Atwell

Atwell has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census Atwell's population is estimated at around 10,490 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,203 people (13.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,287 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 10,297, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and an additional 1 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,963 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Atwell's 13.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 49.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth were positive factors.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 using 2022 as their baseline have been implemented for each SA2 region. In cases where SA2 sectors lacked coverage, or to project expansion beyond 2032, growth rates organized by age cohort from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 statistics) were applied. Looking ahead at demographic trends, the suburb of Atwell is expected to experience future expansion exceeding the national median, with combined SA2 models indicating a gain of 1,394 persons by 2041, representing a total increase of 11.4% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Atwell recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Evaluations of ABS building consent statistics distributed from statistical areas show that Atwell averages approximately 8 approved residential dwellings annually, accumulating to 41 approved homes over the previous 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) alongside 30 approvals during FY-26 so far. Because the area averaged 19.4 additional residents per year for each constructed home during the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, demand continues to outstrip construction, which commonly drives upward pressure on valuations and heightens buyer competition, while new properties present an average building cost of $467,000, indicating developers are targeting high-end, premium projects.

Residential construction volume in Atwell is significantly lower than the broader Greater Perth area, trailing the regional per capita benchmark by 91.0%. Although building approvals have gained speed recently, this limited pipeline of new housing typically supports prices and strengthens demand for established dwellings. The level of building activity also falls behind the national average, pointing to the suburb's established character and potential planning limitations. Additionally, recent residential construction has consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the suburban feel and attracting buyers seeking standalone homes. The suburb records approximately 499 people for each residential building approval, confirming its status as an established area.

Demographic projections indicate the suburb of Atwell will add 1,201 residents by 2041, according to the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If current building rates do not accelerate, residential supply is likely to fall behind population growth, potentially heightening competition among buyers and supporting rising property values.

Atwell has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure updates, development projects, and local planning decisions are critical drivers of neighborhood change. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 8 projects expected to influence the local area. Prominent developments include Calleya Estate by Stockland, Forrestdale Business Park West, Treeby East Primary School (Planning Name), and the Atwell Community Centre Kitchen Upgrade, with details of the most relevant projects listed below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Atwell demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

A low unemployment rate of 2.6% characterizes the qualified workforce of Atwell, according to aggregated statistical area data compiled by AreaSearch. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 6,116, while the jobless rate stood 1.6% below the 4.2% rate recorded across Greater Perth, and participation in the labour force reached an exceptional 75.9% compared to the regional average of 70.2%. Census figures show that a modest 7.6% of working residents performed their duties from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic containment measures.

Most working residents are employed in retail trade, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Local employment is highly concentrated in manufacturing, where representation is 1.3 times the average across the broader region. On the other hand, technical & professional roles are less common, making up 6.9% of the workforce compared to the regional average of 8.2%. The count of local jobs relative to the working resident population indicates that this suburban locality provides limited employment opportunities within its own boundaries.

An analysis of ABS and SALM data compiled from regional statistical areas indicates that over the 12-month period, the local labour force contracted by 4.1% and total employment fell by 4.3%, leading to a rise in the unemployment rate of 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% increase in employment, a 2.5% expansion of its labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 published by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding prospective employment trends in Atwell. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project future growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with wide variation among different sectors. Applying these industry-specific rates to the local employment structure indicates that employment in Atwell is poised to rise by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection for illustration that does not incorporate local population forecasts.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

Taxpayer statistics at the postcode level from the ATO for financial year 2023 reveal that the median income in Atwell was $57,025, and the average income reached $68,066. These figures align closely with national benchmarks, compared to Greater Perth medians of $60,748 and averages of $80,248. Adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, updated estimates would stand at approximately $63,258 for the median and $75,506 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed local household incomes at an exceptional 88th percentile, with a weekly median of $2,404. Weekly earnings between $1,500 and $2,999 represent the largest group, accounting for 34.6% of residents (3,629 people), mirroring the 32.0% share seen regionally. High-income earners are also well represented, with 37.3% earning more than $3,000 weekly, pointing to substantial financial capacity. Housing costs consume 14.1% of income, while strong household earnings place local residents in the 88th percentile for disposable income, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 7th decile.

