Bull Creek (WA)

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

Evaluations of demographic updates from the ABS for the wider region, alongside address validations from AreaSearch following the Census, indicate the suburb of Bull Creek (WA) has approximately 8,890 residents as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 860 people (10.7%) compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 8,030 residents. This shift is calculated from the local population of 8,712, calculated by AreaSearch using the June 2025 ERP release from the ABS, plus an extra 88 validated new addresses since the Census. The resulting density stands at 2,137 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical figure for national locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The 10.7% expansion rate in the suburb of Bull Creek (WA) since the 2021 census was higher than the country's average of 9.3%, placing it among the faster-growing localities in the region. Growth was mostly fueled by arrivals from abroad, which served as the primary source of demographic gains lately.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for every SA2 region, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilized by AreaSearch. For SA2 regions lacking this data, and for modeling expansion after 2032, growth rates by age bracket from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 data) are applied. Future population forecasts suggest the suburb of Bull Creek (WA) will experience growth exceeding the national median, with local numbers projected to rise by 1,211 persons by 2041 based on combined SA2 figures, yielding a total gain of 11.6% over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch calculations of ABS building approval statistics mapped to local levels suggest that Bull Creek averages approximately 35 residential approvals annually, amounting to 178 properties over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 19 approvals have been logged. The last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) recorded an average of 2.4 new occupants annually for each dwelling, highlighting steady demand that supports property values. Newly constructed homes average an estimated cost of $504,000, which points to developers focusing on high-end, premium housing. Additionally, commercial projects worth $1.9 million have been approved during this financial year, reflecting a quiet period for local business development.

Compared to Greater Perth, the rate of new home approvals per capita in Bull Creek is approximately two-thirds, though it ranks in the 72nd percentile across Australia, with building applications rising recently. Recent approvals consist of 57.0% freestanding houses and 43.0% medium-density options like townhouses or units, offering a wider range of options across different price points, balancing traditional family residences with more economical compact designs. This marks a clear departure from the current housing stock (of which 79.0% consists of houses), highlighting a drop in available land, evolving lifestyles, and the necessity for more diverse and affordable residential types. With 179 residents for every approval, Bull Creek shows characteristics of a growing area.

Estimates indicate Bull Creek's population will expand by 1,033 residents by 2041, measured from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly release. Residential building rates are keeping steady pace with this projected growth, though home buyers could face heightened competition as the population expands.

Bull Creek has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and major works are key influences on property and economic trends. AreaSearch has identified 9 major projects that are expected to impact the local area. Among the most significant projects are the Bull Creek Station Precinct Structure Plan by the City of Melville, the Bull Creek Central Redevelopment, the Orthonova Orthopaedic Hospital, and the New Women and Babies Hospital.

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

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Bull Creek ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Bull Creek has a highly qualified workforce with a strong concentration of professionals, alongside an unemployment rate of only 1.7%, according to AreaSearch regional aggregations. As of March 2026, there are 4,222 employed residents, with unemployment sitting 2.5% below the Greater Perth average of 4.2%. However, the participation rate is notably low at 59.7% compared to 70.2% across Greater Perth. Census responses show that a modest 11.7% of the workforce worked from home, a figure that may be influenced by pandemic lockdown restrictions.

Local employment is largely centered around healthcare & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical roles. The professional & technical sector is highly represented, employing residents at 1.5 times the wider metropolitan average. In contrast, the construction sector has a smaller footprint, accounting for 6.7% of jobs compared to 9.3% across the region. The suburb is mostly residential and offers limited employment opportunities within its own boundaries, as shown by comparing the count of local workers to resident workers.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from the region, the labour force shrank by 0.9% over the 12-month period, while total employment fell by 0.8%, leading to a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment. This differs from Greater Perth, which saw employment rise by 2.0%, the labour force expand by 2.5%, and unemployment increase by 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide context for future local demand. These five and ten-year forecasts have been combined with the local workforce profile to model future growth. While national employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the trends vary widely by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry mix suggests employment among residents could rise by 6.8% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, using a simple weighted extrapolation based on industry shares without local population adjustments.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Tax data from the ATO for financial year 2023 shows that residents in the suburb of Bull Creek earn slightly more than the national average. The median taxpayer income is $49,953, and the average taxpayer income is $68,629, which contrasts with Greater Perth averages of $60,748 and $80,248. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, local income estimates would stand at roughly $55,413 for the median and $76,130 for the average as of March 2026. According to the Census, weekly household earnings sit in the 57th percentile ($1,880 weekly), while individual incomes are in the 39th percentile. The weekly earnings distribution is dominated by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, which accounts for 26.5% of residents (2,355 people), similar to the broader region where 32.0% of earners fall into this range. A high proportion of residents (30.8%) earn more than $3,000 weekly, pointing to pockets of wealth that support local business. Disposable income after housing costs is estimated at 86.4% of earnings, and the area is positioned in the 8th decile of the SEIFA index for income.

