Darlington (WA)

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

Darlington's population is estimated at 3,970 as of Feb 2026, reflecting a 6.6% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 3,725 people. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 3,954 residents using latest ERP data (June 2024) and six validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 328 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 61.0% to recent population gains in the suburb of Darlington (WA). AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and ABS Greater Capital Region projections from 2023 based on 2022 data for areas not covered.

Based on these projections, Darlington's population is expected to increase by 156 persons to 2041, reflecting a 3.4% total increase over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, Darlington has averaged approximately four new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated twenty homes. So far in FY 2025-26, two approvals have been recorded. On average, around nine point two new residents are associated with each home built annually between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25, indicating significant demand outpacing supply. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $631,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

In FY 2025-26, $59,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating Darlington's residential nature. Compared to Greater Perth, Darlington has significantly less development activity, at 77.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, Darlington also reflects lower development activity, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

The estimated population count per dwelling approval is 982 people in the area. Looking ahead, Darlington is expected to grow by 136 residents through to 2041, according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

Darlington has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

No factors influence a region's performance more than changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that could potentially impact this area. Notable projects include the City of Swan Water and Wastewater Upgrades, EastLink WA, METRONET High Capacity Signalling Project (commenced 2018), and METRONET (planned completion 2031). The following list details those likely to be most relevant:.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Darlington performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Darlington's workforce is highly educated with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.2% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.9%.

This figure was derived from AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. In comparison, Greater Perth had an unemployment rate of 4.0% and workforce participation of 71.6%, both similar to Darlington's rates. As of September 2025, 2,255 residents were employed in Darlington. The unemployment rate was 2.7% lower than Greater Perth's rate during this period.

Moderately, 15.3% of residents worked from home based on Census responses, with Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Leading employment industries include education & training, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Darlington shows strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, retail trade is under-represented at 7.2% compared to Greater Perth's 9.3%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. From September 2024 to September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.9%, and labour force grew by 1.9%, maintaining a stable unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced higher growth rates of 2.9% for employment and 3.0% for labour force with a marginal rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide insight into potential future demand within Darlington. Applying these projections to Darlington's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2023 shows median income in Darlington suburb is $61,623. Average income stands at $87,818. Greater Perth has median income of $60,748 and average income of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated median income in Darlington as of September 2025 is approximately $67,551, while average income is around $96,266. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes rank highly in Darlington, between 72nd and 87th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate 28.5% of locals (1,131 people) fall into $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader area's 32.0%. Substantial proportion of high earners (38.8%) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Darlington. After housing costs, residents retain 88.2% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. Area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Darlington, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 98.5% houses and 1.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Perth metro had 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Darlington stood at 40.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (52.7%) or rented (6.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, higher than Perth metro's average of $1,907 and national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Darlington was $420, compared to Perth metro's $350 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 82.5% of all households, including 40.7% couples with children, 32.6% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for 17.5%, with lone person households at 16.0% and group households comprising 1.4%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Darlington demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Darlington is notably high, with 41.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications as of the latest data point. This figure surpasses both the SA3 area benchmark of 21.3% and the SA4 region average of 24.3%. The area's educational advantage is evident in its high proportion of Bachelor degree holders, at 27.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.1%) and graduate diplomas (5.2%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 31.2% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications.

This includes advanced diplomas held by 12.8% of residents and certificates held by 18.4%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.2% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Darlington has 37 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together provide 292 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents on average being located 335 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from Darlington, primarily using cars (85%), with train use at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 2.0 per dwelling, higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 15.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes is an average of 41 trips per day, resulting in approximately seven weekly trips per individual stop.

Darlington's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Darlington's health outcomes show remarkable results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (2,463 people), compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 8.5% and 8.2% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 71.3%, report no medical ailments, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Darlington has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 22.9% (909 people), compared to 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Darlington records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Darlington's cultural diversity aligns with its wider region, with 70.6% born in Australia, 92.1% being citizens, and 95.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion at 37.7%. Judaism, however, is slightly overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to Greater Perth's 0.3%.

In terms of ancestry, English (35.6%) and Australian (25.5%) are the top groups, with Scottish following at 8.2%. Notably, Welsh (1.1%), Polish (1.4%), and South African (1.3%) ethnicities show higher representation than regional averages.

Darlington hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Darlington's median age is 44, which is higher than Greater Perth's figure of 37 and significantly exceeds the national norm of 38. The 55-64 age group constitutes 14.7% of Darlington's population, compared to Greater Perth, while the 25-34 cohort makes up only 5.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has increased from 6.8% to 8.7%, and the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 15.3% to 13.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates that Darlington's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 group is projected to grow by 43%, reaching 495 people from the current 345. Those aged 65 and above are expected to contribute 88% of this growth. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.