Busselton - West

Population growth drivers in Busselton - West are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to assessments conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Busselton - West stands at approximately 22,081 in May 2026. This represents an expansion of 2,789 people (14.5%) relative to the 19,292 individuals recorded during the 2021 Census. This population shift is calculated utilizing the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 21,758 along with 1,270 validated new addresses identified after the Census. The resulting population density is 193 persons per square kilometer, which indicates low density and capacity for future housing expansion. The 14.5% population rise since the 2021 census outpaced the national average (9.3%) and matched the Rest of WA, positioning the locality as a regional leader in expansion. The primary catalyst for this growth was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 75.5% of the total population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 regions lacking this specific data, and to project trends past the year 2032, growth rates across age segments are sourced from the Greater Capital Region projections published by the ABS in 2023 based on 2022 records. Looking ahead, population growth is projected to exceed the median for national non-metropolitan zones, with the locality expected to add 3,169 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a 12.9% rise over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Busselton - West among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

The locality of Busselton - West has recorded an average of approximately 182 new residential approvals each year, totaling 912 residential approvals across the preceding 5 fiscal years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 200 during the current FY-26. Over the prior 5 fiscal years (from FY-21 to FY-25), each new dwelling has accommodated an average of 2.3 new residents annually, indicating consistent demand that is likely to support real estate valuations, with new constructions carrying an average build cost of $278,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $6.0 million during the current fiscal year, highlighting the primarily domestic nature of the area.

Busselton - West exhibits roughly two-thirds the volume of per capita dwelling approvals seen in the Rest of WA, though it sits at the 76th percentile of all analyzed locations nationwide. Residential development is highly concentrated in detached structures, with standalone houses representing 97.0% of approvals and medium to high-density alternatives comprising just 3.0%, thereby maintaining a low-density suburban landscape favored by buyers seeking space. The ratio of approximately 159 people per approved dwelling underscores its status as an expanding area.

Demographic projections indicate that Busselton - West is on track to add 2,846 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly figures from AreaSearch. If the current pace of construction persists, the incoming supply of housing is expected to satisfy demand, creating favorable buyer conditions and potentially facilitating expansion beyond existing demographic forecasts.

Busselton - West has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, developments, and planning schemes are major drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 active projects likely to impact the locality. Prominent projects include the Busselton Water Supply Improvement, Halcyon Vasse, Vasse Estate, and Broadwater Bayside Estate, with the primary projects of local significance outlined in the following section.

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

The workforce of Busselton - West is evenly distributed between professional and industrial roles, with strong representation in manufacturing and production, an unemployment rate of only 2.6%, and an estimated job growth rate of 0.8% over the prior year. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 10,862, while the unemployment rate remained 0.9% below the 3.5% reported for Regional WA, and labor participation lagged behind at 62.4% compared to 65.6% in Regional WA. Census responses show a minimal 7.4% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by lockdown mandates.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The region shows a strong concentration in accommodation & food jobs, with a employment share that is 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented at 3.2% compared to the regional benchmark of 9.3%. A comparison between the census working population and resident population suggests that local employment opportunities are somewhat limited.

AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS statistics indicate that during the year leading to March 2026, the employed population grew by 0.8% and the labor force expanded by 0.8%, which kept local unemployment levels steady. This performance differed from Regional WA, which experienced a 0.1% decline in employment, a 0.3% rise in the labor force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future local employment demand can be contextualized using national employment projections from May-25 released by Jobs and Skills Australia. These five-year and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sectors will perform differently. Applying these sector-specific growth rates to the employment composition of Busselton - West points to an estimated local job increase of 6.0% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation based on industry shares without local demographic adjustments.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to tax data from the ATO compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, income levels in the Busselton - West SA2 correspond closely to national averages. The median income for tax-paying residents is $50,709 and the average income is $68,232, whereas the corresponding figures for Regional WA are $59,973 and $74,392. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of approximately $56,251 and an average income of $75,690 as of March 2026. Based on 2021 Census data, incomes for households, families, and individuals in Busselton - West are relatively low, falling between the 24th and 28th percentiles. The statistics indicate that 28.5% of residents (6,293 individuals) earn in the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which is comparable to the metropolitan region where this group accounts for 31.1%. Affordability index measures indicate severe pressure, with residents retaining only 82.2% of their income, placing the area in the 22nd percentile.

