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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.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Horsham has an estimated 16,901 residents, down from 16,985 at the 2021 Census. 241 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. That puts 204 residents on each 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
According to the analysis conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Horsham stands at approximately 16,901 as of May 2026. This represents a drop of 84 people (0.5%) from the 2021 Census, which documented 16,985 residents. The calculation is derived from the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 16,885 combined with 241 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This population level yields a density of 203 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and room for expansion. Although Horsham registered a 0.5% contraction since the 2021 census, it fared better than the wider SA3 region, which fell by -1.6%.
The main driver of population growth locally was overseas migration, which made up roughly 60.9% of all population increases in recent times. AreaSearch relies on the projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 units, published in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, projections are sourced from the 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA dataset, using a weighted aggregation method to translate growth from LGA to SA2 levels. The age group growth rates from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for the period 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic trends, Horsham is projected to experience population growth above the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with an estimated rise of 2,812 persons by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP data, which translates to a total growth of 16.5% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
381 new dwellings have been approved in Horsham over the past five years, an average of 76 a year. That is 4.5 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 53 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 81% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 77, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
An average of 76 new home approvals have been logged annually in Horsham, culminating in 381 properties over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 71 approvals have been registered. As the population has shrunk lately, the supply of housing has remained sufficient for demand, maintaining a balanced property market with reasonable options for buyers, while new builds average an estimated value of $316,000. Furthermore, commercial approvals valued at $42.8 million have been logged during this financial year, pointing to solid investment in local commercial activity. In comparison to the Rest of Vic., development activity in Horsham is slightly higher, running 29.0% above the regional per capita average over the 5 year period, which maintains choice for buyers while supporting property demand, even though construction has slowed down of late.
Recent building projects consist of 81.0% standalone houses and 19.0% medium and high-density formats, preserving the low-density nature of the area with a focus on detached residences for those wanting more space. With a ratio of 336 people per approval, Horsham presents a low-density profile. According to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, Horsham is projected to add 2,793 residents by 2041. Construction is keeping pace with these expansion forecasts, though home buyers may face higher levels of competition as the population increases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Horsham
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 15 current infrastructure and development projects inside Horsham, worth an estimated $873 million. A further 29 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $2.44 billion. 6 are already under construction and 14 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, communities, precincts & urban renewal and energy. 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 performance is heavily shaped by updates to infrastructure, major construction works, and planning developments. AreaSearch has tracked 16 projects expected to influence the local area. Significant initiatives include the Grampians Health Horsham Campus Redevelopment, Avonnefields Regional Development, Horsham Recreation Infrastructure Improvements, and the Horsham South Structure Plan, with relevant details provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Grampians Health Horsham Campus Redevelopment
Staged redevelopment of the Grampians Health Horsham Campus (Wimmera Base Hospital) following the 2018 Masterplan and the 2023 to 2043 Grampians Health Infrastructure Plan. Key priorities include expanding the Emergency Department with a fast-track clinic and short-stay area, modernising aged care and inpatient bedrooms, and upgrading clinical infrastructure across mental health, maternity, and rehabilitation services. A new Emergency Department is being planned to open in 2027.
Avonnefields Regional Development
An innovative and genuinely sustainable 50-hectare master planned residential and community development on the northern fringe of Horsham, Victoria. Features over 300 dwellings (compact, multi-unit and traditional lots), an aged care and independent living precinct, community hub with childcare and employment facilities, active recreation precinct, flower production and distribution precinct, and renewable energy infrastructure including what is anticipated to be Australia's largest community microgrid. Sustainability features include solar energy generating 25% of electricity from renewable sources, community battery storage, EV charging station, and potential hydrogen production.Rezoning process was scheduled September 2024 to March 2025, with solar and grid connection construction from early 2025, and aged care, community hub and recreation assets commencing construction from late 2025 through 2026.
Horsham City Urban Renewal Project
Comprehensive urban renewal project transforming three key precincts in central Horsham to deliver housing diversity and commercial investment. The project focuses on the current council depot site in Selkirk Drive, the area north of Selkirk Drive and south of Wilson Street, and the area encompassing Firebrace, Madden and Baker streets. It aims to provide 100 new dwellings, 10,000 square meters of apartment space, and 10,000 square meters of office and retail space.
