Cooloongup

Cooloongup is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to census analysis and subsequent home addresses confirmed by AreaSearch, the suburb of Cooloongup has a population of approximately 7,180 as of May 2026. This indicates an addition of 484 people (7.2%) since the 2021 Census, when the headcount stood at 6,696 people. This shift is calculated from the current resident population of 7,180, which AreaSearch modeled by reviewing the June 2025 ABS Estimated Resident Population numbers alongside 1 validated new addresses registered after the census date. The current population translates to a density of 603 persons per square kilometer, offering ample room per resident and capacity for expansion. The suburb of Cooloongup's post-census growth of 7.2% is within 2.1 percentage points of the national figure (9.3%), indicating solid expansion patterns. Overseas migration was the primary engine of growth, representing roughly 93.0% of the total demographic increase during recent timeframes.

Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 using 2022 as a base are applied to each SA2 region. For locations lacking this data, and for long-term projections beyond 2032, growth is modeled using age cohort rates from the 2023 Greater Capital Region forecasts based on 2022 data. Demographic trends indicate that the suburb of Cooloongup will experience population growth above the median of national statistical areas, adding 837 persons by 2041 under consolidated SA2 projections, which represents a total increase of 11.7% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Cooloongup according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Analysis of building permit statistics shows that the suburb of Cooloongup averages approximately 7 residential approvals annually, with 38 homes authorized over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 8 during the course of FY-26. Because an average of 7.8 people entered the area for every finished home over those 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand is outstripping new supply, which tends to spur price increases and intensify buyer rivalry, with new residential projects averaging a construction cost of $271,000. Furthermore, $5.6 million in commercial building permits have been signed off this fiscal year, highlighting the residential orientation of the neighborhood.

Compared to the broader Greater Perth area, the suburb of Cooloongup displays very quiet construction volume, sitting 88.0% below the regional per capita benchmark. This restricted pace of construction typically bolsters value and demand for established residences, even though building volumes have ticked upward recently. Approval numbers also sit below the national standard, illustrating the mature state of the local market and pointing to possible zoning restrictions. Additionally, recent approvals consisted entirely of detached homes, maintaining the low-density landscape of the suburb where single-family houses appeal to buyers seeking space. The ratio of 622 people for each new home approval underscores the suburb's low-activity planning landscape.

Looking ahead, the suburb of Cooloongup is projected to add 837 residents by 2041 based on the latest quarterly calculations. If building rates remain unchanged, housing completions may fail to match population expansion, which could heighten competition among buyers and underpin stronger price growth.

Cooloongup has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and zoning decisions are key drivers of real estate performance. There are 17 projects tracked by AreaSearch that are expected to influence this neighborhood. The list highlights major initiatives such as The Rivergums Baldivis, Rockingham General Hospital Redevelopment, Parkland Heights Baldivis, and Seaside Estate Madora Bay.

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

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Employment conditions in Cooloongup face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

The local workforce exhibits a mix of white and blue collar occupations, with manufacturing and industrial businesses showing a notable presence, alongside an unemployment rate of 13.9% derived from statistical area mapping. As of March 2026, 3,055 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 9.7% higher than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%, suggesting room for labor market progress, while participation sits lower at 58.8% compared to the regional rate of 70.2%. Census records indicate that a small 4.4% of the workforce operated from home, though this was likely influenced by pandemic-related lockdown measures.

The primary sectors employing local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. There is a high concentration of workers in manufacturing, which is 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented at 3.6% compared to the regional average of 8.2%. The ratio of local jobs to the resident workforce indicates that residents must travel outside the immediate area for employment.

Analysis of SALM and ABS data, which has been aggregated from larger statistical areas, indicates that the labour force contracted by 1.0% and employment fell by 1.4% during the 12-month period, leading to an increase in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment, a 2.5% growth in the labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide additional context regarding potential future demand in Cooloongup. These projections, which span five and ten-year horizons, have been overlaid with the local employment profile to estimate growth trajectories. National employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and by 13.7% over ten years, although these growth rates vary considerably across different industry sectors. When these sector-specific forecasts are applied to Cooloongup's employment composition, local employment is expected to rise by 5.8% over five years and by 12.5% over ten years, keeping in mind that this represents a basic weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localized population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The suburb of Cooloongup's income level is lower than average on a national basis according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The suburb of Cooloongup's median income among taxpayers is $48,357 and the average income stands at $58,454, which compares to figures for Greater Perth's of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $53,642 (median) and $64,843 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Cooloongup all fall between the 11th and 13th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the predominant cohort spans 30.1% of locals (2,161 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, mirroring the region where 32.0% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 13th percentile.

