Cockburn Central

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

According to ABS population releases examined for the surrounding region alongside new addresses verified by AreaSearch post-Census, the suburb of Cockburn Central has an estimated population of 2,252 as of May 2026. This indicates an expansion of 731 residents (48.1%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented 1,521 individuals. This shift is calculated from a resident population of 2,154, estimated by AreaSearch using the ABS's June 2025 ERP release, combined with an additional 286 validated new addresses verified since the Census. Such population numbers translate to a density of 815 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical averages recorded across AreaSearch assessment zones. The 48.1% growth rate in the suburb of Cockburn Central since the 2021 census outpaced the national figure of 9.3%, as well as state benchmarks, positioning it as a regional growth leader. This population rise was chiefly powered by overseas arrivals, who accounted for approximately 64.0% of the overall population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch implements ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 district, published in 2024 with 2022 as the baseline year. For any SA2 regions lacking this data, and for projecting growth past 2032, AreaSearch utilizes age cohort growth rates from the latest ABS Greater Capital Region projections published in 2023 using 2022 data. Looking at future demographic patterns, the suburb of Cockburn Central is projected to experience population expansion slightly below the median for national statistical areas, with a projected rise of 226 individuals by 2041 using aggregated SA2 projections, representing a total increase of 5.7% over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch evaluations of building approvals from statistical area figures indicate that Cockburn Central averages approximately 45 residential approvals yearly, accumulating to an estimated 225 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26214 approvals have been logged. Over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, an average of 2.8 individuals relocated to the area per completed dwelling, demonstrating solid demand that should help maintain property values, with new builds averaging a construction cost of $347,000. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $52.3 million have been logged during this financial year, pointing to strong local business investment.

Cockburn Central exhibits 171.0% more building activity per capita than Greater Perth, giving purchasers a wider selection. This volume stands substantially above the national average, showcasing strong developer attention. Recent residential building consists of 53.0% detached houses and 47.0% attached dwellings, with an expanding selection of townhouses and apartments offering choices across various price levels, ranging from family houses to cheaper, smaller units. Notably, developers are constructing traditional houses at a higher rate than the baseline proportion of 27.0% recorded at the Census, indicating that demand for family homes remains high despite density pushes. With approximately 27 individuals per dwelling approval, the locality displays typical features of a growth zone.

Demographic projections suggest Cockburn Central will add 128 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. With current construction rates, new housing completions should easily satisfy demand, creating favorable buying conditions and potentially helping push growth past current demographic forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning decisions can significantly affect an area's trajectory. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects expected to influence the locality. Notable developments include the Stockland Bull Creek Shopping Centre Upgrade, Harmony Apartments, the Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre Bibra Lake, and Cockburn Central West, with the main projects of interest outlined below.

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

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Employment performance in Cockburn Central has been broadly consistent with national averages

Cockburn Central features a highly trained labor force with strong representation in key service sectors, an unemployment rate of 4.5%, and an estimated job growth rate of 3.2% over the previous year, according to aggregated statistical area data from AreaSearch. As of March 2026, there are 1,501 employed residents, while the local unemployment rate is 0.3% higher than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%, and labor force participation is exceptionally high at 82.0% compared to 70.2% in Greater Perth. Census data reveals that a minimal 5.5% of locals worked from home, though the influence of Covid-19 restrictions must be factored in.

The primary employment fields for residents are healthcare & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. Conversely, the construction sector accounts for only 8.2% of the local workforce, trailing the Greater Perth average of 9.3%. With 2.0 workers per resident recorded at the Census, the locality serves as a major employment center, offering more jobs than it has working residents and drawing commuters from neighboring areas.

According to AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS data for broader statistical divisions, the 12 months leading to March 2026 saw employment expand by 3.2% and the labor force rise by 3.5%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment alongside a 2.5% increase in the labor force, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point unemployment rise. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide further context on future demand in Cockburn Central. These five and ten-year projections have been aligned with the local workforce profile to model future trends. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by sector. Applying these industry-specific projections to the job mix in Cockburn Central suggests local employment will rise by 6.4% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, representing a basic weighting extrapolation for illustration that does not account for local population changes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to the latest financial year 2023 ATO statistics aggregated by AreaSearch, Cockburn Central is situated among Australia's highest earning areas. Taxpayers in Cockburn Central have a median income of $73,211 and an average income of $89,004, compared to Greater Perth values of $60,748 and $80,248. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current figures are estimated at approximately $81,213 for the median and $98,732 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census reveals individual earnings are high, ranking in the 80th percentile nationwide with a weekly figure of $1,020, although household earnings sit lower in the 42nd percentile. The income breakdown shows 40.0% of residents (900 individuals) earn in the $1,500 - 2,999 brackets, which is comparable to the 32.0% recorded for this cohort across the metropolitan area. Affordability pressures are high, leaving just 80.3% of income after housing costs, placing it in the 39th percentile, while the SEIFA income metric ranks the area in the 6th decile.

