Sunbury - West

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

Sunbury - West's population, according to AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 11,476 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 310 people from the 2021 Census count of 11,166 individuals. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,404 in June 2024 and an additional 36 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 303 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.9% to overall population gains recently.

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, AreaSearch employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using a weighted aggregation method from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Sunbury - West is expected to experience significant growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of national statistical areas. By 2041, the area's population is projected to increase by 5,074 persons, reflecting a total increase of 43.6% over the 17-year period, according to the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Sunbury - West, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Sunbury - West averaged approximately 34 new dwelling approvals annually between FY21 and FY25, with a total of 173 homes approved during this period. As of FY26, 8 dwellings have been approved.

The population has declined in recent years, suggesting that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good options for buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes is $318,000. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sunbury - West has significantly less development activity, 83.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings, which is also under the national average. This indicates the area's established nature and suggests potential planning limitations. New development in Sunbury - West consists of 69.0% detached houses and 31.0% attached dwellings.

There has been an increasing blend of attached housing types, offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more affordable compact options. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 96.0% houses. This change may indicate decreasing availability of developable sites and reflect changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Sunbury - West is 396 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain 5,002 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Sunbury - West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones are Canterbury Hills Estate, Sunbury Square Town Centre, The Sunbury Gateway, and Everley Estate. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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

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.

The labour market in Sunbury - West demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Sunbury - West has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.8%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1% over the past year.

As of September 2025, there are 6,743 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.8% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation is at 69.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The leading employment industries among residents are construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction has particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

In contrast, professional & technical employs only 5.1% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The area offers limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.1%, labour force increased by 1.2%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% during this period. State-level data from November 25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunbury - West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The median taxpayer income in Sunbury - West SA2 is $56,982 and the average is $67,245 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is higher than Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on a 12.16% growth in wages since financial year 2022, the current estimates would be approximately $63,911 (median) and $75,422 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Sunbury - West cluster around the 64th percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant with 40.2% of residents (4,613 people), which mirrors regional levels where 32.8% occupy this bracket. After housing expenses, 86.2% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Sunbury - West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Sunbury - West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 95.5% houses and 4.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 89.2% houses and 10.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunbury - West was 30.1%, similar to Melbourne metro's level. Mortgaged dwellings were 49.2%, rented ones were 20.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below the Melbourne metro average of $1,750 and the Australian average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was $376, higher than Melbourne metro's $369 but lower than the national figure of $375.

Sunbury - West features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 77.8% of all households, including 37.8% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.2%, with lone person households at 19.5% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Sunbury - West aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 20.3%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 13.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 41.3% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificates at 29.1%. Educational participation is high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.7% in primary, 7.2% in secondary, and 4.2% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Sunbury - West has 71 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 3,015 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility in the area is considered good, with residents on average being located 203 meters from their nearest transport stop.

Across all routes, there are an average of 430 trips per day, which equates to approximately 42 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Sunbury - West is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a slightly higher degree among older age cohorts

Sunbury - West faces significant health challenges with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across all age groups, but slightly more so among older adults.

Approximately 53% (~6,128 people) of the total population have private health cover. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 10.3% and 10.0% of residents respectively. About 65.1% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 65.7% across Greater Melbourne. In this area, 15.4% (~1,767 people) of residents are aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

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

Sunbury-West had a low cultural diversity, with 84.0% born in Australia, 90.2% being citizens, and 91.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 48.9%. The 'Other' religious category was overrepresented at 0.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.5%.

Top ancestry groups were English (27.9%), Australian (27.1%), and Irish (9.8%). Maltese, Polish, and Italian groups showed notable divergences in representation: Maltese was 2.5% vs regional 2.8%, Polish was 0.9% vs 1.0%, and Italian was 4.5% vs 5.2%.

Sunbury - West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Sunbury-West has a median age of 36 years, nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sunbury-West has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (12.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (13.9%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 13.3% to 15.7%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 3.6% to 5.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group declined from 13.1% to 11.2% and the 25-34 group dropped from 15.6% to 13.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Sunbury-West's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is expected to grow by 62%, adding 806 residents to reach a total of 2,096.