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

Residential architecture is heavily skewed toward single-family homes, with detached houses accounting for 91.6% of properties and alternative formats like townhouses or apartments making up 8.4%, compared to the metropolitan Perth split of 77.8% and 22.1%. Home ownership rates exceed the metropolitan benchmark at 31.8%, with the remaining residences carrying a mortgage (40.0%) or occupied by tenants (28.3%). The median monthly home loan payment of $1,313 sits well below the metropolitan Perth average, while weekly rent is recorded at $300, compared to metropolitan benchmarks of $1,907 and $350. Nationally, local mortgage commitments are substantially lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and typical rent levels remain well below the national median of $375.

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

Families make up 67.1% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 22.7%, couples without children at 26.8%, and single parent households at 15.9%. Non-family living arrangements account for the other 32.9%, with lone person households representing 29.9% and group homes at 3.0%. The typical household size of 2.4 residents is slightly smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Cooloongup faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Attainment levels point to challenges, with university degrees held by 9.1% of residents, substantially lower than the nationwide average of 30.4%. This represents both a hurdle and a focus area for local educational strategies. Bachelor degrees represent 6.4%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.4% and postgraduate degrees at 1.3%. Conversely, vocational and technical credentials are very common, with 44.1% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, split between advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (34.5%).

Enrolment rates are high, with 26.6% of residents attending some form of study. This is distributed across primary school at 10.3%, high school at 7.8%, and tertiary institutions at 2.6%.

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

Analysis of local transit options identifies 39 stops in service within the suburb of Cooloongup, comprising bus and rail links. These stops are connected to 15 different routes, which support 4,309 passenger journeys every week. Accessibility is strong, with residents living an average of 176 meters from their nearest transit point. The suburb is predominantly residential, meaning most workers travel elsewhere for jobs, and private vehicles are the primary mode of travel at 80%, with 10% utilizing the train and 5% using buses. The number of vehicles per home stands at 1.3, which sits below the regional average. A low 4.4% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data collected during the pandemic.

The average daily frequency of services is 615 trips across all transit routes, which represents approximately 110 weekly journeys at each transit stop.

Health performance in Cooloongup is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

The local population faces notable health difficulties based on mortality and chronic illness data across various age groups, while the rate of private health insurance is low at approximately 50% of the population (~3,619 people). This is lower than the 59.0% recorded across Greater Perth and the national average of 55.7%.

Psychological health concerns and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 10.6 and 10.5% of the population, while 59.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. The working-age cohort has elevated rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 22.1% of the population (1,586 people), which is higher than the Greater Perth average of 16.1%. Health profiles for older residents show some challenges, ranking similarly to general population metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Cooloongup was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The area displays a high level of cultural diversity, with 9.7% of residents using a non-English language at home and 31.8% born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 41.0% of the population. The most distinct religious variance is seen in the Other category, which accounts for 0.9% of residents compared to the Greater Perth average of 1.4%.

Regarding family backgrounds, the most common ancestries are English at 34.0% of the population (exceeding the regional average of 28.0%), Australian at 25.3%, and Scottish at 7.8%. There are also distinct concentrations of other heritages, with Welsh ancestry representing 1.1% of residents (compared to 0.7% across the region), Maori at 2.5% (compared to 0.9%), and New Zealand backgrounds at 1.1% (compared to 0.8%).

Cooloongup's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age of 42 years is higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national average of 38 years. The 55 - 64 age bracket is highly represented at 14.2% compared to the wider metropolitan area, while the 35 - 44 cohort is lower at 11.7%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort grew from 6.4% to 8.1% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group rose from 11.0% to 12.2%. In contrast, the 5 to 14 group fell from 12.0% to 10.6%, and the 45 to 54 bracket decreased from 12.6% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic forecasts project significant changes, led by a 65% increase in the 75 to 84 cohort, growing from 581 to 960 people. The combined cohorts aged 65+ will account for 75% of the total population growth, pointing to a rapidly aging profile. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 brackets are projected to shrink.