Clarkson

Population growth drivers in Clarkson are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of the suburb of Clarkson is around 15,699 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,795 people (12.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,904 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 15,492 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 337 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,415 persons per square kilometer, placing Clarkson in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Clarkson's 12.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 56.99999999999999% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is utilising the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is expected. The suburb of Clarkson is expected to expand by 935 persons to reach an estimated total population of 16,634 by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 4.6% in total over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Clarkson was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Clarkson shows around 84 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 423 homes from FY-17 to FY-21. So far in FY-26, 97 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.6 people moved to the area per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating high demand exceeding new supply.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $357,000, slightly above the regional average. In FY-26, there have been $12.6 million in commercial approvals, reflecting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Perth, Clarkson has approximately half the construction activity per person but ranks among the 81st percentile nationally for building activity, with acceleration noted in recent years.

New building activity consists of 76.0% detached houses and 24.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's suburban character focused on family homes. Clarkson has approximately 130 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. Future projections estimate Clarkson to add 728 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, presenting good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Clarkson has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified eight infrastructure projects that could impact the area's performance. Key initiatives include the Alkimos to Wanneroo Desalination Pipeline, Catalina Plaza Neighbourhood Shopping Centre, Wanneroo Road Corridor Improvements, and Woolworths Clarkson Shopping Centre. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Clarkson remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Clarkson's workforce is skilled with manufacturing and industrial sectors well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 5.3% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.8%. As of September 2025, 9,016 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 6.3%, 1.3% above Greater Perth's rate of 5.0%.

Workforce participation is 76.0%, slightly higher than Greater Perth's 71.6%. According to Census responses, only 6.9% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade, with a strong specialization in construction at 1.2 times the regional level. Professional & technical services are under-represented, at 5.9% compared to Greater Perth's 8.2%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 4.8% while labour force grew by 3.8%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth's employment growth was 2.9% with a marginal rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Clarkson's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median income in Clarkson suburb is $55,297 and average income is $70,749. This compares to Greater Perth's median income of $60,748 and average income of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 9.62% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $60,617 and average income is around $77,555 as of September 2025. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data for 2021, incomes in Clarkson cluster around the 52nd percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 39.1% of residents (6,138 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to metropolitan region where 32.0% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability is severe with only 81.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 48th percentile nationally. Clarkson's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fourth decile.

Clarkson is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Clarkson's dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 89.3% houses and 10.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clarkson was at 15.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 52.8% and rented ones at 31.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Perth metro's $1,907. Median weekly rent was $350, same as Perth metro. Nationally, Clarkson's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 74.3% of all households, including 32.9% couples with children, 22.7% couples without children, and 17.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 25.7%, with lone person households at 22.2% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which matches the Greater Perth average.

Educational outcomes in Clarkson fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Clarkson Trail region's residents aged 15+ have educational qualifications that trail Australian benchmarks. Specifically, 21.0% hold university degrees compared to Australia's 30.4%. This indicates potential for educational development and skill enhancement in the region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 15.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 41.1% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 12.1% while certificates make up 29.0%. Educational participation is notably high in the region, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary (11.2%), secondary (7.6%), and tertiary (4.5%) levels.

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

Clarkson has 70 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 20 different routes, facilitating 2,783 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents located an average of 236 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Clarkson residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 77%, while train usage stands at 15%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 6.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 397 trips per day, translating to approximately 39 weekly trips per individual stop.

Clarkson's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Clarkson's health metrics closely match national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a standard level of common health conditions across both young and old age groups.

Private health cover is high, at approximately 55% of the total population (around 8,679 people), compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 9.6% and 7.6% of residents respectively. Around 72.4% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to the 71.9% across Greater Perth. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are typical for the area. The percentage of seniors aged 65 and over is lower than Greater Perth at 13.7% (around 2,150 people), compared to 16.3%. Health outcomes among seniors in Clarkson are above average and rank higher than the general population nationally.

Clarkson 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

Clarkson's population shows high cultural diversity, with 21.3% speaking a language other than English at home and 44.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Clarkson, accounting for 41.0% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 1.6%, slightly higher than Greater Perth's 1.4%.

The top three ancestral groups are English (30.1%), Australian (19.4%), and Other (12.3%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: South African is overrepresented at 2.0% compared to the regional average of 1.0%, Welsh at 1.0% versus 0.7%, and Maori at 1.6% against 0.9%.

Clarkson hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Clarkson's median age is 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Perth's 37 and somewhat younger than the national average of 38 years. The age group of 25-34 years has a strong representation at 15.8%, compared to Greater Perth. However, the 75-84 age cohort is less prevalent at 3.7%. From 2021 to present, the 65-74 age group has grown from 6.1% to 8.8%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 2.6% to 3.7%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 17.7% to 15.8%, and the 5-14 age group dropped from 13.8% to 12.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Clarkson. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow exceptionally, increasing by 605 people (104%) from 580 to 1,186. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 82% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 15-24 and 0-4 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.