Craigie (WA)

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

Based on local statistical reviews and newly verified addresses by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Craigie (WA) has an estimated occupancy of 7,335 residents as of May 2026. This marks a rise of 879 people (13.6%) from the 6,456 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. This growth is calculated from a base population of 7,316, which AreaSearch estimated after evaluating the ABS June 2025 release of ERP figures and incorporating 60 new verified addresses since the Census. With these numbers, the suburb of Craigie (WA) has a density of 1,567 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical figure for locations audited nationally by AreaSearch. The expansion rate of 13.6% in the suburb of Craigie (WA) since the 2021 census outpaced the national benchmark of 9.3% and the wider SA3 region, positioning it as a local growth frontrunner. Natural increase was the primary contributor, accounting for roughly 62.0% of the overall population gains in recent times.

Projections for each SA2 zone published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline by Geoscience Australia and the ABS are applied here. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and to calculate expansion after 2032, growth rates by age group from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (utilising 2022 data) are used. Demographic trends point to future gains sitting slightly below the national median, with local numbers projected to expand by 615 persons to 2041 based on compiled SA2 projections, representing an overall rise of 8.1% over the 16 years.

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

Analysis of building approval statistics shows that Craigie averages approximately 50 approved residential builds annually, culminating in 253 dwellings over the preceding 5 financial years. In FY-26 to date, 31 approvals have been documented. With an average of 3.2 new occupants added per completed dwelling over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, demand is outpacing new construction, which commonly prompts price growth and intensifies buyer competition, while new builds carry an average construction cost of $325,000. In addition, commercial development approvals total $4.8 million this financial year, highlighting that the locality remains mostly residential.

Adjusted per resident, development volumes in Craigie exceed Greater Perth by 139.0%, offering buyers a wider selection of properties even though building activity has slowed of late. Houses account for 84.0% of recent approvals, while apartments or townhouses comprise the remaining 16.0%, reinforcing the suburb's low-density layout and appeal to families prioritizing space. Craigie registers roughly 200 people for each approved dwelling, displaying the hallmarks of a developing suburb.

Long-term forecasts indicate that Craigie will gain 596 residents by 2041, measured from the latest quarterly figures. Under current construction trajectories, new housing supply looks sufficient to accommodate this influx, offering favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially reinforcing growth above the current projections.

Craigie has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure updates, major works, and municipal planning heavily influence residential markets. AreaSearch has tracked 11 projects that are anticipated to affect the local area. Notable projects include the Whitfords Activity Centre Precinct (West) Redevelopment, Ocean Reef Road Grade Separation, Heathridge Park Masterplan, and Craigiebush Estate, with details of the most relevant projects provided below.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Craigie ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Craigie boasts a highly capable labor pool where essential service industries are prominently featured, alongside an unemployment rate of 4.2% and an estimated employment growth of 3.4% over the previous twelve months according to AreaSearch aggregated statistical area information. By March 2026, there were 4,191 employed residents, with the unemployment rate matching Greater Perth's 4.2% while workforce participation significantly exceeds the norm at 75.4% relative to Greater Perth's 70.2%. Census data indicates that only 8.2% of residents were working from home, although the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.

The top industries employing local residents are building and construction, healthcare and social assistance, along with education and training. The suburb exhibits a clear concentration in construction, with its employment concentration sitting at 1.6 times the wider metropolitan average. By contrast, professional and technical services account for only 6.7% of workers, which is lower than the Greater Perth rate of 8.2%. The high ratio of resident workers to local jobs suggests that the area itself offers limited employment opportunities within its boundaries.

Evaluated regional data reveals that employment expanded by 3.4% and the labor force grew by 3.9% over the 12-month period, leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. Meanwhile, Greater Perth saw jobs grow by 2.0%, the labor force expand by 2.5%, and unemployment tick up by 0.4 percentage points. Job growth expectations can be contextualized using national forecasts released in May-25. These five-year and ten-year national outlooks have been mapped to local sectors to estimate future trends. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates differ by sector. Weighting these projections against the local industry mix yields an estimated local job growth of 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years.

