Daylesford
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Daylesford's population is approximately 10,814 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 859 people, marking an 8.6% growth since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 9,955. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,294 as of June 2024 and an additional 194 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 11.7 persons per square kilometer. Daylesford's growth rate exceeded that of the SA3 area (4.6%) and the non-metro area, positioning it as a leader in regional growth. Interstate migration contributed approximately 58.6% 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 released in 2023, adjusting using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic trends suggest that the area will increase by approximately 967 persons by 2041, with an expected total increase of about 3.7% over the 17-year period.

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

Daylesford has recorded approximately 86 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 FY20 to FY25, around 430 homes have been approved, with 9 approvals so far in FY26. On average, about 1.4 people move to the area annually for each dwelling built during this period.

This indicates a balanced supply and demand dynamic, maintaining stable market conditions while developers target higher-end properties with an average construction cost value of $734,000. Commercial development has seen $27.4 million in approvals this financial year, indicating moderate levels of commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Daylesford has slightly more development, with 45% above the regional average per person over the five-year period.

Recent construction comprises 88% detached dwellings and 12% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. The location has approximately 111 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. Population forecasts indicate Daylesford will gain around 400 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Daylesford has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

No changes were identified by AreaSearch that could influence the area's performance. Key projects include Western Renewables Link, Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, X'Trapolis 2.0 Trains, and Melbourne Metro Tunnel - Rail Systems Alliance.

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

Daylesford ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Daylesford's workforce is well-educated and diverse across various sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 6.9%.

As of June 2025, there were 5,080 employed residents, with an unemployment rate at 1.5% below Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was somewhat lower, at 53.4% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key industries included health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and construction. The area had a strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Retail trade had limited presence, at 7.5% compared to the regional average of 9.9%. There appeared to be limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparison. Over the past year, employment increased by 6.9%, labour force by 6.8%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment fall by 0.9%, labour force contract by 0.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 showed VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with a state unemployment rate of 4.7%. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia 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 growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 shows median income in Daylesford was $43,968, with average income at $64,708. This compares to Rest of Vic.'s median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 10.11% from July 2022 to March 2025, estimated current incomes are approximately $48,413 (median) and $71,250 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Daylesford rank modestly, between the 23rd and 29th percentiles. Income brackets indicate 27.7% of the population, or 2,995 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the metropolitan region at 30.3%. Housing costs are modest, with 87.0% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 28th percentile nationally. 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

The dwelling structure in Daylesford, as per the latest Census, comprised 95.3% houses and 4.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic. had 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Daylesford was 51.2%, with the rest either mortgaged (33.6%) or rented (15.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,600, above Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,538. The median weekly rent figure 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 below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 64.0% of all households, including 19.6% couples with children, 35.9% couples without children, and 7.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 36.0%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households comprising 3.1%. 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

Educational attainment in Daylesford is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 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 common at 21.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.4%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 13.5% and certificates at 20.9%. Currently, 24.9% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 8.5% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

Daylesford operates a network of 8 schools educating approximately 974 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1039). The area has balanced educational opportunities, with 7 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds residential needs, indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region (9.1 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 7.4).

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

The analysis of public transportation in Daylesford indicates there are currently 20 operational transport stops. These stops facilitate a variety of bus routes, with 10 individual routes serving the area. Collectively, these routes offer 223 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of public transport is considered limited, with residents, on average, located 1408 meters away from the nearest stop. On average, there are 31 daily trips across all routes, 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 significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is more common here than average, at approximately 52% (~5,612 people). The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (10.1%) and mental health problems (9.2%). However, 62.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.5% in the rest of Victoria. Daylesford has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.4% (3,178 people), compared to 24.2% in Rest of Vic.. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are strong and outperform 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.4% of its population being citizens and 82.1% born in Australia. The majority spoke English only at home, at 93.3%. Christianity was the predominant religion in Daylesford, comprising 36.0% of people.

However, Judaism was overrepresented compared to the rest of Victoria, making up 0.2% versus 0.1%. Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.5%), Australian (23.1%), and Irish (12.7%). Scottish ancestry was notably higher in Daylesford at 10.7%, compared to 9.9% regionally. Dutch ancestry stood at 1.8% versus 2.0%, and Hungarian ancestry was slightly higher at 0.4% versus 0.2%.

Daylesford ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Daylesford's median age is 53, which is higher than Rest of Vic.'s figure of 43 and significantly exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to Rest of Vic., Daylesford has a higher percentage of residents aged 55-64 (18.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (6.9%). This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national figure of 11.2%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 6.6% to 8.2%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 7.8% to 9.2%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 9.5% to 8.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Daylesford's age structure. The 25 to 34 group is expected to grow by 37%, reaching 1,024 people from the current figure of 747. Meanwhile, the 65 to 74 and 5 to 14 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.