Bedford

Population growth drivers in Bedford are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Bedford's population was estimated at 6,655 as of Feb 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 939 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,716. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 6,412 in June 2024 and validation of 18 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,971 persons per square kilometer, placing Bedford in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The suburb's growth rate of 16.4% since the 2021 Census exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimations, AreaSearch employs growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population trends suggest a median increase for statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. Bedford is expected to increase by 721 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 5.1% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Bedford when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Bedford averaged approximately 24 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 123 homes were approved, with an additional 19 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, 4.1 people moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years.

This supply lagging demand indicates heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. Developers focus on the premium market, with new properties constructed at an average expected cost of $460,000. In FY-26, $24.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

Compared to Greater Perth, Bedford has similar development levels per person, maintaining market balance. However, recent construction comprises 93.0% detached dwellings and 7.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's suburban nature. There are approximately 335 people per dwelling approval in Bedford, indicating room for growth. Population forecasts estimate Bedford will gain 340 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Bedford has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified four projects that are expected to impact this area. Notable projects include the Morley Galleria Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Chester Avenue Apartment Development Proposal (DA23/0883), John Forrest Secondary College Redevelopment, and Morley Station Precinct Structure Plan. The following details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Bedford shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Bedford has a well-educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate is 2.8% and there was an estimated employment growth of 2.1% in the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 3691 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.1% lower than Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Perth's 71.6%. According to Census responses, only 9.9% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, with the latter showing particularly strong specialization at 1.3 times the regional level. Manufacturing has limited presence in Bedford, with only 3.4% employment compared to the regional average of 5.5%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.1% while labour force grew by 2.2%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable in Bedford. In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment rise by 2.9%, labour force grow by 3.0%, and a marginal increase in unemployment during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Bedford. Applying these projections to Bedford's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median assessed income in Bedford suburb is $61,280, with average income at $75,572. Compared to Greater Perth's median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 9.62% since financial year ending June 2023, estimated median income as of September 2025 would be approximately $67,175, and average income around $82,842. Census data indicates Bedford's household, family, and personal incomes are around the 70th percentile nationally. Income brackets show 27.6% (1,836 people) earn between $1,500 to $2,999 weekly, consistent with surrounding region at 32.0%. Notably, 33.0% earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing expenses consume 14.8% of income. Bedford residents rank in the 72nd percentile for disposable income and area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Bedford is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bedford's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 89.0% houses and 11.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Perth metro had 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bedford stood at 30.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.3% and rented ones at 28.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Perth metro's average of $1,907. The median weekly rent in Bedford was $360, slightly above Perth metro's figure of $350. Nationally, Bedford's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $360 compared to the national figure of $375.

Bedford has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 72.1% of all households, including 33.5% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up 27.9%, consisting of 24.1% lone person households and 3.7% group households. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Bedford shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Bedford's residents aged 15 and above have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 37.5% of Bedford's residents hold university qualifications compared to 24.3% in the SA4 region and 27.9% in Western Australia overall. This educational advantage is significant, with bachelor degrees being the most common at 25.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.1% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (17.8%).

Educational participation is notably high in Bedford, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (9.0%), secondary education (6.8%), and tertiary education (6.6%).

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

Bedford has 36 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 11 different routes that together facilitate around 2,300 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is considered excellent, with residents on average being just 167 meters away from the nearest stop. Most residents in this primarily residential area commute outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 78%, while buses account for 13%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 9.9% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages at 328 trips per day, translating to approximately 63 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Bedford is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Bedford demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 57% (~3,806 people) of Bedford's total population has private health cover, which is very high compared to other areas. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues impacting 8.8% of residents and asthma affecting 7.4%. Around 71.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly lower than the Greater Perth average of 71.9%. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. Bedford has 16.1% (1,071 people) of its residents aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors in Bedford are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

Bedford was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bedford's population has a higher proportion speaking languages other than English at home, with 23.3%, compared to most local markets. Additionally, 34.0% of Bedford residents were born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bedford, comprising 47.2%.

However, Judaism is overrepresented in Bedford at 0.5%, higher than the Greater Perth average of 0.3%. In terms of ancestry, English is the largest group at 23.0%, followed by Australian at 20.0% and Other at 12.1%. Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Italians are overrepresented at 8.4% compared to the regional average of 4.2%, Poles at 1.1% versus 0.7%, and Serbians at 0.7% against 0.3%.

Bedford's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Bedford is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Bedford has a notably higher proportion of individuals aged 35-44 (16.4% locally) and a lower proportion of individuals aged 25-34 (11.7%). According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has grown from 10.6% to 11.8%, while the 25-34 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 11.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Bedford. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 51% (189 people), reaching 562 from 372. Residents aged 65 and older are anticipated to represent 64% of the population growth, while the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.