East Bunbury - Glen Iris
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in East Bunbury - Glen Iris reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

East Bunbury - Glen Iris' population was around 7,847 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 652 people (9.1%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 7,195. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,811 in June 2024 and an additional 23 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 341 persons per square kilometer. East Bunbury - Glen Iris' growth rate of 9.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.9%, indicating it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 39.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration being positive factors.

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 and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for Australian non-metropolitan areas. The area is expected to expand by 1,542 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 19.2% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within East Bunbury - Glen Iris when compared nationally

East Bunbury - Glen Iris has averaged approximately 27 new dwelling approvals annually over recent years. Specifically, between the financial years FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 139 homes were approved, with an additional 7 approved so far in FY-26. This area has seen an average of 4.7 people moving to the area per dwelling built annually over these five financial years.

The demand for housing significantly outpaces supply, which typically influences prices upwards and intensifies competition among buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $233,000, which is under regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing choices for buyers. In FY-26 alone, commercial development approvals amounting to $11.3 million have been recorded, indicating balanced commercial development activity in the area.

Comparatively, East Bunbury - Glen Iris demonstrates approximately 63% of the construction activity per person when measured against the rest of WA. Nationally, it ranks around the 43rd percentile among assessed areas, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options while reinforcing demand for established dwellings. Recent construction comprises predominantly detached houses at 83.0%, with townhouses or apartments making up the remaining 17.0%. This preserves the area's low-density nature and attracts space-seeking buyers. The current estimated population per dwelling approval stands at 406 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. Future projections indicate East Bunbury - Glen Iris will add approximately 1,506 residents by 2041. Given current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases in the area.

East Bunbury - Glen Iris has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include Glen Iris Village, Frank Buswell Foreshore Redevelopment, Withers Renewal Program, and Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub (AMTECH). The following list details those most likely to be 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.

East Bunbury - Glen Iris has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

East Bunbury - Glen Iris has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment. The manufacturing and industrial sectors are strongly represented with an unemployment rate of 4.5%.

Over the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 5.5%. As of June 2025, 4,181 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.3% above Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%. Workforce participation is broadly similar to Rest of WA's 59.4%. The leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

There is particular employment specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.5% of East Bunbury - Glen Iris's workforce compared to 9.3% in Rest of WA. The ratio of 0.7 workers for each resident, as at the Census, indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 5.5% and labour force increased by 5.4%, resulting in unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of WA, where employment rose by 1.1%, the labour force grew by 0.5%, and unemployment fell by 0.6 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to East Bunbury - Glen Iris's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.7%% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

East Bunbury - Glen Iris had a median taxpayer income of $50,926 and an average income of $65,461 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is comparable to national averages, contrasting with Rest of WA's median income of $57,323 and average income of $71,163. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $58,157 (median) and $74,756 (average). Census data from 2021 shows household, family, and personal incomes in East Bunbury - Glen Iris rank modestly, between the 25th and 33rd percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 30.8% of locals (2,416 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, consistent with surrounding trends showing 31.1% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 25th percentile.

East Bunbury - Glen Iris is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In East Bunbury - Glen Iris, as per the latest Census evaluation, 84.3% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 15.7% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments and other types of dwellings. This is in comparison to Non-Metro WA's figures of 88.1% houses and 11.8% other dwellings. The home ownership level in East Bunbury - Glen Iris stood at 32.3%, similar to that of Non-Metro WA, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (37.3%) or rented (30.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,506, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,616. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, matching Non-Metro WA's figure. Nationally, East Bunbury - Glen Iris's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

East Bunbury - Glen Iris has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 67.5% of all households, including 24.0% couples with children, 29.0% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.5%, with lone person households at 29.1% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

East Bunbury - Glen Iris faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

East Bunbury - Glen Iris faces educational challenges with university qualification rates at 13.2%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.1%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.6%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (33.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.7% in primary, 7.4% in secondary, and 1.9% in tertiary education. The area has a robust network of 6 schools educating approximately 2,086 students. The educational mix includes 4 primary, 1 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. East Bunbury - Glen Iris functions as an education hub with 26.6 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 17.1, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

East Bunbury - Glen Iris has 61 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five distinct routes that together facilitate 375 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility in the area is deemed good, with residents on average situated 205 meters away from their nearest transport stop.

On a daily basis, there are an average of 53 trips across all routes, which equates to roughly six weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in East Bunbury - Glen Iris is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

East Bunbury - Glen Iris faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~4,111 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Arthritis and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.1% and 9.1% of residents respectively. Approximately 66.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.4% across Rest of WA. The area has 18.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,421 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in East Bunbury - Glen Iris was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

East Bunbury-Glen Iris exhibited cultural diversity above the average, with 20.7% of its residents born overseas and 10.9% using a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in East Bunbury-Glen Iris, comprising 46.2% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category had an overrepresentation of 1.1%, compared to 0.6% across the rest of WA.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.1%), Australian (27.4%), and Scottish (6.8%). However, there were notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Italian was overrepresented at 6.1%, Maori was equally represented at 1.0%, and New Zealand was slightly overrepresented at 0.9%.

East Bunbury - Glen Iris's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in East Bunbury - Glen Iris is 40 years, aligning with the Rest of WA's average but slightly higher than the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are notably prominent, comprising 16.2% of the population, while those aged 5-14 make up a relatively smaller proportion at 11.1%. Between 2021 and the present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 13.8% to 16.2%, and the 35-44 cohort has risen from 11.9% to 12.9%. Conversely, the 75-84 age group has decreased from 6.7% to 5.5%, and the 45-54 group has fallen from 12.3% to 11.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in East Bunbury - Glen Iris's age structure. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 580 people (46%), rising from 1,271 to 1,852. Conversely, both the 5-14 and 75-84 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.