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

According to tax data for the 2023 financial year, Craigie taxpayers recorded a median income of $61,654 and an average income of $81,283. These figures are high on a national scale and compare to Greater Perth medians and averages of $60,748 and $80,248. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median of $68,393 and an average of $90,167 as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census, individual incomes sit at the 71st percentile ($927 weekly), while household incomes are at the 52nd percentile. The data indicates that 39.3% of residents (2,882 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to the broader region where 32.0% fall into this range. Housing expenses account for 16.2% of earnings, yet healthy incomes keep disposable earnings at the 53rd percentile, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 5th decile.

Craigie is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The local housing stock consists of 88.4% detached houses and 11.6% multi-unit dwellings such as townhouses and apartments, compared to metro Perth where houses make up 77.8% and alternative dwellings represent 22.1%. Outright home ownership in Craigie is lower than the metropolitan average at 25.8%, with the remaining properties being purchased via mortgages (49.6%) or rented (24.5%). Typical monthly mortgage payments are below the metro average at $1,733, whereas weekly rents average $375, compared to metropolitan benchmarks of $1,907 and $350. Nationally, local mortgage commitments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rent levels equal the national figure of $375.

Craigie features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up 70.4% of households, comprising couples with children at 29.3%, couples without children at 26.1%, and single-parent households at 13.8%. The remaining 29.6% are non-family households, with single-person households at 25.4% and group shared homes at 4.2%. The median household size is 2.4 residents, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Craigie exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Tertiary attainment in Craigie tracks below the metropolitan benchmark, with 24.6% of residents aged 15+ holding a university qualification compared to 30.4% nationwide. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.8%, followed by postgrad degrees at 3.7% and graduate diplomas at 3.1%. Vocational qualifications are highly represented, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (30.3%).

Student representation is high, with 26.3% of the population enrolled in an educational institution. This includes 9.4% attending primary school, 6.1% in high school, and 4.5% enrolled in higher education.

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

Public transport services include 29 active bus stops located within Craigie. These stops are served by 9 separate routes, which combine to deliver 1,867 weekly passenger journeys. Transport accessibility is high, with residents living an average of 217 meters from their nearest stop. Given the suburban setup, most residents travel out of the area for work, with private cars being the main transport mode at 81%, followed by trains at 12%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 cars per home. A modest 8.2% of residents work from home based on 2021 Census records, which were influenced by pandemic conditions.

Across all routes, service frequencies average 266 trips daily, which translates to roughly 64 weekly trips per bus stop.

Craigie's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health indicators are generally positive, with mortality rates and illness patterns matching national averages across both youth and elderly demographics, while the share of residents with private health insurance is high at roughly 59% of the population (4,362 individuals).

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent issues, affecting 7.9% and 9.4% of the population. Meanwhile, 70.9% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. General health outcomes for working-age locals are standard. Residents aged 65 and older make up 14.6% of the population (1,070 individuals), below the Greater Perth average of 16.1%. Health rankings for seniors are positive, aligning closely with national averages.

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

Cultural diversity is higher than in most comparable markets, with 10.6% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 32.8% born overseas. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 40.9% of the population. The most distinct variance is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of the local population compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

Regarding family backgrounds, the three largest ancestries are English at 31.8%, Australian at 24.8%, and Irish at 9.0%. Other distinct backgrounds include Welsh at 0.8% of the population (compared to 0.7% regionally), South Australian at 1.0% (compared to 1.0% regionally), and New Zealand at 1.1% (compared to 0.8% regionally).

Craigie's population is younger than the national pattern

Craigie's median age of 35 years is slightly younger than Greater Perth's 37 and the national average of 38. The 25 - 34 demographic is highly represented at 18.2% compared to Greater Perth, while the 55 - 64 age bracket is less common at 7.6%. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age cohort grew from 16.1% to 17.4% and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 4.2% to 5.4%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group fell from 9.6% to 7.6% and the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 19.3% to 18.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 point to significant changes, with the 75 to 84 cohort projected to expand by 235 people (60%) from 396 to 632. Overall, residents aged 65 and over will account for 53% of total population growth. Conversely, the cohorts aged 5 to 14 and 0 to 4 will contract.