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 around 13,802 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,213 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,589 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,305 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 145 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,716 persons per square kilometer. Bayswater's growth rate exceeded that of the SA4 region (4.9%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 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. Population projections show an above median growth with the area expected to grow by 1,981 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 10.8% over the 17 years.

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

Bayswater has experienced approximately 77 dwelling approvals annually. From FY21 to FY25, around 388 homes were approved, with an additional 22 approved in FY26 as of the present time. The average new resident per year per dwelling constructed over these five financial years was 0.9.

This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections. New properties are being constructed at an average value of $312,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. In the current financial year, $51.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bayswater has experienced elevated construction activity, with a 32.0% increase per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

New development in Bayswater consists of 36.0% detached houses and 64.0% townhouses or apartments. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This marks a significant shift from the current housing pattern, which is predominantly houses (62.0%). This change may indicate diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. Bayswater reflects a developing area, with around 202 people per approval. Population forecasts suggest that Bayswater will gain approximately 1,484 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects that may affect 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 likely to be 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 manufacturing and industrial sectors prominently represented. The unemployment rate was 5.0% in September 2024, with estimated employment growth of 1.9%. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 5.1%, which is 0.4% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation is 66.6%, below Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses in 2021, 26.7% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and manufacturing, with a strong specialization in manufacturing at 1.4 times the regional level. Professional & technical services employ 7.9% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

There is a ratio of 1.1 workers per resident, indicating Bayswater functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 1.9% while labour force grew by 1.0%, resulting in a unemployment rate decrease of 0.8 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bayswater's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

The latest postcode level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows Bayswater SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $57,417 and an average of $64,634. Both figures are below the national average. Comparing to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164 further highlights this difference. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Bayswater would be approximately $62,154 (median) and $69,966 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Bayswater all rank modestly, between the 42nd and 46th percentiles. The income distribution reveals that 36.0% of locals (4,968 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 category, reflecting regional patterns where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Bayswater, 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

In Bayswater, as per the latest Census, 62.2% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 37.7% being semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bayswater stood at 28.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.2% and rented ones at 34.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,827, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent in Bayswater was $376, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Bayswater's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than 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 comprising 3.7%. 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

Bayswater Trail residents aged 15+ have 30.0% university degree holders, compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (20.0%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 33.3%, including advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (21.6%). Educational participation is high, with 26.3% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (8.5%), secondary (6.2%), tertiary (4.7%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 14 different routes, collectively moving 3,339 passengers weekly. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 247 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from this primarily residential area. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 88%, while trains account for 7%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 26.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 477 trips daily across all routes, translating to about 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 closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the national average for older cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of the total population (~7,066 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 9.1 and 8.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.7% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population in Bayswater are broadly typical. The area has 18.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,569 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than those for 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, comprising 41.7% of people, while Buddhism, at 4.2%, is overrepresented 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 overrepresented in Bayswater.

Bayswater's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Bayswater is close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bayswater has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (6.7%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (10.2%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 grew from 10.5% to 11.7%, while the 25-34 age group declined from 16.4% to 15.1%. By 2041, Bayswater's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 27% (456 people), reaching 2,122 from 1,665. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to decrease in number.