Booragoon

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

According to census-derived evaluations of demographic updates from the ABS alongside newer addresses verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Booragoon is inhabited by approximately 7,080 residents as of May 2026. This indicates a rise of 1,396 residents (24.6%) from the 2021 Census, when the head count stood at 5,684 people. The estimation is calculated from the local population of 7,064, which was modeled by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 release of ERP figures combined with 133 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level translates to a density of 2,313 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the median ratio of Australian locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb of Booragoon registered a 24.6% expansion rate since the 2021 census, outstripping both the countrywide benchmark (9.3%) and the SA3 area to become a regional growth leader. The demographic increase in this locality was primarily driven by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 77.0% of total gains in recent times, though positive shifts were also recorded across interstate moves and natural population growth.

Projections for each SA2 sector released by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024, utilising 2022 as a base, have been adopted by AreaSearch. For any SA2 sectors lacking these figures, and to model trends beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies age-cohort expansion velocities sourced from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which utilize 2022 data. Assessing upcoming demographic shifts, a growth rate exceeding the median of Australian statistical areas is expected, with the area projected to add 1,181 residents by 2041 under aggregated SA2-level modeling, which represents a total rise of 16.4% across the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch assessments of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical areas, Booragoon has recorded an average of roughly 77 new residential approvals annually, yielding an estimated 388 dwellings approved over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 33 in the current FY-26 period. Given that an average of 3.1 new residents arrived in the area for every home built over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, local supply is trailing behind demand. This imbalance typically intensifies buyer rivalry and creates upward price momentum, while new construction projects present an average valuation of $1,023,000, pointing to a developer focus on high-end, premium properties. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $1.7 million were registered this financial year, highlighting that the locality remains primarily residential.

Compared to Greater Perth, the volume of development activity per resident in Booragoon is 104.0% higher, offering prospective buyers a broad range of choices despite a recent moderation in construction pacing. This level sits well above national benchmarks, demonstrating strong developer interest. Recent building approvals consist of 52.0% standalone houses and 48.0% semi-detached properties or units, reflecting a growing mix of attached housing alternatives that provide options across different price points, ranging from spacious family residences to smaller, more affordable dwellings. This marks a notable shift from the established housing stock, which currently stands at 68.0% houses, driven by a reduction in vacant development lots and evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability needs. The area has approximately 238 residents for every dwelling approval, pointing to potential for expansion.

Demographic projections indicate the suburb of Booragoon will add 1,165 residents through to 2041, measured from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly projection. At current construction velocities, the supply of new dwellings is expected to comfortably accommodate this demand, creating favorable buying conditions and potentially supporting population growth in excess of current forecasts.

Booragoon has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning initiatives play a major role in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 6 projects in progress or planned that are expected to influence the local area. Prominent developments include the Westfield Booragoon Redevelopment, Scentre Group Booragoon Apartments, Hug Homes, and Applecross Village Redevelopment (Stage 2), with key details provided for the most relevant projects.

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The employment environment in Booragoon shows above-average strength when compared nationally

The suburb of Booragoon has a workforce with high levels of education, strong representation in professional services, an unemployment rate of just 2.8%, and steady job numbers over the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregations of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 3,744 local residents are employed, representing an unemployment rate 1.4% below the Greater Perth figure of 4.2%, while labor force participation is slightly below the regional benchmark, at 65.2% compared to Greater Perth's 70.2%. Census records show that a low percentage of residents (11.9%) worked from home, although Covid-19 restrictions during that period should be taken into account.

The primary employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical fields. The area exhibits a particularly high concentration of workers in professional & technical services, matching 1.4 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, the construction sector is less prominent, employing 7.1% of the workforce compared to 9.3% across the wider region. Hosting 1.1 jobs for every working resident at the time of the Census, the locality serves as a employment center, drawing commuters from neighboring suburbs.

