Daylesford

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

As of November 2025, Daylesford's population is estimated at around 2,856 people, reflecting an increase of 75 individuals since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,781. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and ABS ERP data released in June 2024, indicating a resident population of 2,644 for Daylesford and its surrounding areas. This results in a density ratio of 75 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Daylesford has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%, outpacing the SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 59% to overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing 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. Considering projected demographic shifts, Daylesford is expected to grow by approximately 306 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of around 11.1% in total over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Daylesford shows around 22 dwellings receiving development approval per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 112 homes were approved, with a further 2 approved so far in FY-26. This results in approximately 1.9 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

The supply and demand appear well-balanced, maintaining stable market conditions. The average value of new dwellings developed is $734,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. This financial year has seen $5.5 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature.

Compared to Rest of Vic., Daylesford records construction 13.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years, balancing buyer choice while supporting current property values. New development consists of 91.0% detached dwellings and 9.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. The location has approximately 132 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Future projections estimate Daylesford adding 316 residents by 2041 based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

No infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified zero projects potentially impacting this region. Notable initiatives comprise Western Renewables Link, Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, Ballarat Line Upgrade, and VNI West - Victorian Section. Below details projects most relevant.

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

Daylesford has a well-educated workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.0% as of an unspecified past year.

Employment growth over the same period was estimated at 6.8%. As of June 2025, 1,356 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 49.4%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key industries for employment among residents included accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Employment levels in accommodation & food were particularly high, at 2.8 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence with 2.3% employment compared to the regional average of 7.5%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in an unspecified date, employment increased by 6.8% alongside labour force increasing by 6.6%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of Vic., where employment contracted by 0.9%, the labour force fell by 0.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offered further insight into potential future demand within Daylesford. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, indicated that national employment was forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Growth rates differed significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Daylesford's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and not accounting for localised population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 shows that Daylesford has an income median of $44,718 and an average income of $65,812. This compares to Rest of Vic.'s median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% from July 2022 to September 2025, current estimates for Daylesford would be approximately $50,156 median and $73,815 average as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, Daylesford's personal income ranks at the 31st percentile ($715 weekly) and household income at the 12th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 27.4% of residents earn $400 - $799 weekly (782 residents), contrasting with the broader area where 30.3% earn $1,500 - $2,999 weekly. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Daylesford, with only 84.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 14th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Daylesford's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.4% houses and 10.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structure was 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Daylesford stood at 47.1%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (25.4%) or rented (27.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Daylesford was $1,532, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,538. The median weekly rent figure in Daylesford was recorded at $331, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $300. Nationally, Daylesford's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 55.9% of all households, including 13.8% couples with children, 31.7% couples without children, and 10.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 44.1%, with lone person households at 40.4% and group households making up 3.2%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic average of 2.4.

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

Daylesford's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 35.5% have university qualifications compared to 21.7% in Rest of Vic. and 24.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 21.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.2%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 31.7% of residents holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas (13.6%) and certificates (18.1%).

A substantial 24.2% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.0% in primary, 6.3% in secondary, and 4.2% in tertiary education. Daylesford's four schools have a combined enrollment of 799 students, serving distinct age groups with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 1045). The area functions as an education hub with 28.0 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 7.4, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Transport analysis shows one active public transport stop in Daylesford. It offers mixed bus services through seven routes, collectively serving 94 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated limited, with residents typically located 931 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 13 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 94 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data shows significant issues in Daylesford with high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover stands at approximately 53%, covering about 1,509 people, which is higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 9.8% of residents, followed by arthritis impacting 9.5%. A total of 60.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.5% in Rest of Vic. Daylesford has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 31.4%, with about 896 people falling into this category, compared to the 24.2% seen in Rest of Vic. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Daylesford's cultural diversity aligns with the wider region, with 85.7% being citizens, 79.5% born in Australia, and 90.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 35.8%. Judaism, however, is overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

Top ancestry groups are English (31.6%), Australian (19.5%), and Irish (13.0%). Notably, Scottish (11.9%) and Serbian (0.4%) are overrepresented, while Dutch (1.6%) is underrepresented compared to regional averages.

Daylesford ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Daylesford's median age in 2021 was 55 years, significantly higher than Victoria's average of 43 and Australia's norm of 38. The age profile showed that individuals aged 55-64 were particularly prominent, making up 19.6% of the population, compared to the national average of 11.2%. Meanwhile, those aged 5-14 constituted only 7.0%, lower than Victoria's average. Between 2021 and the present day, the 15-24 age group has grown from 5.6% to 7.3%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 9.0% to 10.5%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group declined from 8.2% to 7.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Daylesford's age structure. The 25-34 age cohort is expected to increase by 103 people (43%), growing from 239 to 343. However, the 5-14 and 15-24 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.