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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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Cowaramup has an estimated 3,048 residents, up from 2,482 at the 2021 Census — a change of 566 people, or 22.8%. Growth has averaged 4.3% a year over five years, faster than 91% of areas nationally. 211 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 80.0% of that increase. Density is about 32 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
According to AreaSearch evaluations combining ABS regional updates with post-Census address validations, the suburb of Cowaramup has an estimated population of approximately 3,048 as of Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 566 residents (22.8%) compared to the 2021 Census count of 2,482 people. The figure builds on an estimated resident population of 3,019 derived from the ABS ERP release in June 2025 alongside 211 validated new addresses identified since the Census benchmark. With a population density of 32 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers generous living space. Surpassing both the national growth rate of 9.5% and wider trends across the Rest of WA, the suburb of Cowaramup stands out as a regional growth leader with its 22.8% post-2021 increase.
Inflows from interstate migration served as the primary catalyst, delivering around 80.0% of recent population additions, complemented by positive contributions from natural increase and overseas arrivals. Projections for the suburb of Cowaramup incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 modeling published in 2024 using 2022 as a base year. Where SA2 coverage is unavailable and for horizons extending beyond 2032, figures apply cohort-specific growth rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region release (built on 2022 benchmarks). Demographic patterns indicate future growth tracking above median benchmarks for non-metropolitan Australia, with SA2 projections pointing to an addition of 508 persons by 2041, representing a total 16-year expansion of 15.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
266 new dwellings have been approved in Cowaramup over the past five years, an average of 53 a year. That places the area in the 86th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 17 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 44 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 95% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 70, running ahead of 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 ABS building approvals by AreaSearch indicates that residential development in Cowaramup has averaged roughly 53 homes authorized annually, delivering around 266 approved dwellings across the last 5 financial years. Approvals for FY-25 stand at 70 to date. Demand fundamentals remain solid, with an average influx of 2.6 people each year per newly built dwelling across the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25. Properties are being constructed with an average value of $529,000, exceeding regional benchmarks and pointing toward high-standard residential stock. Meanwhile, commercial approvals registered at $5.5 million for the current financial year, highlighting limited commercial building activity.
Per capita residential development in Cowaramup tracks 31.0% above the regional benchmark over the 5 year period compared to Rest of WA, sustaining existing asset values while broadening options for purchasers. Activity also outpaces nationwide figures, underscoring strong developer interest. Detached houses account for 95.0% of recent builds, while medium and high-density formats represent 5.0%, preserving the low-density spatial environment that appeals to family buyers. The market demonstrates ongoing expansion, with an average ratio of around 44 people per approved home. Projections from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate indicate Cowaramup will add 479 new residents leading up to 2041. At observed building volumes, incoming residential supply appears well-positioned to satisfy buyer demand comfortably, creating favorable purchasing conditions and potentially facilitating growth above projected levels.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cowaramup
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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 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Cowaramup, worth an estimated $275 million. A further 40 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $3.41 billion. 13 are already under construction and 22 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, tourism and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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
Civic works, planning frameworks, and major development initiatives play a fundamental role in shaping local community outcomes. AreaSearch has highlighted 6 prominent projects influencing the locality, with key developments encompassing Cowaramup Country Estate, Birdwood Cowaramup Estate, Cowaramup Country Estate by Yolk Property Group, and the Lot 500 Wirring Road Cowaramup Structure Plan.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Birdwood Cowaramup Estate
Birdwood Cowaramup Estate is a masterplanned community featuring large residential lifestyle lots ranging from 600 to 1,900 m2 alongside an Over-55s lifestyle village. Situated 450 m from the Cowaramup town centre, the development includes public open space, walking trails, a dog park, and an adventure playground.
Lot 500 Wirring Road Cowaramup Structure Plan
An approved structure plan by the WA Planning Commission for residential development on Lot 500 Wirring Road near Cowaramup providing for future housing growth in the area.
Cowaramup Country Estate
Cowaramup Country Estate is a masterplanned residential subdivision by Goldfields Group across a 20-hectare site in the Margaret River region. The approved development delivers 184 residential lots ranging from 380 to 1,900 square metres, a dedicated medium-density site, and extensive public open space. The project aims to provide critical housing supply in Cowaramup with staged civil construction commencing from late 2025.
