Sunbury - West
Statistical Area - sa2

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, as of November 2025, is approximately 11,476. This figure represents an increase of 310 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,166. The change is 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% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using 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 uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, exceptional growth is predicted over the period, with the area expected to increase by 5,074 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 43.6%.

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 from FY-21 to FY-25, with a total of 173 homes approved during this period. As of FY-26, there have been 5 approvals so far.

The population has declined in recent years, suggesting that the new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good options for buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes was $318,000. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sunbury - West had significantly less development activity, 83.0% below the regional average per person, indicating stronger demand and values for established dwellings. This is also under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New developments consisted of 69.0% detached houses and 31.0% attached dwellings, offering a range of housing types from spacious family homes to more affordable compact options. This shift indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring diverse housing options.

The area had an estimated 396 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Population forecasts project Sunbury - West will gain 5,002 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 strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that may impact this area. Notable projects include Canterbury Hills Estate, Diggers Rest Level Crossing Removal Project - Old Calder Highway & Watsons Road, Sunbury Square Town Centre, and Sunbury Community Hospital. The following list details those 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 labour force with notable representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.8%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

In the past year, employment growth was estimated at 4.2%. As of June 2025, 7,001 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% below Greater Melbourne's rate. Workforce participation is high at 69.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Construction employment is particularly high, at 1.4 times the regional average. However, professional & technical services employ only 5.1% of local workers, lower than Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Analysis from June 2025 shows employment levels increased by 4.2%, with labour force growth of 4.3%. This resulted in a slight rise in unemployment, up 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunbury-West's industry mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

Sunbury - West has a median taxpayer income of $56,982 and an average of $67,245 according to the latest 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 Wage Price Index growth rate of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $63,911 (median) and $75,422 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Sunbury - West are around the 65th percentile nationally. The data shows that 40.2% of residents (4,613 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, similar to regional levels where 32.8% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, 86.2% of income remains for other expenses. The area'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 per the latest Census, consisted of 95.5% houses and 4.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Melbourne metro's 89.2% houses and 10.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunbury - West was 30.1%, similar to Melbourne metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (49.2%) or rented (20.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $1,750 and the national average of $1,863. Meanwhile, 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 comprise the remaining 22.2%, with lone person households at 19.5% and group households at 2.8%. 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

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

Sunbury - West's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 2,042 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1015) with balanced educational opportunities. There are 3 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds residential needs (17.8 places per 100 residents vs 14.5 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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 accessibility of public transport in the area is rated as 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 prevalent among its residents, particularly among older age cohorts.

Approximately 53% (~6,128 people) of the total population have private health cover. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 10.3 and 10.0% of residents respectively. However, 65.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.7% across Greater Melbourne. As of 2021, 15.4% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,767 people). 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 cultural diversity below average, with 84.0% born in Australia, 90.2% citizens, and 91.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 48.9%. The most notable overrepresentation was 'Other', 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 were notably overrepresented at 2.5% (vs regional 2.8%), Polish at 0.9% (vs 1.0%), and Croatian at 0.8% (vs 1.0%).

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 age group increased from 3.6% to 5.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group declined from 13.1% to 11.2%, and the 25-34 age group dropped from 15.6% to 13.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Sunbury-West's age profile will change significantly. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 62%, adding 806 residents to reach a total of 2,096.