Bundoora - East

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bundoora - East reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Bundoora - East's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 10,256, showing an increase of 425 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,831. This growth is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 10,240 in June 2024 and the addition of 21 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 2,519 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to other Australian locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.1% 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 utilises 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. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in this area, with an expected growth of 3,944 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 38.3% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Bundoora - East is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Bundoora - East has seen approximately 17 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 87 homes. As of FY26, two approvals have been recorded. The population decline in recent years has led to adequate development activity relative to other areas, benefiting buyers while new properties are constructed at an average cost of $323,000. This year has seen $10.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating steady investment activity.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bundoora - East has significantly less development activity, 74.0% below the regional average per person, which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. This is also lower than the national average, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. New developments consist of 54.0% detached houses and 46.0% townhouses or apartments, offering a mix of medium-density options across price brackets. This shift from the area's current housing composition (93.0% houses) indicates decreasing developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles seeking diverse, affordable housing alternatives. The location has approximately 844 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. By 2041, Bundoora - East is projected to grow by 3,928 residents.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Bundoora - East has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include M80 Ring Road Completion, Research and Development Centre, Uni Hill Factory Outlets Stage 3A, and Northpark Private Hospital Redevelopment. 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 assessment positions Bundoora - East ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Bundoora - East has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.1% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1% over the past year. There were 5,506 residents in work at this time, with an unemployment rate of 1.6%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation was lower at 65.1% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 25.4% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area has a particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 7.8% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 1.1%, labour force increased by 0.3%, and unemployment fell by 0.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne where employment rose by 3.0%, the labour force grew by 3.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Bundoora - East. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Bundoora - East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released on June 30, 2023, Bundoora - East SA2's median income among taxpayers is $51,903. The average income in the area is $63,209. This is below the national average. In comparison, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since June 30, 2023, current estimates for Bundoora - East SA2's median income would be approximately $56,185 as of September 2025, with an average income of $68,424 during the same period. According to Census data, household income ranks at the 47th percentile ($1,705 weekly), while personal income sits at the 29th percentile. Distribution data shows that 32.8% of individuals in Bundoora - East SA2 earn between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring regional levels where this earnings band also captures 32.8%. After housing expenses, 85.7% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Bundoora - East's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.0% houses and 6.9% other dwellings. This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bundoora - East stood at 43.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.2% and rented ones at 23.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,013, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Bundoora - East was $385, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Bundoora - East's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Bundoora - East features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 74.6% of all households, including 35.9% couples with children, 25.0% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 25.4%, with lone person households at 20.5% and group households comprising 5.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 30.4%, significantly lower than the SA3 area average of 41.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 29.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (18.2%). Educational participation is high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 7.9% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 6.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The transport analysis indicates that there are 43 active transport stops in operation within Bundoora - East. These stops offer a mix of light rail and bus services. The area is served by 5 individual routes which collectively facilitate 3,386 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 277 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using various modes of transportation. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 85%, while train usage stands at 6%.

On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in the area, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a significant proportion of residents, specifically 25.4%, work from home, which may be attributed to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 483 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 78 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Bundoora - East is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Bundoora - East shows better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions among the general population is low but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 50% of the total population (~5,179 people) has private health cover, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (8.5%) and mental health issues (7.3%), while 69.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes for the under-65 population are better than average. The area has 20.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,064 people), higher than the 14.9% in Greater Melbourne but lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Bundoora - East was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bundoora-East has a significant cultural diversity with 32.0% of its population born overseas and 35.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Bundoora-East, accounting for 54.0% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented, comprising 4.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (19.3%), Australian (17.6%), and Other (10.0%). Certain ethnic groups show notable differences: Macedonian at 2.5% (vs regional 0.7%), Italian at 9.5% (vs 5.2%), and Greek at 4.4% (vs 2.7%).

Bundoora - East's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Bundoora - East is 38 years, close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Bundoora - East has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (8.6%) but fewer aged 35-44 (12.7%). Between the 2021 Census and 2026, the population aged 15-24 increased from 13.1% to 15.1%, while those aged 75-84 rose from 7.5% to 8.6%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 65-74 decreased from 9.7% to 8.5%, and those aged 45-54 dropped from 13.5% to 12.5%. By 2041, Bundoora - East's age composition is projected to change significantly. The 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 47%, reaching 1,877 people from 1,279.