Busselton

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

Busselton's population was estimated at around 1,981 as of November 2025, reflecting an increase of 143 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 1,838 in the suburb. This increase is inferred from the resident population of 1,913 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 35 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 444 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Busselton has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%, outpacing the SA4 region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 35.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends indicate a median increase for regional areas across the nation, with Busselton expected to grow by 233 persons to reach 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 10.6% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Busselton when compared nationally

Between FY21 and FY25, Busselton recorded approximately 71 residential property approvals. In FY26 up to the present, around 3 properties have been approved. On average, about 2.7 people moved to the area annually per new home constructed during these years, indicating strong demand for housing.

The average construction cost of new homes was $576,000. This financial year has seen approximately $3.8 million in commercial approvals, reflecting Busselton's primarily residential nature. Compared to other areas in WA and nationally, Busselton shows lower construction activity per person but is among the 87th percentile of assessed areas.

Recent building activity consists solely of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's low-density character preferred by families seeking space. The location has approximately 98 people per dwelling approval, indicating a growing market. AreaSearch estimates Busselton will gain around 209 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply is expected to meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potential growth exceeding forecasts.

Busselton has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 8thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified five projects likely affecting the region. Key projects include Home HQ Busselton, City of Busselton Local Planning Scheme No. 22, Busselton Health Campus Expansion, and Brown Street Busselton. The following 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.

Busselton shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Busselton has a skilled workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 6.0%.

As of June 2025967 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.4% higher than Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 46.6%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and construction. The area had a strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 1.8% of local workers, below Rest of WA's 9.3%. Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census working population to local population counts. In the 12-month period ending Sep-22, employment increased by 6.0% and labour force grew by 4.9%, causing unemployment to fall by 1.0 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of WA where employment rose by 1.1%, labour force grew by 0.5%, and unemployment fell by 0.6 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggested that national employment would expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Busselton's employment mix indicated local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localised population projections.

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

Busselton's median taxpayer income was $42,807 and average income was $56,535 in financial year 2022. This is lower than the national averages of $57,323 (median) and $71,163 (average). By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $48,886 and average income $64,563, based on a 14.2% increase since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes in Busselton fell between the 2nd and 14th percentiles nationally. Incomes of $400-$799 accounted for 33.9% of residents (671 individuals), contrasting with metropolitan regions where incomes of $1,500-$2,999 were predominant at 31.1%. The prevalence of lower-income residents (44.0% earning under $800/week) indicates financial constraints across the area. Housing affordability pressures are severe; only 79.9% of income remained, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

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

In Busselton, as per the latest Census evaluation, 70.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 29.0% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro WA's figures of 89.8% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Busselton stood at 43.2%, with mortgaged properties making up 16.9% and rented ones accounting for 39.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,635, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Busselton was recorded at $320, compared to Non-Metro WA's $360. Nationally, Busselton's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 54.3% of all households, including 12.0% couples with children, 33.4% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 45.7%, with lone person households at 43.0% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 18.0%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational credentials are common, with 37.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (28.3%). School and university attendance comprises 19.9% of the community, broken down into secondary education (7.2%), primary education (6.2%), and tertiary education (1.9%).

South West Community College - Busselton campus serves local educational needs within Busselton, with an enrollment of 0 students as of the latest data. Secondary education is dominated by 1 school in the area, while primary students typically attend schools in neighboring regions due to the lack of local schools. Residents must travel to nearby areas for educational services. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus data.

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

Transport analysis indicates 34 operational stops in Busselton, offering mixed bus services. These stops are covered by four distinct routes, facilitating 341 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is deemed good, with residents situated on average 238 metres from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 48 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly 10 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Busselton is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Busselton faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Approximately 50% (~983 people) have private health cover, compared to 52.6% in the rest of WA and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.6%) and mental health issues (9.6%).

Conversely, 57.9% report no medical ailments, lower than the 69.5% in the rest of WA. Busselton has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 34.0% (673 people), compared to 20.0% in the rest of WA.

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

Busselton's cultural diversity aligns with the wider regional average, with 85.0% of its population being citizens and 74.9% born in Australia. English is spoken as a first language by 93.3%. Christianity is the dominant religion at 48.7%, while Islam is overrepresented at 1.8% compared to the regional average of 0.4%.

In terms of ancestry, English (37.6%), Australian (27.3%), and Scottish (8.2%) are the top three groups. Notably, Dutch (1.8%), South African (0.6%), and Maori (0.7%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Busselton ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Busselton is 55 years, significantly higher than the Rest of WA average of 40 years and also above the national norm of 38 years. The 65-74 year-old cohort is notably over-represented in Busselton at 16.9%, compared to the Rest of WA average, while the 5-14 year-old cohort is under-represented at 5.6%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is higher than the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 9.6% to 11.1%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 8.2% to 9.6%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 19.2% to 16.9%. Population forecasts for Busselton in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 54%, adding 118 residents to reach a total of 338. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 85+ and 15 to 24 cohorts.