Burswood

Burswood lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, the suburb of Burswood had an estimated population of 3293 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a growth of 514 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2779. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3182 residents following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 133 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 965 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Burswood's 18.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both national (9.9%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.0% of overall 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 post-2032 estimates, 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 trends project an above median increase for Australian statistical areas. By 2041, the suburb of Burswood is expected to increase by 698 persons, reflecting a total increase of 19.7% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Burswood has averaged around 14 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 73 homes were approved, with a further 6 approved in FY-26 to date. This results in an average of 6.4 people moving to the area per dwelling built over these years.

The demand significantly exceeds new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. Developers focus on the premium market, with new dwellings valued at an average of $761,000 for construction costs. Burswood has seen $4.3 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting its residential character. Compared to Greater Perth, Burswood records 16.0% less building activity per person but ranks among the 84th percentile nationally.

Building activity has accelerated recently, with 32.0% standalone homes and 68.0% townhouses or apartments. This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. Burswood shows characteristics of a growth area, with around 113 people per dwelling approval. Future projections estimate Burswood to add 648 residents by 2041 if current development rates continue, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 26 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include Perth Park (Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct), Burswood Point, Ebizco Rivervale Mixed-Use Tower (Armadale Road), and The Springs Rivervale Masterplanned Community. Below is a list of those 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.

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

Burswood has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.7% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.2%. As of September 2025, 2,196 residents were employed at an unemployment rate of 1.2% below Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation was 78.4%, higher than Greater Perth's 71.6%. Only 10.6% of residents worked from home according to Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries include health care & social assistance, mining, and professional & technical services, with notable concentration in mining at 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, education & training showed lower representation at 5.9% compared to the regional average of 9.2%.

There were 3.1 workers per resident as at the Census, indicating Burswood functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 2.2% while labour force grew by 1.7%, causing a decrease in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Perth where employment grew by 2.9%, labour force expanded by 3.0%, and unemployment rose marginally. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Burswood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, the suburb of Burswood had a median income among taxpayers of $65,481 with the average level standing at $87,281. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to median and average incomes of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively across Greater Perth. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% from financial year ending June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $71,780 (median) and $95,677 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, individual earnings in Burswood stand out at the 87th percentile nationally with a weekly income of $1,132. Distribution data shows that 35.6% of Burswood's population (1,172 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, reflecting patterns seen regionally where 32.0% similarly occupy this range. High housing costs consume 17.4% of income in Burswood, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 62nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Burswood features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Burswood's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 18.3% houses and 81.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasted with Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burswood stood at 24.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.8% and rented ones at 50.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Perth metro's average of $1,907. Median weekly rent in Burswood was $430, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Burswood's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 58.8% of all households, including 15.4% couples with children, 34.1% couples without children, and 6.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 41.2%, with lone person households at 35.3% and group households comprising 6.4%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Burswood 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 in Burswood is notably high, with 43.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding university qualifications. This compares to 27.9% in Western Australia (WA) and 29.9% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 11.5% and graduate diplomas at 3.6%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 29.9% of residents aged 15 and over holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.9%) and certificates (17.0%).

Educational participation is high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.8% in tertiary education, 4.3% in primary education, and 3.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Burswood has 37 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 66 individual routes, facilitating 11,339 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 302 meters to the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 73%, followed by buses at 10% and trains at 8%. Vehicle ownership is below the regional average, averaging 1.0 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,619 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 306 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Burswood's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (2,036 people), compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 5.8 and 5.5% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 76.9%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Burswood has 18.0% of residents aged 65 and over (592 people), higher than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

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

Burswood's cultural diversity is high, with 31.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 49.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 41.0%. Hinduism is overrepresented, at 5.2% compared to Greater Perth's 2.5%.

The top three ancestral groups are English (23.1%), Other (15.9%), and Australian (15.8%), lower than regional averages. Welsh (0.8%) and Korean (0.9%) are notably overrepresented, while Spanish (0.7%) is slightly higher than the regional average.

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

The median age in Burswood is 38 years, close to Greater Perth's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, Burswood has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (20.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is above the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 75-84 has grown from 3.8% to 5.2%, while those aged 65-74 increased from 10.8% to 11.9%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 22.2% to 20.8%, and the 35-44 age group has dropped from 15.9% to 14.8%. By 2041, Burswood's population is expected to shift significantly. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 98 people, reaching 339 from 171. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 54% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 35-44 age groups.