Bayswater
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Bayswater's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 13,495. This figure represents a growth of 906 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,589. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates; the resident population was 13,407 in June 2024, with an additional 138 validated new addresses recorded since the census date. This results in a population density of 1,678 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Bayswater's growth rate of 7.2% since the 2021 Census exceeds that of its SA3 area (3.9%) and SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, above median population growth is projected for this area, with an expected increase of 1,981 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 13.3% over the 17-year period.

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

Bayswater has seen approximately 100 dwellings receive development approval annually. Development approval data from the ABS indicates 501 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY20 to FY25, with six already recorded in FY26. On average, 0.9 new residents have arrived per year for each new home over these five years, suggesting supply meets or exceeds demand and supports population growth while offering greater buyer choice. The average construction cost of new dwellings is $429,000, consistent with regional patterns.

This financial year has seen $51.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bayswater shows elevated construction levels, 34.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years, maintaining good buyer choice and supporting existing property values. New development consists of 36.0% detached houses and 64.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 62.0% houses. This denser development provides accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. With around 202 people per approval, Bayswater reflects a developing area.

Population forecasts indicate Bayswater will gain 1,791 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Bayswater has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 33 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include 711-717 Mountain Highway Mixed Use Development, Marie Wallace Bayswater Oval Sportsfield Renewal, 58-60 Station Street Land Sale Development, and Knox Housing Targets. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment conditions in Bayswater remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Bayswater has an educated workforce with strong manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.9% in June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.4% over the past year.

As of this date, 7,083 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.2% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment industries included health care & social assistance, construction, and manufacturing, with a notable specialization in manufacturing at 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services employed only 7.9% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

The area had 1.1 workers per resident as of the Census, indicating it functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from nearby areas. Over the year to June 2025, employment in Bayswater increased by 1.4% while labour force grew by 0.7%, leading to a decrease in unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with an increase in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 showed Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. This was slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%, but Victoria's employment growth outpaced the national average of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 estimated national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bayswater's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.5%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Bayswater had a median income among taxpayers of $53,436 and an average of $60,687. This is below the national average. Greater Melbourne, meanwhile, had a median income of $54,892 and an average of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Bayswater would be approximately $58,838 (median) and $66,822 (average) as of March 2025. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Bayswater rank modestly, between the 42nd and 46th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 36.0% of locals (4,858 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to the regional pattern where 32.8% fall into this category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Bayswater, with only 82.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 41st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Bayswater displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Bayswater's housing structure, according to the latest Census, consisted of 62.2% houses and 37.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Melbourne metro had 83.4% houses and 16.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bayswater was at 28.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.2% and rented dwellings at 34.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,827, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Weekly rent was $376 in Bayswater, compared to Melbourne metro's $400. Nationally, Bayswater's mortgage repayments were below the average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Bayswater has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 67.9% of all households, including 28.8% couples with children, 24.7% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.1%, with lone person households at 28.3% and group households making up 3.7%. The median household size is 2.4 people, smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.7.

Bayswater performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Bayswater trail's educational qualifications benchmarked regionally show 30.0% of residents aged 15+ with university degrees, compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. This indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 33.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (21.6%).

Educational participation is high at 26.3%, including 8.5% in primary education, 6.2% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education. Bayswater's five schools have a combined enrollment of 1,039 students as of the latest data point (year not specified). The ICSEA score for Bayswater is 1024, indicating typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities. There are four primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents are 7.7, lower than the regional average of 12.1, suggesting some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Bayswater has 67 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 14 routes, collectively facilitating 3,469 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents located an average of 247 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency across all routes averages 495 trips per day, equating to approximately 51 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Bayswater are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Bayswater's health indicators show below-average results. Common health conditions are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older residents.

Approximately 50% of Bayswater's total population (~6,747 people) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 9.1 and 8.5% of residents respectively. 67.7% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.4% across Greater Melbourne. Bayswater has 18.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,453 people), lower than the 19.5% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those of the broader population.

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

Bayswater's cultural diversity is notable, with 36.5% of its population born overseas and 32.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bayswater, accounting for 41.7% of people. However, Buddhism stands out as being overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 4.2% versus 4.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (23.0%), Australian (20.7%), and Other (10.5%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences in representation: Hungarian is overrepresented at 0.5%, Dutch at 2.1%, and Sri Lankan at 0.9%.

Bayswater's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Bayswater is 38 years, closely matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bayswater has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (6.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (10.3%). As per the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 increased from 10.5% to 11.6%, while the 25-34 age group decreased from 16.4% to 15.5%. By 2041, Bayswater's age composition is projected to change significantly. Notably, the 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 29%, reaching 2,122 people from 1,640. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are anticipated to decrease in number.