Cowaramup Country Estate by Yolk Property Group
A masterplanned community development featuring 180+ residential lots and a 250-dwelling lifestyle living component set within the agricultural landscape near Cowaramup township.
Margaret River South Structure Plan
A comprehensive 67.63-hectare residential development featuring 411 residential lots at a variety of densities ranging from R10-R60, a 250-dwelling lifestyle living component, and an integrated open space network. The structure plan facilitates subdivision and development following LPS1 Amendment 74.
Goldfields Group Darch Road Development
A major residential development by Goldfields Group featuring a 400-lot masterplanned residential community with various housing densities, parks, and community facilities located near Margaret River township.
Margaret River Net-Positive Circular Hotel
Australia's first net-positive circular hotel in Margaret River with 32 rooms and 5 villas, designed to enhance local tourism while operating with net-positive environmental impact through renewable energy and sustainable design.
Margaret River Wa 6285
A high-end hotel and spa in Margaret River region, restoring a historic homestead destroyed by bushfire with luxury accommodation and wellness facilities designed to showcase the region's natural beauty.
1,673 residents of Cowaramup are employed, from a labour force of 1,697. Unemployment sits at 1.4%, with participation at 75.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 2,329, about 76% 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
Cowaramup possesses an educated local workforce characterized by significant manufacturing and industrial activity, an unemployment rate standing at a modest 1.4%, and an annual employment gain of 0.5% according to aggregated statistical data from AreaSearch. The resident workforce comprised 1,673 employed individuals as of March 2026, while local unemployment measured 2.1% lower than the 3.5% reported for Regional WA. Labor force participation reached 75.7%, substantially exceeding the 65.4% recorded across Regional WA. In addition, 15.6% of residents reported working from home at the Census, a figure that may incorporate the influence of Covid-19 restrictions.
Manufacturing, construction, along with education & training form the core employment sectors for local residents. Manufacturing demonstrates particular local prominence, maintaining a concentration 2.1 times the wider regional benchmark. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing shows minimal representation, engaging just 1.5% of local workers relative to 4.7% throughout Regional WA. Comparing resident worker totals to local workplace numbers indicates that local job availability within the immediate boundary is constrained. Over the 12 months leading to March 2026, combined ABS and SALM figures aggregated by AreaSearch indicate that local employment expanded by 0.5% alongside a matching 0.5% rise in the labor pool, holding unemployment steady. By comparison, Regional WA recorded an employment decline of 0.1%, labor force expansion of 0.3%, and an increase of 0.4 percentage points in unemployment. National outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 project overall Australian employment to grow by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years. When mapped against the local industry distribution as an illustrative weighting exercise excluding specific demographic modeling, projected employment growth for Cowaramup equates to 5.2% over five years and 11.7% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cowaramup is $1,925 a week (about $100,000 a year), with median personal income at $876 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,318 a year against an average of $77,122. 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
Based on ATO postcode data for financial year 2023, personal earnings in the suburb of Cowaramup rank strongly on a national scale, featuring a median income of $55,318 and an average of $77,122, compared to $59,973 (median) and $74,392 (average) across Regional WA. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023 lifts estimated earnings to $61,364 for the median and $85,551 for the average as of March 2026. Across household, family, and individual measures, local incomes sit around the 61st percentile nationally. The single largest earnings bracket covers 40.4% of residents (1,231 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring metropolitan patterns where the bracket holds 31.1%.
