Bayswater

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

Bayswater's population is approximately 13,404 as of May 2026. From the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,589 people, there has been an increase of 815 individuals (6.5%). This change is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 13,388 in June 2025 and an additional 161 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 1,667 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Bayswater's growth rate of 6.5% since the 2021 census surpassed both the SA3 area (3.1%) and the SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted 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. Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for the area, with an expected increase of 1,811 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 13.4% over the 16 years.

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

Bayswater has seen approximately 77 dwellings granted development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 388 homes received approvals, with an additional 32 approved so far in FY26. Each year, on average, 0.9 new residents have been associated with each dwelling constructed during these five years.

This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering more buyer choices and potentially supporting population growth beyond projections. The average construction value of new properties has been $312,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. In FY26 alone, commercial development approvals totaled $51.6 million, indicating strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bayswater's construction rate is 31.0% higher on a per capita basis over the past five years, maintaining good buyer choice and supporting existing property values. The new developments consist of 36.0% detached houses and 64.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 62.0% houses.

This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. With approximately 202 people per approval, Bayswater reflects an area experiencing growth. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Bayswater is projected to gain around 1,795 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 33 projects that could affect this 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 likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Bayswater has an educated workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.3% as of December 2021. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.0%.

As of December 2025, 7,159 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 5.8%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation in Bayswater was 66.8% compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census data, 26.7% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, construction, and manufacturing.

Manufacturing employed 1.4 times the regional level. Professional & technical services employed 7.9% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. There was 1.1 worker for every resident in Bayswater as at Census time, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 2.0% while labour force grew by 1.6%, resulting in a unemployment decrease of 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bayswater's employment mix, local employment is expected to increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years.

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 2023 shows Bayswater SA2 had a median income of $57,417 and an average income of $64,634 among taxpayers. This is below the national average. Greater Melbourne had a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164 during this period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Bayswater SA2 as of March 2026 would be approximately $62,941 (median) and $70,852 (average). 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, equating to 4,825 people, fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, reflecting regional patterns where 32.8% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Bayswater SA2, with only 82.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 40th 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

The dwelling structure in Bayswater, as per the latest Census, consisted of 62.2% houses and 37.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Compared to Melbourne metro's figures, Bayswater had a lower proportion of houses at 62.2%, while Melbourne had 67.9%. Conversely, Bayswater had a higher percentage of other dwellings at 37.7%, compared to Melbourne's 32.1%. Home ownership in Bayswater was 28.4%, which is lower than the Melbourne metro average. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (37.2%) or rented (34.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bayswater was $1,827, which is below both the Melbourne metro average of $2,000 and the Australian national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure for Bayswater was recorded at $376. This is lower than the Melbourne metro average of $390 but higher than the national average of $375.

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

Family households comprise 67.9 percent of all households, including 28.8 percent couples with children, 24.7 percent couples without children, and 13.1 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.1 percent, with lone person households at 28.3 percent and group households comprising 3.7 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Educational qualifications in Bayswater Trail show that 30.0% of residents aged 15+ have university degrees, compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. This indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the 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, including advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (21.6%).

Educational participation is high at 26.3%, with 8.5% in primary education, 6.2% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 14 different routes that together facilitate 3,339 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically residing 247 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation for 88% of residents, while 7% use trains. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in Bayswater.

According to the 2021 Census, 26.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 477 trips per day, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per individual stop.

Bayswater's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia 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 metrics are close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the nation's average among older cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~6,862 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 9.1 and 8.5% of residents respectively, while 67.7% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 17.9% of residents aged 65 and over (2,396 people), which is higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Bayswater was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon 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, representing 41.7% of the population. Buddhism, however, is disproportionately represented at 4.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.0%), Australian (20.7%), and Other (10.5%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Hungarian (0.5% vs regional 0.3%), Dutch (2.1% vs 1.2%), and Sri Lankan (0.9% vs 0.8%) are notably more prevalent in Bayswater than in the broader region.

Bayswater's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Bayswater is 38 years, close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bayswater has a higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (6.4%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.4%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 10.5% to 11.4%, while the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 16.4% to 15.6%. By 2041, Bayswater's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 31% (490 people), reaching 2,091 from 1,600. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are expected to decrease in number.