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

The housing stock in Busselton - West at the time of the latest Census consisted of 86.5% freestanding homes and 13.5% alternative dwellings like semi-detached properties and apartments, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other options in Regional WA. Home ownership rates in Busselton - West were higher than those in Regional WA at 36.8%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 37.3% and rented properties making up 25.9%. The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was significantly higher than the Regional WA average at $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $350, compared to $1,560 and $265 in Regional WA. On a national scale, mortgage payments in Busselton - West remain below the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are lower than the national figure of $375.

Busselton - West has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 70.2%, consisting of couples with children at 27.3%, couples without children at 32.0%, and single parent households at 10.4%. Non-family households represent the remaining 29.8% of the area, with lone persons accounting for 27.3% and shared group households making up 2.5%. The average household occupancy stands at 2.4 people, which is slightly below the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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

The region presents low rates of higher education, with university qualification levels at 16.7% compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a hurdle and a target for local educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 12.2%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.4% and postgraduate degrees at 2.1%. Practical and vocational qualifications are common, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational credential, including 10.7% with advanced diplomas and 31.6% with certificates.

A high level of educational enrollment is observed locally, with 26.9% of the population participating in formal studies. This segment includes 10.3% in primary schools, 9.2% in secondary schools, and 1.9% in tertiary institutions.

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

Public transport services in Busselton - West include 147 transit stops servicing bus networks. These stops accommodate 3 separate routes that provide a combined 170 passenger trips each week. Transport accessibility is good, with an average distance of 356 meters from residences to the nearest stop. Due to the residential profile of the area, most workers commute out of the district, and private vehicles remain the primary transit mode at 91%. The average vehicle ownership rate is 1.4 per dwelling, which is lower than the regional average. A small proportion of residents (7.4%) worked from home during the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 rules.

Service frequency averages 24 daily trips across the active routes, which equates to roughly 1 weekly trip per individual transit stop. The associated map displays the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the area.

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

Assessments of mortality and chronic illness rates by AreaSearch suggest below-average health outcomes for Busselton - West, with common medical conditions slightly more prevalent across both older and younger demographics, while private health insurance coverage is held by approximately 53% of the population (~11,769 people). This is lower than the 56.4% coverage rate observed in Regional WA.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent issues locally, affecting 10.2 and 8.6% of the population respectively, while 65.0% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. Health outcomes for working-age residents are generally average. The area has a relatively high percentage of residents aged 65 and over at 23.1% (5,098 people), compared to 19.2% in Regional WA, with national health rankings matching typical trends for the population.

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

Busselton - West shows a lower degree of cultural diversity than average, with Australian-born residents accounting for 80.8% of the population, citizens representing 89.4%, and English-only speakers at home making up 94.8%. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 44.6% of residents. The most notable statistical divergence is in Buddhism, which is practiced by 1.0% of the population, matching the 1.0% average for Regional WA.

Based on parental country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups in Busselton - West are English at 36.0%, Australian at 29.6%, and Irish at 7.6%. Certain minor ethnic backgrounds display higher representation than regional averages, including Dutch ancestry at 1.7% of the population (compared to 1.5% regionally), Welsh at 0.7% (compared to 0.6%), and New Zealand ancestry at 0.9% (compared to 0.9%).

Busselton - West hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Busselton - West is 45 years, which is higher than the Regional WA average of 40 and older than the national median of 38 years. Demographic data shows that the 65 - 74 age bracket is particularly large (12.5%), whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is smaller (9.4%) than in Regional WA. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 demographic has increased from 9.5% to 11.4% of the population, and the 35 to 44 cohort grew from 12.4% to 13.5%. Meanwhile, the cohort aged 85+ dropped from 3.7% to 2.8%. Projections for the year 2041 indicate demographic shifts, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to experience the fastest growth at 41%, adding 849 residents to reach 2,923, while declines are expected in the 85+ and 75 to 84 cohorts.