Chart Color Schemes
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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Sale has an estimated 15,292 residents. 274 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. That puts 335 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 research by AreaSearch, the population of Sale stands at approximately 15,292 in May 2026. This represents a minor reduction of 9 residents or 0.1% since the 2021 Census, which documented 15,301 individuals. This trend is calculated from the ABS estimated resident population of 15,233 in June 2025 alongside 274 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The current population translates to 335 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and space for future expansion. Although the local population contracted by 0.1% post-census, the broader SA3 region grew by 2.4%, showing contrasting trends.
Growth locally was driven almost exclusively by arrivals from overseas. AreaSearch incorporates regional projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024, using 2022 as the baseline. For locations where this data is unavailable, figures are derived from the 2023 Victorian State Government projections, adjusted by aggregating growth from municipal to local levels. Growth projections by age category from these calculations are applied to the years 2032 through 2041. Based on these demographic forecasts, the district is expected to experience population expansion within the highest tier of regional locations nationwide, growing by 3,188 residents to 2041, which equates to a 20.5% rise over 16 years from the latest annual ERP figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
374 new dwellings have been approved in Sale over the past five years, an average of 74 a year. That is 4.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 50 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 90% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 40, well below 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
Around 74 residential building approvals are granted annually in Sale, with a total of 374 residences approved between FY-21 and FY-25, and 37 during FY-26. Given that only 0.2 residents moved to the area per completed dwelling over the period between FY-21 and FY-25, housing supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing buyers with options and supporting population growth potential. The average construction cost for new dwellings is $244,000, which sits below the regional average and offers more affordable choices. Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $46.1 million this financial year, reflecting active business investment.
Sale exhibits 18.0% less per-capita building activity than the Rest of Vic., ranking in the 33rd percentile nationwide, which limits housing options and sustains interest in the established market. The composition of new construction is 90.0% houses and 10.0% multi-unit dwellings, preserving the low-density style and emphasis on family living. The ratio of 507 residents for every approved dwelling highlights the quiet pace of local development. Long-term forecasts suggest Sale will gain 3,128 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. If current building rates do not increase, housing supply may fall behind population growth, potentially heightening market competition and driving up values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Sale
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 8 current infrastructure and development projects inside Sale, worth an estimated $313 million. A further 85 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $70.6 billion. 31 are already under construction and 37 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, residential development and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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 infrastructure projects and planning changes significantly impact area performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 developments likely to influence the local area. Principal works include the Sale College Facilities Improvement - Toilet Refurbishment & Years 7-12 Facilities Planning, the Aqua Energy Leisure Centre Redevelopment, Swanlake Business Park, and the Port of Sale East Bank Redevelopment Study, with major projects listed below.
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
North Sale Growth Area Development Plan
Comprehensive development plan for the 294ha North Sale Growth Area providing a framework for coordinated urban development. It includes 1,000+ residential lots, a new Sale College campus at Gibsons and Cobains Road, a 122-place early years hub, infrastructure upgrades, and community facilities.
Sale College Facilities Improvement - Toilet Refurbishment & Years 7-12 Facilities Planning
Dual-phase project at Sale College consisting of: (1) toilet refurbishment on the second floor, funded by $810,233 from Round 2 of the Australian Government Schools Upgrade Fund (start Q2 2024, forecast finish Q2 2026), and (2) planning and early works for Years 7-12 student facilities improvement, funded by $3 million from the 2021-22 State Budget, with construction subject to future funding. The school serves 820 students across two campuses - Guthridge Campus (Years 7-9) and Macalister Campus (Years 10-12).
Swanlake Business Park
A premium commercial estate in Sale's northern growth area on the Princes Highway, neighbouring Bunnings Warehouse. Construction of civil works is underway after a 15-year development process, with the latest release (marketed as Swanlake Commercial Park) offering 21 allotments from 1,350 to 2,770 sqm zoned Commercial 2 (C2Z), suited to bulky goods retail, showrooms, offices and warehousing. The site has 800m of highway frontage with direct highway access.