Residential accommodation accounts for 16.2% of income; nevertheless, robust earnings place disposable income in the 60th percentile and position the area in the 6th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cowaramup had 769 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 98% detached houses and 0% apartments. 54% are owned with a mortgage, 18% rented and 28% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $390 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,950 a month. Rent absorbs 20.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.4%. 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 standalone houses make up 97.9% of housing in Cowaramup, with semi-detached dwellings, units, and other formats accounting for 2.1%, contrasting with Regional WA where houses represent 88.5% and alternative formats comprise 11.6%. Outright home ownership sits at 28.2%, below the regional benchmark, while mortgaged properties represent 53.6% and rental accommodation constitutes 18.2%. Median monthly mortgage costs of $1,950 exceed both the Regional WA figure of $1,560 and the nationwide average of $1,863. Similarly, median weekly rents of $390 track above regional ($265) and national ($375) levels.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cowaramup counted 769 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 944 today, averaging 2.8 people each. 42% are couples with children, more than in 84% of areas nationally, against 30% couples without children. 16% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local households at 80.6%, consisting of couples with children (42.4%), couples without children (30.1%), and single parent families (7.9%). The remaining 19.4% comprises non-family arrangements, including single-person households at 16.4% and group living arrangements at 2.8%. Typical household occupancy stands at 2.8 people, higher than the Regional WA average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
31.2% of adults in Cowaramup hold a university qualification, including 24.6% with a bachelor degree and 3.4% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 78% of areas nationally. A further 28.1% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 378 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,052 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
Academic credentials in Cowaramup sit well above broader regional measures, with 31.2% of persons aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees, compared to 17.6% across Rest of WA and 18.0% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees account for the largest share at 24.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.4% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational education is also widespread, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ possessing technical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (28.1%). Study participation is elevated, with 35.6% of local residents actively attending educational institutions. This distribution includes 17.4% enrolled in primary education, 8.8% attending secondary school, and 2.6% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Cowaramup means driving: households keep an average of 1.8 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
Cowaramup contains 3 active transit stops providing bus connections. These points are connected by 1 dedicated route running a combined total of 22 passenger services per week. Access to public networks is limited, with local residents situated an average distance of 1964 meters from their closest boarding point. Commuters predominantly travel outward, with private vehicles accounting for 88% of journeys and walking representing 4%. Dwelling vehicle ownership averages 1.8 cars, exceeding regional norms, while 15.6% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census under potential COVID-19 influences. Transit schedules provide an average of 3 daily journeys across the entire network, which translates to roughly 7 weekly departures for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
77.3% of residents in Cowaramup report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 82% of areas nationally. 2.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of mortality patterns and chronic condition prevalence indicate exceptional health metrics throughout Cowaramup, marked by low occurrences of common medical conditions across every demographic cohort. Furthermore, private health insurance coverage is extensive, encompassing roughly 58% of the community (~1,762 people). Asthma and mental health issues represent the primary reported health conditions locally, affecting 5.8% and 6.9% of residents, respectively. A total of 77.3% of the community reported having no medical ailments, outpacing the 69.3% benchmark recorded across Regional WA. Health among working-age individuals is strong with minimal chronic illness.
Seniors aged 65 and over account for 12.9% of the population (393 people), below the Regional WA share of 19.1%, and display health indicators that outperform broader Australian senior cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cowaramup is largely Australian-born, at 80.0% of residents, with 5.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (34.0%) and Australian (31.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics for Cowaramup sit below national benchmarks, with Australian citizens comprising 83.4% of residents, 80.0% born in Australia, and 94.3% speaking solely English at home. Christianity represents the most widely held faith, accounting for 27.7% of residents. The most noticeable elevated representation occurs among Buddhists, who make up 1.4% of the population compared to 1.0% across Regional WA. English (34.0%), Australian (31.0%), and Irish (8.0%) form the three leading ancestries declared by residents based on parental birthplaces. Other notable representations above regional levels include individuals of Dutch background at 1.9% (compared to 1.5% regionally), New Zealand heritage at 1.0% (vs 0.9%), and French ancestry at 0.7% (vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cowaramup is 39. 16.9% 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 suburb of Cowaramup maintains a younger demographic distribution than Regional WA. Updated estimates to August 2026 show children and young people aged 0 - 24 comprising 33.5% of the population, compared to 29.1% regionally, while seniors aged 65+ make up 12.9% versus 19.1% across Regional WA. The median age is estimated at 39, unchanged from the 2021 Census and 1 year below the regional Census figure of 40. The cohort aged 45 - 64 has adjusted from 26.8% at the Census to an estimated 25.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, adults aged 25 - 44 are projected to drive growth, adding 193 residents (22%) to reach 1,062.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cowaramup
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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 last month all 4 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 Aug 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 — 211 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,482 at the 2021 Census → 3,048 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 (SAL50347). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.