East Perth

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

According to ABS demographic data analysed for the surrounding region and subsequent address checks conducted by AreaSearch after the Census, the suburb of East Perth has an estimated residency of 14,359 individuals as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 2,678 people (22.9%) since the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 11,681 people. The figure is derived from the resident population of 14,359, calculated by AreaSearch using the most recent ABS ERP numbers released in June 2025 alongside an additional 8 validated new addresses detected post-Census. With this population level, the density stands at 4,487 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the top 10% of all areas analysed nationwide by AreaSearch, highlighting the high demand for local land. The 22.9% expansion rate of the suburb of East Perth since the 2021 census outpaced the national figure (9.3%) as well as state benchmarks, positioning it as a key regional growth hub. This demographic expansion was primarily underpinned by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 93.0% of the total population increase in recent times.

For each SA2 boundary, AreaSearch utilizes projections published in 2024 by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, using 2022 as the baseline. In cases where SA2-specific figures are unavailable, and to calculate demographic changes after 2032, AreaSearch applies age-cohort growth rates from the 2023 Greater Capital Region projections published by the ABS, which rely on 2022 data. Looking at upcoming demographic shifts, a major population expansion is anticipated within the highest quartile of statistical regions nationwide, with the suburb of East Perth projected to grow by 3,533 persons by 2041 under combined SA2 forecasts, representing a total rise of 24.6% over the 16 years.

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

According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS building permits distributed from local statistical data, East Perth has averaged approximately 123 residential approvals per annum, representing a total of 616 approved dwellings over the preceding 5 financial years. For the current FY-26 period, 12 permits have been registered so far. With an average of 3.6 new residents added for each completed home during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, new supply is falling short of demand, which typically intensifies buyer interest and exerts upward pressure on prices, while new dwellings carry an average construction value of $1,033,000, indicating a developer focus on high-end, premium projects. Additionally, commercial approvals reached $2.8 million in the current financial year, reinforcing the residential focus of the locality.

In comparison to Greater Perth, East Perth shows elevated building activity, registering 28.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period, which helps maintain availability for buyers while supporting values for existing properties. The mix of recent building projects consists of 2.0% detached houses and 98.0% townhouses or apartments. High-density structures of this type offer more affordable options and cater to downsizers, property investors, and first-time purchasers. Recording approximately 83 people per dwelling approval, East Perth exhibits the typical markers of a expanding locality.

Long-term forecasts indicate that East Perth will gain 3,533 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. The current rate of property development seems well aligned with future requirements, promoting balanced market conditions and preventing sharp price escalations.

East Perth has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Local performance is highly influenced by changes to infrastructure, major construction, and zoning policies. AreaSearch has identified 42 projects expected to impact the local area. Principal projects include the East Perth Affordable and Social Housing Project, Kings Square 5 Tower, Garden Towers East Perth, and Riverside, with details on the most relevant developments provided below.

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

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

East Perth has a highly qualified workforce with a strong concentration of workers in professional services, an unemployment rate of 5.5%, and an annual employment growth rate estimated at 0.9% according to AreaSearch regional aggregations. As of March 2026, there are 9,915 residents in active employment, though the unemployment rate sits 1.3% higher than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%, and labour force participation is exceptionally high at 77.2% compared to Greater Perth's 70.2%. Census records indicate that a minor 9.1% of the workforce worked from home, although this should be viewed in light of COVID-19 restriction periods.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food. The workforce is highly specialized in professional & technical services, with its share of employment reaching 1.9 times the metropolitan average. In contrast, construction workers are underrepresented, accounting for 5.8% compared to the regional average of 9.3%. With a ratio of 1.5 workers for every resident at the time of the Census, the locality serves as a major employment center, offering more positions than it has residents and drawing commuting workers from nearby districts.

Analysis of SALM and ABS data, aggregated from broader statistical areas, indicates that during the year to March 2026, employment levels rose by 0.9% and the labour force grew by 2.6%, leading to a 1.6 percentage point increase in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 2.0%, labour force growth of 2.5%, and an unemployment rise of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide additional context for potential future demand within East Perth. These projections, which cover five and ten-year periods, have been overlaid onto the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. Although national employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary considerably across industry sectors. When these industry-specific projections are applied to East Perth's employment mix, local employment is expected to increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch compilations of postcode-level ATO data released for the financial year 2023, taxpaying residents in the suburb of East Perth recorded a median income of $63,208 and an average income of $86,645. These figures are among the highest nationwide, comparing to averages of $60,748 and $80,248 across Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to approximately $70,117 for median income and $96,115 for average income as of March 2026. The 2021 Census data indicates that individual weekly earnings of $1,174 place the area in the 89th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 34.4% of the population (4,939 individuals) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, which is similar to the regional proportion of 32.0% in the same category. Local housing costs absorb 17.5% of income, yet high wages keep net disposable income in the 63rd percentile, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 8th decile for income.

