Bulleen

Bulleen is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Bulleen's population is approximately 11,858 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 569 people from the 2021 Census total of 11,289. The change is inferred from ABS estimates: Bulleen had a population of 11,762 in June 2024 and gained 94 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 1,777 persons per square kilometer, higher than national averages. Overseas migration accounted for roughly 93% of Bulleen's recent population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs VIC State Government Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to reach SA2 levels. Demographic trends suggest Bulleen will grow at a rate just below the national median until 2041. Based on the latest ERP population numbers, Bulleen is expected to gain 803 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 6%.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Bulleen recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Bulleen has seen approximately 70 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 351 homes were approved, with an additional 24 approved in FY26 as of now. On average, about 0.4 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built during these years, indicating that new supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand.

This offers ample buyer choice and creates capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new properties is around $531,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In terms of commercial approvals, Bulleen has registered approximately $8.1 million this financial year, reflecting its residential character. When compared to Greater Melbourne, Bulleen's development levels are similar per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. However, building activity has slowed in recent years.

The new building activity shows a mix of 33.0% detached houses and 67.0% medium and high-density housing. This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently around 80.0% houses. This shift may indicate decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With approximately 255 people per dwelling approval, Bulleen shows characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts indicate that Bulleen will gain around 707 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Bulleen has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include North East Link, Manningham Road Interchange, Bulleen Park Sports Upgrade, and Yarra Link Green Bridge. 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Bulleen recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Bulleen has a well-educated workforce with professional services being prominently represented. The unemployment rate in the area was 5.2% as of September 2025. There was an estimated employment growth of 2.6% over the past year.

As of September 2025, 6,043 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Bulleen lagged behind Greater Melbourne at 62.8%, compared to 71.0%. According to Census responses, 34.2% of residents worked from home, which could be attributed to Covid-19 lockdown impacts. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

Retail trade showed strong specialization with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing had lower representation at 3.7% compared to the regional average of 5.2%. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 2.6%, while labour force also increased by 2.6%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 3.3%, and an increase in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provided further insight into potential future demand within Bulleen. These projections estimated national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Bulleen's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years. However, it is important to note that this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not take into account localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Bulleen SA2 has a high national median income of $54,706 and an average income of $76,819. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $59,219 (median) and $83,157 (average). Census 2021 income data shows that household income ranks at the 53rd percentile ($1,812 weekly), while personal income is at the 36th percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 27.6% of Bulleen's community (3,272 individuals), similar to Melbourne's metropolitan region where this cohort represents 32.8%. After housing, 85.7% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Bulleen's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 79.6% houses and 20.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Bulleen's home ownership rate was 49.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.5% and rented ones at 20.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bulleen was $2,400, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent in Bulleen was $460, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Bulleen's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Bulleen has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 75.3% of all households, including 35.2% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.7%, with lone person households at 22.3% and group households making up 2.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

The educational profile of Bulleen exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 38.0%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 50.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational pathways account for 23.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.6% and certificates 13.2%. Educational participation is high, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 7.6% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bulleen has 60 active public transport stops, all bus services. These stops are covered by 15 routes, offering a total of 2,262 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is excellent, with residents on average 187 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes are outward-bound due to Bulleen's residential nature. Cars dominate at 87%, while buses account for 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling, above regional norms.

In 2021 Census data, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions, 34.2% of residents worked from home. Service frequency across all routes averages 323 trips daily, equating to approximately 37 weekly trips per stop.

Bulleen's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Bulleen's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is high at approximately 57% of Bulleen's total population (~6,759 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.0%) and mental health issues (5.4%). A significant majority, 72.7%, report being completely free from medical ailments, comparable to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Bulleen has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.2% (2,873 people) compared to Greater Melbourne's 14.9%. Health outcomes among seniors in Bulleen are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Bulleen is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bulleen has a high level of cultural diversity, with 42.3% of its population born overseas and 50.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bulleen, making up 59.8% of the population, compared to 43.0% across Greater Melbourne. The top three ancestry groups in Bulleen are Chinese (16.5%), Italian (16.3%), and Australian (12.5%).

Notably, these figures differ from regional averages: Chinese is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%, Italian is also substantially higher than the regional average of 5.2%, while Australian is notably lower than the regional average of 18.4%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Greek at 10.4% (vs 2.7% regionally), Macedonian at 1.2% (vs 0.7%), and Croatian at 1.1% (vs 0.7%).

Bulleen hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Bulleen is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bulleen has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (13.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.7%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 grew from 11.5% to 12.9%, while those aged 85 and above increased from 4.5% to 5.6%. Conversely, the population aged 75-84 decreased from 9.7% to 8.7%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant changes in Bulleen's age structure. The 65-74 age group is projected to grow by 31%, reaching 1,543 people from 1,179. Notably, the combined population aged 65 and above will account for 66% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.