Bendigo

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bendigo reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Bendigo's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 14,611. This figure reflects a decrease of 318 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,929. The change is inferred from an estimated resident population of 14,460 in June 2025 and an additional 181 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 908 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth in the area during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises 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. Nationally, non-metropolitan areas are projected to have above median population growth. The area is expected to grow by 2,060 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 13.0% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Bendigo according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Bendigo has received around 60 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 301 homes. In FY26 so far, 30 approvals have been recorded. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $325,000. This year, commercial approvals totalled $306.6 million.

Compared to the Rest of Vic., Bendigo shows approximately 57% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 67th percentile nationally, with recent intensification in construction activity. New building activity comprises 51.0% detached dwellings and 49.0% medium and high-density housing, expanding medium-density options and offering a mix of housing alternatives across price brackets. This marks a shift from the current 86.0% houses pattern, suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The area has an estimated 420 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment.

Bendigo is projected to grow by 1,906 residents through to 2041, with development keeping pace with projected growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers as the population expands.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 38 potential impact projects. Key ones include Bendigo Stadium and Showgrounds Redevelopment, Water and Sewer Network Program, Bendigo Art Gallery Redevelopment, Regional Sports Infrastructure Program - Bendigo. The following list details those likely most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment drivers in Bendigo are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Bendigo has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 7.1% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.2%. As of December 2025, there were 6,645 residents employed, and the unemployment rate was 3.4% higher than Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation was somewhat lower at 58.3%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.0%. According to Census responses, 14.5% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. The key industries for employment among Bendigo's residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Notably, the area has a specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.4 times that of Regional Vic.'s level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.6% of Bendigo's workforce compared to 7.5% in Regional Vic.. The area functions as an employment hub, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas, with a ratio of 1.5 workers per resident at the Census. Over the past year, employment increased by 2.2%, while labour force increased by 1.7%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Vic. experienced an employment decline of 0.6% and a labour force decline of 0.7%, with unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bendigo's employment mix, local employment growth could reach 6.8% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The Bendigo SA2's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $49,616. The average income stood at $61,632 during the same period. Comparatively, Regional Vic.'s median and average incomes were $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on a 9.62% growth in wages since financial year 2023, estimated median income for Bendigo SA2 as of March 2026 is approximately $54,389, with the average being around $67,561. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Bendigo fall between the 18th and 30th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile shows that 28.7% of Bendigo's community earns between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, with a similar pattern observed at regional levels where 30.3% falls within this earnings band. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Bendigo, with only 84.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 18th percentile nationally.

Bendigo is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Bendigo, as recorded in the latest Census, 86.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 13.4% being semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This is compared to Regional Victoria's figures of 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bendigo stood at 29.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.6% and rented ones at 44.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Regional Victoria's average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Bendigo was $280, similar to Regional Victoria's figure of $285. Nationally, Bendigo's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 57.5% of all households, including 18.4% couples with children, 23.3% couples without children, and 14.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 42.5%, with lone person households at 37.4% and group households making up 5.0%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

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

Educational qualifications in Bendigo slightly trail regional benchmarks, with 27.0% of residents aged 15 and over holding university degrees compared to the Victorian average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 6.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.8%. Vocational credentials are prominent, with 34.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 9.6% and certificates for 24.6%. Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.4% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bendigo's public transport system comprises 144 active stops serving a mix of train routes. These are covered by 42 individual routes, facilitating 7,218 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents situated an average of 211 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. The car remains the primary mode of transport at 85%, while walking accounts for 10%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,031 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 50 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Bendigo is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Bendigo faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Several health conditions affect both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively low, at approximately 50% of Bendigo's total population (~7,276 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (12.9%) and arthritis (10.1%), with 59.6% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in Regional Victoria. Working-age population health is notable for high chronic condition rates. Bendigo has 19.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,800 people), lower than Regional Victoria's 23.9%. Senior health outcomes present challenges, with national rankings roughly aligned with the general population.

Bendigo ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bendigo has a cultural diversity index below the national average. As of 2016, 86.4% of its population were Australian citizens, 87.2% were born in Australia, and 90.8% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 41.5% of people identifying as such.

Notably, Buddhism was overrepresented compared to Regional Victoria, comprising 2.4% versus 1.0%. The top three ancestry groups were English (30.8%), Australian (28.2%), and Irish (11.0%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences in representation: Scottish (8.6% vs regional 8.8%), German (3.4% vs 3.5%), and Sri Lankan (0.2% vs 0.1%) were overrepresented, while others may have been underrepresented compared to Regional Victoria averages.

Bendigo's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Bendigo has a median age of 38, which is lower than Regional Victoria's figure of 43 but matches the national norm also at 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 19.2% of Bendigo's population, higher than Regional Vic., while the 5-14 cohort constitutes 9.3%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has risen from 15.7% to 19.2%, and the 35-44 cohort has increased from 11.1% to 12.5%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 12.3% to 10.4%, and the 15-24 group has fallen from 12.9% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Bendigo's age profile. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 42%, reaching 3,974 people from its current figure of 2,799. Meanwhile, population declines are anticipated for the 75-84 and 65-74 cohorts.