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.
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Sales Detail
Sale has an estimated 15,292 residents. 275 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 resident count in Sale stands at roughly 15,292 as of Aug 2026. This represents a reduction of 9 people (0.1%) compared to the 15,301 individuals counted during the 2021 Census. Such demographic movement is deduced using ABS estimated resident population statistics showing 15,233 individuals as of June 2025 alongside 275 validated new addresses documented following the Census count. With this overall population, the locality exhibits a density of 335 persons per square kilometer, ensuring considerable personal space and room for urban expansion. Even though Sale recorded a 0.1% contraction following the census, the surrounding SA3 region grew by 2.4%, showing contrasting population patterns.
Net gains locally were mainly propelled by overseas arrivals, serving as virtually the only contributor to population expansion over recent timeframes. Projections compiled by ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 (using 2022 as their foundation year) are utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 locations. In areas lacking these figures, the 2023 Victorian State Government Regional/LGA dataset is applied through a weighted aggregation framework translating LGA trends down to SA2 boundaries. Age cohort growth rates derived from this process are further extended across all territories for the 2032 to 2041 timeframe. Anticipated demographic trajectories point toward expansion exceeding the median for regional Australian districts, with projections indicating an influx of 3,073 persons by 2041 relative to latest annual ERP statistics, producing an overall expansion of 19.7% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
298 new dwellings have been approved in Sale over the past five years, an average of 59 a year. That is 3.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 60 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 90% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential planning permissions in Sale have run at approximately 59 dwellings per year, totaling 298 homes approved across the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Because annual resident additions averaged only 0.2 people for every approved home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), additions to the housing stock are matching or outpacing demand, ensuring plentiful purchasing options and accommodating future resident expansion beyond projected levels, with construction costs averaging $369,000 per dwelling in alignment with broader regional averages. Furthermore, approvals for non-residential commercial builds have reached $46.1 million during this financial year, underscoring solid business construction activity.
When evaluated against Rest of Vic., building volume on a per-capita basis in Sale sits at roughly three-quarters the wider rate, ranking within the 35th percentile among territories assessed nationwide, which restricts purchaser supply and reinforces demand for existing properties. Detached houses accounted for 90.0% of recent construction while attached formats made up 10.0%, sustaining the low-density urban character of the locality and drawing in buyers pursuing larger land footprints. A subdued, low-scale building pace is underlined by a ratio of roughly 458 people per approved dwelling. Demographic projections indicate an increase of 3,013 residents across Sale through to 2041 according to the newest quarterly figures from AreaSearch. If building activity remains at existing rates, new residential supply may fail to keep up with demographic expansion, potentially driving up purchasing competition and supporting capital 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 86 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $70.5 billion. 32 are already under construction and 39 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 investment and strategic town planning exert a profound influence on regional growth. AreaSearch has pinpointed 11 major initiatives likely to impact the district. Prominent undertakings comprise the Sale College Facilities Improvement - Toilet Refurbishment & Years 7-12 Facilities Planning, the Aqua Energy Leisure Centre Redevelopment, the Swanlake Business Park, and the Port of Sale East Bank Redevelopment Study, with key project summaries 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
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 60.8%. 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 maintains an adept local workforce supported by strong representation across essential services, exhibiting an unemployment rate of 5.4% alongside 4.2% estimated employment growth over the past year. By March 2026, employed locals numbered 7,191, with local joblessness tracking 1.7% higher than the 3.7% recorded across Regional Vic., while participation matched the Regional Vic. benchmark of 61.1%. Only 10.6% of local workers performed their duties from home according to Census returns, although period lockdowns during Covid-19 must be noted. Local workers are predominantly engaged across health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, as well as retail trade.
A notable regional concentration exists in public administration & safety, which captures a workforce share 2.1 times the wider regional baseline. By comparison, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 3.8% of local employment, falling below the 7.5% found in Regional Vic.. While local positions are available, comparisons between Census worker totals and the local population suggest that substantial numbers of residents travel beyond the locality for work. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM figures reveals that over the 12-month period, a 4.2% rise in employment alongside a 3.4% expansion of the labor pool drove a 0.8 percentage points decline in the unemployment rate. By contrast, Regional Vic. saw jobs shrink by 0.1%, the workforce drop by 0.3%, and unemployment edge downward by 0.2 percentage points. Five- and ten-year national workforce forecasts published by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future labour demand in Sale when mapped against local industry composition. Nationally, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely by sector. Projecting these sectoral trajectories onto the local industry footprint suggests employment within Sale could grow by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (noting this represents a baseline weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes without factoring in localized population forecasts).