Atwell is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

According to the latest Census, residential properties in Atwell consisted of 94.5% standalone houses and 5.5% alternative dwelling styles such as apartments, semi-detached properties, and other structures, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership in Atwell lagged the metropolitan benchmark of Perth at 22.2%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (54.6%) or renters (23.2%). Median mortgage repayments in the suburb were $1,950 per month, higher than the metropolitan average of $1,907, while median weekly rent was $400, compared to the regional median of $350. On a national level, monthly mortgage payments in Atwell exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are higher than the national figure of $375.

Atwell features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families constitute the vast majority of households at 84.0%, which includes couples with children at 49.6%, couples without children at 21.4%, and single parents at 11.9%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 16.0%, consisting of single-person households at 14.0% and group housing at 2.0%. The median household occupancy of 3.0 individuals exceeds the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Atwell exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The proportion of residents in Atwell holding a university degree stands at 27.6%, which is slightly below the national average of 30.4%, representing a minor gap in educational qualifications. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 18.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 5.7% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Vocational qualifications are widely held, with 35.4% of residents aged 15+ possessing technical credentials, comprising advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 24.2%.

Enrolment in formal education is high, with 34.0% of local residents actively studying. This includes primary school students at 11.4%, secondary school students at 11.0%, and tertiary students at 6.1%.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

An analysis of public transport reveals that Atwell is serviced by 37 active bus stops. These stops accommodate 4 different routes, supporting a total of 879 passenger journeys each week. Local transit access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 204 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers travel outside the area, with private cars remaining the primary transit method at 82%, and trains utilized by 12%. Average motor vehicle ownership stands at 1.8 per household, exceeding the regional average. A relatively low proportion of residents, 7.6%, worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by temporary health restrictions.

Transit services average 125 daily trips across all active routes, which translates to roughly 23 weekly departures from each individual stop.

The level of general health in Atwell is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Calculations from AreaSearch regarding mortality and chronic illnesses indicate that Atwell residents experience favorable health outcomes, with low rates of common health conditions observed across both younger and older cohorts, and approximately 54% of the population (~5,687 people) holding private health insurance, compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical diagnoses locally, affecting 6.5 and 7.7% of residents, respectively, while 75.5% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Residents aged under 65 experience health outcomes that exceed average benchmarks. Individuals aged 65 and over make up 9.0% of the population (944 people), which is lower than the 16.1% representation across Greater Perth. Older residents enjoy above-average health outcomes, with national comparisons aligning closely with the broader community.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Atwell was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity in Atwell is higher than in most comparable areas, with 20.1% of residents speaking a language other than English in their homes and 33.1% born outside of Australia. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, claimed by 43.7% of the population. The most prominent statistical deviation is in Buddhism, which accounts for 2.5% of the population, compared to 2.7% across Greater Perth.

The top ancestries reported by parents of residents are English at 28.0%, Australian at 24.6%, and Other at 9.0%. Other notable groups include South Australian at 1.2% (compared to 1.0% across the region), Korean at 0.9% (compared to 0.3% regionally), and New Zealand at 1.0% (compared to 0.8% regionally).

Atwell's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in the suburb of Atwell is 35 years, which is slightly younger than the median age of 37 in Greater Perth and the national median of 38 years. Residents aged 45 to 54 are highly represented at 17.0%, while those in the 25 to 34 age bracket are less common at 10.9%. The concentration of residents aged 45 to 54 is notably higher than the national average of 12.0%. Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has increased from 2.2% to 3.4% of the population, while the group aged 5 to 14 has shrunk from 16.2% to 14.3%. Demographic projections for 2041 suggest significant changes, with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow by 342 people (19%) from 1,783 to 2,126, while the cohorts aged 35 to 44 and 5 to 14 are projected to decline.