Bedfordale

Population growth drivers in Bedfordale are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Drawing from ABS population statistics for the surrounding region alongside address validation updates from AreaSearch, the suburb of Bedfordale is home to an estimated 3,441 residents as of May 2026. This indicates a rise of 403 individuals since the 2021 Census, representing 13.3% growth over the count of 3,038 recorded at that time. The projection relies on an AreaSearch resident population estimate of 3,426, calculated from the ABS June 2025 release of estimated resident population statistics, with the addition of ten newly verified addresses after the census date. At this level, the demographic density stands at 63 individuals per square kilometer, ensuring a spacious living environment. The suburb of Bedfordale registered a 13.3% expansion rate that outpaced the nationwide figure of 9.3%, making it a frontrunner for regional development. The expansion was primarily fueled by arrivals from other states, which accounted for approximately 54.0% of the overall gains, though births and overseas arrivals also contributed positively.

Future projections rely on ABS and Geoscience Australia forecasts issued in 2024, using 2022 as their baseline year. For regions lacking direct coverage or for projections extending past 2032, calculations apply age cohort expansion rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which also use 2022 statistics. Looking forward, the suburb of Bedfordale is set to experience population growth exceeding the national median, with regional models pointing to an addition of 429 residents by 2041, representing a total increase of 12.0% over the 16 years.

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

According to building permit statistics from the ABS compiled for the local area, annual new home approvals have run at about 10, with 51 dwellings authorized between FY-21 and FY-25, and an additional 8 registered during FY-26. Historically, about 7 additional residents have moved to the area for each new home built over the five-year period spanning FY-21 to FY-25. This ratio points to supply falling short of demand, a trend that typically drives up property prices and heightens buyer rivalry, with new residential projects carrying an average construction cost of $324,000. In addition, commercial permits valued at $521,000 were logged during this financial year, highlighting that the area is predominantly residential.

In comparison to the broader Greater Perth area, building development in the suburb of Bedfordale is remarkably quiet, tracking 70.0% below the per-capita regional average. Such limited addition of new housing stock generally supports the valuation and demand for established homes. The rate of construction is also lower than the national standard, suggesting a mature real estate market or potential local zoning limitations. Additionally, recent residential construction has focused exclusively on free-standing houses, preserving the classic low-density lifestyle and family-focused appeal of the area. A ratio of 616 individuals in the area for every authorized building application highlights the low-key pace of local construction activity.

Long-term outlooks suggest that the suburb of Bedfordale will add 414 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly projections from AreaSearch. The current rate of home building appears well-aligned with future housing demand, supporting a stable marketplace free from intense upward price pressure.

Bedfordale has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

Development trends and local real estate performance are heavily shaped by nearby public works, planning changes, and commercial investments. AreaSearch has tracked 26 key projects expected to influence the local area. The most significant developments include Forrestdale Business Park, Anstey Grove Estate Forrestdale, Morgan Park Redevelopment, and Champion Drive Precinct, with details on the most relevant initiatives provided below.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Bedfordale performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Bedfordale boasts a highly skilled labor force, with the construction industry showing particularly strong representation. The local unemployment rate stands at 2.4%, and estimated job growth over the previous year reached 2.4%, according to AreaSearch aggregations of statistical area information. By March 2026, 1,927 people were employed, while the unemployment rate fell 1.8% below Greater Perth’s 4.2%. Workforce participation rates in Bedfordale closely mirrored those of Greater Perth at 70.2%. Census data indicate that only 10.8% of residents worked from home, though the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account when interpreting these figures.

The primary sources of work for residents are construction, healthcare and social assistance, and manufacturing. The construction industry shows the highest level of specialization, with a local employment share 1.5 times the wider metropolitan average. Conversely, healthcare and social assistance jobs are underrepresented, accounting for 10.9% of the local workforce compared to 14.8% across Greater Perth. The ratio of 0.8 working positions for each local resident at the time of the Census indicates a solid level of nearby employment opportunities.

According to local labor market and ABS statistics compiled across the wider region, the year ending March 2026 saw employment expand by 2.4% while the overall labor force grew by 2.5%, maintaining a steady rate of unemployment. By comparison, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% increase in jobs and a 2.5% expansion in its labor force, resulting in a rise of 0.4 percentage points in unemployment. National forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future labor needs. These five and ten-year projections have been aligned with local industries to estimate future trends. While national employment is expected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change differ significantly by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry mix suggests employment among residents could rise by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, based on simple industry weighting.

