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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Daylesford has an estimated 10,350 residents, up from 9,955 at the 2021 Census — a change of 395 people, or 4.0%. Growth has averaged 1.2% a year over five years. 286 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Density is about 11 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, demographic assessments by AreaSearch place the resident count of Daylesford at roughly 10,350. Comparing this with the 9,955 people recorded in the 2021 Census reveals a gain of 395 people (4.0%). This calculation incorporates the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 10,342 alongside 286 validated new addresses tracked after the census benchmark. The community enjoys a spacious living environment, demonstrated by a density of 11.2 persons per square kilometer. Furthermore, the local 4.0% expansion rate outpaced the broader SA3 area (2.8%), establishing it at the forefront of regional expansion.
Net interstate relocation stood as the dominant growth catalyst, accounting for roughly 61.1% of these recent population increases. SA2 projections utilized by AreaSearch stem from the ABS/Geoscience Australia dataset published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For areas omitted from this source, figures are drawn from the Victorian State Government's 2023 Regional/LGA releases, applying a weighted aggregation methodology to translate LGA trends down to SA2 zones. These aggregations also provide age-cohort expansion rates projected across all territories between 2032 and 2041. Looking toward future demographic shifts, local growth is slated to sit slightly under the national regional median, with latest annual ERP benchmarks projecting an increase of 850 persons by 2041, translating to an 8.1% overall rise across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
465 new dwellings have been approved in Daylesford over the past five years, an average of 93 a year. That places the area in the 76th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 9 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 93 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 89% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential planning activity across Daylesford has averaged roughly 93 dwellings annually, culminating in 465 homes approved across the 5 financial years spanning FY-22 to FY-26. Over this same 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), an average of 1.3 new residents per year per dwelling constructed was recorded, indicating well-aligned supply-demand dynamics and an orderly building sector. High-end property development remains a clear priority among builders, evidenced by an average expected construction cost of $642,000 for newly approved residences. Additionally, non-residential building activity saw moderate momentum, recording $27.4 million in commercial approvals during the current financial year.
Per capita construction activity in Daylesford runs 43.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period compared to Rest of Vic., providing purchasers with adequate choices while preserving underlying asset values. In terms of built form, freestanding houses accounted for 89.0% of recent approvals, with attached dwellings making up 11.0%, thereby preserving the district's low-density profile with detached houses targeted at buyers seeking larger properties. Furthermore, an average ratio of around 120 people per approval underscores the township's low-density nature. According to the most recent AreaSearch quarterly update, Daylesford's population is projected to expand by 842 residents leading up to 2041. At present rates of building activity, planned residential stock appears well positioned to satisfy demand, fostering positive conditions for property purchasers and potentially supporting stronger expansion than currently anticipated.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Daylesford
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 60 current infrastructure and development projects close to Daylesford, worth an estimated $14.6 billion. 15 are already under construction and 22 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and sports & recreation. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local economic and social outcomes are substantially shaped by planning programs and major capital works. In total, no new infrastructure developments have been identified by AreaSearch as having an immediate local footprint. Relevant wider regional works encompass the Western Renewables Link, Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, X'Trapolis 2.0 Trains, and the Melbourne Metro Tunnel - Rail Systems Alliance.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Ambrosia Estate
A boutique residential land estate providing 65 premium homesites ranging from 2000sqm to 7856sqm, ideal for architectural homes in the Macedon Ranges, less than an hour from Melbourne.
Kyneton Recycled Water Irrigation Project
The project involves the construction of a 14-kilometre pipeline to distribute Class C recycled water from the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant to local irrigators, enabling the reuse of 200-300 megalitres annually for agricultural irrigation, supporting regional agriculture, and improving environmental outcomes for the Campaspe River by reducing non-compliant discharges.
Kyneton on Riverside
Master planned neighbourhood on the south side of the Campaspe River with staged land releases. The estate offers walking access to Kyneton Station and town amenities with design guidelines and house and land packages available. Stages 6 and 14 are complete and titled, with ongoing sales in stages 10, 11, and 19.
Old Kyneton Primary School Redevelopment
Transformation of the former Kyneton Primary School into a creative and community precinct, featuring restored heritage bluestone building for gallery and exhibition spaces, a new contemporary entry building, transformed library for events, and revitalized grounds with 3000 new plants.
