Busselton - West
Statistical Area - sa2

Busselton - West lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Busselton-West's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 21,421 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 2,129 individuals, a rise of 11.0% since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 19,292 people. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,253 in June 2024 and an additional 1,076 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 187 persons per square kilometer, indicating significant space per person and potential for further development. Busselton-West's growth rate exceeded both the national average (8.6%) and non-metro areas post-2021 Census. The primary driver was interstate migration contributing approximately 82.5% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch uses growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population dynamics anticipate above median growth for national non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, Busselton-West is projected to increase by 3,561 persons, marking a total gain of 15.8% over the 17-year period based on latest population numbers.

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

Busselton - West has averaged around 182 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 912 dwellings approved over the past five financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, and 40 so far in FY-26. On average, 2.2 new residents have been added per dwelling annually over these years, indicating healthy demand for housing that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $423,000.

Additionally, $6.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year. Compared to the rest of WA, Busselton - West has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 76th percentile nationally. The area's new development consists predominantly of standalone homes at 97.0%, with medium and high-density housing making up the remaining 3.0%.

This preserves the area's low density nature, attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 156 people per dwelling approval, Busselton - West shows characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate that the area will gain approximately 3,389 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Busselton - West has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects likely impacting the region. Notable projects include Busselton Water Supply Improvement, Vasse Estate, Broadwater Bayside Estate, and Halcyon Vasse. The following list details those most relevant:.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

The labour market in Busselton - West shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Busselton - West has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent.

The unemployment rate was 2.8% in June 2021. Employment grew by 5.7% over the past year. As of June 2025, 10,934 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 2.4%. This is below Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%.

Workforce participation was 57.4%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 3.2% versus the regional average of 9.3%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited based on Census data. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment levels increased by 5.7% and labour force grew by 5.3%, reducing unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. In Rest of WA, employment rose by 1.1%, labour force grew by 0.5%, and unemployment fell by 0.6 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Busselton - West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.0% over five years and 12.7% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Busselton-West's median income among taxpayers was $48,090 in the financial year 2022. The average income stood at $63,511 during this period. This compares to figures for Rest of WA which were $57,323 and $71,163 respectively. By March 2025, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 11.61%, the estimated median income would be approximately $53,673 and the average income would be around $70,885. According to the 2021 Census figures, household incomes in Busselton-West ranked between the 24th and 29th percentiles. In this area, 28.5% of individuals fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which is similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort represented 31.1%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Busselton-West, with only 82.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 23rd percentile.

Busselton - West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Busselton - West's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 86.5% houses and 13.5% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is in comparison to Non-Metro WA's structure of 89.8% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership levels in Busselton - West were at 36.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.3% and rented ones at 25.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro WA's average. The median weekly rent figure in the area was $350, compared to Non-Metro WA's $360. Nationally, Busselton - West's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $350 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 70.2% of all households, including 27.3% couples with children, 32.0% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.8%, with lone person households at 27.3% and group households comprising 2.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 16.7%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.2%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (31.6%). Educational participation is high at 26.9%, comprising primary education (10.3%), secondary education (9.2%), and tertiary education (1.9%).

Busselton - West operates a network of 8 schools educating approximately 5,244 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 995). The educational mix includes 3 primary, 2 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds residential needs at 24.5 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.5, indicating it serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Transport analysis in Busselton - West shows 144 active transport stops operating. These are served by a mix of buses along three individual routes. The combined weekly passenger trips provided by these routes total 170.

Residential accessibility to public transport is rated as good, with residents located an average of 356 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency across all routes averages 24 trips per day, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Busselton - West is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Busselton - West faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 51% of its total population (~10,967 people) have private health cover, slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 10.2 and 8.6% of residents respectively. About 65.0% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.5% across Rest of WA. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over (22.3%, or 4,776 people) than the state average of 20.0%.

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 had a cultural diversity index below average, with 80.8% of its population born in Australia, 89.4% being citizens, and 94.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 44.6% of the population. Notably, Buddhism was overrepresented at 1.0%, compared to 1.1% across Rest of WA.

The top three ancestry groups were English (36.0%), Australian (29.6%), and Irish (7.6%). Dutch (1.7%) and Welsh (0.7%) were notably overrepresented, while New Zealand (0.9%) was slightly underrepresented compared to regional averages.

Busselton - West hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Busselton - West has a median age of 44 years, which is considerably higher than the Rest of WA average of 40 years and also exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 75-84 age group shows strong representation at 7.4%, compared to the Rest of WA's percentage. Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent in Busselton - West at 10.1%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 9.5% to 11.3%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 12.4% to 13.5%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 13.3% to 12.1%. Demographic modeling suggests that Busselton - West's age profile will evolve significantly by the year 2041. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow strongly, adding 1,096 residents to reach a total of 3,256. However, population declines are projected for both the 15-24 and 85+ age cohorts.