East Cannington

East Cannington lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The suburb of East Cannington is estimated to have a population of around 7,231 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 719 people, which is 11.0%, compared to the 6,512 people recorded in the 2021 Census. The calculation is derived from a resident population of 7,165, as determined by AreaSearch after reviewing the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025), plus 54 newly validated addresses added since the Census date. With a density ratio of 2,629 persons per square kilometer, the suburb ranks in the upper quartile among national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. The 11.0% growth since the 2021 census surpassed the national average of 9.3%, highlighting the suburb as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 76.0% of the total population increase during recent periods.

Projections developed by the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 (using 2022 as a starting point) have been implemented for each SA2. In instances where these estimates are unavailable, or to calculate growth past 2032, growth rates classified by age group from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 data) are applied. Looking ahead, the suburb of East Cannington is anticipated to experience population growth exceeding national medians, with an estimated rise of 1,557 individuals by 2041 based on compiled SA2 data, representing a total increase of 20.6% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees East Cannington recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Evaluations of ABS building permit statistics show that local building approvals averaged approximately 41 annually, accumulating to an estimated 208 residences over the previous 5 financial years. In the current period of FY-26, 18 approvals have been logged. The ratio of new occupants to constructed dwellings stood at 2.7 people per completed house between FY-21 and FY-25, pointing to healthy demand that underpins local property values. The expected construction cost for these new dwellings averages $368,000, which is slightly higher than the wider regional average and suggests a focus on quality builds. Commercial development approvals reached $7.5 million this financial year, emphasizing that the locality is primarily dedicated to housing.

In comparison to the broader Greater Perth area, the suburb exhibits slightly elevated construction activity, tracking 21.0% higher per resident over the 5 year period. This provides options for purchasers while maintaining demand for existing properties, although building momentum has decelerated recently. The mix of recent builds is composed of 82.0% single houses and 18.0% multi-dwelling units, preserving a suburban landscape of larger homes appropriate for families. The ratio of residents to dwelling approvals stands at roughly 623 people, indicating a mature real estate market.

Long-term forecasts suggest the suburb will add 1,491 inhabitants by 2041, according to the latest quarterly calculations by AreaSearch. In light of ongoing construction trends, the volume of new housing should easily accommodate this influx, providing favorable purchasing conditions and potentially paving the way for population gains that outstrip current expectations.

East Cannington has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development initiatives are primary drivers of neighborhood change. A total of 13 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a probable influence on the locality. Notable developments include the Gibbs Street Residential Development, Canning City Centre Activity Centre Plan - Private Residential Precincts, Queens Park Local Structure Plan - Station Precinct Renewal, and the Mason & Bird Heritage Precinct Redevelopment, with the subsequent records focusing on those of greatest relevance.

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

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The employment landscape in East Cannington shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

The local workforce is characterized by high levels of education and representation across diverse industries, registering an unemployment rate of 4.5% alongside steady job conditions over the prior year. Records from March 2026 show 4,058 employed residents. The unemployment rate sits 0.3% higher than the 4.2% recorded across Greater Perth, while participation in the labor force is moderately higher at 74.3% compared to the metropolitan average of 70.2%. Census details indicate a minor 4.5% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may be influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are healthcare & social assistance, accommodation & food services, and retail trade. The suburb displays a strong concentration in the accommodation & food services sector, where employment is 1.6 times the metropolitan average. Conversely, education & training is underrepresented, making up only 5.2% of the local workforce compared to 9.2% across Greater Perth. The heavily residential character of the suburb appears to limit local employment options, as shown by the difference between local jobs and the resident labor force.

Based on SALM and ABS statistics compiled across wider areas, the 12 months leading to March 2026 saw the labor force grow by 0.1% while overall employment slipped by 0.1%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. This contrasted with Greater Perth, which saw employment expand by 2.0% and the total labor force grow by 2.5%, driving a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National forecasts released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context for future employment patterns. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. Although national employment is predicted to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by sector. Weighting these projections to the local industry mix suggests employment among residents could rise by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, representing a basic proportional extrapolation that excludes local demographic projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to the latest ATO tax statistics for the 2023 financial year, local incomes are below national benchmarks, with a median of $52,415 and an average of $61,239. This is lower than the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to approximately $58,144 for the median and $67,932 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and individual earnings align closely with the 51st percentile across the nation. The largest cohort consists of 38.4% of residents (2,776 people) earning within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, mirroring the broader regional pattern where 32.0% fall into this bracket. While housing expenses absorb 16.2% of earnings, stable incomes keep disposable funds at the 55th percentile, and the SEIFA score for income sits in the 5th decile.