Wurruk Development Plan - Sale Western Growth Area
The Sale Western Growth Area - Wurruk Development Plan provides for approximately 1,255 residential lots across six estates. Approved in June 2022, it establishes preferred development outcomes and key infrastructure requirements for coordinated residential growth. A Development Contributions Mechanism is currently being finalised to fund key infrastructure.
Aqua Energy Leisure Centre Redevelopment
A major transformation of the Aqua Energy Leisure Centre, featuring a new, accessible 25m indoor pool, improved changing rooms, a 24/7 gym, and a water play area.
Port of Sale East Bank Redevelopment Study
A comprehensive redevelopment study for the East Bank site within the Port of Sale Cultural and Civic Precinct. The study aims to prepare new planning controls for the future use and redevelopment of the site containing former Sale Specialist School and Sale High School buildings, plus heritage-listed George Gray Centre. The project seeks to create high architectural standards that complement the existing Port Precinct character.
Sale Integrated Centre for Children and Families
A new centre providing 122 new childcare and kindergarten places, multi-purpose consulting suites, and meeting and activity spaces for early childhood services and community use.
TAFE Gippsland Port of Sale Campus
A new TAFE Gippsland campus delivered in the Port of Sale precinct, consolidating older Sale and Fulham facilities into a single, centrally located education and industry hub. The project provides purpose-built learning spaces and workshops supporting sectors such as health and social services, early childhood, carpentry, engineering, automotive, hair and beauty, with improved access for the Wellington Shire community.
7,191 residents of Sale are employed, from a labour force of 7,604. Unemployment sits at 5.4%, with participation at 60.7%. 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
Sale features a qualified workforce with a strong presence in essential services, showing an unemployment rate of 5.4% and an estimated annual job growth rate of 4.2%. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 7,191, with unemployment tracking 1.7% higher than the Regional Vic. rate of 3.7%, while the participation rate matched the Regional Vic. level of 61.1%. According to Census details, only 10.6% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure was influenced by pandemic lockdowns. The major employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade.
Public administration & safety is highly concentrated, with a representation 2.1 times that of the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented at 3.8% compared to the regional figure of 7.5%. Despite local jobs, comparison of Census employment and residential numbers suggests a significant portion of the workforce travels outside the area for work. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, during the 12 months ending March 2026, local employment rose by 4.2% and the labor force grew by 3.4%, resulting in a 0.8 percentage point decrease in unemployment. Over the same period, Regional Vic. saw employment fall by 0.1% and the labor force contract by 0.3%, with unemployment dropping 0.2 percentage points. Employment projections for the five and ten years from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia have been applied to local profiles to project future demand. While national employment is expected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary by sector. Applying these figures to the local industry mix yields an estimated employment increase of 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years in Sale, using a simple weighting method that does not account for specific local population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Sale is $1,331 a week (about $69,000 a year), with median personal income at $702 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,478 a year against an average of $66,759. 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
ATO records from financial year 2023 aggregated by AreaSearch indicate Sale has a median taxpayer income of $52,478 and an average of $66,759. This is slightly below the national standard, compared to a median of $50,954 and average of $62,728 in Regional Vic. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be roughly $57,526 for the median and $73,181 for the average. Census data places household, family, and individual incomes in the lower bands, ranking between the 22nd and 28th percentiles.
