Beaufort

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

Beaufort's population was around 5,149 as of February 2026. This reflected an increase of 505 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,644. The change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 4,835 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. Population density was approximately 2.8 persons per square kilometer. Beaufort's growth rate exceeded both its SA3 area (7.9%) and Rest of Vic., indicating it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed around 84.5% to population gains recently.

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, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Non-metropolitan areas nationally are projected to have above median population growth, with Beaufort expected to grow by 661 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 6.7% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Beaufort when compared nationally

Beaufort has received approximately 28 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 141 homes. As of FY-26, 18 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling has accommodated 2.1 new residents annually between FY-21 and FY-25. The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $347,000.

In the current financial year, $5.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Beaufort has shown moderately higher building activity, with 17.0% more approvals per person over the past five years. This has preserved reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand.

However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. All new construction has comprised standalone homes, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 238 people per dwelling approval, Beaufort indicates a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Beaufort is projected to grow by 347 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Beaufort has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Eleven infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable ones are the Beaufort Linear Park Master Plan, Beaufort Lake Caravan Park Upgrade, Beaufort Bypass, and Correa Park Residential Development. The following list details these projects in order of likely significance.

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

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Employment performance in Beaufort has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Beaufort's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate in Beaufort was 4.4% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.7% over the past year. In September 2025, 2,127 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 4.4%, which is 0.6% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Beaufort was 53.6%, significantly lower than Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. According to Census responses, 18.7% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents were agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had a strong presence with an employment share of 2.4 times the regional level.

Health care & social assistance had limited presence at 13.5% compared to 16.8% regionally. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census data. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 1.7% while labour force increased by 1.9%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment contract by 0.7%, labour force fall by 0.6%, and unemployment rise marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Beaufort's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 12.1% over ten years.

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

The median income among taxpayers in Beaufort SA2 is $48,227 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for the financial year 2023. The average income stands at $58,500 during this period. In comparison, Rest of Vic.'s median and average incomes are $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25% since financial year 2023, the estimated median income for Beaufort SA2 as of September 2025 would be approximately $52,206, with an average income of around $63,326. According to data from the 2021 Census, incomes in Beaufort fall between the 12th and 15th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile shows that 27.8% of the community (1,431 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, which mirrors regional levels where this bracket captures 30.3%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.3% income retention, total disposable income ranks at only the 18th percentile nationally.

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

Beaufort's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 95.5% houses and 4.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structure comprised 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Beaufort stood at 51.6%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (35.5%) or rented (13.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Beaufort was $1,216, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent figure in Beaufort was $218, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Beaufort's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.3% of all households, including 22.8% couples with children, 33.4% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.7%, with lone person households at 31.4% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.5%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas, each at 2.6%. Vocational credentials are held by 39.4% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 28.4%. Educational participation is high, with 32.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.4% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Beaufort has eight active public transport stops operating within its boundaries, offering a mix of train services. These stops are served by seven different routes that collectively facilitate 99 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport options is rated as limited, with residents typically residing 1022 meters away from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 94% of residents, while walking accounts for 5%. On average, there are 1.9 vehicles per dwelling in Beaufort, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 18.7% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 14 trips per day, equating to roughly 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Beaufort faces significant health challenges as per AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (around 2,492 people), compared to 50.5% in the rest of Victoria and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (11.0%) and mental health issues (10.2%), with 59.2% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in the rest of Victoria. Health challenges are particularly notable among working-age residents. Beaufort has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 25.1%, or 1,291 people, than the rest of Victoria (23.9%), with national rankings even higher.

The latest Census data sees Beaufort placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Beaufort had a lower cultural diversity level, with 82.3% citizens, 89.3% born in Australia, and 97.5% speaking English only at home as of the last census. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 48.0%. Judaism was slightly overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups were English (33.2%), Australian (32.4%), and Irish (10.2%). Notably, Scottish (9.8%) and Dutch (2.0%) were also overrepresented in Beaufort compared to regional averages of 8.8% and 1.7%, respectively.

Beaufort hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Beaufort's median age of 48 years is significantly older than Rest of Vic.'s 43 and Australia's 38. The age profile shows that those aged 45-54 are particularly prominent at 13.9%, while the 5-14 group is smaller at 10.0% compared to Rest of Vic.. Post-Census data (2021) shows the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 8.7% to 11.7%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.1% to 10.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 16.0% to 13.5%. Demographic modeling suggests Beaufort's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, increasing by 241 people (40%) from 602 to 844. However, population declines are projected for the 75 to 84 and 15 to 24 cohorts.