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, as of May 2026, is approximately 11,810 people. This figure represents an increase of 521 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,289 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,810 as of June 2025 and an additional 94 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,770 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 89.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, Bulleen is expected to grow by 761 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of approximately 6.4% over the 16-year period.

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 FY-21 to FY-25, around 351 homes were approved, with an additional 35 approved so far in FY-26. The average population growth per dwelling built over these years was 0.4 people.

This pace suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new properties is around $531,000, indicating a focus on the premium market. In FY-26, $8.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bulleen has similar development levels per person, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. However, building activity has slowed in recent years.

The current new building activity comprises 33.0% detached houses and 67.0% medium and high-density housing, a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 80.0% houses. This change reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and evolving lifestyles seeking more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 255 people per dwelling approval, Bulleen exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Bulleen is projected to gain 761 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable 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 in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include North East Link, Manningham Road Interchange, Bulleen Park Sports Upgrade, and Yarra Link Green Bridge. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Bulleen has a well-educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of an unspecified past year. By December 2025, the unemployment rate had risen to 6.6%, which is 1.8% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation in Bulleen was significantly lower at 62.7% compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Census responses indicated that 34.2% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. Retail trade showed particularly 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%. Over the year to December 2025, employment in Bulleen increased by 1.8%, while labour force grew by 2.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bulleen's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

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 indicates 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 9.62% from financial year 2023 to March 2026, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $59,969 and an average income of around $84,209 in Bulleen SA2. According to Census 2021 income data, household income ranks at the 53rd percentile ($1,812 weekly) and personal income is at the 36th percentile. Income brackets show that 27.6% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually (3,259 individuals), which aligns with the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 32.8%. After housing expenses, 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 dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 79.6% houses and 20.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bulleen stood at 49.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.5% and rented ones at 20.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,400, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. 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 make up 24.7%, with lone person households at 22.3% and group households comprising 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 at 10.6% and certificates at 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 of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 15 different routes, offering a total of 2,262 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically living 187 meters from the nearest stop. As it is mainly residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 87% of residents, while buses are used by 8%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in Bulleen, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 34.2% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 323 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 37 weekly trips per individual 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 based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 57% of the total population (~6,731 people). The most common conditions are arthritis (8.0%) and mental health issues (5.4%). 72.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Bulleen has 24.3% seniors (aged 65 and over), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Senior health outcomes are strong, ranking broadly in line with 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, accounting for 59.8% of people, 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%).

These percentages are substantially higher than the regional averages of 6.5%, 5.2%, and 18.4% respectively. Notably, Greek (10.4%) is overrepresented in Bulleen compared to the regional average of 2.7%. Similarly, Macedonian (1.2%) and Croatian (1.1%) are also overrepresented compared to their respective regional averages of 0.7%.

Bulleen hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Bulleen is 45 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bulleen has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (14.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.4%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 85 and above grew from 4.5% to 5.8%, while those aged 15-24 increased from 11.5% to 12.7%. Meanwhile, the proportion of residents aged 75-84 declined from 9.7% to 8.4%, and the 45-54 age group decreased from 13.8% to 12.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Bulleen's age structure. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow by 26%, reaching 1,496 people from 1,188. Notably, the combined population aged 65 and above will account for 62% of total population growth, reflecting Bulleen's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 15-24 and 0-4 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.