Dayton

Dayton lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

According to the latest demographic evaluations by AreaSearch using ABS updates and validated new addresses post-Census, the suburb of Dayton has an estimated population of approximately 7,040 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,533 residents (27.8%) from the 2021 Census headcount of 5,507. This updated figure is calculated based on a June 2025 ABS ERP publication showing 6,989 residents, combined with 379 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census. Consequently, the suburb has a density of 2,921 persons per square kilometer, which ranks in the top quartile of all locations analyzed nationwide by AreaSearch. This 27.8% growth rate since the 2021 census is faster than the national benchmark of 9.3% and the state average, establishing the area as a regional growth leader. The primary driver of these gains was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 43.0% of the population increase, although positive contributions were also recorded from overseas migration and natural growth.

Future projections are modeled using ABS and Geoscience Australia data published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For areas where direct projections are unavailable, as well as for the period after 2032, calculations incorporate age-specific growth rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections based on 2022 statistics. Looking forward, the suburb of Dayton is expected to achieve above-median growth compared to other statistical areas across Australia, with consolidated SA2 data indicating a projected increase of 1,151 residents by 2041, representing a 15.6% rise over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Dayton was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

An analysis of ABS building approvals data shows that the suburb of Dayton averages approximately 110 residential approvals annually, with 554 homes approved over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 65 approvals recorded during FY-26. Because the suburb has averaged 3.4 new residents per completed dwelling over the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, housing supply is falling short of local demand. This imbalance typically intensifies buyer competition and exerts upward pressure on prices. Newly approved residences carry an average construction value of $353,000, which is moderately higher than regional averages and points to a focus on quality builds. Additionally, commercial building approvals have reached $3.8 million in the current financial year, emphasizing the predominantly residential nature of the locality.

Per capita development volume in the suburb of Dayton is 54.0% higher than the average for Greater Perth, offering prospective buyers a wider selection of properties despite a recent slowdown in building activity. This volume is also substantially higher than the national average, reflecting high developer confidence. Recent building approvals consist of 96.0% detached houses and 4.0% apartments or townhouses, preserving the suburb's traditional low-density feel and catering to families desiring larger properties. The ratio of approximately 77 people per approved dwelling is typical of a developing suburban area.

Demographic projections estimate that the suburb of Dayton will add 1,100 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly data from AreaSearch. At the current pace of construction, the supply of new housing is expected to easily satisfy this demand, which should support favorable conditions for home buyers and potentially facilitate population expansion beyond current forecasts.

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

Local infrastructure projects, major works, and urban planning decisions are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 4 projects that are expected to influence the local area. The most relevant initiatives include the St Leonards Private Estate - Dayton Release, Dayton Central, the Dayton District Centre (Future Town Centre & Whiteman Park Station Precinct), and Brabham Senior High School.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The labour market strength in Dayton positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Dayton boasts a highly skilled labor pool dominated by manufacturing and industrial enterprises, alongside an unemployment rate of 2.8% and projected employment growth of 4.4% over the previous twelve months according to AreaSearch aggregated statistical area data. By March 2026, the city recorded 4,207 employed residents with an unemployment rate that was 1.4% lower than Greater Perth's 4.2%, while workforce participation stood at 82.2% relative to the regional baseline of 70.2%. Census survey results indicated that only 4.3% of inhabitants worked remotely, a figure that must be contextualized against the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdown measures.

Local employment is heavily weighted toward healthcare & social assistance, retail trade, and transport, postal & warehousing. The transport, postal & warehousing sector is particularly prominent, employing residents at 2.0 times the average rate for the wider region. Conversely, education & training accounts for only 5.1% of the workforce, which is lower than the Greater Perth proportion of 9.2%. Comparing the Census count of the local workforce against the total resident population suggests the suburb itself offers limited local job opportunities, functioning primarily as a residential zone.

According to SALM and ABS data aggregated across broader statistical divisions, local employment expanded by 4.4% over the 12-month period, while the total labor force grew by 4.3%, keeping the unemployment rate steady. Over the same timeframe, Greater Perth saw employment rise by 2.0% and the labor force grow by 2.5%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point increase in its unemployment rate. Long-term occupational trends can be anticipated using national employment forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25, which have been applied to the local workforce composition. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with significant variations across sectors. Applying these industry weightings to the suburb of Dayton suggests a localized employment increase of 6.1% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation that excludes local population growth forecasts.

