Sunshine
More than half of Sunshine's 9,445 residents were born overseas, while its rental vacancy rate is 10.6%, an unusual combination for Melbourne's west. The median age is 35, or 5 years below national, and Vietnamese and Chinese ancestry is recorded for 1,485 and 699 people. Housing remains mostly detached at 69.4%, but 22.1% is semi-detached, supporting gradual infill. Compared with nearby Sunshine North, Sunshine's density of 1,996 people per sq km signals a more concentrated urban setting. Household income sits at the 51.1st percentile, while the crime rate of 343.4 per 1,000 adds a clear due-diligence issue.
Population
9,445
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,566/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$885K
October to December 2025
Separate houses make up 69.4% of dwellings, with 22.1% semi-detached and 8.3% apartments, so buyers can trade land for entry price. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 51.3%, above the 17.8% share of four-bedroom-plus homes. Compared with a detached-house-only search, the 22.1% semi-detached share broadens choice because smaller formats can reduce the land component of price. Mortgage-to-income is 27.2%, and rent-to-income is 21.7%.
For Buyers
Separate houses make up 69.4% of dwellings, with 22.1% semi-detached and 8.3% apartments, so buyers can trade land for entry price. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 51.3%, above the 17.8% share of four-bedroom-plus homes. Compared with a detached-house-only search, the 22.1% semi-detached share broadens choice because smaller formats can reduce the land component of price. Mortgage-to-income is 27.2%, and rent-to-income is 21.7%.
For Investors
Investors get a 41.4% renter share, $340 weekly median rent and 10.6% vacancy, a combination that points to tenant demand but also more leasing competition than a tightly supplied market. Rental growth has reached 31.2%, supporting income momentum, while 10 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing subdivision activity. Compared with owner-occupier suburbs, Sunshine's renter base broadens the tenant pool because 69.4% of dwellings are houses and 22.1% are semi-detached. Rent-to-income is 21.7%, below mortgage-to-income at 27.2%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
26
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+42.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Sunshine
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception School
Sunshine Harvester Primary School
Sunshine Heights Primary School
Sunshine Primary School
Sunshine Special Developmental School
Demographics
Sunshine has a migrant-majority profile: 51.3% of residents were born overseas, 29.7 percentage points above the national comparison, and the median age of 35 is 5 years below national. Vietnamese ancestry is recorded for 1,485 people and Chinese ancestry for 699, while Christianity at 3,476 and no religion at 2,885 are the largest recorded responses. Average household size is 2.6, only 0.1 above national, but couples with children account for 42.4% of families and one-parent families 20.3%. University attainment is 45.8%, 15.7 percentage points above national. Compared with nearby Sunshine North, Sunshine is younger and more internationally connected because overseas migration and varied language groups shape local demand, with 23.0% turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.4%
Houses
22.1%
Townhouse
8.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is split between 27.7% outright owners, 29.2% mortgaged households and 41.4% renters, so tenure is more rental-heavy than an owner-dominated suburb. The dwelling mix explains much of the choice: 69.4% separate houses, 22.1% semi-detached homes and 8.3% apartments. Three-bedroom properties account for 51.3%, above 4-plus-bedroom homes at 17.8%, while 2-bedroom dwellings represent 23.2%. Compared with nearby Sunshine North, Sunshine's 1,996 people per sq km and 4.73 sq km footprint point to a more compact housing market, where infill can increase supply because land is already urbanised.
Mortgage / mo
$1,842
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $340.
$480
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $495 · units $410
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$706
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.6%
Unoccupied
400
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.4%
Couples with children
33.5%
Couples, no children
20.3%
Single parent
2,325
Total families
Economy & Employment
Sunshine's labour market is anchored by healthcare, which employs 479 people or 16.1% of workers, followed by education at 349 (11.7%), professional and technical services at 276 (9.3%), retail at 234 (7.9%) and public administration at 211 (7.1%). Professionals number 1,024, above labourers at 558, trades at 545 and clerical/admin at 537. Participation is 60.5%, full-time employment 56.4% and unemployment 7.7%, showing a broad but pressured workforce. Household income is at the 51.1st percentile. IRSD is decile 2 compared with IRSAD decile 4, so disadvantage is sharper on income and employment measures than on the broader resources index. This mix matters because service industries support both professional and practical jobs.
Unemployment
7.7%
Labour Force
4,787
Unemployed
370
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.4%
Part-time
36.0%
Participation
60.5%
Employed
4,417
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.8%
Postgraduate
13.8%
Born Overseas
51.3%
Dwellings
3,356
Transport to Work
Sunshine has 5 local schools: 4 primary settings and 1 special developmental school across government and Catholic sectors. Check enrolment zones by exact address because school boundaries can cross local streets. Travel is car-led, with 54.5% driving, 9.4% using public transport and 29.3% working from home, so access is more flexible for drivers than for households reliant on public transport. The crime rate is 343.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, including 1,501 property and deception offences and 405 crimes against the person, making safety research more important than in a low-crime comparison area. IRSAD is decile 4, while IRSD is decile 2, so socioeconomic conditions are lower than the broader resources measure. Density of 1,996 people per sq km supports nearby services because activity is concentrated within 4.73 sq km.
Drive
54.5%
Public Transport
9.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
29.3%
Population Forecast
+0.7%/yr
(+89 people/yr)
EstablishedSunshine is forecast to grow at 0.7% a year, with overseas migration as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 13.3% over 10 years, while the forecast gentrification score is 25 at the Early signs stage. The shift trajectory is Mixed, with a gentrification score of 45 and rent growth of 31.2%, so change is visible but not one-directional. Affordability moved from 73.7 in 2011 to 62.5 in 2021 even though the trend is labelled Improving, signalling a complicated adjustment. The COVID dip was 2.6% and recovery reached 2.5%. Ten development applications in 12 months add local activity, while the established classification points to incremental change rather than a rapid-growth pattern.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+235
Net Internal / yr
-120
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +15% since 2011, Net internal outflow -120/yr, Strong overseas inflow +235/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
3,243
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
343.4
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 Sunshine compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sunshine a good suburb to live in?
Sunshine can suit households wanting established housing, multicultural amenities and several local school options. It has 9,445 residents, a median age of 35 and 29.3% working from home. The crime rate of 343.4 incidents per 1,000 is a reason to compare streets and inspect properties at different times, rather than relying on a suburb-wide average alone.
What schools are in Sunshine?
Sunshine has 5 local schools, including 4 primary settings and 1 special developmental school. The mix includes 3 government primary schools, 1 Catholic primary school and 1 government special school. Check the exact enrolment zone for each address, since access can be narrower than the suburb boundary and differs by sector.
Is Sunshine safe?
Safety varies by street and time. Sunshine recorded 3,243 offences, equal to 343.4 incidents per 1,000 residents; property and deception offences numbered 1,501, while crimes against the person numbered 405. Compare lighting, activity, parking and nearby routes at day and night, rather than relying on a suburb-wide average alone.
How is Sunshine's population changing?
Growth is gradual but active: the annual forecast trend is 0.7%, and population change across the wider area is 13.3% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the main driver. The forecast gentrification score is 25 at the Early signs stage, while the shift assessment is Mixed with a score of 45, suggesting renewal alongside continuity rather than a rapid break.
What languages are spoken in Sunshine?
Sunshine's overseas-born share is 51.3%, which is 29.7 percentage points above the national comparison. Nepali is recorded for 203 residents, Canton for 115, Mandarin for 94, Urdu for 93 and Greek for 74. Vietnamese and Chinese ancestry are also prominent at 1,485 and 699 respectively, pointing to a multilingual setting.
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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