Bentley (WA)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bentley reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since Feb 2026, Bentley's population is estimated at around 11,006. This reflects an increase of 1,955 people (21.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,051. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 10,659 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 41 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,045 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Bentley's growth rate of 21.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (9.9%) and state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for statistical areas across the nation. The suburb of Bentley is expected to increase by 1,738 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 11.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Bentley among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Bentley has seen approximately 41 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totaling about 207 homes. In FY-26 so far, 28 approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of around 5.8 people moving to the area per year for each new dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction cost value for new dwellings is approximately $519,000, indicating a focus on premium properties.

There have been $216.7 million in commercial approvals this financial year. Compared to Greater Perth, Bentley has 18.0% less building activity per person but ranks at the 66th percentile nationally. New developments consist of 66.0% detached houses and 34.0% townhouses or apartments, with a growing mix offering options across different price points.

Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (37.0% at Census), indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. With around 210 people per dwelling approval, Bentley exhibits growth area characteristics and is projected to add approximately 1,250 residents by 2041. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Bentley has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Twenty-five infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Sam Kerr Football Centre and Queens Park Regional Open Space, Australian Hockey Centre, Curtin University Net Zero Precinct Digital Twin, and Kent Street Weir Precinct Redevelopment. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Bentley has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Bentley has an educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.6%, with estimated employment growth of 2.9% in the past year (AreaSearch data). As of September 2025, 5,949 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.6% higher than Greater Perth's 4.0%.

Workforce participation is lower at 65.4%, compared to Greater Perth's 71.6%. Only 4.8% of residents work from home (Census data). Dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. Bentley specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share twice the regional level.

Construction employs just 5.0%, below Greater Perth's 9.3%. The area hosts more jobs than residents, attracting workers from nearby regions (1.3 workers per resident). Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.9% while labour force grew by 2.3%, reducing unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth had employment growth of 2.9%, labour force growth of 3.0%, with a marginal rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 forecasts project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bentley's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Bentley had a median taxpayer income of $42,209 and an average income of $50,162 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than the national average, with Greater Perth's median income being $60,748 and average income $80,248. By September 2025, estimates based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth suggest the median income will be approximately $46,270 and the average $54,988. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Bentley all fall between the 14th and 14th percentiles nationally. The income distribution shows that 26.8% of residents (2,949 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 32.0%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Bentley, with only 77.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 10th percentile nationally.

Bentley displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Bentley's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 37.3% houses and 62.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Perth metro had 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bentley was at 16.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 18.4% and rented ones at 65.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,555, below Perth metro's average of $1,907. The median weekly rent was $320, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Bentley's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Bentley features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 45.4% of all households, including 15.2% couples with children, 20.4% couples without children, and 7.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 54.6%, with lone person households at 38.9% and group households making up 15.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Bentley's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 39.2% hold university qualifications, compared to 27.9% in Western Australia (WA) and 29.9% in the South Australian Statistical Division (SA4). This high level of educational attainment positions Bentley strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 24.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.3% and graduate diplomas at 2.1%.

Trade and technical skills are also prominent, with 27.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 15.5%. Educational participation is notably high in Bentley, with 42.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 23.5% in tertiary education, 5.8% in primary education, and 3.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Bentley has 95 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 46 routes, collectively facilitating 7,811 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 144 meters to the nearest stop. Bentley is predominantly residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 72%, followed by bus at 15% and train at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 1,115 trips per day, equating to approximately 82 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Bentley is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Bentley faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population, around 5,186 people, compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 7.5% of residents and arthritis impacting 6.7%, while 73.0% claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, slightly higher than the 71.9% in Greater Perth. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 19.6% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 2,157 people, which is higher than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Bentley is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bentley, one of the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, has 48.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 59.2% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bentley, with 36.0% of people identifying as such. However, Buddhism is significantly overrepresented, comprising 10.3% of the population compared to the Greater Perth average of 2.7%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Other (25.4%), English (18.5%), and Australian (14.2%). Notably, Korean (1.1%) is overrepresented in Bentley compared to the regional average of 0.3%, as are Chinese (11.9% vs 4.0%) and Sri Lankan (0.6% vs 0.2%).

Bentley hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Bentley has a median age of 31 years, which is lower than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Bentley has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (24.7%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (4.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of 15 to 24 year-olds has increased from 21.1% to 22.6%, while the proportion of 35 to 44 year-olds has risen from 11.7% to 12.9%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 85 and above has decreased from 7.2% to 5.8%. By 2041, Bentley's age profile is projected to change significantly. The number of people aged 85 and above is expected to increase by 450 (71%), from 638 to 1,089. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 68% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 years.