Income distribution shows 28.4% of the population, or 4,342 people, earning between $1,500 - 2,999, which is comparable to the 30.3% recorded across the region. After housing costs, residents retain 86.1% of their income, ranking in the 25th percentile nationally, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Sale had 6,156 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 86% detached houses and 6% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 33% rented and 36% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $280 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 21.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, residential structures in Sale consisted of 85.6% separate houses and 14.4% other dwelling types like townhouses and apartments, compared to 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings in Regional Vic. Home ownership rates in Sale stood at 36.1%, lower than the regional average, with the remaining households split between mortgaged properties at 30.8% and rental properties at 33.1%. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,300, which is below the Regional Vic. average of $1,430, while median weekly rent was $280, compared to $285 regionally. Nationally, mortgage payments in Sale are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent is below the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Sale counted 6,156 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 24% are couples with children, against 27% 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 64.4% of local households, consisting of couples with children at 24.0%, couples without children at 27.2%, and single parents at 12.1%. Non-family living arrangements account for 35.6%, which is dominated by single-person households at 32.9% and group households at 2.7%. The average household size is 2.3 individuals, slightly below the Regional Vic. figure of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
20.6% of adults in Sale hold a university qualification, including 14.0% with a bachelor degree and 3.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 26.8% hold a vocational qualification. 13 schools serve the area, with 4,156 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 974 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
Higher education rates are low, with 20.6% of residents holding university qualifications compared to the Victorian average of 33.4%. Among these qualifications, bachelor degrees account for 14.0%, postgraduate degrees represent 3.8%, and graduate diplomas make up 2.8%. Vocational education is prominent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificate qualifications at 26.8%. Enrolment in education is high, with 28.2% of the population active in study. This includes primary school students at 10.6%, secondary students at 7.9%, and higher education students at 3.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Sale reaches 77 stops on 13 routes, timetabled for about 480 services a week. The typical home sits about 230 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.3 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 networks include 77 active transport stops in Sale, including train services. These are serviced by 13 routes that deliver 484 weekly passenger trips. Access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 228 meters from their nearest stop. Commuters mostly travel outside the area, with private cars being the primary mode at 91% and walking accounting for 6%. Household car ownership averages 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional standard. Working from home was recorded at 10.6% during the 2021 Census, which was likely influenced by COVID-19 rules.
Transit services run at an average of 69 trips per day across all local routes, which represents approximately 6 weekly services for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
61.7% of residents in Sale report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 91% of areas nationally. 8.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Significant health issues are present in Sale, according to AreaSearch data on mortality and chronic illness rates, impacting both younger and older generations, while private health insurance coverage is slightly lower than the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the population, or about 7,967 people. Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most common diagnoses, affecting 10.7 and 9.8% of the population respectively. Meanwhile, 61.7% of residents reported having no chronic health issues, compared to 63.4% in Regional Vic. Chronic illness rates are elevated among working-age individuals. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 22.2% of the population, representing 3,390 people, which is below the Regional Vic.
average of 23.9%. Senior health rankings show poorer outcomes relative to national levels compared to the general local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Sale is largely Australian-born, at 86.5% of residents, with 6.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (31.7%) and English (30.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Sale has lower levels of cultural diversity, with citizens representing 89.4% of the population, 86.5% of people born in Australia, and 93.3% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion at 47.4%. Judaism represents 0.1% of the population, which is matching the 0.1% seen in Regional Vic. The most common ancestries in Sale are Australian at 31.7%, English at 30.6%, and Irish at 8.5%. Certain backgrounds show variation from regional levels, such as Dutch at 1.9% compared to 1.7% regionally, Sri Lankan at 0.3% compared to 0.1%, and Scottish at 8.1% compared to 8.8% regionally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Sale is 42. 25.0% 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 Sale is 42 years, which aligns closely with the Regional Vic. median of 43 years and is older than the national median of 38 years. The local demographic has a high proportion of 25 - 34 year-olds at 13.9%, while the 65 - 74 bracket is smaller at 11.8% than regional levels. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age bracket increased from 12.2% to 13.9%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.4% to 10.8% and the 5 to 14 age group decreased from 12.5% to 11.5%.
Population projections to 2041 estimate significant shifts, with the 25 to 34 age bracket projected to grow by 48%, adding 1,032 people to reach 3,166, while the 55 to 64 group is expected to decline by 1.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Sale
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 | Jul 2026 last month all 8 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 Jul 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 — 274 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (15,301 at the 2021 Census → 15,292 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 (205051103). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.