Sale
Statistical Area - sa2

Sale has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Sale's population, as of Aug 2025, is approximately 15,638 people. This figure represents a growth of 337 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 15,301. The increase is estimated from ABS data showing an resident population of 15,491 as of June 2024 and an additional 167 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 342 persons per square kilometer. Sale's growth rate of 2.2% since the census is within 2.3 percentage points of its SA3 area (4.5%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, they utilise VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, the area is expected to grow by 3,342 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 19.8% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Sale according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Sale has averaged approximately 74 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, there have been 374 home approvals, with an additional seven approved in FY26 so far. On average, 0.8 people per dwelling have moved to the area each year over these five years.

This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering more buyer choices and supporting potential population growth beyond projections. The average construction value of new properties is $427,000. In FY26 alone, $46.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating strong local business investment.

Compared to the Rest of Vic., Sale has 18.0% lower construction activity per person and ranks among the 33rd percentile nationally, implying somewhat limited buyer options but strengthening demand for established dwellings. Recent construction consists of 90.0% detached houses and 10.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low-density character and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 509 people, reflecting Sale's quiet development environment. Future projections indicate that Sale will add approximately 3,090 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, although buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

Sale has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 11 projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones are Sale College Facilities Improvement (including toilet refurbishment and Years 7-12 facilities planning), Aqua Energy Leisure Centre Redevelopment, Port of Sale East Bank Redevelopment Study, and Swanlake Business Park. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment drivers in Sale are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Sale has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 5.8%.

In Sale, 7,014 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.1% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Sale is somewhat below standard at 55.4%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key industries of employment among residents include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. Sale has particular employment specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 3.8% of Sale's workforce compared to 7.5% in Rest of Vic.. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Sale's labour force decreased by 0.7%, alongside a 1.4% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic. experienced an employment decline of 0.9% and a labour force decline of 0.4%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data as of Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sale's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Sale has a median taxpayer income of $49,095 and an average income of $63,872, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This is slightly lower than the national average, compared to Rest of Vic.'s median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. As of March 2025, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $54,059 and an average income of $70,329, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since the financial year 2022. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Sale rank modestly, between the 22nd and 29th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 28.4% of the population (4,441 individuals) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, which is consistent with broader trends in the surrounding region, where 30.3% fall into the same category. After housing costs, 86.1% of income remains, ranking at the 26th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Sale, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 85.6% houses and 14.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structure was 91.9% houses and 8.1% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Sale was 36.1%, with the remainder being mortgaged (30.8%) or rented (33.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sale was $1,300, aligning with Non-Metro Vic.'s average. The median weekly rent figure in Sale was recorded at $280, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $260. Nationally, Sale's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Sale features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 64.4% of all households, including 24.0% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.6%, with lone person households at 32.9% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.3 people, matching the average of Rest of Vic.

Sale shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 20.6%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (26.8%). Educational participation is high at 28.2%, comprising primary education (10.6%), secondary education (7.9%), and tertiary education (3.3%).

There are 13 schools serving 4,156 students, with Sale having typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 974) and balanced educational opportunities. The area functions as an education hub with a high ratio of school places per resident (26.6), attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Sale has 77 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train and bus routes. These are serviced by 22 different routes, offering a total of 580 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 228 meters from the nearest stop.

The average service frequency across all routes is 82 trips per day, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data for Sale shows significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of the total population (~8,006 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues affect 10.7% of residents, while arthritis impacts 9.8%. A total of 61.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 62.7% in Rest of Vic. Sale has 21.5% of residents aged 65 and over (3,369 people), lower than the 23.5% in Rest of Vic. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly inline with the general population's health profile.

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

Sale's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.4% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (86.5%), and speaking English only at home (93.3%). Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 47.4% of Sale's population. Notably, Judaism, which is not represented regionally, made up 0.1% of Sale's population.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were Australian (31.7%), English (30.6%), and Irish (8.5%). Other ethnic groups showed variations: Dutch were overrepresented at 1.9% in Sale compared to 2.1% regionally, Sri Lankan at 0.3% versus 0.1%, and Scottish at 8.1% versus 8.6%.

Sale hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Sale's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of Vic.'s average of 43, but considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows that 25-34 year-olds comprise 14.2%, while the 65-74 group comprises 11.4%. Since 2021, the 25-34 age group has grown from 12.2% to 14.2%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.4% to 11.0%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 12.5% to 11.3%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Sale. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by 53%, adding 1,180 residents to reach 3,395. Conversely, numbers in the 55-64 age range are expected to fall by 51%.