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

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Bulleen is approximately 11,810 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 521 people (4.6%) from the 2021 Census, when the population was recorded at 11,289 people. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 11,810 alongside 94 validated new addresses registered since the Census. With these figures, the density of the area stands at 1,770 persons per square kilometer, a level exceeding the average across the country. The main driver of this population growth was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 89.6% of the overall population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia for each SA2, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 region lacking this coverage, projections from the VIC State Government released in 2023 are utilized, adjusted via a weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 boundaries. Age group growth rates derived from these aggregations are also applied across all regions for the period from 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic patterns, population growth is projected to be slightly below the national median, with the locality expected to add 761 persons by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a total increase of 6.4% over the 16 years.

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

Bulleen records approximately 70 residential building approvals annually, with a total of 351 dwellings approved over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 41 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. An average of 0.4 people moved to the locality for every new dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), indicating that supply is matching or exceeding demand, which gives buyers more choices while allowing for population growth to potentially outpace projections. The average estimated construction cost for these new properties is $531,000, showing that developers are focusing on the higher-end premium market. Additionally, commercial development approvals reached $8.1 million this financial year, highlighting the primarily residential nature of the area.

In comparison to Greater Melbourne, the per capita rate of development in Bulleen is quite similar, maintaining a market balance in line with adjacent suburbs, although building activity has decelerated recently. The mix of new construction consists of 33.0% detached houses and 67.0% medium and high-density housing types. This concentration of higher-density dwellings provides cheaper options for entering the market and draws downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This is a clear shift from the existing housing stock, which is currently made up of 80.0% houses, showing a shrinking supply of vacant land for development alongside changing lifestyle needs for more diverse and affordable homes. Averaging 257 people for every approved dwelling, Bulleen exhibits the attributes of a low density area.

Forecasts indicate that the population of Bulleen will grow by 761 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. Looking at ongoing construction trends, the supply of new housing is expected to comfortably satisfy demand, which creates favorable conditions for buyers and may enable the population to expand faster than current forecasts suggest.

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

Developments in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning play a significant role in determining an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that are expected to influence the locality. The key developments of highest relevance include the North East Link, Manningham Road Interchange, Bulleen Park Sports Upgrade, and Yarra Link Green Bridge, as detailed in the list below.

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

The local workforce in Bulleen is highly educated, featuring a strong concentration of professionals, a jobless rate of 5.8%, and an estimated 1.9% increase in employment over the preceding year. There were 6,062 employed residents in March 2026, while the local unemployment rate was 1.0% higher than the Greater Melbourne rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation in the area is notably low at 63.0%, compared to 70.2% across Greater Melbourne. Census figures indicate that a high proportion of residents, 34.2%, worked from home, though this may have been influenced by Covid-19 restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. Retail trade shows a particularly high concentration, with its share of local employment reaching 1.3 times the regional average. In contrast, transport, postal & warehousing is underrepresented, accounting for 3.7% of the workforce compared to the regional average of 5.2%. The comparison between the resident workforce and the local Census working population indicates that this predominantly residential suburb offers few local jobs.

An analysis of SALM and ABS data by AreaSearch shows that during the 12 months ending March 2026, local employment grew by 1.9% while the labor force expanded by 2.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. Over the same period, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 2.1% and the labor force grow by 2.3%, with its unemployment rate increasing by 0.2 percentage points. Forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context on future labor demand in Bulleen. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local industry mix to estimate future trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these rates vary widely by industry. Weighting these projections against the employment profile of Bulleen suggests local jobs will increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighted extrapolation and does not incorporate local population forecasts.

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

The most recent postcode-level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows that incomes in the Bulleen SA2 are very high on a national scale, with a median of $54,706 and an average of $76,819. For comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded a median income of $57,688 and an average of $75,164. Adjusting for a 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be roughly $59,969 for the median and $84,209 for the average. In the 2021 Census, local household income was in the 53rd percentile at $1,812 per week, while individual personal income was in the 36th percentile. The income distribution shows that 27.6% of residents (3,259 individuals) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, which is comparable to the wider metropolitan area where this cohort accounts for 32.8%. Residents retain 85.7% of their income for non-housing costs, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 8th decile for income.