Kyneton Showgrounds Master Plan Implementation
Implementation of the Kyneton Showgrounds Master Plan, adopted by Council in March 2023, delivering upgraded netball and little athletics facilities. Little athletics facilities were relocated from the top oval to the bottom oval, including a new storage shed, discus cage and circle, shot put circles, and long jump/triple jump run-ups and pits, with works completed in July 2024. Netball upgrades are being delivered in two stages: Stage 1 is the redevelopment of the M.B. O'Sullivan Pavilion, adding two netball player change rooms, umpire change rooms, amenities, storage, first aid area, admin/office space, and an undercover spectator area, with completion expected by the end of 2025.Stage 2 is the construction of two new asphalt netball courts with LED floodlighting, perimeter fencing, and spectator seating, scheduled to begin late 2025 and conclude before the start of the 2026 netball season. The Victorian Government pledged up to 1.5 million dollars towards the netball facilities, with Council committing a further 1.3 million dollars.
Cornerstone Kyneton
A $150 million masterplanned retail and commercial precinct spanning 62 hectares. The development includes large format retail anchored by a Bunnings warehouse, fast food outlets including McDonalds, a fuel station, and additional commercial warehouse spaces.
Ballan Precinct 5 Residential Development
A $325m masterplanned residential community by Wel.Co spanning approximately 98.5 hectares (Precinct 5 in the Ballan Framework Plan). The development will deliver over 850 homes, generous open space, parks, playing fields, and connected walking paths. Planning Scheme Amendment C108 was officially approved by the Minister for Planning on 13 March 2026, rezoning the site to Neighbourhood Residential Zone Schedule 10 to address regional housing shortages.
35 Elizabeth Road Land Release
35 Elizabeth Road Land Release is a small estate on the northern edge of Creswick, offering around nine new residential allotments created from a larger 1.06 ha site. Current marketing focuses on a 690 m2 elevated lot with new road, footpaths and services in place, giving buyers the opportunity to design and build a detached home close to Creswick town centre while enjoying a quiet bushland setting. The subdivision is largely approved and registered, with individual lots now being sold off and housing to follow by private owners.
5,205 residents of Daylesford are employed, from a labour force of 5,337. Unemployment sits at 2.5%, with participation at 58.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Daylesford features a highly qualified labor pool spanning varied industries, supported by stable labor conditions over the previous year and a jobless rate sitting at just 2.5%. As of March 2026, employed residents reached 5,205, with unemployment tracking 1.2% lower than the 3.7% recorded across Regional Vic., while local participation registered 58.2%, below the 61.1% benchmark for Regional Vic.. Census data indicated that 34.4% of working locals operated from home, an outcome potentially shaped by pandemic-era movement restrictions. Local employment is predominantly concentrated within health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and construction.
Accommodation & food represents a particularly prominent sector, recording a workforce concentration 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, retail trade accounts for only 7.5% of jobs among residents, trailing the 9.9% figure for Regional Vic.. Evaluating resident worker numbers relative to total local jobs suggests a relatively constrained pool of workplace opportunities within the immediate boundaries. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM releases shows that during the 12 months to March 2026, the local workforce grew 0.4% while job counts slipped 0.3%, driving a 0.7 percentage points rise in unemployment. By comparison, Regional Vic. experienced a 0.1% contraction in employment, a 0.3% drop in the labor pool, and a 0.2 percentage points decrease in the jobless rate. Looking at medium-term expectations, Jobs and Skills Australia published national forecasts from Mar-26 that outline overall employment expanding by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Mapping these national sector trends against Daylesford's local industry profile suggests potential local employment gains of 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years (though this weighting extrapolation serves illustrative purposes and excludes localized population models).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Daylesford is $1,343 a week (about $70,000 a year), with median personal income at $703 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $45,135 a year against an average of $65,429. The average runs 45% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxation records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place taxpayer earnings in the Daylesford SA2 somewhat below the Australian median. Median taxable income reached $45,135 alongside a $65,429 average, contrasting with $50,954 and $62,728 across Regional Vic.. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023 brings estimated figures to roughly $49,477 (median) and $71,723 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census positioned personal, household, and family earnings modestly between the 23rd and 28th percentiles. Specifically, 27.7% of residents (2,866 individuals) earned within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, closely tracking the 30.3% seen regionally.
