Sunbury
The suburb houses 38,851 people across 132.22 sq km, with 47.4% of households paying a mortgage and 88.6% of homes detached. Household income sits at the 72nd percentile, above the national midpoint, while university attainment is 3.4 percentage points below national levels. Compared with nearby Diggers Rest, Sunbury is the larger established centre, although its density of 293.8 people per sq km still reflects a spread-out growth corridor. Its profile is mortgage-led, family-oriented and older-leaning, with a median age of 38 and an aging trajectory.
Population
38,851
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,925/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
70
Median House
$740K
October to December 2025
Sunbury suits buyers seeking detached family space more than compact apartment living: 88.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 45.3% have four or more bedrooms and another 44.8% have three. Mortgage repayments of $1,733 a month represent 20.8% of household income, with mortgage stress flagged false. Compared with Diggers Rest, buyers gain a broader established centre, but should allow for car-based travel because 66.5% drive to work versus 2.2% using public transport.
For Buyers
Sunbury suits buyers seeking detached family space more than compact apartment living: 88.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 45.3% have four or more bedrooms and another 44.8% have three. Mortgage repayments of $1,733 a month represent 20.8% of household income, with mortgage stress flagged false. Compared with Diggers Rest, buyers gain a broader established centre, but should allow for car-based travel because 66.5% drive to work versus 2.2% using public transport.
For Investors
Sunbury's investment case is anchored by a 20.7% rental share, weekly median rent of $361 and a 4.6% vacancy rate. Demand should be supported by 38,851 residents, internal migration and 64 development matters lodged in the past 12 months, although subdivision activity can increase competing supply. The suburb's established status and 2.1% annual growth trend point to steadier expansion than a short-term speculative market. Rents have grown 33.5% across the shift period, while house prices rose 3.9% a year over the long price-history period. Compared with higher-density markets, Sunbury's 88.6% separate-house share means greater maintenance and land exposure, but it aligns with family rental demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
197
Last 12 Months
70
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+75.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Sunbury
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Red Rock Christian College
Goonawarra Primary School
Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School
Killara Primary School
Kismet Park Primary School
Demographics
Sunbury has a median age of 38, two years below the national figure, but its trajectory is aging: the senior share has risen 3.2 percentage points while the young share has fallen 1.8 points. Families are prominent, with 47.2% of families being couples with children, 34.5% couples without children and 17.0% one-parent families. Average household size is 2.6, or 0.1 above national. Overseas-born residents account for 17.6%, 4.0 points below national, and university attainment is 26.7%, 3.4 points below. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry are most common, while Italian, Punjabi and Mandarin are leading non-English home languages. Compared with more migrant-oriented parts of Hume, Sunbury has a more Anglo-leaning profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.6%
Houses
4.1%
Townhouse
7.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Sunbury's tenure pattern is firmly mortgage-belt: 47.4% of households are paying a mortgage, compared with 31.1% owning outright and 20.7% renting. The dwelling stock is detached, with 88.6% separate houses, 7.3% apartments and 4.1% semi-detached homes. Four-plus-bedroom dwellings make up 45.3%, while three-bedroom homes account for 44.8%, so larger homes are more common than compact formats. Housing costs remain below flagged stress levels at 20.8% of household income for mortgages and 18.8% for rent. Compared with apartment-heavy suburbs, Sunbury carries more land and upkeep exposure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $361.
