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 is 11,497 as of May 2026. This is an increase of 331 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,166. The change is inferred from ABS estimates of 11,497 in June 2025 and 37 validated new addresses since then. Population density is 304 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed approximately 62.7% to recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation for areas not covered by ABS data. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas until 2041. Projected demographic shifts indicate exceptional growth, placing the area in the top 10 percent nationally. By 2041, population is expected to increase by 5,058 persons, reflecting a 44.0% total increase over 16 years based on 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 per year over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 173 homes approved during this period. In FY26, up until now, there have been 15 dwelling approvals.

The population in Sunbury - West has been declining recently, suggesting that new housing supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good options for buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes being built 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. This trend is also seen nationally, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New development in Sunbury - West consists of 69.0% detached houses and 31.0% attached dwellings.

There is an increasing blend of attached housing types, offering choices across different price ranges, from spacious family homes to more affordable compact options. This shift represents a notable change from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 96.0% houses. This indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated population density in Sunbury - West is 396 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain 5,058 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Sunbury - West has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects are Canterbury Hills Estate, The Sunbury Gateway, Everley Estate, and Davis Vineyard House & Land Estate. The following list details those considered most relevant.

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 employment environment in Sunbury - West shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Sunbury-West has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.2%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%. In December 2025, 6,707 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% below the metropolitan average.

Workforce participation stands at 74.9%. According to Census data, 24.1% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction has notably high concentration with levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services employ only 5.1% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.9%, with employment declining by 0.2%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase 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, though this is a 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 $60,611 and the average is $71,481 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than the national average of $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average) in Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated median income as of March 2026 is approximately $66,442 and average income is $78,357. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Sunbury - West cluster around the 64th percentile nationally. The $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 40.2% of residents (4,621 people), similar to regional levels where 32.8% occupy this bracket. After housing expenses, 86.2% of income remains for other expenses. Sunbury - West's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th 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 recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 95.5% houses and 4.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunbury - West was at 30.1%, aligning with Melbourne metro's figure. Mortgaged dwellings constituted 49.2%, while rented dwellings made up 20.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000 and the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Sunbury - West was recorded at $376, compared to Melbourne metro's $390 and the national figure of $375.

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

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

In the area, university qualification rates are lower than those of Greater Melbourne, standing at 20.3% compared to the average of 37.0%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common type of university qualification in the area, with 13.7% of residents holding one. Postgraduate qualifications follow, held by 3.5% of residents, while graduate diplomas are held by 3.1%.

Vocational credentials are prominent among residents aged 15 and above, with 41.3% having such qualifications. Advanced diplomas account for 12.2%, and certificates for 29.1%. Educational participation is high in the area, 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 moderate 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 2,158 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average being located 203 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most inhabitants commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 92% of residents. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, which exceeds the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 24.1% of residents work from home, a figure that may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 308 trips per day, equating to roughly 30 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 based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts. Approximately 55% (~6,311 people) of the total population has private health cover. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues affecting 10.3% of residents and asthma impacting 10.0%. Sixty-five point one percent declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents face notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Sixteen point zero percent of residents are aged 65 and over (1,842 people), higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally 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 cultural diversity below average, with 84.0% born in Australia, 90.2% being citizens, and 91.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 48.9%. The most notable overrepresentation was in Other religions, at 0.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 2.3%.

Top ancestry groups were English (27.9%), Australian (27.1%), and Irish (9.8%). Maltese, Polish, and Italian groups showed notable divergences: Maltese at 2.5% (vs regional 1.1%), Polish at 0.9% (vs 0.8%), and Italian at 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 (12.5%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (13.5%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 13.3% to 15.6%, while those aged 75-84 have increased from 3.6% to 5.1%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has declined from 15.6% to 13.5%, and those aged 45-54 have dropped from 13.1% to 11.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Sunbury-West's age profile, with the 45-54 cohort expected to grow by 64%, adding 840 residents to reach a total of 2,144.