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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Capel has an estimated 2,758 residents, up from 2,606 at the 2021 Census — a change of 152 people, or 5.8%. Growth has averaged 0.9% a year over five years. Density is about 42 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Capel is estimated to have a population of approximately 2,758, according to AreaSearch evaluations combining broader ABS demographic releases and new address validations recorded after the Census. This indicates a net gain of 152 people (5.8%) compared to the 2,606 people counted in the 2021 Census. These findings build upon an estimated resident population of 2,754 from the June 2025 ABS ERP release alongside 13 validated new addresses recorded following the Census date. Spatially, this corresponds to an expansive density of 41 persons per square kilometer, with demographic expansion supported evenly by natural increase and net migration.
Projections for the suburb of Capel incorporate 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2-level modeling using 2022 as a base, supplemented post-2032 or for unmapped areas by cohort growth rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region release (utilising 2022 data). Demographic trajectories point toward above-median non-metropolitan expansion, with aggregated SA2 figures forecasting a gain of 345 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative 16-year increase of 12.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
64 new dwellings have been approved in Capel over the past five years, an average of 12 a year. That places the area in the 52nd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 4 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 13, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of statistical area building approvals by AreaSearch indicates that Capel registers roughly 12 dwelling approvals each year, totaling an estimated 64 homes across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), with 13 approved to date in FY-25. Demonstrating solid underlying demand that bolsters real estate values, approximately 2.2 people per year have relocated locally per newly built dwelling across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), with average construction costs standing at $433,000 per home. Per capita residential construction approvals in Capel sit at approximately three-quarters the level recorded across Rest of WA, placing the locality in the 71st percentile nationally despite recent gains in building momentum.
New building activity consists entirely of standalone dwellings, reinforcing the established low-density setting tailored to families seeking generous space, as underscored by a ratio of roughly 166 people per approval. Long-term forecasts derived from the latest AreaSearch quarterly figures indicate that Capel will add 341 residents by 2041. Ongoing construction volumes remain well aligned with expected demand, supporting balanced real estate conditions and mitigating steep price escalation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Capel
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 49 current infrastructure and development projects close to Capel, worth an estimated $4.81 billion. 13 are already under construction and 19 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and retail. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local economic and social outcomes are heavily shaped by civil infrastructure programs, planning policies, and capital works. AreaSearch has identified no active major projects expected to influence the locality directly, with broader surrounding initiatives including the Busselton Margaret River Airport Expansion, City of Busselton Local Planning Scheme No. 22, Bunbury Offshore Wind Project (North), and South West Interconnected System Transformation.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
The Acreage Estate Dalyellup
A completed residential development featuring large allotments and premium housing in the sought-after Dalyellup area. This estate provides spacious living options with easy access to beaches and community facilities, separate from the main Dalyellup Beach Estate development.
Tuart Forest Primary School
A government primary school serving Dalyellup with Kindergarten to Year 6 education. The purpose-built campus opened in 2013 and includes specialist facilities (music, science, library, undercover assembly) and outdoor learning spaces, with recent upgrades like a community-funded playground.
ALDI Dalyellup Supermarket
Approved single storey ALDI supermarket and small liquor store at Lot 9056 Portobello Road, Dalyellup. The proposal includes about 1505 sqm gross floor area, 82 car bays, landscaping, public art, roof and plinth signage, pedestrian seating and arbour canopy, access from Portobello Road and delivery access from Grafton Lane. Development approval was granted by the Shire of Capel on 30 April 2025 subject to conditions, with substantial commencement required within two years of the decision.
Dalyellup Beach Estate
Large-scale coastal masterplanned community in Dalyellup, south of Bunbury, developed by Satterley Property Group since 1999. The established estate is largely built out and includes a district shopping centre, schools, parks, over 130 hectares of coastal reserve and 50 hectares of Tuart forest. Satterley has now launched Wildwood, a new premium precinct within the estate offering 146 homesites less than 500m from the beach, with lots ranging from 370 to 672 square metres, extending the project's construction timeline.
