Darch

Darch has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

According to assessments of ABS demographic releases for the wider region, combined with updated addresses verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the population of the suburb of Darch is calculated to be approximately 7,938 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 591 individuals (8.0%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 7,347 people. This shift is determined from the resident count of 7,938, calculated by AreaSearch using the most recent ABS ERP statistics (June 2025) along with 87 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population level translates to a density of 2,376 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the top quartile of domestic areas evaluated by AreaSearch. The 8.0% expansion in the suburb of Darch since the census is within 1.3 percentage points of the nationwide benchmark (9.3%), indicating solid growth dynamics. Overseas migration was the primary driver of demographic expansion here, accounting for roughly 74.0% of the total population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch implements the ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 zone, published in 2024 with 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 territories lacking this information, and to project development across all areas beyond 2032, AreaSearch employs age-group growth rates from the latest ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, utilizing 2022 data). Looking at upcoming demographic changes, growth is projected to rank in the lower quartile of statistical areas nationally, with the suburb of Darch expected to expand by 261 residents up to 2041 based on compiled SA2 projections, representing an overall rise of 3.3% across the 16 years.

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

An analysis of ABS building approval statistics distributed from regional data shows that Darch has maintained a yearly average of approximately 7 new residential approvals, arriving at a total of 36 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 18 approvals have been registered. Given an average of 9.8 new occupants per year for each built dwelling over the past 5 financial years (running from FY-21 to FY-25), demand outstrips new supply by a wide margin, which generally drives up prices and intensifies buyer competition. The anticipated construction cost for these new dwellings averages $437,000, indicating that building activity is focused on high-end residential options. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $3.8 million have been logged during this financial year, suggesting a quiet commercial construction sector.

In comparison to Greater Perth, development in Darch is remarkably quiet, tracking at 91.0% below the regional average per capita. This sparse addition of new housing typically underpins stronger demand and values for existing properties. This rate is also below the national benchmark, reflecting the established character of the area and indicating potential planning constraints. Meanwhile, all new residential construction has consisted of standalone houses, preserving a suburban landscape focused on spacious family homes. With approximately 1750 people per approval, Darch displays the characteristics of a mature, settled location.

Projections indicate that Darch will gain 261 residents by 2041, according to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. Current building volumes appear in line with upcoming demand, supporting stable market conditions without generating excessive price pressure.

Darch has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure updates, major construction projects, and zoning changes are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has tracked 12 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Key developments include Evida Darch, Kingsway City Shopping Centre Serviced Apartments, East Landsdale Precinct - Madeley Release Area, and Madeley Central (Kingsway City Activity Centre), with details on the most significant projects listed below.

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

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Employment performance in Darch exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Darch has a workforce characterized by high skill levels, with strong representation in industrial and manufacturing fields, an unemployment rate of 4.1%, and an estimated 2.6% increase in employment over the prior year, according to aggregated statistical area statistics. In March 2026, 4,710 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 0.1% lower than the Greater Perth level of 4.2%, and labor participation was exceptionally high at 75.9% compared to 70.2% across Greater Perth. Census records show that a minor 8.1% of working residents operated from home, though this may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary sectors employing residents are retail trade, health care & social assistance, and construction. The community shows a high concentration of retail workers, with representation sitting at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, mining has a minor footprint, accounting for 5.5% of employment compared to 7.0% across the region. Although there are local jobs available within the area, Census data comparing the working population to the local resident base suggests a significant portion of residents travel outside the area for employment.

AreaSearch assessment of SALM and ABS data for the wider statistical region shows that employment grew by 2.6% over the 12-month period, while the labor force expanded by 3.4%, resulting in a 0.8 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 2.0% and labor force expansion of 2.5%, with its unemployment rate rising by 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide context for future labor demand in Darch. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by industry. Weighting these projections against Darch's current employment distribution suggests local jobs could grow by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, using a basic extrapolation that does not incorporate local population projections.