Horsham Recreation Infrastructure Improvements
Ongoing Horsham Rural City Council program delivering recreation infrastructure improvements across the municipality. Current priorities include implementation of the Active Horsham Strategy 2026-2036, City Oval redevelopment, aquatic centre planning, sports lighting and community recreation facility upgrades to improve accessibility, participation and regional sporting capacity.
Horsham Intersection Upgrade
Construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Henty Highway, Western Highway, Golf Course Road and Plumpton Road to improve safety and traffic flow. The intersection serves 18,000 vehicles per day (18% heavy vehicles) and had 12 crashes between 2019-2023, with 6 resulting in serious injuries. Preconstruction works including service relocation commenced July 2025.
7-Eleven Horsham Development
New 24-hour 7-Eleven convenience store and service station development with 6 fuel bowsers, single-storey building, associated car parking, fuel canopy areas, accessways and landscaping. The project was approved by VCAT after initial council refusal and is currently under active construction by Barker Group.
Horsham South Structure Plan
A long-term strategic planning framework covering 4,540 hectares south of the Wimmera River, encompassing Haven. The plan coordinates residential, industrial, and commercial growth to address infrastructure pressures, heavy vehicle movements, and connectivity issues. Following council adoption in late 2025, the project transitioned into the Planning Scheme Amendment phase to codify the vision into the Horsham Planning Scheme.
Horsham Child Care Centre
Horsham Rural City Council approved a planning permit at its December meeting for a new 102-place single storey child care centre on a 1978 square metre vacant block at 75-77 River Road, Horsham, next to the Horsham Church of Christ. The approved plans, submitted by applicant Monty and Jyoti Pty Ltd, include a 613 square metre building, a 720 square metre external play area, and 23 car parking spaces. The site sits within a General Residential Zone and is intended to serve the growing population of Horsham South, an area of more than 5000 residents.Council officers noted the centre supports identified demand for childcare in Horsham and is consistent with the purpose of the General Residential Zone. Three objections were received relating to noise, traffic, parking, odour and property value impacts, which council staff addressed through changes to the landscape plan and fencing height. The permit-approved site has since been listed for sale on the open market, and no confirmed construction start date or completion timeline is currently available.
8,513 residents of Horsham are employed, from a labour force of 8,675. Unemployment sits at 1.9%, with participation at 62.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% 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
The local workforce in Horsham is evenly split between white-collar and blue-collar roles, with a strong presence in essential services and a low unemployment rate of 1.9%. By March 2026, 8,513 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 1.8% below the Regional Vic. average of 3.7%, while participation in the labour force aligned closely with the Regional Vic. rate of 61.1%. The Census recorded that a low 9.2% of residents worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The dominant employment sectors for local workers are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.
Conversely, manufacturing is less prominent, employing only 4.2% of the Horsham workforce compared to 7.7% in Regional Vic.. While employment is available within the area, a comparison of the Census working population against the local population suggests that many residents travel outside the area to work. An analysis of SALM and ABS figures by AreaSearch indicates that in the year ending March 2026, the labour force shrank by 3.5% alongside a 2.2% fall in employment, which reduced the unemployment rate by 1.3 percentage points. In Regional Vic., employment fell by 0.1%, the workforce shrank by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate dropped by 0.2 percentage points. Forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional perspectives on future job demand in Horsham. These projections, looking at five and ten-year horizons, have been matched against the local job profile to estimate growth. Nationally, employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by sector. Applying these trends to the local employment mix suggests Horsham's employment could grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection that does not factor in local population changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Horsham is $1,347 a week (about $70,000 a year), with median personal income at $766 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $51,519 a year against an average of $61,285. 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
According to ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the median income of taxpayers in the Horsham SA2 is $51,519, and the average is $61,285. These figures are below national averages, and compare to a median of $50,954 and an average of $62,728 across Regional Vic.. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated figures for March 2026 are $56,475 for the median and $67,181 for the average. Census data places local individual incomes at the 42nd percentile ($766 per week) and household incomes at the 23rd percentile.
