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 is approximately 14,563 as of November 2025. This figure reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census total of 14,929 people, indicating a drop of 366 individuals (2.5%). The current population estimate is based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics' June 2024 figure of 14,538 and an additional 95 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 905 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages observed across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods for Bendigo.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made through weighted aggregation for areas not covered by the ABS data. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth for Australian non-metropolitan areas, with Bendigo expected to expand by 2,122 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 14.1% over the 17-year period.

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

Bendigo granted approximately 60 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 301 homes. As of FY26, 20 approvals have been recorded. The area has maintained adequate housing supply relative to demand despite population decline, resulting in a balanced market with varied buyer choices. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $325,000.

This financial year, $306.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating high local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Bendigo records around 56% of building activity per person and ranks among the 67th percentile nationally, with recent construction activity intensification. New building activity comprises 51.0% standalone homes and 49.0% medium-high density housing, expanding affordable options. This shift marks a departure from current housing patterns (86.0% houses), suggesting diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences.

The area has an estimated 420 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Bendigo is projected to grow by 2,058 residents by 2041, with development keeping pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as population expands.

Bendigo has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 38 projects that could impact the area. Notable projects include Water and Sewer Network Program, Bendigo Stadium and Showgrounds Redevelopment, Bendigo Art Gallery Redevelopment, and Regional Sports Infrastructure Program - Bendigo. The following list details those 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 7.4% in September 2019, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6%.

As of September 2025, 6,606 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.6% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is broadly similar to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area has a particular specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with 1.6% employment compared to 7.5% regionally. There are 1.5 workers for every resident, indicating Bendigo functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.6%, while labour force increased by 2.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment should increase 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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Bendigo SA2 had a median income of $47,324 and an average income of $61,900. This is lower than the national average. Rest of Vic.'s median was $48,741 with an average of $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Bendigo would be approximately $53,079 (median) and $69,427 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Bendigo fall between the 18th and 30th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 28.7% of Bendigo's population (4,179 individuals) have incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, similar to surrounding regions at 30.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.0% of income remaining, 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 per the latest Census evaluation, 86.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 13.4% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 90.6% houses and 9.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bendigo stood at 29.5%, with mortgaged properties at 25.6% and rented dwellings at 44.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,408. Weekly rent in Bendigo was recorded at $280, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $295. 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 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 comprise 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 Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

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

Bendigo's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks; 27.0% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to Victoria's 33.4%. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 17.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 34.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (24.6%).

Educational participation is notably high; 27.7% of residents are currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.4% in primary, 7.0% in secondary, 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

The public transport analysis indicates that Bendigo has 144 active transport stops in operation. These consist of a mix of train and bus services. The city is served by 56 individual routes, which together facilitate 5,495 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average situated 211 meters from their nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 785 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data shows significant issues in Bendigo, with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively low, at approximately 51% of the total population (around 7,368 people). Mental health issues affect 12.9% of residents, while arthritis impacts 10.1%. About 59.6% report no medical ailments, compared to 62.0% in the rest of Victoria. The area has 18.8% of residents aged 65 and over (around 2,743 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly matching the general population's health profile.

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

Bendigo, as per the given data, has a below average cultural diversity. The population is predominantly Australian citizens, with 86.4% of residents holding citizenship. A majority, 87.2%, were born in Australia and 90.8% speak English exclusively at home.

Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 41.5% of Bendigo's population. However, Buddhism is overrepresented compared to the rest of Victoria, with 2.4% of Bendigo's population identifying as Buddhist, while the regional average stands at 1.4%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (30.8%), Australian (28.2%), and Irish (11.0%). Notably, Scottish (8.6%) and German (3.4%) ethnicities are slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages of 8.7% and 3.2%, respectively. Sri Lankan ethnicity is also notably present at 0.2%, higher than the regional average of 0.1%.

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

Bendigo has a median age of 38, which is lower than Victoria's figure of 43 but equivalent to Australia's national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 19.6% of Bendigo's population, higher than the Rest of Vic. figure and significantly above the national average of 14.5%. Conversely, the 5-14 age cohort makes up 9.2%, lower than the Rest of Vic. figure. Following the 2021 Census, Bendigo's median age decreased by 1 year to 38 due to an increase in younger residents. Specifically, the 25-34 age group grew from 15.7% to 19.6%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 11.1% to 12.3%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 age group declined from 12.3% to 10.4%, and the 15-24 group dropped from 12.9% to 11.7%. By 2041, Bendigo's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 51%, adding 1,454 residents to reach a total of 4,312. Conversely, the 75-84 and 65-74 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.