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 February 2026, is approximately 14,719, indicating a decrease of 210 people since the 2021 Census which reported 14,929 inhabitants. This decline is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,501 in June 2024 and an additional 98 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density stands at 915 persons per square kilometer, aligning with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in 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, AreaSearch uses 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 years 2032 to 2041. Nationally, non-metropolitan areas project above median population growth, with Bendigo expected to gain 2,122 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 12.9% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Bendigo has received approximately 60 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 301 homes. As of FY26, 22 approvals have been recorded. The area's population decline has not significantly impacted development activity, which remains relatively adequate for buyers. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $325,000.

This financial year has seen $306.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating high local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Bendigo shows about 56% of 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, offering a mix of opportunities across price brackets. This marks a shift from the current 86.0% houses, suggesting decreasing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability needs.

The area has an estimated 420 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Bendigo is projected to grow by 1,902 residents by 2041, with development keeping pace with projected growth despite increasing competition among buyers as the population expands.

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

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 38 potential impact projects. Key ones are Water and Sewer Network Program, Bendigo Stadium and Showgrounds Redevelopment, Bendigo Art Gallery Redevelopment, Regional Sports Infrastructure Program - Bendigo.

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

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

Bendigo has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 7.4% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.6%.

There were 6,606 residents in work while the unemployment rate was 3.6% above Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 57.8%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. According to Census responses, 14.5% of residents worked from home. Key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food.

Bendigo had particular employment specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented, with only 1.6% of Bendigo's workforce compared to 7.5% in Rest of Vic.. There were 1.5 workers for every resident as at the Census, indicating the area functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 1.6% alongside labour force increasing by 2.3%, resulting in unemployment rising by 0.6 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of Vic. recorded employment decline of 0.7%, labour force decline of 0.6%, with unemployment rising marginally. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published May-25, suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bendigo's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.

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

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. These figures are lower than those for Rest of Vic., which were $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated median income as of September 2025 is approximately $53,709, while the average is projected to be around $66,717. Census 2021 data shows that incomes in Bendigo fall between the 18th and 30th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile indicates that 28.7% of Bendigo's community earns within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, reflecting regional patterns where 30.3% occupy this income 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

The latest Census in Bendigo showed 86.5% houses and 13.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic. had 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bendigo was at 29.5%, with the rest being mortgaged (25.6%) or rented (44.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430 and Australia's national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Bendigo was $280, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285 and 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 constitute 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 account for the remaining 42.5%, with lone person households at 37.4% and group households comprising 5.0%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4 people.

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

Bendigo's educational qualifications trail regional Victorian averages. 27.0% of Bendigo residents aged 15+ hold university degrees, compared to Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 17.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 34.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (24.6%).

Educational participation is high at 27.7%, including primary education (8.4%), secondary education (7.0%), and tertiary education (4.9%).

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

The analysis of public transportation in Bendigo indicates that there are 144 active transport stops currently operating. These stops offer a mix of train services and are connected by 42 individual routes. Collectively, these routes facilitate 7,218 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 211 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward from Bendigo. The dominant mode of transportation remains the car, used by 85% of residents, while 10% opt to walk.

On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling in Bendigo, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 14.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 1,031 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 50 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map illustrates the locations of 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. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions, impacting both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~7,330 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis were found to be the most common medical conditions, affecting 12.9 and 10.1% of residents respectively. However, 59.6% of residents reported having no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in the rest of Victoria. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Bendigo has 18.6% of its residents aged 65 and over (2,742 people), lower than the 23.9% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.4% of its population being Australian citizens, 87.2% born in Australia, and 90.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bendigo, comprising 41.5% of people. Notably, Buddhism is overrepresented in Bendigo at 2.4%, compared to 1.0% across Rest of Vic..

The top three ancestry groups based on parents' country of birth are English (30.8%), Australian (28.2%), and Irish (11.0%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include Scottish, which is overrepresented at 8.6% in Bendigo compared to 8.8% regionally, German at 3.4% versus 3.5%, and Sri Lankan at 0.2% versus 0.1%.

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

Bendigo has a median age of 38, which is lower than the Rest of Vic figure of 43 but equivalent to the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group represents 20.8% of Bendigo's population, higher than the Rest of Vic percentage and well above the national average of 14.4%. However, the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 8.9%. Following the 2021 Census, younger residents have shifted the median age down by 1.3 years to 38. Specifically, the 25-34 age group grew from 15.7% to 20.8%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 11.1% to 12.5%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.3% to 10.0%, and the 15-24 group dropped from 12.9% to 11.5%. By 2041, Bendigo is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 41%, adding 1,251 residents to reach 4,312. Meanwhile, the 75-84 and 65-74 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.