$520
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $490 · units $440
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$854
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.6%
Unoccupied
686
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.2%
Couples with children
34.5%
Couples, no children
17.0%
Single parent
10,948
Total families
Economy & Employment
Sunbury's economy combines essential services with trade and logistics. Healthcare is the largest industry at 15.5% and 2,028 workers, followed by construction at 13.9% and 1,810, education at 12.9% and 1,684, public administration at 9.1% and 1,193, and transport at 7.8% and 1,013. That spread gives the local labour base more stability than a single-industry town because health, schools, government and freight do not move in lockstep. Professionals number 3,591, trades 3,298 and clerical or administrative workers 3,053, showing a mix above a purely commuter profile. Labour-force participation is 66.4%, unemployment is 4.5% and full-time employment is 61.3%. Household income is at the 72nd percentile, above the national midpoint, although university attainment is 3.4 points below national.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
20,910
Unemployed
947
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.3%
Part-time
31.7%
Participation
66.4%
Employed
19,963
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.7%
Postgraduate
5.6%
Born Overseas
17.6%
Dwellings
14,109
Transport to Work
Daily life in Sunbury is practical but car dependent. About 66.5% of workers drive, compared with 2.2% using public transport, 1.2% walking or cycling and 25.8% working from home; that pattern reflects a large 132.22 sq km footprint and dispersed housing. Families can choose among 10 local schools spanning 6 government and 4 Catholic settings, including primary, secondary and specialist options. Exact enrolment zones matter because boundaries can cut across the suburb. The crime rate is 64.8 offences per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 1,187 of 2,519 recorded offences. Sunbury's IRSAD decile is 6 and IRSD decile 7, placing relative advantage above the middle and disadvantage below the middle. Compared with denser inner suburbs, it provides more house space but less walk-up access to services.
Drive
66.5%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
25.8%
Population Forecast
+2.1%/yr
(+371 people/yr)
EstablishedSunbury's growth outlook is established rather than embryonic, with forecast annual growth of 2.1% and internal migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 25.7% over 10 years, while gentrification is rated Active with a score of 55. Those signals point to continuing demand because households are still moving in as the housing base matures. The shift profile is labelled Aging, with senior share up 3.2 points, young share down 1.8 points and affordability broadly Stable at 42.5% in 2011 versus 42.4% in 2021. Sixty-four development matters in 12 months indicate ongoing subdivision and renewal. Compared with slower established districts, Sunbury has a higher growth tempo, but the aging trajectory may redirect demand toward accessible homes and services.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+105
Net Internal / yr
+454
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +44% since 2011, Net internal migration +454/yr, Accelerating: 11% → 30%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,519
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
64.8
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sunbury compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sunbury a good suburb to live in?
Sunbury can suit households wanting detached space, schools and an established centre. It has 38,851 residents, a median age of 38 and 88.6% separate houses. Car dependence is higher than in many inner suburbs, with 66.5% driving and 2.2% using public transport, so the best fit depends on your commute.
What schools are in Sunbury?
Sunbury has 10 local schools across government and Catholic sectors, including 6 primary, 3 secondary and 1 specialist setting. The mix includes Sunbury College, Sunbury Downs Secondary College and Salesian College Sunbury, plus government and Catholic primary schools. Check the exact address because enrolment zones can differ, and access is more spread out than in compact suburbs.
Is Sunbury safe?
Sunbury recorded 2,519 offences, equal to 64.8 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 1,187, compared with 455 crimes against the person. Safety can vary by street, so assess lighting, nearby activity and travel routes rather than relying only on the suburb-wide average.
Is Sunbury good for property investment?
Sunbury may suit investors seeking family-oriented rental demand, with 20.7% of households renting, median rent of $361 a week and vacancy at 4.6%. Annual growth is forecast at 2.1%, driven by internal migration, while 64 development matters could add supply. The case is steadier than a short-term speculative bet, but detached-house maintenance should be budgeted for.
How is Sunbury's population changing?
Sunbury's wider-area population change is forecast at 25.7% over 10 years, with annual growth of 2.1% driven primarily by internal migration. The trajectory is also labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 3.2 percentage points while the young share has fallen 1.8 points. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 55, indicating changing demand and service needs.
What development is occurring in Sunbury?
Development activity is elevated, with 64 matters recorded in 12 months, including subdivision applications for 2-lot and 30-lot plans. This can expand housing choice and support local services, but new supply may also compete with established homes. Buyers should check planning controls, lot configuration and future construction around any address, especially where access is narrower than in older streets.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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