Daylesford

Population growth drivers in Daylesford are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Daylesford's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, was around 10,925 by November 2025. This figure indicates a rise of 970 individuals, representing a 9.7% increase since the 2021 Census which recorded 9,955 people. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,287 in June 2024 and an additional 250 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 11.9 persons per square kilometer. Daylesford's growth rate surpassed that of its SA3 area (5.2%) and the non-metro region, positioning it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 58.6% to overall population gains recently.

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, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are employed, 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 dynamics suggest a median increase for locations outside capital cities, with Daylesford expected to grow by 967 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 2.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Daylesford among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Daylesford recorded approximately 101 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 508 homes were approved, with an additional 19 approved in FY26 so far. On average, about 1.4 new residents arrived per year for each new home over these five years, indicating a balanced supply and demand dynamic that maintains stable market conditions.

The average expected construction cost of new dwellings was $494,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In terms of commercial development, around $27.4 million in approvals have been registered this financial year, reflecting balanced commercial development activity in Daylesford compared to the rest of Victoria. Over the past five years, Daylesford has had 43.0% more development per person than the regional average, offering reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand.

Recent construction comprises approximately 88.0% standalone homes and 12.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Daylesford reflects a developing area, with around 111 people per approval. Looking ahead, Daylesford is expected to grow by approximately 289 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Daylesford has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to its local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that could potentially impact this area. Notable projects include Western Renewables Link, Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, X'Trapolis 2.0 Trains, and Melbourne Metro Tunnel - Rail Systems Alliance, with the following list providing more details on those most relevant.

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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 analysis places Daylesford well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Daylesford's workforce is well-educated with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 2.3% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.8% over the past year.

In September 2025, 5,111 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4%, below Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was 53.4%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Dominant employment sectors included health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and construction. Accommodation & food had notable concentration with levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Retail trade was under-represented at 7.5%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 9.9%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. From September 2024 to September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.8% and labour force by 1.7%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. This contrasted with Rest of Vic., where employment contracted by 0.7%, the labour force fell by 0.6%, and unemployment rose marginally. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 showed VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with a state unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Daylesford's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The median taxpayer income in Daylesford SA2 is $43,968, with an average of $64,708 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is comparable to national averages, differing from Rest of Vic.'s median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $49,315 (median) and $72,576 (average). Census 2021 income data ranks household, family, and personal incomes in Daylesford modestly, between the 23rd and 28th percentiles. The largest earnings segment comprises 27.7% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (3,026 residents), similar to regional levels at 30.3%. Housing costs are modest with 87.0% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at the 28th percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Daylesford, as per the latest Census evaluation, 95.3% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 4.7% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Daylesford stood at 51.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.6% and rented ones at 15.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,600, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,538. The median weekly rent in Daylesford was $330, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $300. Nationally, Daylesford's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,600 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $330 compared to the national figure of $375.

Daylesford features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.0% of all households, including 19.6% that are couples with children, 35.9% consisting of couples without children, and 7.9% being single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.0%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households comprising 3.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

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

Daylesford's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 34.6% have university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 24.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 21.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.4%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 34.4% of residents holding them – advanced diplomas account for 13.5% and certificates for 20.9%. A significant 24.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.5% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 3.4% in tertiary education.

A substantial 24.9% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.5% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Daylesford shows that there are currently 20 operational transport stops. These stops service a mix of bus routes, with a total of 10 individual routes operating. Together, these routes facilitate 223 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is considered limited, with residents on average located 1408 meters away from the nearest transport stop. The service frequency across all routes averages 31 trips per day, which equates to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Daylesford is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Daylesford faces substantial health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is held by approximately 52% (~5,670 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (10.1%) and mental health issues (9.2%). A total of 62.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.5% in Rest of Vic.. Daylesford has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.4% (3,210 people), compared to the 24.2% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, outperforming general population metrics.

Daylesford ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Daylesford, as per the findings, exhibited below-average cultural diversity. Its population composition was predominantly Australian citizens, with 87.4%, born in Australia, at 82.1%, and speaking English only at home, at 93.3%. Christianity emerged as the primary religion, comprising 36.0% of Daylesford's population.

Notably, Judaism showed an overrepresentation, standing at 0.2% compared to the regional average of 0.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English at 30.5%, Australian at 23.1%, and Irish at 12.7%. Some ethnic groups displayed notable divergences: Scottish was overrepresented at 10.7% (versus 9.9% regionally), Dutch at 1.8% (vs 2.0%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (vs 0.2%).

Daylesford ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Daylesford's median age is 53, notably higher than Rest of Vic.'s figure of 43 and substantially exceeding Australia's national norm of 38. Compared to Rest of Vic., Daylesford has a higher concentration of residents aged 55-64 (18.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (6.9%). This 55-64 concentration is well above the national figure of 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, Daylesford's age structure has changed: the 15 to 24 group grew from 6.6% to 8.2%, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 7.8% to 9.2%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 9.5% to 8.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Daylesford's age structure. Notably, the 25 to 34 group is expected to grow by 36%, reaching 1,024 people from its current figure of 754. Meanwhile, the 65 to 74 and 5 to 14 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.