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

The latest postcode-level ATO statistics for the financial year 2023 indicate that incomes in the suburb of Darch are slightly below the national average, with a median of $54,730 and an average of $66,316. This is lower than the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the financial year 2023, estimated incomes would be roughly $60,712 for the median and $73,564 for the average as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes are in the 87th percentile ($2,403 weekly), whereas individual incomes are lower in the 51st percentile. The largest income bracket contains 38.0% of local residents (3,016 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999, which aligns with the broader region where 32.0% fall into this range. High earners making over $3,000 weekly account for 35.4% of the population, reflecting substantial economic capacity. Housing costs represent 14.1% of income, while strong overall earnings place residents in the 88th percentile for disposable income, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 7th decile.

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

The housing stock in Darch at the time of the latest Census consisted of 93.8% separate houses and 6.2% other housing types (including apartments, semi-detached, and alternative dwellings), compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership in Darch was lower than the metropolitan average at 26.3%, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgage holders (59.7%) or tenants (14.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment was higher than the Perth metropolitan average of $1,907 at $2,000, while the median weekly rent was $460 compared to the metropolitan average of $350. Nationally, Darch's mortgage payments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and rent levels are also notably higher than the national figure of $375.

Darch features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up the vast majority of households at 89.3%, consisting of couples with children at 59.1%, couples without children at 18.7%, and single parent households at 10.8%. Non-family households account for the remaining 10.7%, with single-person homes at 9.6% and group households at 1.0%. The median household size is 3.4 people, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

The educational profile of this community is distinct within the region, with tertiary qualification rates among residents aged 15 and over reaching 26.3%, compared to the SA3 average of 19.7%. This highlights a local focus on higher education. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 19.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational and technical training is also common, with 31.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 20.5%.

Educational enrollment rates are high, with 35.5% of the population currently studying. This group includes 11.8% of residents in primary school, 11.8% in secondary school, and 6.6% in higher education.

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

Public transport services in Darch include 32 active stops serviced by buses. These stops accommodate 8 separate routes that combine to provide 1,241 weekly trips. Access is favorable, with residents living an average of 220 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the area, most workers commute outside the suburb, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 84%, followed by trains at 11%. Household vehicle ownership averages 2.0 cars, which is higher than the regional average. A small portion of residents, 8.1%, worked from home at the time of the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Services average 177 daily trips across all routes, which corresponds to approximately 38 weekly trips for each stop.

Darch's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Health metrics show favorable outcomes across Darch, based on an evaluation of mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses by AreaSearch. Both younger and older demographics exhibit low rates of common medical conditions. Private health insurance coverage stands slightly ahead of the average SA2 area at approximately 54% of the population, representing about 4,249 people, compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues, affecting 6.4% and 5.4% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 78.5% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Residents aged 65 and older make up 10.6% of the population (841 people), which is lower than the Greater Perth average of 16.1%. Health status among older residents is favorable, with national rankings aligning with those of the broader population.

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

Darch exhibits a high level of cultural diversity, with 40.6% of residents using a language other than English at home and 43.1% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 48.0% of the population. There is also a notable concentration of residents identifying with Hinduism, making up 9.0% of the population, which is higher than the Greater Perth average of 2.5%.

Regarding family ancestry, the three largest groups in Darch are English at 18.6% of the population (below the regional average of 28.0%), Australian at 17.9%, and Other at 16.6% (above the regional average of 11.2%). There are also distinct concentrations of other ancestries compared to the wider region, with South Australian backgrounds at 2.3% (compared to 1.0% regionally), Macedonian at 3.5% (compared to 0.4%), and Vietnamese at 5.1% (compared to 0.8%).

Darch's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Darch is 36 years, which is close to the Greater Perth average of 37 and slightly below the national median of 38. Compared to the wider Perth area, Darch has a higher proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 (17.6%) and fewer young adults aged 25 to 34 (9.3%). The proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 is higher than the national average of 12.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the 55 to 64 age group has increased from 9.3% to 11.5% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group has risen from 16.9% to 18.0%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 16.9% to 14.5%, and the 35 to 44 age bracket fell from 15.8% to 14.5%. Population modeling indicates Darch's age structure will change by 2041, with the 55 to 64 age group projected to grow by 30%, adding 271 people to reach 1,184, while the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to decline.