Based on AreaSearch processing of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from broader statistical areas, the 12-month period saw local employment rise by 0.4% while the labor force expanded by 0.9%, resulting in a 0.5 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Perth saw jobs grow by 2.0% and its labor force grow by 2.5%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia as of May-25 offer additional perspective on potential future demand in Booragoon. These projections, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by sector. Weighting these industry-specific projections against Booragoon's current jobs profile indicates local employment should rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, representing a simple mathematical extrapolation that does not account for localized population changes.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

According to AreaSearch's compilation of postcode-level ATO statistics released for financial year 2023, taxpayers in Booragoon recorded a median income of $55,463 and an average income of $93,407. These figures rank among the highest nationally, compared to $60,748 and $80,248 across Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, updated estimates suggest figures of approximately $61,525 (median) and $103,616 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census shows household, family, and individual incomes in Booragoon sit around the 61st percentile across Australia. In terms of income distribution, 27.0% of the population (1,911 individuals) are in the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, similar to the regional average of 32.0%. A notable 32.8% of residents earn more than $3,000 per week, indicating affluent pockets that stimulate local business activity. Discretionary funds remaining after housing costs stand at 86.3% of income, and the suburb's SEIFA ranking for income places it in the 9th decile.

Booragoon displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Residential structures in Booragoon at the time of the last Census consisted of 68.3% houses and 31.7% other housing types, such as townhouses and apartments, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings in the Perth metro area. The level of home ownership in Booragoon stood well above the metropolitan benchmark at 46.9%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with mortgages (33.5%) or tenants (19.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was significantly higher than the Perth metropolitan median at $2,500, while the median weekly rent was $410, compared to Perth metro figures of $1,907 and $350. Nationally, mortgage payments in Booragoon are substantially higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents exceed the national benchmark of $375.

Booragoon has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households represent the largest share at 70.9% of all occupied dwellings, comprising 36.4% couples with children, 24.1% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent households. The remaining 29.1% consists of non-family households, with single person households accounting for 26.7% and group households making up 2.5%. The median household size of 2.6 people is identical to the metropolitan average for Greater Perth.

Booragoon demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Booragoon are substantially higher than broader averages, with 44.9% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 27.9% across WA and 28.6% in the SA4 region. This educational profile positions the community well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 30.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 10.6% and graduate diplomas at 4.3%. Vocational and technical training is also well represented, with 25.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, split between advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (13.1%).

Participation in study is high in the area, with 30.5% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. This population includes 10.2% in high school, 9.0% in primary school, and 6.7% undertaking university or tertiary courses.

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

Public transport infrastructure includes 43 active passenger stops within Booragoon, consisting of bus services. These stops are connected to 11 routes, providing 2,171 weekly passenger journeys. Transport accessibility is rated as high, with residents living an average of 179 meters from the nearest stop. Because Booragoon is primarily a residential area, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars being the dominant travel mode at 79%, followed by train travel at 9% and bus travel at 8%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.4 cars per household. A low 11.9% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Service frequency averages 310 daily trips across all active routes, which equates to roughly 50 weekly passenger trips for each individual stop.

Booragoon's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health data shows positive outcomes in Booragoon, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic illness indicators, which reveal a very low rate of common health conditions across all age brackets. Additionally, private health insurance coverage is high, representing approximately 64% of the population (4,551 people), compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most frequent medical conditions reported among local residents are arthritis and mental health conditions, affecting 7.2% and 6.3% of the population, respectively, while 73.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Residents aged 65 and over make up 24.5% of the local population (1,734 people), which is higher than the Greater Perth proportion of 16.1%. Health outcomes among older residents are strong, with national rankings aligning closely with those of the wider local population.

Booragoon 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

Booragoon ranks highly for cultural diversity, with 22.8% of the population speaking a non-English language at home and 40.5% born overseas. The primary religion in the area is Christianity, representing 50.7% of residents. The most distinct religious overrepresentation in comparison to the wider city is Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of local residents compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three largest heritage groups in Booragoon are English at 26.4% of the population, Australian at 19.9%, and Chinese at 11.5%, which is notably higher than the metropolitan average of 4.0%. Other distinct differences include a higher concentration of residents with South Australian ancestry at 1.1% (compared to 1.0% across the region), Korean at 1.0% (compared to 0.3% regionally), and Croatian at 1.0% (compared to 0.8% regionally).

Booragoon hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age of 43 in Booragoon is higher than Greater Perth's median of 37 and exceeds the national average of 38. The age distribution shows a high proportion of residents in the 75 - 84 age bracket (8.9%), while the 25 - 34 cohort is smaller (8.7%) than in Greater Perth. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 7.2% to 8.9% of the population, whereas the 5 to 14 cohort decreased from 14.1% to 13.3%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic models point to changes in the age structure, with the 85+ cohort projected to expand by 466 people (129%) from 361 to 828. The 65+ age groups are expected to account for 79% of total population growth, showing an aging local population. Conversely, the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 cohorts are projected to decrease in size.