Buninyong
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Buninyong are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Buninyong's population is 7,412 as of Aug 2025. Since the 2021 Census reporting a population of 7,261, there has been an increase of 151 people (2.1%). This change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 7,358 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 143 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 70.5% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For uncovers areas, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used with adjustments made through weighted aggregation. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas, with Buninyong expected to increase by 2,212 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, indicating a total increase of 29.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Buninyong, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Buninyong has recorded approximately 20 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 104 dwellings were approved, with two recorded so far in FY26. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $818,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. There have also been $5.3 million in commercial approvals this financial year. Compared to Rest of Vic., Buninyong shows substantially reduced construction activity, with 77.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, development activity is also lower than the national average, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints.

All new construction has been standalone homes, preserving Buninyong's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 568 people. Future projections show Buninyong adding approximately 2,158 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Buninyong 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 eight projects that could affect this region. Notable ones are Buninyong Heritage Swimming Baths Conservation Works, Buninyong Botanic Gardens Landscape Masterplan, Gong Reservoir Wall Reconstruction, Buninyong Community Road Safety Upgrades, and Buninyong Pump Track Upgrade. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

The labour market strength in Buninyong positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Buninyong has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 2.1% in June 2025, compared to the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 7.2%. As of June 2025, 3,849 residents were employed, with a workforce participation rate of 62.9%, higher than the Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Buninyong has a particular specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.6% of Buninyong's workforce compared to 7.5% in Rest of Vic.. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 7.2%, while the labour force increased by 6.8%, causing a fall in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. recorded an employment decline of 0.9% and an increase in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs. The state's unemployment rate was 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May 2025, project an expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Buninyong's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% 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.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that Buninyong has higher incomes than the national average. The median income is $54,138 and the average income stands at $68,291. This contrasts with Rest of Vic., where the median income is $48,741 and the average income is $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $59,611 (median) and $75,195 (average). The 2021 Census data shows that household, family and personal incomes in Buninyong cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 32.4% of locals (2,401 people), falling within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, which aligns with the broader area at 30.3%. After housing costs, residents retain 89.4% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Buninyong's dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 95.6% houses and 4.4% other dwellings. Compared to Non-Metro Vic., which had 85.6% houses and 14.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Buninyong was 44.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.9% and rented ones at 14.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,662, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,499. Median weekly rent in Buninyong was $330, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $300. Nationally, Buninyong's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,662 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Buninyong features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 78.9% of all households, including 36.6% couples with children, 31.8% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.1%, with lone person households at 19.2% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

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

Buninyong has a higher educational attainment than broader averages. 34.2% of its residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 24.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.2%) and graduate diplomas (5.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 32.8% of residents holding them – advanced diplomas comprise 11.5% and certificates make up 21.3%. Educational participation is high in Buninyong, with 33.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.9% in primary, 9.8% in secondary, and 6.5% pursuing tertiary education. The area's three schools have a combined enrollment of 767 students. Buninyong's ICSEA score is 1022, indicating typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities. All three schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. There are 10.3 school places per 100 residents in Buninyong, lower than the regional average of 18.0, suggesting some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Transport analysis shows 37 active transport stops operating in Buninyong, consisting of a mix of buses. These stops are served by 9 individual routes, collectively offering 914 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 424 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 130 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Buninyong's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Buninyong residents exhibit relatively positive health outcomes with common conditions seen across all age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 54%, or about 3,980 people, compared to Victoria's average of 50.9%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (affecting 8.5% of residents) and mental health issues (8.3%), while 68.4% report no medical ailments, higher than the Rest of Vic.'s 62.3%. Buninyong has a larger proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.5% (1,446 people), compared to Victoria's average of 17.8%. Health outcomes among seniors in Buninyong are particularly strong, surpassing those of the general population.

Buninyong is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Buninyong's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.5% of its population born in Australia. Additionally, 92.3% were citizens and 96.3% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Buninyong, comprising 44.7% of people, compared to 45.0% across Rest of Vic..

The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents were English (31.0%), Australian (30.2%), and Irish (11.5%). Notably, Scottish representation was higher than the regional average at 10.3%, compared to 9.2%. Dutch and Croatian representations were also slightly above regional averages: Dutch at 2.0% versus 2.1%, and Croatian at 0.5% versus 0.4%.

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

Buninyong's median age is 42 years, similar to Victoria's average of 43 and older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile indicates that those aged 15-24 are prominent at 16.3%, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 8.4% compared to the rest of Victoria. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 13.0% to 16.3%, and the 75-84 cohort has risen from 4.8% to 5.9%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 13.7% to 11.7%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 15.8% to 14.3%. By 2041, population forecasts suggest significant demographic changes in Buninyong, with the strongest growth projected for the 25-34 cohort, which is expected to increase by 107%, adding 665 residents to reach 1,287.