Bunbury "boom town": ABS

Bunbury is the fastest-growing regional city in Western Australia, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In the past year, 2600 more people have called Bunbury home, with the 2.5 per cent increase from 2013-2014 slightly greater than the State average of 2.2 per cent.

The city is well-prepared for the growth, said South West Development Commission chief executive officer Don Punch.

Mr Punch said the South West Regional Blueprint had been developed, which identified the challenge of population growth.

"The blueprint sets out a response based on increasing our regional prosperity and jobs growth to support a larger population," he said.

"We are working with the city on its growth planning and developing specific projects, such as Bunbury's waterfront, to help accelerate the city's potential."

Mr Punch said it was no surprise people wanted to move to Bunbury.

"This is based entirely on the quality of life and the opportunity we can offer people," he said.

"The local governments who make up Greater Bunbury have excellent local community plans in place that will support growth but will also help to achieve sustainability."

Real Estate Institute of WA Bunbury chairman Drew Cary said the figures were in line with real estate growth in the region.

"We've seen an abnormally high increase in first homebuyers as well as big increases in land sales," he said.

Mr Cary said it appeared a big number of those who made the move south were from Perth.

"Bunbury has all the benefits of being a city without the downside of traffic and people congestion," he said.

"The new highway also makes the South West easier to get to, suggesting the increase is about accessibility and proximity too."

He said South Bunbury and Usher were "hotspots", with a 10 per cent average annual growth.