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

Census data reveals that houses represent 78.6% of properties in Bull Creek, with the remaining 21.4% consisting of semi-detached homes, units, and other dwellings, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings in the Perth metro area. Home ownership rates are high at 45.9%, with mortgaged properties making up 34.2% and rented dwellings at 20.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,167 is higher than the Perth metro average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent of $420 is also above the metropolitan average of $350. Nationally, local mortgage costs exceed the Australian median of $1,863, and rents are higher than the national figure of $375.

Bull Creek has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up 75.7% of local households, comprising couples with children at 39.2%, couples without children at 27.2%, and single-parent homes at 8.6%. Non-family households account for 24.3% of the total, with single-person households representing 22.4% and group households making up 1.8%. The median household size of 2.7 people is slightly larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Educational attainment among Bull Creek residents is high, with 45.3% of those aged 15+ holding a tertiary qualification, compared to 27.9% across WA and 28.6% in the local SA4 region. This qualification rate positions the community well for professional roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 29.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 12.2% and graduate diplomas at 3.9%. Vocational qualifications are held by 24.3% of residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 13.2%.

A high proportion of the population is studying, with 30.9% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. This includes primary students at 11.0%, secondary students at 8.6%, and tertiary students at 6.7%.

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

There are 36 active public transport stops in Bull Creek, consisting of bus services. These stops are connected to 20 separate routes, which carry a total of 4,103 weekly passenger trips. Transport links are accessible, with residents living an average of 262 meters from their nearest stop. Because of the suburb's residential nature, most workers travel out of the area for jobs, with cars being the main transport mode at 71%, followed by trains at 18% and buses at 7%. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles. A modest 11.7% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which was held during a period affected by pandemic conditions.

Buses run at a frequency of 586 trips per day across all routes, which averages out to approximately 113 weekly services for each transit stop.

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

Local health data shows favorable outcomes in Bull Creek, with low rates of chronic conditions and mortality across all age categories, while private health insurance cover is high at approximately 54% of the population (~4,840 people). This compares to 59.0% of residents across Greater Perth.

The most prevalent health conditions recorded locally are arthritis, affecting 8.1% of residents, and mental health challenges, affecting 5.7%. However, 72.3% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Residents aged 65 and over make up 25.3% of the population (2,249 people), which is higher than the Greater Perth average of 16.1%. The health status of local seniors is strong, with national rankings matching those of the general population.

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

Bull Creek has a diverse community, with 35.2% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 46.8% of the population born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 46.3% of the community. There is also a notable concentration of Buddhist residents at 5.7%, which is higher than the Greater Perth average of 2.7%.

Regarding ancestry, the primary backgrounds reported are English at 23.4%, Chinese at 19.4% (which is higher than the metropolitan average of 4.0%), and Australian at 18.1%. Other cultural backgrounds also show distinct local concentrations, with Korean ancestry representing 1.3% of the population (compared to 0.3% across the region), Sri Lankan at 0.7% (compared to 0.2% regionally), and Indian at 4.5% (compared to 2.6% regionally).

Bull Creek hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age of residents in Bull Creek is 43, which is higher than the Greater Perth median of 37 and the national average of 38. The age distribution shows a high proportion of residents aged 75 - 84 (10.4%), while the 25 - 34 age bracket is smaller (8.6%) than in the wider metropolitan area. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age bracket has risen from 10.7% to 12.8% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 8.5% to 10.4%. Meanwhile, the 65 to 74 group fell from 13.5% to 10.6% and the 55 to 64 cohort dropped from 10.7% to 9.5%. Projections to 2041 show shifts in the age structure, with the 85+ cohort expected to grow by 516 people (135%) from 382 to 899. The combined age cohorts aged 65 and over are projected to make up 67% of total population growth, pointing to an aging demographic profile, while the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 cohorts are expected to decrease in size.