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

Based on aggregated ATO postcode statistics from the 2023 financial year, the suburb of Dayton recorded a median taxpayer income of $71,479 and an average income of $83,004. These figures are high by national standards and compare to $60,748 (median) and $80,248 (average) across Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, these figures translate to estimated values of approximately $79,292 for median earnings and $92,076 for average earnings as of March 2026. According to Census data, household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Dayton are positioned between the 74th and 80th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket is the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which accounts for 49.9% of residents (3,512 people), mirroring the regional trend where 32.0% of the population falls into this category. Housing expenses account for 19.5% of household income, but strong overall earnings keep disposable income in the 68th percentile, while the SEIFA index places the area in the 6th decile for income.

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

At the time of the latest Census, the housing stock in the suburb of Dayton consisted of 96.7% separate houses and 3.3% other dwelling types like townhouses or apartments, compared to 77.8% separate houses and 22.1% other dwellings across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership was low compared to the metropolitan average, standing at 5.0%, with the bulk of properties being mortgaged (72.6%) or rented (22.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,000 is higher than the Perth metropolitan average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent was $360, compared to $350 across metropolitan Perth. Nationally, mortgage costs in the suburb of Dayton exceed the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rents are lower than the national median of $375.

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

Families make up 81.2% of all households in the suburb of Dayton, with couples with children representing 49.4%, couples without children at 20.8%, and single parents at 9.0%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 18.8% of households, consisting of single-person households at 16.0% and group households at 3.0%. The median household size is 3.0 residents, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Dayton shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational qualifications in the suburb of Dayton are high compared to the wider region, with 30.6% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 19.7% in the SA3 area and 24.3% in the SA4 region. This education profile prepares the area well for professional and knowledge-based employment. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 21.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (6.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational and technical training is also highly represented, with 37.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, including advanced diplomas (13.1%) and certificates (24.7%).

Enrolment rates in education are high, with 32.1% of the population actively participating in academic courses. This consists of 11.7% of residents attending primary school, 6.3% in secondary education, and 5.0% enrolled in higher education or university programs.

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

Public transport networks in the suburb of Dayton include 30 active bus stops. These locations are serviced by 3 distinct routes, which accommodate 878 passenger journeys per week. Transport links are accessible, with residents living an average of 256 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, resulting in a high rate of outward commuting, with cars being the main transport mode for 82% of workers, and trains used by 9%. Average car ownership is 1.6 vehicles per household. A lower proportion of residents, 4.3%, worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Transit services average 125 daily trips across the local routes, which translates to approximately 29 departures per week for each transit stop.

Dayton's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health indicators show positive outcomes in the suburb of Dayton, based on mortality rates and a low occurrence of chronic conditions across all age groups analyzed by AreaSearch, while private health insurance coverage is high, encompassing approximately 60% of the population (4,234 people).

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most common medical diagnoses in the suburb, affecting 5.6% and 5.5% of the population, respectively. However, 83.6% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Residents aged 65 and over make up only 3.9% of the population (274 people), which is lower than the Greater Perth proportion of 16.1%. Senior residents in the suburb display strong health outcomes, ranking higher than national averages for their age group.

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

The suburb of Dayton exhibits high levels of cultural diversity, with 51.4% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 50.9% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 38.6% of the population. The most pronounced demographic divergence is in the Other category, which accounts for 10.4% of residents, compared to the Greater Perth average of 1.4%.

Ancestry details reveal that the three largest heritage groups in the suburb of Dayton are Other at 22.8% (above the regional average of 11.2%), English at 16.5% (below the regional average of 28.0%), and Australian at 16.0% (below the regional average of 21.2%). There are also notable differences in the representation of specific ethnic groups, with Filipino background representing 9.3% of the population (compared to 1.4% regionally), Indian at 11.9% (compared to 2.6% regionally), and South Australian at 0.9% (compared to 1.0% regionally).

Dayton hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

With a median age of 30 years, the suburb of Dayton has a younger population than Greater Perth (median age 37) and is younger than the national median of 38. The suburb has a high concentration of residents aged 25 - 34, who make up 25.5% of the population compared to 14.6% nationally, but has a lower proportion of people aged 55 - 64, who represent 3.8% of residents. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 increased from 9.2% to 9.8%, while the 0 to 4 age group decreased from 12.1% to 11.1%. Long-term projections indicate the age structure will change by 2041, with the 45 to 54 age group expected to increase by 303 people (44%) from 689 to 993, while the 5 to 14 age group is projected to grow by 3% (29 people).