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
According to ATO postcode figures for financial year 2023 analysed by AreaSearch, personal earnings in the Sale SA2 track modestly below the Australian baseline, registering a median of $52,478 alongside an average of $66,759. These figures compare to median earnings of $50,954 and an average of $62,728 recorded across Regional Vic.. Factoring in a 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 suggest a median of $57,526 and an average of $73,181. Census statistics place household, family, and individual incomes between the 22nd and 28th percentiles nationally.
The largest earnings band is $1,500 - 2,999, capturing 28.4% of the population (4,342 people), which aligns with the regional proportion of 30.3%. Residents retain 86.1% of income once housing expenses are met, placing the area at the 25th percentile nationally, with SEIFA income measures situating the location 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
Census records indicate that the housing fabric in Sale was made up of 85.6% separate houses and 14.4% non-detached dwellings (including semi-detached units, apartments, and 'other' dwellings), contrasting with 90.1% separate houses and 9.9% other dwelling types across Regional Vic.. Outright home ownership reached 36.1%, trailing the broader regional proportion, while mortgaged properties accounted for 30.8% and rental accommodation made up 33.1%. Typical monthly mortgage costs were $1,300, tracking lower than the Regional Vic. benchmark of $1,430, while weekly rent was $280 compared to $285 regionally. On a nationwide scale, monthly repayments in Sale sit well below the Australian benchmark of $1,863, and weekly rents track considerably under the national median 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 constitute the majority of living arrangements at 64.4% of households, comprising couples with children (24.0%), couples without children (27.2%), and single parent families (12.1%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 35.6%, led by single-person households at 32.9% and group arrangements at 2.7%. The typical household size stands at 2.3 people, slightly under the Regional Vic. median 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
Educational attainment presents challenges locally, as university qualifications are held by 20.6% of residents, lagging the VIC benchmark of 33.4% and presenting opportunities for educational investment. Bachelor degrees represent 14.0%, with postgraduate qualifications at 3.8% and graduate diplomas accounting for 2.8%. Vocational education is strongly represented, with 38.4% of the population aged 15+ possessing trade or technical credentials, divided between advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (26.8%). A significant share of the community participates in formal education, with 28.2% of residents currently studying. This cohort is distributed across primary education (10.6%), secondary schooling (7.9%), and higher tertiary studies (3.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Sale reaches 77 stops on 13 routes, timetabled for about 490 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
The public transit network within Sale includes 77 operational stops including train services. Across 13 dedicated routes, the system delivers 490 weekly passenger trips. Transit access is favorable, with the typical resident residing 228 meters from their closest boarding point. Commuters predominantly travel out of the area, with private vehicles accounting for 91% of trips and walking making up 6%. Vehicle availability sits at 1.3 per dwelling, trailing the regional benchmark. Working from home was recorded by 10.6% of residents in the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions.
Across all operating routes, transit frequency averages 70 trips per day, which translates to approximately 6 weekly trips per individual 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
AreaSearch evaluations of mortality patterns and chronic ailment rates indicate significant public health considerations within Sale across both younger cohorts and older demographics, while private health insurance uptake of roughly 52% (~7,967 people) trails the broader SA2 national average. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent ailments in the community, affecting 9.8% and 10.7% of residents, respectively, while 61.7% of the populace reported no long-term illnesses, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. Chronic ailments are notably elevated among working-age individuals. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 23.1% of the community (3,524 people), with older cohorts encountering heightened health challenges that rank even higher against nationwide benchmarks.
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
Measures of cultural diversity place Sale below wider benchmarks, with Australian citizens making up 89.4% of residents, 86.5% born in Australia, and 93.3% communicating exclusively in English within their homes. Christianity is the predominant faith, accounting for 47.4% of the population. The most prominent comparative overrepresentation occurs within Judaism, which comprises 0.1% of the local community, matching the 0.1% share observed throughout Regional Vic.. Regarding reported parental ancestry, the leading groups across Sale are Australian at 31.7%, English at 30.6%, and Irish at 8.5%. Certain other backgrounds demonstrate notable variation from broader trends, including Dutch at 1.9% locally (compared to 1.7% regionally), Sri Lankan at 0.3% (against 0.1% regionally), and Scottish at 8.1% (compared to 8.8% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Sale is 42. 23.6% 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
Age distributions in Sale align closely with the Regional Vic. baseline, with no cohort diverging by more than 1.5 percentage points. The median age is estimated at 42, matching the figure from the 2021 Census and sitting 1 year younger than the Regional Vic. benchmark of 43 at that Census. Since that time, residents aged 45 - 64 have reduced from 24.8% to an estimated 23.3%. Looking forward to 2041, the largest numerical gain is anticipated among young to middle aged adults (25 - 44), projected to expand by 1,465 residents (39%) to reach 5,230.
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 Oct 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) | Aug 2026 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 3 months ago 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 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 — 275 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 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 Aug 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.