Sunshine

An assessment of population growth drivers in Sunshine reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Sunshine's population was around 10,143 as of February 2026. This reflected an increase of 698 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,445. The change was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 10,104 in June 2024 and an additional 186 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 2,144 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Sunshine's growth of 7.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth of 2.6%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 89.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted 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 used the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future trends forecast a significant population increase in Sunshine, with the area expected to expand by 3,487 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 34.0% over the 17 years.

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

Sunshine has averaged approximately 49 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 248 homes were approved, with an additional 18 approved so far in FY26. The average construction value of new homes is $337,000.

This year has seen $48.4 million in commercial development approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sunshine has 69.0% more construction activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers. New developments consist of 24.0% detached houses and 76.0% attached dwellings, providing accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 69.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. With around 271 people per dwelling approval, Sunshine indicates a developing market. Population forecasts predict Sunshine will gain 3,448 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Sunshine has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones are Sunshine Superhub and Albion Station Upgrade, Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050, Western Rail Plan, Next Generation Trams. 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.

Sunshine shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Sunshine's workforce is well-educated with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 7.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 5.1%. As of September 2025, 5,556 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.7% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation was on par with Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 27.2% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area had a notable concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Professional & technical services employed just 7.4% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The ratio of 0.8 workers per resident indicated substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 5.1%, labour force grew by 5.5%, resulting in a unemployment rise of 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 3.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggested potential future demand within Sunshine. These projections estimated that national employment would expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differed significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Sunshine's employment mix indicated local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The Sunshine SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $57,357 and an average income of $65,504 in financial year 2023, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is slightly lower than the national average, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $62,089 (median) and $70,908 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, Sunshine's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly, between the 29th and 39th percentiles. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominated in Sunshine with 31.1% of residents (3,154 people), mirroring regional levels where 32.8% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 82.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile.

Sunshine displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Sunshine's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 69.4% houses and 30.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunshine was at 27.9%, with the rest being mortgaged (29.9%) or rented (42.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Sunshine was $340, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Sunshine's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Sunshine features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 66.8 percent of all households, including 28.9 percent couples with children, 21.7 percent couples without children, and 13.6 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.2 percent, with lone person households at 25.5 percent and group households comprising 7.7 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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

Sunshine has a higher percentage of residents aged 15 and above with university qualifications than the broader area, at 35.4% compared to 23.9%. This is due to a significant number holding bachelor degrees (22.6%), postgraduate qualifications (9.8%), and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational pathways are also popular, accounting for 24.2% of qualifications among residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 14.8%. Educational participation is notably high in Sunshine, with 31.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.4% in primary education, 7.2% in tertiary education, and 5.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Sunshine has 100 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 31 routes that facilitate 14,067 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest transport stop is 131 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 72% of residents, while trains and buses account for 16% and 6% respectively. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.0, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant proportion (27.2%) of Sunshine's residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 2,009 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 140 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Sunshine are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Sunshine's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~5,264 people), which lags behind the average SA2 area's rate of 56.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 7.1 and 7.0% of residents respectively. 74.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. Sunshine has 13.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,394 people), which is lower than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Sunshine is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Sunshine has a population where 51.3% were born overseas and 56.6% speak a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Sunshine, with 40.1%. Buddhism comprises 11.1%, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (20.3%), English (14.7%), and Australian (13.6%). Notably, Vietnamese (13.5%) and Maltese (1.4%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.9% and 1.1%, respectively. Macedonian is also slightly overrepresented at 0.8%.

Sunshine's population is younger than the national pattern

Sunshine's median age was 35 years in the period, which was slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and somewhat younger than Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprised 19.1% of Sunshine's population compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 75-84 cohort made up 3.7%. Between 2021 and the present day, the 65-74 age group grew from 6.8% to 8.2% of Sunshine's population. Conversely, the 25-34 age group declined from 21.0% to 19.1%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Sunshine. The 55-64 age cohort is projected to increase substantially, with an expansion of 624 people (60%) from 1,041 to 1,666 individuals.