In terms of income distribution, the largest cohort of residents (31.0%) earns between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (5,239 residents), matching the wider regional trend of 30.3% in this bracket. Housing expenses remain low, allowing residents to retain 87.9% of their income, but total disposable income places the area in the 29th percentile nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Horsham had 6,953 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 90% detached houses and 5% apartments. 33% are owned with a mortgage, 29% rented and 38% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $245 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,203 a month. Rent absorbs 18.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Dwelling classifications in Horsham at the time of the latest Census stood at 89.6% houses and 10.5% other housing styles (apartments, semi-detached, and other units), compared to 90.1% houses and 9.9% other housing types across Regional Vic.. Home ownership rates in Horsham were slightly below the Regional Vic. average, sitting at 38.1%, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgagors (33.3%) or tenants (28.6%). The median mortgage payment in the area was lower than the Regional Vic. median at $1,203 monthly, while weekly rent was recorded at $245, compared to Regional Vic.
averages of $1,430 and $285. Globally, Horsham's mortgage costs are lower than the national average of $1,863, and rent payments are below the Australian figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Horsham counted 6,953 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 25% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 64.3%, consisting of couples with children (25.0%), couples without children (27.5%), and single-parent homes (10.8%). The remaining 35.7% are non-family households, with lone person households representing 32.7% and group housing comprising 3.1%. The average household size is 2.3 people, which is slightly lower than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.4% of adults in Horsham hold a university qualification, including 12.0% with a bachelor degree and 3.0% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 27.7% hold a vocational qualification. 10 schools serve the area, with 3,299 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 986 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
The region shows lower levels of tertiary education, with 17.4% of residents holding a university qualification compared to the VIC average of 33.4%. This highlights a clear opportunity for education-focused programs. Bachelor degrees are held by 12.0% of the population, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.0% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational qualifications are common, with 38.6% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (27.7%). Enrolment rates are high, with 27.1% of the population participating in formal education. Within this student group, 10.2% are in primary school, 8.1% are in high school, and 2.8% are undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Horsham reaches 123 stops on 12 routes, timetabled for about 440 services a week. The typical home sits about 210 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.4 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 transport systems in Horsham feature 123 active stops. These links are serviced by 12 distinct routes, which provide a total of 441 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is high, with residents living an average of 208 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the area, most workers commute out of the district, with private cars being the primary mode at 92%, and walking at 5%. Average vehicle ownership is 1.4 per household. A low 9.2% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, a figure potentially affected by COVID-19 rules.
Service frequency stands at an average of 63 journeys per day across all routes, which translates to about 3 weekly trips per individual stop. The map shows the 100 transport stops closest to the centre of the location.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
63.3% of residents in Horsham report no long-term health condition. 6.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 49.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Horsham exhibits notable health difficulties, as indicated by mortality figures and chronic illness data gathered by AreaSearch, with various ailments affecting both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of the population with private health insurance is low at approximately 50% (~8,416 people), compared to the national rate of 55.7%. The most prevalent health issues in the area are arthritis (10.2%) and mental health concerns (9.2%), while 63.3% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, close to the 63.4% recorded across Regional Vic.. Chronic illness rates are elevated within the working-age population.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 22.2% of the local population (3,757 people), which is lower than the 23.9% average for Regional Vic., with national health risk rankings for this group exceeding the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Horsham is largely Australian-born, at 92.1% of residents, with 5.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (31.9%) and English (31.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Horsham has lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 91.3% of the population, 92.1% born in Australia, and 94.4% using only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 52.2% of local residents, compared to 47.3% across Regional Vic.. Regarding ancestry (the birth country of parents), the main heritages in Horsham are Australian at 31.9%, English at 31.5%, and Scottish at 8.4%. Other backgrounds show variation from regional averages: German ancestry is higher at 7.7% (compared to 3.5% regionally), while Irish is lower at 7.8% (vs 9.7%) and Italian is at 2.4% (vs 2.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Horsham is 40. 25.9% 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
The median age in Horsham is 40, which is slightly lower than the Regional Vic. average of 43 but above the Australian median of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is larger than the regional average (14.4% locally), whereas the 65 - 74 bracket is smaller (10.9%). Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 11.3% to 12.8% of the population, and the 25 to 34 group has risen from 13.3% to 14.4%. On the other hand, the 55 to 64 cohort dropped from 12.6% to 11.0%.
Population projections for 2041 suggest changing demographics for Horsham, with the 35 to 44 age group expected to expand by 711 people (33%) from 2,165 to 2,877, while the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 demographics are projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Horsham
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 15 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 241 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (16,985 at the 2021 Census → 16,901 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 May 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 (215011388). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.