Dalyellup Multipurpose Community and Youth Centre
A $13.86 million multipurpose community and youth centre featuring a multifunctional library and technology hub, youth space with digital facilities, small performance spaces, activity rooms, business start-up facilities, and senior citizens club space. Part of the wider Dalyellup District Centre development.
Dalyellup Primary School
A modern primary school serving the growing Dalyellup community with facilities for Kindergarten to Year 6 students. The school features contemporary learning spaces, technology hubs, and recreational facilities designed to support the educational needs of families in the expanding Dalyellup Beach Estate.
Dalyellup Beach Estate - Wildwood Precinct
Wildwood is the newest premium precinct within the award-winning Dalyellup Beach masterplanned community, located between Hutt Drive and Maidment Parade in Dalyellup WA. The precinct offers 146 homesites across Stage 1, with lots ranging from 370 square metres to 672 square metres, positioned just 500 metres from the beach. Approximately 47% of the precinct is dedicated to green open space, bordered by regional open space to the north and adjacent to Maidment Parade parklands. Stage 1 has launched with land now available, and the next stage is scheduled for release in June 2026.The precinct is located 2km from the Dalyellup Town Centre and 1.2km from Gosse Way Shopping Centre.
Dalyellup Village
A Coles-anchored neighbourhood shopping centre completed in October 2025, located in the rapidly growing suburb of Dalyellup approximately 10 kilometres south of Bunbury. The centre features a full-line Coles supermarket (3,205 square metres) with drive-through Click and Collect, Liquorland, and a Subway tenancy. The 7,000 square metre car park includes shade structures, solar PV, a backup generator, and extensive landscaping. The development was designed and constructed by Perkins Builders on behalf of Coles Group Property Developments, with Wallace PM serving as Project Manager and Superintendent.
1,429 residents of Capel are employed, from a labour force of 1,477. Unemployment sits at 3.2%, with participation at 65.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,149, about 78% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Capel maintains a diverse employment landscape across both blue-collar and white-collar roles, highlighted by notable strength in construction and a modest 3.2% unemployment rate per aggregated AreaSearch metrics. By March 2026, employed residents reached 1,429, with joblessness tracking 0.3% below the Regional WA benchmark of 3.5% and labor participation matching the broader 65.4% regional figure. Census records showed only 6.4% working from home, though pandemic-related movement restrictions during that period should be taken into account. Local workforce participation is primarily concentrated across health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Construction shows particular prominence, holding an employment concentration 1.4 times greater than the regional benchmark. Conversely, the mining sector accounts for 8.3% of local workers compared to 11.7% regionally, with resident-versus-workplace Census counts suggesting limited local job availability within the immediate boundary. Aggregated SALM and ABS datasets analyzed by AreaSearch for the 12 months to March 2026 reveal that the local labor force experienced zero expansion while overall employment contracted by 0.8%, lifting the unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. Across Regional WA, employment fell by 0.1%, the workforce expanded by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 industry projections anticipate nationwide employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Weighting these sectoral paths against Capel's specific workforce structure indicates expected local job gains of 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, representing an illustrative baseline that excludes localized population adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Capel is $1,425 a week (about $74,000 a year), with median personal income at $703 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $50,033 a year against an average of $62,712. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to the latest postcode-level ATO records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the suburb of Capel recorded a median taxpayer income of $50,033 and an average of $62,712, trailing the Regional WA figures of $59,973 and $74,392 respectively as well as national benchmarks. Factoring in an Wage Price Index rise of 10.93% since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 reach approximately $55,502 for median earnings and $69,566 on average. The 2021 Census placed household, family, and individual incomes between the 29th and 30th percentiles, with 34.0% of local earners (937 individuals) falling into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to the 31.1% regional share.
