandemic conditions.

Service frequency across all local transit routes averages 48 trips daily, which represents approximately 10 weekly trips for each transit stop.

Health performance in Busselton is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Health assessments indicate that the suburb of Busselton faces considerable challenges, based on mortality statistics and the occurrence of long-term conditions across both younger and older demographics. The level of private health coverage is low, with approximately 50% of the population (~959 people) covered, compared to 56.4% in Regional WA and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical diagnoses among residents are arthritis and mental health conditions, which affect 12.6 and 9.6% of the population, respectively. Conversely, 57.9% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. The working-age cohort has high rates of long-term illness, resulting in national health risk rankings that exceed general population levels. Additionally, 36.8% of the population is aged 65 and over (711 people), which is significantly higher than the Regional WA average of 19.2%.

In terms of cultural diversity, Busselton records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The suburb of Busselton aligns closely with regional averages for cultural diversity markers, showing citizenship rates at 85.0%, Australian-born residents at 74.9%, and English-only speakers at 93.3%. Christianity is the major religion, practiced by 48.7% of the community. However, the most pronounced difference is in the proportion of residents identifying as Muslim, which stands at 1.8% compared to the Regional WA average of 0.8%.

Evaluating ancestry lines based on parental country of birth shows English heritage is the largest group in the suburb of Busselton at 37.6% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 31.3%. This is followed by Australian ancestry at 27.3% and Scottish ancestry at 8.2%. Other notable backgrounds include Dutch heritage at 1.8% of the population (compared to 1.5% in the region), South Australian at 0.6% (compared to 0.6%), and Maori at 0.7% (compared to 1.0%).

Busselton ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in the suburb of Busselton is 55 years, which is higher than the Regional WA average of 40 and the national average of 38. Compared to the regional population, there is a high concentration of residents in the 65 - 74 age bracket (17.8% locally), whereas children aged 5 - 14 are underrepresented at 5.3%. The proportion of residents aged 65 - 74 is also higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age range has expanded from 8.6% to 9.9% of the population, and the cohort aged 85+ has grown from 4.7% to 6.0%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 group contracted from 15.3% to 13.9%, and the 65 to 74 group fell from 19.2% to 17.8%. Projections for 2041 indicate demographic shifts, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to grow by 41%, adding 83 residents to reach 288. In contrast, population declines are forecast for the 15 to 24 and 75 to 84 age cohorts.