Urban Centre · Area profile
Sunbury
31 km²
Daily life in Sunbury revolves around spacious family living, where 89.1% of homes have three or more bedrooms. This growing community has seen its population jump 55% since 2011 to reach 38,010 people. It is a relatively young area with many children and a high number of working adults. This mix of larger households and a strong employment rate gives the suburb a distinct family-oriented feel within the Greater Melbourne region.
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The typical resident is 38, which is much lower than most similar areas. Children under 15 make up 19.1% of the population, a figure slightly above the Victorian average.
While 79.4% of people were born in Australia, the proportion of overseas-born residents has risen to 16.9% since 2011. English and Australian ancestries remain the most common.
English is the main language for 86.8% of the community. However, the share of people using another language at home has risen to 9.5%, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
A significant 42.9% of residents report having no religion, a figure that has risen 17 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.
Education levels have climbed, with 55.7% of residents completing Year 12. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 19.1% of the population, which is much higher than most similar areas.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,926, which is a little above the state and national figures. High earners are more common here, with 22.3% of households earning $3,000 or more per week.
Mental health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 11.6% of residents. Long-term health conditions are reported by 32.9% of the population.
Caregiving is a major part of local life, with 30.5% of people providing unpaid childcare, which is well above the national average. Conversely, volunteering has fallen to 11.5%.
Homes are generally larger, with an average of 2.6 people per household. This is consistent with the high proportion of couples with children, who make up 61.1% of families.
The suburb is dominated by separate houses (88.3%) and large homes, with 89.1% having three or more bedrooms. Renting is less common here than nationally, at 20.5%.
Most people drive to work, but there has been a huge shift toward remote work, with 21.5% now working from home. Only 1.9% of the workforce uses public transport to commute.
The area is quite settled, as 36.6% of residents moved in the last five years, which is lower than the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals have fallen to 7.2%.
Employment is strong, with 66.6% of adults working or looking for work, which is well above the national average. Construction and healthcare are the most common industries.
Almost every home is within a short walk of a park or public transport, though few residents can reach groceries or health services on foot. The overall walkability score is 5.1.