East Perth features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The residential landscape of East Perth at the time of the latest Census was composed of 3.9% standalone houses and 96.2% alternative dwellings such as townhouses, apartments, and other housing forms, compared to the broader Perth metropolitan area where houses made up 77.8% and other options accounted for 22.1%. Home ownership rates in East Perth were lower than the Perth metro average, sitting at 16.5%, with the remaining dwellings occupied by residents with a mortgage (20.8%) or renting tenants (62.7%). The median monthly home loan payment of $1,950 was higher than the Perth metro average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent stood at $410, compared to $350 across the wider Perth metro area. On a national level, mortgage costs in East Perth exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and typical rent costs are higher than the national figure of $375.

East Perth features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families represent the majority of local households at 50.6%, which consists of 11.2% couples with children, 33.5% couples without children, and 4.5% single parents. Non-family households account for the remaining 49.4%, with single-person households representing 40.6% and shared households making up 8.8% of the total. The median household size of 1.8 residents is lower than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Academic credentials in East Perth are considerably higher than broader benchmarks, with 54.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 27.9% across WA and 30.1% in Greater Perth. This high level of education positions the area well for professional and knowledge-based careers. Bachelor degrees represent the largest share at 35.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational studies represent 24.7% of qualifications among residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (12.8%).

A significant portion of the population is engaged in study, with 27.2% of residents currently undertaking formal education. This group includes 11.9% enrolled in higher education, 3.3% in primary school, and 2.7% attending secondary school.

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

Analysis of local transit indicates there are 61 active stops in East Perth, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 64 separate routes, which support 18,992 weekly passenger journeys. Transit access is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 126 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential character of the area, most workers commute out of the suburb, with cars being the primary mode of travel for 46% of workers, followed by buses at 30% and walking at 11%. Car ownership averages 0.5 vehicles per household, which is below the metropolitan average. A minor 9.1% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Transit services average 2,713 trips per day across all local routes, which represents approximately 311 weekly services for each transit stop.

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

Health indicators show excellent results in East Perth, according to AreaSearch evaluations of mortality patterns and the presence of chronic illnesses, which reveal low rates of common medical conditions across all age brackets, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is high at approximately 62% of the population (8,845 people). This compares to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most frequent health issues reported by residents are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 7.3 and 5.3% of the population, respectively, while 78.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Residents aged 65 and older make up 13.2% of the population (1,895 people), which is below the Greater Perth average of 16.1%. Senior health outcomes are strong, with national rankings aligning with those of the broader population.

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

East Perth ranks as one of the most multicultural areas in the country, with 41.6% of residents using a non-English language at home and 60.7% born overseas. The most common religious affiliation in East Perth is Christianity, representing 36.4% of the population. The most prominent religious variance is in Buddhism, which is practiced by 5.6% of the population compared to 2.7% across Greater Perth.

Regarding parent birthplaces, the primary ancestral groups in East Perth are English at 20.8% of the population, which is below the metropolitan average of 28.0%, Other at 18.8%, which is higher than the regional average of 11.2%, and Chinese at 11.8%, which is higher than the regional average of 4.0%. In addition, there are notable differences in other ancestral groups: Spanish ancestry is represented at 1.0% in East Perth (compared to 0.4% regionally), Korean at 1.4% (compared to 0.3%), and Russian at 0.6% (compared to 0.2%).

East Perth's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age of 34 years in East Perth is lower than the Greater Perth average of 37 and younger than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, East Perth has a higher proportion of residents aged 25 - 34 (31.9%) but fewer children aged 5 - 14 (2.8%). The concentration of residents aged 25 - 34 is higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the median age has decreased by 1.1 years, shifting from 35 down to 34. The 25 to 34 demographic increased from 29.5% to 31.9% of the population, while the 75 to 84 age bracket rose from 3.0% to 4.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 group declined from 11.1% to 9.9% and the 45 to 54 group decreased from 11.3% to 10.2%. Projections for 2041 point to shifts in the local age structure. The 25 to 34 cohort is expected to grow by 18%, adding 811 residents to reach 5,392, while the 5 to 14 age group is projected to grow by a modest 3% (10 people).