Bulleen
Statistical Area - sa2

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 was approximately 11,814 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 525 people, a 4.7% rise since the 2021 Census which reported 11,289 residents. The growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 11,762 in June 2024 and 92 validated new addresses since the Census date. Bulleen's population density was 1,771 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Between the Census and Aug 2025, Bulleen's population growth rate of 4.7% was within 2.2 percentage points of its SA3 area's 6.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 93.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs the 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. Based on these trends, Bulleen is expected to grow by approximately 803 persons by 2041, recording a total gain of around 6.4% over the 17-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 FY21 to FY25, around 351 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved in FY26 so far. On average, 0.4 people per year have moved to Bulleen for each dwelling built during these years.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and allowing for population growth beyond current projections. The average construction cost of new properties has been $835,000, suggesting developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, approximately $8.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Bulleen's residential character. When compared to Greater Melbourne, Bulleen has similar development levels per person, maintaining market equilibrium consistent 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. This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a significant change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 80.0% houses. Bulleen has around 255 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts suggest that Bulleen will gain approximately 751 residents by 2041. 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 very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that may impact this region. Notable projects include North East Link, Manningham Road Interchange, Bulleen Park Sports Upgrade, and Bulle. The following details those most relevant:.

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

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 5.3% as of the past year.

Employment growth over this period was estimated at 2.8%. As of June 2025, 6,125 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.7% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Bulleen lags at 58.6%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

Retail trade shows particularly strong specialization with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing has lower representation at 3.7% compared to the regional average of 5.2%. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 2.8%, while labour force increased by 3.1%, resulting in a slight rise in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% and a higher increase in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes indicates local growth in Bulleen of approximately 6.8%% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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 ended June 2022 shows median income in Bulleen at $51,305 and average income at $74,606. This compares to Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Using Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year ended June 2022, estimated median income for Bulleen as of March 2025 would be approximately $56,492 and average income $82,149. According to Census 2021 data, household income ranks at the 54th percentile with weekly income of $1,812, while personal income is at the 37th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 27.6% of Bulleen residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (3,260 individuals), which aligns with Melbourne's metropolitan region where this group represents 32.8%. After housing expenses, 85.7% of income remains for other expenditures. 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). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.1% houses and 32.9% 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, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $460, compared to Melbourne metro's figures of $2,400 and $462 respectively. Nationally, Bulleen's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents 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 account for 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%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are 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+, 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, 6.8% in secondary, and 6.7% in tertiary education. Bulleen's three schools have a combined enrollment of 1,909 students. The area has significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1101). It includes one primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 16.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.9, indicating that Bulleen serves as an educational center for the broader region.

Transport servicing is high 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 that together facilitate 4,559 weekly passenger trips. The average distance residents live from the nearest stop is 187 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

On average, there are 651 daily trips across all routes, equating to around 75 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Bulleen is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Bulleen shows above-average health outcomes for both younger and older age groups, with low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 56%, covering around 6,674 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.0% of residents) and mental health issues (5.4%). Around 72.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.0% in Greater Melbourne. Bulleen has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 24.2% (2,862 people), compared to 22.8% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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. The predominant religion in Bulleen is Christianity, which accounts for 59.8% of the population, compared to 48.5% across Greater Melbourne. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups represented in Bulleen are Chinese (16.5%), Italian (16.3%), and Australian (12.5%).

Notably, Greek ancestry is overrepresented at 10.4%, compared to the regional average of 7.6%. Similarly, Macedonian ancestry is higher at 1.2% versus 0.7%, and Croatian ancestry is also overrepresented at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 0.6%.

Bulleen hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Bulleen is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bulleen has a higher percentage 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 percentage of residents aged 75-84 decreased from 9.7% to 8.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Bulleen's age structure. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow by 31%, reaching 1,543 people from the current figure of 1,175. Notably, the combined total population growth will be largely driven by the 65 and above age groups, which will account for 65% of the increase, reflecting Bulleen's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decrease in number.