South Bunbury - Bunbury

South Bunbury - Bunbury has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

South Bunbury-Bunbury's population was approximately 13,483 as of November 2025. This figure represents a growth of 723 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,760. The increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 13,439 in June 2024 and an additional 47 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,198 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, South Bunbury-Bunbury has exhibited resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%, outperforming non-metro areas. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

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 to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch uses ABS-provided growth rates by age cohort from its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population dynamics project an above-median growth for national non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, the area is expected to increase by 1,976 persons, reflecting a total gain of 14.3% over the 17 years, based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within South Bunbury - Bunbury when compared nationally

South Bunbury - Bunbury has averaged approximately 48 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 244 homes were approved, with an additional 31 approved so far in FY-26. Each year, on average, these dwellings accommodate around 2.1 new residents, suggesting healthy demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new homes is approximately $445,000. This financial year has seen $57.0 million in commercial development approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Comparatively, South Bunbury - Bunbury has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person compared to the rest of WA.

Nationally, it ranks among the 47th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established homes. New development primarily consists of standalone homes (97.0%) with a smaller proportion of medium and high-density housing (3.0%), preserving the area's suburban nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests, indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. With around 372 people per dwelling approval, South Bunbury - Bunbury shows a developed market with a population forecast to gain 1,932 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

South Bunbury - Bunbury has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 13thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Bunbury Regional Hospital Redevelopment, Bunbury Ocean Pool, Prinsep Street Streetscape, and Wilman Wadandi Highway (Bunbury Outer Ring Road). 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.

Employment performance in South Bunbury - Bunbury exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

South Bunbury - Bunbury has a skilled workforce with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.2% in June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 6.5% over the past year.

As of that date, 7,484 residents were employed. The unemployment rate was aligned with Rest of WA's 3.2%, and workforce participation was similar at 59.4%. Employment concentrations were in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training, notably with health care being 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 1.4% compared to the regional average of 9.3%.

The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.9, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over the year ending June 2025, employment increased by 6.5%, while labour force grew by 5.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of WA saw employment growth of 1.1%, labour force expansion of 0.5%, and a 0.6 percentage point drop in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Bunbury - Bunbury's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch released postcode-level ATO data for financial year 2022. South Bunbury - Bunbury SA2's median income among taxpayers was $58,462, with an average of $75,149. Nationally, this is high compared to Rest of WA's median of $57,323 and average of $71,163. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $66,764 (median) and $85,820 (average), based on a 14.2% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census shows personal income at the 55th percentile ($830 weekly) and household income at the 35th percentile. Predominantly, locals (28.9%, or 3,896 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, similar to metropolitan regions where 31.1% fall within this range. After housing costs, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses. South Bunbury - Bunbury SA2's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

South Bunbury - Bunbury displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

South Bunbury - Bunbury's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.0% houses and 34.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro WA had 88.1% houses and 11.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Bunbury - Bunbury was at 36.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.9% and rented ones at 33.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,625, higher than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,616. Median weekly rent in South Bunbury - Bunbury was $310, compared to Non-Metro WA's $300. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,863 and rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

South Bunbury - Bunbury features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 60.3 percent of all households, including 20.7 percent couples with children, 29.2 percent couples without children, and 9.7 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 39.7 percent, with lone person households at 36.3 percent and group households comprising 3.5 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

South Bunbury - Bunbury shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 25.3% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the SA3 area average of 15.6% and that of Rest of WA at 17.6%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 17.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas constitute 11.0% and certificates make up 28.2%.

A significant 24.6% of the population is actively engaged in formal education. This includes 8.5% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis shows that within South Bunbury-Bunbury there are currently 125 active public transport stops. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totalling 13 individual routes. The total weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes is 1,781.

The accessibility to public transport in the area is rated as good, with residents on average being located 203 metres from their nearest transport stop. Across all routes, there are an average of 254 trips per day, which equates to approximately 14 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

South Bunbury faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 57% of the total population (~7,698 people), compared to 54.1% across Rest of WA.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 10.2% of residents) and mental health issues (affecting 8.9%). A total of 65.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.4% across Rest of WA. The area has 22.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,982 people), higher than the 17.6% in Rest of WA.

In terms of cultural diversity, South Bunbury - Bunbury records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

South Bunbury, as per the 2016 Census, had a cultural diversity profile roughly similar to the wider region's average. 86.8% of its population were Australian citizens, with 77.5% born in Australia and 91.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 48.8% of South Bunbury's population.

Notably, Judaism, which had no representation regionally, comprised 0.1% of South Bunbury's population. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.8%), Australian (25.2%), and Irish (8.6%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences in representation: Welsh at 0.8% compared to the regional average of 0.6%, Polish at 1.0% versus 0.7%, and Italian at 5.1% against a regional average of 4.8%.

South Bunbury - Bunbury hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

South Bunbury - Bunbury's median age is 45 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of WA average of 40 years, and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 14.8% of the population, while those aged 5-14 comprise a smaller proportion at 9.7%. Since 2021, the percentage of the population aged 25-34 has grown from 11.4% to 14.8%, while the 85+ cohort has declined from 4.3% to 3.0%, and the 65-74 group has dropped from 13.0% to 11.8%. Population forecasts for South Bunbury - Bunbury in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 age cohort, which is expected to increase by 52%, adding 1,038 residents to reach a total of 3,033. In contrast, population declines are projected for those aged 85+ and 15-24.