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 13,485 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 725 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,760. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,439 in June 2024 and an additional 47 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,198 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, South Bunbury - Bunbury has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%, outperforming the Rest of WA. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future demographic trends suggest an above median population growth for national non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, the area is projected to increase by 1,976 persons, reflecting a gain of 14.3% over the 17-year period, 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 FY21 to FY25, a total of 244 homes were approved, with an additional 43 approved so far in FY26. The average number of new residents per year for each dwelling over these five years is 2.1, indicating healthy demand which supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $262,000. This financial year has seen $57.0 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to the rest of WA, South Bunbury - Bunbury has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person.

Nationally, it places among the 47th percentile of areas assessed, indicating somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established homes. New development consists mainly of standalone homes at 97.0%, with medium and high-density housing making up the remaining 3.0%. This preserves the area's suburban nature and attracts space-seeking buyers. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than suggested by the current mix (66.0% at Census), 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 1,930 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. 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 6thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include Bunbury Regional Hospital Redevelopment, Transforming Bunbury's Waterfront, Bunbury Ocean Pool, and Prinsep Street Streetscape. The following list details those likely 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 conditions in South Bunbury - Bunbury demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

South Bunbury - Bunbury has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, lower than the national average of 3.3%. Over the past year, employment growth has been estimated at 6.7%.

As of September 2025, 7,500 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.5% and workforce participation at 67.2%, similar to Rest of WA's figures. Census data shows that 6.2% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (18.4%), construction (13.9%), and education & training (10.5%). The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level, but agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 1.4% compared to the regional average of 9.3%.

There are 0.9 workers for each resident, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 6.7%, while labour force grew by 5.6%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of WA saw employment growth of 1.4% and a fall in unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia 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, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, South Bunbury - Bunbury SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $60,984 and an average income of $78,606. Nationally, these figures are high compared to the Rest of WA's median income of $59,973 and average income of $74,392. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year ending June 2023, estimated median and average incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $66,851 and $86,168 respectively. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 55th percentile ($830 weekly), while household income is at the 35th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 28.9% of locals (3,897 people) predominantly earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to metropolitan regions where 31.1% fall into this category. After housing costs, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses. The area'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). This contrasts with Non-Metro WA's 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Bunbury-Bunbury stood at 36.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.9% and rented ones at 33.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,625, exceeding Non-Metro WA's average of $1,560. The median weekly rent figure was $310, compared to Non-Metro WA's $265. Nationally, South Bunbury-Bunbury's median monthly mortgage repayments were lower at $1,625 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $310 versus 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% of all households, including 20.7% couples with children, 29.2% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 39.7%, with lone person households at 36.3% and group households making up 3.5%. 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 of 25.3% among 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 also prominent, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.0% while certificates make up 28.2%.

A significant portion of the population is actively engaged in formal education, totaling 24.6%. 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

South Bunbury - Bunbury has 124 active public transport stops. These are served by 21 bus routes that facilitate 2,412 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 203 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 89%, with 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 6.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 344 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 19 weekly trips per stop. The map accompanying the analysis shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

South Bunbury - Bunbury shows below-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are higher than average, with common health conditions slightly more prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~7,875 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis (10.2%) and mental health issues (8.9%). 65.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.3% across Rest of WA. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 21.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,839 people), higher than the 19.2% in Rest of WA. National rankings are broadly in line with the general population.

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, Bunbury was found to have cultural diversity roughly in line with the wider region's average. 86.8% of its population were citizens, 77.5% were born in Australia, and 91.0% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 48.8% of people in South Bunbury, Bunbury.

However, Judaism showed significant overrepresentation, making up 0.1% compared to 0.0% across Rest of WA. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.8%), Australian (25.2%), and Irish (8.6%). Notably, Welsh (0.8%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.6%, as were Polish (1.0% vs 0.5%) and Italian (5.1% vs 3.0%).

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 Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 years are particularly prominent at 15.7%, while the 5-14 year age group is comparatively smaller at 9.5% than in Rest of WA. Between January 2021 and present, the area has seen a decrease in median age from 46 to 45 years. During this period, the 25-34 age group grew from 11.4% to 15.7%, while the 65-74 cohort declined from 13.0% to 11.3% and the 85+ group dropped from 4.3% to 2.7%. Population forecasts for South Bunbury - Bunbury indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by 43%, adding 910 residents to reach a total of 3,033. Conversely, the 15-24 and 65-74 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.