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

The most recent tax data from the ATO for financial year 2023 indicates that local earnings are comparable to national standards, with a median income of $57,520 and an average of $67,492. In contrast, the wider Greater Perth region recorded a median of $60,748 and an average of $80,248. Adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, these estimates would rise to roughly $63,807 median and $74,869 average by March 2026. According to the Census, weekly household incomes are remarkably strong, placing in the 94th percentile at $2,722. The most common bracket covers 27.5% of residents, representing 946 people earning above $4000 weekly, which differs from the regional trend where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is largest at 32.0%. This high proportion of top-tier earners, with 46.3% bringing in more than $3,000 weekly, indicates robust financial reserves. Residents retain 86.9% of their income after covering housing payments, pointing to strong discretionary spending, and the suburb ranks in the 8th decile on the SEIFA index.

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

According to the latest Census, housing types in the suburb of Bedfordale consisted of 99.6% detached houses and 0.4% other housing forms, such as townhouses or apartments. This stands in contrast to the wider Perth metropolitan area, which recorded 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwelling structures. The rate of outright home ownership was notably higher than the metropolitan average at 37.1%, with the remaining properties being purchased under a mortgage (59.7%) or rented (3.2%). Local mortgage payments were higher than the metropolitan average, with a median of $2,492 monthly compared to $1,907 in Perth metro. The median weekly rent was $370, which is slightly above the metro average of $350. Nationally, local mortgage commitments are higher than the Australian median of $1,863, whereas weekly rents track slightly below the national figure of $375.

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

Families make up the vast majority of households at 90.5%, consisting of couples with children at 46.7%, couples without children at 36.8%, and single-parent homes at 5.7%. Non-family households account for the remaining 9.5%, consisting of single-person households at 9.1% and group share houses at 0.3%. The typical household size stands at 3.1 residents, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Bedfordale aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The suburb of Bedfordale shows lower levels of tertiary education, with university graduation rates of 18.8% compared to the national benchmark of 30.4%. Among those with degrees, bachelor qualifications are most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational and technical qualifications are highly prevalent, with 43.1% of residents aged 15 and over holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 12.0% and certificates at 31.1%.

Enrolment in education is strong, with 28.5% of the local population currently engaged in study. This group is distributed across primary schooling at 10.3%, high schools at 9.2%, and tertiary institutions at 3.5%.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

The suburb of Bedfordale displays strong overall health outcomes, as shown by AreaSearch analysis of mortality and chronic disease data, with both younger and older age brackets showing low rates of common illnesses. Private medical insurance is held by approximately 54% of the population, representing around 1,858 individuals. This compares to a coverage rate of 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most frequent health issues reported by residents are arthritis, affecting 8.2% of people, and asthma, affecting 7.5%. In contrast, 70.9% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across the wider Greater Perth region. Health outcomes for working-age residents are typical for the region. Seniors aged 65 and older represent 17.0% of the population, totaling 584 people, and show favorable health outcomes that align closely with national averages.

In terms of cultural diversity, Bedfordale records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity in the suburb of Bedfordale tracks slightly above average, with 6.0% of residents using a language other than English in their households and 29.7% of the population born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 51.5% of the community. The most distinct variance from regional averages is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of residents locally compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

Looking at ancestral origins, the three most common backgrounds reported in the suburb of Bedfordale are English at 37.3%, which is higher than the metropolitan rate of 28.0%, followed by Australian at 24.6%, and Scottish at 7.7%. There are also distinct variations in several other heritages: Dutch ancestry represents 4.8% of the community compared to 1.5% across the region, South Australian origins stand at 1.5% compared to 1.0%, and Welsh background represents 1.0% compared to 0.7%.

Bedfordale's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in the suburb of Bedfordale is 41 years, which is higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national median of 38. The local population has a high proportion of people aged 55 - 64, making up 14.0% of residents, while the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller than average at 6.7%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket has expanded from 14.1% to 15.6% of the population, and the group aged 85 and over rose from 1.0% to 2.4%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 17.6% to 14.9%, and the 55 to 64 bracket fell from 15.1% to 14.0%. Demographic models indicate the local age profile will shift by 2041, with the group aged 85 and over expected to grow by 116%, adding 95 people to reach a total of 178. Residents aged 65 and over will account for 59% of the overall growth, while the population of children aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 is projected to decrease.