Phillip Island
Statistical Area - sa2

Phillip Island lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Phillip Island's population is around 15,710 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,911 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,799 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,580 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 567 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 156 persons per square kilometer. Phillip Island's growth of 13.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro area (5.5%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 80.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing 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. Based on demographic trends, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the area expected to expand by 7,901 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 42.9% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Phillip Island was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Phillip Island has seen approximately 213 new homes approved annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 1,066 homes approved over the past five financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), and 14 approved so far in FY-26. On average, each dwelling constructed has accommodated around 1.9 new residents per year over the past five financial years, suggesting a balanced supply-demand ratio. However, this ratio has moderated to 1.1 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, indicating an improved balance between supply and demand. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $588,000, which is slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments.

In FY-26, commercial approvals worth $24.3 million have been registered, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Phillip Island has seen 36.0% more development per person over the past five years, indicating good buyer choice and supporting existing property values. This is notably higher than the national average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity consists of 56.0% standalone homes and 44.0% medium to high-density housing, providing a mix of affordable compact alternatives alongside traditional family housing options. This shift represents a notable departure from the area's current housing stock composition of 89.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse housing options.

The location has an approximate population density of 101 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. Population forecasts project Phillip Island to gain 6,734 residents by 2041. Development activity is keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

Phillip Island has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Cowes to Ventnor Shared Path, Samuel Property Warley Avenue Apartments, Lifestyle Communities Phillip Island, and Phillip Island Community Hospital. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The employment landscape in Phillip Island presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.2%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Phillip Island has a skilled workforce with notable representation in lifestyle and retail sectors, and an unemployment rate of 3.2% as of June 2025. The island's employment rate is 0.6% lower than the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%, but its workforce participation lags behind at 48.9% compared to the region's 57.4%.

Major employment industries among residents include construction, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food. The area has a particularly high concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with 2.2% employment compared to the region's 7.5%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population count versus resident population.

Between June 2024 and May 2025, Phillip Island's labour force decreased by 0.7%, while employment declined by 1.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic.'s employment fell by 0.9%, labour force contracted by 0.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Phillip Island's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Phillip Island at $40,603 and average income at $56,887. This is lower than national averages of $48,741 (median) and $60,693 (average) for Rest of Vic. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $44,708 (median) and $62,638 (average). Census data indicates household, family and personal incomes in Phillip Island are between the 12th and 18th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 27.7% earning $800 - 1,499 weekly, with 4,351 residents in this category, differing from the region where 30.3% earn $1,500 - 2,999 weekly. After housing expenses, 84.9% of income remains, ranking at the 14th percentile nationally. Phillip Island's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Phillip Island is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Phillip Island's dwelling structure at the latest Census comprised 89.1% houses and 11.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 93.3% houses and 6.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Phillip Island was at 47.8%, with the rest either mortgaged (29.2%) or rented (22.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,450. Median weekly rent in Phillip Island was $330, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $295. Nationally, Phillip Island's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.3% of all households, including 20.7% couples with children, 34.3% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for 34.7%, with lone person households at 32.2% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic average of 2.3.

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

Educational qualifications in Phillip Island trail regional benchmarks; 23.5% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to 33.4% in VIC. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (13.5%) and certificates (27.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.1% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education. Phillip Island's five schools have a combined enrollment reaching 1,746 students; they demonstrate typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1046) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes four primary schools and one K-12 school.

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

Phillip Island has 54 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that together offer 228 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is rated as moderate, with residents on average located 423 meters from the nearest stop.

Each route provides an average of 32 trips per day, resulting in approximately four weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Phillip Island faces substantial health challenges, with notable prevalence of common conditions across younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover rates are low at approximately 48%, covering about 7,587 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.5%) and mental health issues (8.8%). Around 61.5% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to the Rest of Vic.'s 61.6%. About 30.6%, or 4,807 people, are aged 65 and over, higher than Rest of Vic.'s 28.6%.

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

Phillip Island's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.2% of its population being citizens and 81.3% born in Australia. English was spoken as the only language at home by 93.4% of residents. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 42.4% of people on Phillip Island.

Judaism, however, was overrepresented compared to the rest of Victoria, making up 0.1% of Phillip Island's population versus 0.1%. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.2%), Australian (27.8%), and Irish (9.6%). Notable divergences included Dutch being overrepresented at 2.0% compared to the regional average of 2.5%, Scottish at 9.1% versus 9.3%, and Welsh at 0.7% compared to 0.5%.

Phillip Island ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Phillip Island is 52 years, which is significantly higher than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 and well above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented on Phillip Island at 18.8%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 8.1%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 10.5% to 11.5% of Phillip Island's population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 17.3% to 16.1%, and the 45 to 54 group has dropped from 11.9% to 10.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Phillip Island, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 84%, adding 1,071 residents to reach a total of 2,344.