While locals retain 87.0% of their income after accommodation expenses, total disposable earnings sit at the 28th percentile across the country, and the area occupies the 6th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Daylesford had 4,157 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 95% detached houses and 0% apartments. 34% are owned with a mortgage, 15% rented and 51% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $330 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,600 a month. Rent absorbs 24.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 27.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, residential structures across Daylesford were composed of 95.3% houses and 4.7% other dwellings, whereas Regional Vic. registered 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Outright property ownership was elevated at 51.2%, significantly above regional norms, with remaining dwellings comprising mortgaged properties (33.6%) and rental accommodation (15.3%). Monthly mortgage repayments recorded a median of $1,600 and weekly rents averaged $330, compared to $1,430 and $285 throughout Regional Vic.. Compared against Australia-wide averages, local monthly mortgage obligations sit well beneath the $1,863 national median, and weekly rents track substantially below the $375 benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Daylesford counted 4,157 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 20% are couples with children, fewer than in 88% of areas nationally, against 36% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 64.0% of local living arrangements, consisting of couples without children (35.9%), couples with children (19.6%), and single parent families (7.9%). The remaining 36.0% represent non-family dwellings, dominated by lone person households at 33.0% and group households making up 3.1%. The typical household comprises a median of 2.1 people, below the 2.4 benchmark for Regional Vic..
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
34.6% of adults in Daylesford hold a university qualification, including 21.2% with a bachelor degree and 8.4% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 20.9% hold a vocational qualification. 8 schools serve the area, with 974 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,039 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in Daylesford tracks well ahead of neighboring benchmarks, with 34.6% of residents aged 15+ holding a higher education degree, compared to 21.7% in Rest of Vic. and 24.6% in the SA4 region. Leading these qualifications are bachelor degrees at 21.2%, accompanied by postgraduate qualifications (8.4%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Technical and vocational education is equally prominent, with 34.4% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (13.5%) and certificates (20.9%). Enrolment in structured learning encompasses 24.9% of the local population. Within this cohort, 8.5% attend primary school, 7.9% are enrolled in secondary institutions, and 3.4% are undertaking higher education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Daylesford reaches 31 stops on 5 routes, timetabled for about 100 services a week. The typical home sits about 1,350 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit infrastructure in Daylesford comprises 31 operational stops served by 5 distinct routes that generate 103 weekly services. Transit accessibility remains limited, with locals situated an average of 1354 meters from the nearest stop. Given the area's residential orientation, external commuting is common, with private vehicles accounting for 88% of journeys and walking representing 8%. Households maintain an average of 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. Meanwhile, 34.4% of the labor force worked from home according to the 2021 Census, reflecting conditions during the pandemic. Transit service schedules deliver an average of 14 trips per day across the network, providing approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.3% of residents in Daylesford report no long-term health condition. 5.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
General health metrics for Daylesford align closely with national averages across diverse age groups, displaying standard diagnostic incidence rates. Private health insurance uptake lags slightly behind typical SA2 rates, covering roughly 52% of the local community (~5,371 people). The primary reported health conditions across the area were arthritis (affecting 10.1% of locals) and mental health issues (affecting 9.2%), while 62.3% of the community reported no medical conditions, comparable to 63.4% in Regional Vic.. Working-age residents experience higher levels of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over represent 31.7% of the locality (3,277 people), above the 24.0% recorded across Regional Vic., with senior health metrics tracking particularly favorably against national standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Daylesford is largely Australian-born, at 82.1% of residents, with 6.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.5%) and Australian (23.1%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Daylesford remain below national averages, with Australian citizens making up 87.4% of the population, 82.1% born within Australia, and 93.3% communicating solely in English at home. Christianity forms the dominant religious affiliation at 36.0%, while Judaism shows a higher relative local presence at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% across Regional Vic.. The primary reported ancestral backgrounds among residents are English at 30.5%, Australian at 23.1% (trailing the 29.6% regional benchmark), and Irish at 12.7%. Specific ethnic representations show distinct local concentrations, including Scottish backgrounds at 10.7% (compared to 8.8% regionally), Dutch at 1.8% (versus 1.7%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (versus 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Daylesford is 53, older than 95% of areas nationally. 14.3% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Demographically, Daylesford skews toward older and post-family age cohorts. Based on August 2026 updates, individuals aged 45 - 64 constitute 32.6% of residents, versus 24.4% in Regional Vic., while those aged 0 - 24 represent 20.1%, compared to 28.5% regionally. The estimated median age stood at 53 as at August 2026, identical to the 2021 Census figure and 10 years above the Regional Vic. median of 43 at that Census, where the Australian median was 38. Since the census, the share of residents aged 65+ increased from 28.7% to an estimated 31.7%.
Projections to 2041 indicate that older age cohorts will see the largest expansion, adding 386 residents (12%) to reach 3,664, whereas younger demographics are anticipated to decrease over this timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Daylesford
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 286 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (9,955 at the 2021 Census → 10,350 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (201021011). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.