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

According to the latest Census, the housing mix in Bulleen consisted of 79.6% houses and 20.4% other options (such as semi-detached homes and apartments), whereas the broader Melbourne metro area recorded 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. The rate of home ownership in Bulleen is high compared to Melbourne metro, standing at 49.9%, while the remaining properties are either held with a mortgage (29.5%) or rented (20.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,400 in the area is significantly higher than the Melbourne metro average of $2,000, and the median weekly rent is $460, compared to $390 in Melbourne metro. Nationally, Bulleen's median mortgage payments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and median rents are also well above the national figure of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 75.3%, consisting of couples with children at 35.2%, couples without children at 27.7%, and single parent households at 11.2%. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.7%, with single-person households representing 22.3% and group housing making up 2.5%. The median household size of 2.6 people is identical to the average for Greater Melbourne.

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

The suburb faces some educational challenges, with the proportion of residents holding a university qualification (38.0%) sitting well below the SA4 regional average of 50.2%. This gap presents an opportunity for targeted educational programs. Among qualified residents, bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 9.5% and graduate diplomas at 3.1%. Vocational education is held by 23.8% of residents aged 15 and over, comprising advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 13.2%.

Participation in education is high in the area, with 25.9% of the population enrolled in study. This group is distributed across primary schools (7.6%), secondary schools (6.8%), and tertiary institutions (6.7%).

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

Public transport services in Bulleen include 60 active bus stops, which are serviced by 15 separate routes that handle 2,262 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 187 meters from the nearest stop. Because Bulleen is primarily a residential suburb, most residents travel elsewhere for work, with cars being the dominant mode of travel at 87%, followed by buses at 8%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.5 cars per household, which is higher than the regional average. Additionally, 34.2% of residents work from home according to the 2021 Census, though this may reflect conditions during the pandemic.

Across all bus routes, service frequency averages 323 runs per day, which equates to roughly 37 weekly trips for each transport stop.

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

Bulleen demonstrates excellent health metrics based on AreaSearch's evaluation of local death rates and chronic illness rates, showing very low rates of common health conditions across all demographics, while the share of residents with private health insurance is very high at approximately 57% of the population (~6,731 people).

The most frequent health concerns for local residents are arthritis and mental health issues, which affect 8.0% and 5.4% of the population respectively, while 72.7% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The working-age population is particularly healthy with low levels of chronic disease. Residents aged 65 and over make up 24.3% of the community (2,867 people), which is higher than the 15.0% share in Greater Melbourne. Senior residents show strong health outcomes, with national health rankings that generally align with the wider 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 is characterized by high levels of cultural diversity, with 42.3% of its residents born outside Australia and 50.1% using a language other than English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, which is practiced by 59.8% of the local population, compared to 43.0% across Greater Melbourne.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds based on parent birthplaces, the three largest groups in Bulleen are Chinese, representing 16.5% of the population, which is much higher than the regional average of 6.5%, Italian, at 16.3%, also well above the regional average of 5.2%, and Australian, at 12.5%, which is notably lower than the regional average of 18.4%. Other ethnic heritages show notable differences from regional figures: Greek ancestry represents 10.4% of Bulleen (compared to 2.7% regionally), Macedonian represents 1.2% (compared to 0.7%), and Croatian represents 1.1% (compared to 0.7%).

Bulleen hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age of 45 years in Bulleen is higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and older than the national median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bulleen has a larger proportion of people in the 55 - 64 age bracket (14.1%) and a smaller share of 25 - 34 year-olds (11.4%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 85+ rose from 4.5% to 5.8%, and the 15 to 24 age group grew from 11.5% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 75 to 84 cohort fell from 9.7% to 8.4% and the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 13.8% to 12.6%. Demographic forecasts to 2041 indicate notable changes in Bulleen's age profile. The 65 to 74 age bracket is expected to increase by 26% (307 people), growing from 1,188 to 1,496. Overall, residents aged 65 and over will account for 62% of total population growth, pointing to an aging local profile. In contrast, the numbers of residents aged 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 are expected to decline.