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

Residential composition in Cockburn Central during the latest Census consisted of 26.6% standalone houses and 73.4% other dwelling types like townhouses and apartments, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings across the Perth metro area. Home ownership in Cockburn Central was low compared to the Perth metro area, standing at 9.4%, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgagors (26.2%) or tenants (64.5%). The median monthly home loan repayment of $1,517 was considerably lower than the Perth metro average of $1,907, while the median weekly rental rate was $355 compared to the Perth metro average of $350. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Cockburn Central are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents are below the national average of $375.

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

Families make up 49.3% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 13.2%, couples without children at 28.2%, and single parents at 5.9%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 50.7%, with single-person households representing 44.2% and group living situations at 6.0%. The median household size of 1.9 residents is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Cockburn Central performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Tertiary qualification levels in Cockburn Central, at 31.8% of residents aged 15 and older, exceed the broader SA3 average of 27.4%, pointing to a competitive academic base. Bachelor degrees represent the largest share at 22.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.3% and graduate diplomas at 2.3%. Vocational training is also common, with 36.6% of residents aged 15 and older holding trade qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.8% and certificates at 24.8%.

Engagement in learning is high, with 27.4% of the population enrolled in an educational program. This group includes 11.3% studying at a tertiary level, 4.2% attending primary school, and 3.6% in secondary education.

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

Public transit data shows 38 active stops operating in Cockburn Central, combining train and bus services. These stops support 21 different routes, which facilitate 4,809 weekly passenger journeys. Transit access is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 190 meters from their closest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, many workers commute out, with private cars being the main transport mode at 68%, followed by trains at 21% and buses at 6%. Average vehicle ownership is 0.8 cars per household, which is lower than the regional average. A small proportion of residents work from home, sitting at 5.5% in the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Routes average 687 daily transit trips, which translates to approximately 126 weekly departures for each transit stop.

The level of general health in Cockburn Central is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Cockburn Central features strong health profiles based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality and chronic illnesses, with both younger and older cohorts displaying a low rate of common conditions, and private health insurance coverage is high at approximately 63% of the population (1,408 people). This compares to 59.0% for Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most frequent health issues reported by residents were mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 10.1% and 7.5% of the population respectively, while 74.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Health trends among working-age locals are typical. Residents aged 65 and older make up 12.1% of the local population (272 people), which is lower than the 16.1% average in Greater Perth. Health outcomes for older residents are strong, with national rankings exceeding those of the general population.

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

Cockburn Central displays high levels of multiculturalism, with 27.6% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 45.5% born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 37.5% of the population. Hinduism has the most pronounced regional overrepresentation, accounting for 4.0% of local residents compared to 2.5% across Greater Perth.

Regarding parental country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Cockburn Central are English at 25.7%, Australian at 16.6%, and Other at 15.4%. There are also distinct concentrations of other groups: Maori residents are overrepresented at 1.6% of the population compared to 0.9% regionally, Korean residents at 1.4% compared to 0.3%, and South Australian residents at 1.1% compared to 1.0%.

Cockburn Central hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Cockburn Central is 32 years, which is younger than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, Cockburn Central has a larger proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (28.9%) but a smaller share of children aged 5 - 14 (6.2%). The 25 - 34 demographic concentration sits well above the national benchmark of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census figures show the 65 to 74 age bracket grew from 5.5% to 7.1% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 2.4% to 3.7%. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 group shrank from 17.9% to 15.5%, and the 25 to 34 group decreased from 30.9% to 28.9%. Projections suggest Cockburn Central's age structure will change by 2041. The 75 to 84 bracket is projected to experience the fastest growth at 72%, adding 59 residents to reach a total of 143. Seniors aged 65 and older are expected to make up 63% of the total growth, while population declines are projected for children aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14.