Creswick

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

By November 2025, Creswick's population is estimated at around 3,344, reflecting an increase of 65 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 3,279 in Creswick. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,295 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 18 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 67 persons per square kilometer for Creswick. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration 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 the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Creswick is expected to increase by 279 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 5.8% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Creswick has received around 18 dwelling approvals each year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 90 homes from FY21 to FY25. So far in FY26, 6 approvals have been recorded. On average, no people per year have moved to the area for each dwelling built during this period.

New construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and potentially facilitating population growth. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $489,000. There have been $2.3 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating a predominantly residential focus.

Compared to the Rest of Vic., Creswick shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 71st percentile nationally. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 186 people per dwelling approval, Creswick exhibits characteristics of a low density area. Future projections estimate Creswick adding 193 residents by 2041 based on current development patterns, suggesting new housing supply should readily meet demand and offer good conditions for buyers while potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Creswick has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like modifications to local infrastructure, large-scale projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are expected to impact this area. Notable projects include Western Renewables Link, Ballarat North Precinct Structure Plan, Ballarat Intermodal Freight Hub, and Ballarat Line Upgrade. The following list provides details on those projects deemed most relevant.

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Creswick has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Creswick has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate in June 2025 was 3.8%, matching Rest of Vic.'s rate, and employment grew by 7.7% over the past year.

There are 1,516 residents currently employed. Workforce participation lags at 48.3%. Dominant sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Other services have a high employment share of 1.6 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 4.1% locally compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%.

Employment opportunities may be limited as Census working population is lower than resident population. Over the year ending June 2025, employment increased by 7.7%, labour force by 6.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment decline by 0.9% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Creswick's employment mix suggests local growth of 6.2% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Creswick's median taxpayer income was $44,023 and average income was $55,102 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than the national average, with Rest of Vic.'s median income being $48,741 and average income $60,693. By September 2025, current estimates suggest Creswick's median income will be approximately $49,376 and average income $61,802, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Creswick all fall between the 9th and 12th percentiles nationally. In terms of income distribution, 28.3% of Creswick residents (946 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 30.3%. After housing expenses, 85.9% of income remains in Creswick, ranking at the 12th percentile nationally.

Creswick is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Creswick's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.4% houses and 9.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic. had 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Creswick was at 44.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (36.2%) or rented (19.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Creswick was $1,300, significantly lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,538 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Creswick was recorded at $275, substantially below Non-Metro Vic.'s $300 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 63.4 percent of all households, including 22.1 percent couples with children, 30.5 percent couples without children, and 10.3 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.6 percent, with lone person households at 34.3 percent and group households comprising 2.3 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Creswick aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 19.8%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.1%) and certificates (28.9%). Educational participation is high at 27.1%, comprising primary education (10.3%), secondary education (7.3%), and tertiary education (3.3%).

Creswick's three schools have a combined enrollment of 341 students, serving typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 993). All three schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. The area has excess school capacity, with 10.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 7.4, indicating it serves as an educational hub for the broader region.

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

Creswick has 33 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 15 different routes, together facilitating 385 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is assessed as good, with residents generally situated 389 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 55 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Creswick faces significant health challenges with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Approximately 49% (~1,628 people) have private health cover, lower than the state average of 51.4%. Nationally, this figure stands at 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.4%) and mental health issues (10.5%), while 57.2% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.5% in the rest of Victoria. Creswick has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.1% (973 people), compared to 24.2% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors present certain challenges but generally perform better than the general population.

Creswick is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Creswick's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.1% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (89.0%), speaking English only at home (96.5%). Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 43.9% of Creswick's population. Notably, the 'Other' category was overrepresented in Creswick at 1.2%, compared to 0.6% across Rest of Vic.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.0%), Australian (29.1%), and Irish (11.3%). Dutch ethnicity was notably overrepresented at 3.0% in Creswick versus 2.0% regionally, while Scottish and Welsh remained equally represented at 9.9% and 0.6%, respectively.

Creswick ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Creswick's median age of 50 exceeds both Rest of Vic.'s figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38. The 65-74 age group comprises 15.3% of Creswick's population, higher than Rest of Vic.'s percentage but lower than the national average of 9.4%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort makes up only 8.4% of Creswick's population. Post-2021 Census data shows an increase in the 35 to 44 age group from 10.1% to 10.8%, while the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 15.0% to 14.4%. By 2041, Creswick's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 101 people (36%), reaching 382 individuals. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the 5-14 and 65-74 cohorts.