Severe housing cost burdens leave only 83.7% of income available after shelter expenses, ranking at the 30th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Capel had 974 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 0% apartments. 49% are owned with a mortgage, 20% rented and 32% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $320 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,498 a month. Rent absorbs 22.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that separate houses make up 93.7% of Capel's housing stock with remaining types (including semi-detached units, apartments, and other dwellings) accounting for 6.3%, compared against 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings across Regional WA. Outright homeownership stands at 31.5%, slightly trailing the regional benchmark, while mortgaged properties represent 48.9% and private rentals make up 19.6%. Typical housing costs include a median monthly mortgage payment of $1,498 and a median weekly rent of $320, which compare favorably to Regional WA figures of $1,560 and $265, as well as nationwide averages of $1,863 and $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Capel counted 974 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,031 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 28% are couples with children, against 31% couples without children. 24% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements at 73.9%, consisting of couples with children (28.2%), couples without children (30.9%), and single parent households (13.6%). The remaining 26.1% comprises non-family residences, primarily lone person dwellings at 23.6% alongside group homes at 3.4%, with an average household size of 2.5 people aligning with the Regional WA standard.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
12.4% of adults in Capel hold a university qualification, including 8.9% with a bachelor degree and 1.3% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 33.5% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 420 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,016 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Higher education rates in the area remain comparatively subdued, with tertiary degree attainment at 12.4% against the wider 30.4% Australian figure. Among local degree holders, bachelor qualifications represent 8.9%, graduate diplomas comprise 2.2%, and postgraduate awards total 1.3%. In contrast, vocational and technical training is well represented, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding credentials, comprising certificates (33.5%) and advanced diplomas (8.2%). General educational participation is robust across the community, with 29.6% of residents actively pursuing formal study. This total includes 12.1% attending primary school, 10.5% in secondary education, and 2.0% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Capel means driving: households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Capel is serviced by 2 active bus transit stops operating along 1 route, delivering a combined total of 11 weekly passenger trips. Public transport coverage is relatively restricted, with residents situated an average of 944 meters from the nearest stop. Private vehicles serve as the primary commuting choice for 92% of workers, supported by an average of 1.7 motor vehicles per household, while 6.4% worked from home at the 2021 Census under potential pandemic influences. Public transport operations provide an average frequency of 1 trips per day across the network, corresponding to roughly 5 weekly departures for each designated stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.5% of residents in Capel report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 85% of areas nationally. 6.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments by AreaSearch based on mortality statistics and chronic disease rates highlight noticeable health challenges in Capel, with common ailments evident across both older and younger demographics. Private health insurance coverage covers approximately 52% of the local population (~1,436 people), marginally exceeding the typical SA2 average but trailing the 56.4% mark seen across Regional WA. Arthritis and mental health conditions represent the leading diagnosed ailments locally, impacting 11.6 and 9.7% of residents respectively, while 62.5% report no long-term medical conditions compared to 69.3% across Regional WA. Chronic condition rates are elevated among working-age individuals, while seniors aged 65 and over comprise 22.1% of the community (609 people), exceeding the 19.1% regional proportion and demonstrating elevated health needs relative to national standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Capel is largely Australian-born, at 85.5% of residents, with 2.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (35.8%) and Australian (32.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Capel exhibits a relatively uniform cultural background, with 88.9% holding Australian citizenship, 85.5% born in Australia, and 97.3% using solely English at home. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation, accounting for 38.8% of the population, while adherence to Judaism recorded no measurable share locally or across Regional WA. Ancestry records regarding parents' country of birth show the most common backgrounds to be English at 35.8%, Australian at 32.6%, and Scottish at 7.4%. Specific European backgrounds show higher local representation than seen across the broader region, including Welsh at 0.9% (vs 0.6% regionally), Dutch at 2.5% (vs 1.5%), and French at 0.8% (vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Capel is 42. 22.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age distribution in Capel tracks closely with Regional WA patterns, with the largest variance across broad age groups being 3.8 percentage points. The estimated median age stands at 42, matching the 2021 Census finding and sitting 2 years above the Regional WA median of 40 from that same Census. The most notable shift since the Census occurred among residents aged 45 - 64, whose share decreased from 28.0% to an estimated 25.1%. Looking forward to 2041, adults aged 25 - 44 will drive local growth, increasing by 204 residents (32%) to reach a cohort size of 833.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Capel
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 13 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,606 at the 2021 Census → 2,758 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL50251). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.