East Cannington is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Residential options at the time of the latest Census consisted of 76.8% separate houses and 23.2% other housing formats like townhouses and apartments, compared to 77.8% separate houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership rates lagged the wider metro area, sitting at 21.1%, while mortgaged properties accounted for 38.5% and rental agreements made up 40.4%. Typical monthly mortgage payments of $1,733 were lower than the metropolitan median of $1,907, whereas the weekly rental median was identical at $350. On a national level, mortgage commitments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents remain below the country-wide median of $375.

East Cannington features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families constitute 74.0% of all local households, consisting of couples with offspring at 39.9%, couples without children at 23.1%, and single-parent homes at 8.9%. The remaining 26.0% consists of non-family arrangements, with single-person households making up 19.6% and share houses accounting for 6.7%. The typical household size is 2.9 individuals, which is larger than the Greater Perth median of 2.6.

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

The educational profile of the suburb is distinct, with 35.5% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university qualification, surpassing the state average of 27.9% and the SA4 regional benchmark of 29.9%. Bachelor degrees represent the most common qualification at 23.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 9.8% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational and technical qualifications are also common, with 29.6% of residents aged 15 and over possessing these credentials, broken down into advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 18.7%.

Study participation rates are strong, with 34.3% of the population enrolled in an educational institution. This group includes 10.1% attending primary schools, 7.8% in higher education, and 6.7% in secondary schools.

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

A review of public transport options shows 34 operational transit stops within the suburb, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 6 routes, generating a total of 809 passenger journeys weekly. Transport connections are rated highly, with the average home situated 210 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential layout, the majority of workers travel outside the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary choice at 76%, followed by rail travel at 14% and buses at 6%. The average household owns 1.6 vehicles. A low 4.5% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Daily timetables average 115 runs across all local routes, which translates to roughly 23 weekly departures per transit stop.

The level of general health in East Cannington is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

The suburb displays favorable health characteristics, with low rates of chronic diseases and mortality across both younger and older cohorts, alongside a private health insurance rate of approximately 52% of the population (~3,725 people). This compares to a higher coverage rate of 59.0% across the Greater Perth region.

Asthma and mental health concerns are the most frequently reported conditions, affecting 4.7% and 4.5% of the population respectively, while 82.7% of residents reported having no long-term illnesses compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The proportion of residents aged 65 and over is 8.9% (643 people), which is below the metropolitan level of 16.1%. Senior health measures are positive, with national comparisons aligning with the broader population trends.

East Cannington 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 area ranks highly for cultural diversity nationally, with 59.0% of residents using a non-English language at home and 57.4% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religion, followed by 35.2% of the population. A notable religious concentration is found in the Other category, which accounts for 8.5% of residents, representing a significantly higher share than the Greater Perth average of 1.4%.

Ancestry details show that the top three backgrounds are Other at 29.3% (well above the regional average of 11.2%), English at 14.6% (lower than the regional average of 28.0%), and Australian at 12.4% (lower than the regional average of 21.2%). Certain backgrounds display distinct concentrations: Indian ancestry is notable at 9.2% of the population (compared to 2.6% regionally), Filipino at 4.1% (compared to 1.4% regionally), and Sri Lankan at 0.7% (compared to 0.2% regionally).

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

The median age of 31 years is younger than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national median of 38. Compared to the wider metropolitan area, the suburb has a higher proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (23.0% compared to 14.6% nationally) but a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 - 74 (5.5%). Since 2021, the cohort aged 5 to 14 grew from 12.2% to 12.9%, while the group aged 0 to 4 shrank from 8.8% to 7.4%. Demographic models indicate the age structure will change by 2041, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to expand by 292 people (18%) from 1,663 to 1,956, while the 35 to 44 cohort increases by 4% (54 people).