Sunshine West
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Sunshine West's population is approximately 18,853 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 295 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,558. The growth was inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 18,795 in June 2024 and an additional 131 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,453 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Sunshine West has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.1%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.5% 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 employs 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 projected demographic shifts, Sunshine West is expected to have above median population growth, expanding by 3,620 persons to 2041, reflecting an 18.9% increase over the 17-year period.

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

Sunshine West has received approximately 53 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 268 homes. As of FY-26, 10 approvals have been recorded. Despite a declining population in recent years, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $277,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

In FY-26, Sunshine West has seen $62.2 million in commercial development approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. When compared to Greater Melbourne, Sunshine West maintains similar construction rates per person, consistent with the broader area's market balance. However, this activity is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity in Sunshine West comprises 32.0% standalone homes and 68.0% townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a shift from the existing housing stock, which is currently 83.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles. Sunshine West indicates a mature market with around 373 people per approval.

Population forecasts suggest Sunshine West will gain 3,557 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Sunshine West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that may impact the region. Notable initiatives include the Vietnamese Museum Australia, Derrimut Industrial Precinct Expansion, Sunshine Superhub, and Albion Station Upgrade. The following details projects likely to have the greatest influence.

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 performance in Sunshine West lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Sunshine West has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 8.0% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 4.9%.

As of June 2025, 9,136 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation lags at 53.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, transport, postal & warehousing, and manufacturing. The area specializes in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical shows lower representation at 5.9% versus the regional average of 10.1%. The ratio of 0.6 workers per resident indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 4.9% while labour force grew by 5.7%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 12.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunshine West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and not accounting for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Sunshine West's median income among taxpayers is $47,258. The average income in Sunshine West was $54,744 during this period. This is below the national average. In comparison, Greater Melbourne had a median income of $54,892 and an average of $73,761 for the same financial year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimates suggest Sunshine West's median income would be approximately $53,005 by September 2025, with an average of around $61,401. Census data indicates individual incomes in Sunshine West lag at the 8th percentile ($565 weekly), while household income performs better at the 30th percentile. Income distribution shows that 31.5% of individuals (5,938 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring regional levels where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Sunshine West, with only 84.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 31st percentile.

Sunshine West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Sunshine West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunshine West was higher at 40.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.6% and rented ones at 28.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,700, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. Median weekly rent was $346, also matching Melbourne metro figures. Nationally, Sunshine West's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Sunshine West features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.0% of all households, including 33.1% couples with children, 22.3% couples without children, and 16.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 26.0%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households making up 4.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

Educational outcomes in Sunshine West fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 23.2%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 25.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.1% and certificates at 16.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education. There are 10 schools operating within Sunshine West, educating approximately 3,603 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 976) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 5 primary, 3 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds residential needs (19.1 places per 100 residents vs 14.3 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

Sunshine West has 99 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 23 different routes, together providing 6,517 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 184 meters to the nearest stop.

The service frequency is 931 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 65 weekly trips per individual stop.

Sunshine West's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data shows relatively positive health outcomes for Sunshine West residents. Prevalence of common health conditions is quite low among the general population but higher than the national average in older, at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover rate is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~8,898 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 7.0 and 6.8% of residents respectively. Seventy-one point nine percent of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.5% across Greater Melbourne. Eighteen point nine percent of residents are aged 65 and over (3,559 people). Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Sunshine West 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 West has a high level of cultural diversity, with 54.3% of its population born overseas and 66.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sunshine West, accounting for 49.2% of its population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented in Sunshine West compared to Greater Melbourne, with 12.7% versus 12.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (21.1%), Vietnamese (17.6%), and Australian (10.6%). There are also notable differences in the representation of Maltese (4.8% vs regional 4.6%), Macedonian (2.6% vs 2.5%), and Greek (4.8% vs 3.0%) populations.

Sunshine West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Sunshine West is 38 years, comparable to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sunshine West has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (7.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (10.1%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 has increased from 6.7% to 7.4%, while the percentage of those aged 5-14 has decreased from 11.1% to 10.1%. By 2041, Sunshine West's age composition is expected to change significantly. Notably, the 55-64 age group will grow by 32%, reaching 2,788 residents from 2,107. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group is projected to decrease by 17 residents.