Ellenbrook

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

Ellenbrook's population is calculated to be approximately 28,799 as of May 2026, according to analysis of ABS population updates for the wider region and new addresses confirmed by AreaSearch since the Census. This indicates an expansion of 4,131 people (16.7%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 24,668 individuals. This change is calculated from the resident population of 28,577, estimated by AreaSearch after examining the latest ERP statistics from the ABS (June 2025) and an extra 629 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level translates to a density ratio of 2,229 persons per square kilometer, which is greater than the typical average across national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. The growth rate of 16.7% for Ellenbrook since the 2021 census was higher than the national average (9.3%), as well as the state, making it a regional leader in expansion. Population increases in the area were chiefly driven by interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 40.0% of total population additions in recent times, though all indicators, including overseas migration and natural growth, were positive contributors.

AreaSearch implements ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 district, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 districts lacking this coverage, and to calculate expansion across all districts in the years after 2032, AreaSearch uses the growth rates by age group provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, utilizing 2022 data). Looking at future population projections, the statistical areas evaluated by AreaSearch are expected to experience above-median population growth, with the district projected to expand by 4,713 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, showing a total increase of 15.6% over the 16 years.

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

According to AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical area data, Ellenbrook has seen approximately 174 dwellings approved for development yearly, with an estimated 871 homes approved over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 114 so far in FY-26. With an average of 3.8 new residents annually for each home constructed over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is lagging behind demand significantly, which typically indicates increased competition among buyers, causing upward pressure on prices, while new dwellings are built at an average value of $357,000—slightly higher than the regional average—indicating a focus on high-quality developments. Furthermore, commercial approvals have reached $10.1 million this financial year, pointing to steady commercial development activity.

When compared to Greater Perth, Ellenbrook exhibits about half the volume of construction activity per capita, although it ranks in the 82nd percentile of areas evaluated nationwide. New residential building activity consists of 98.0% standalone houses and 2.0% attached dwellings, preserving the traditional suburban character of the area with an emphasis on family homes that appeal to those wanting space. With approximately 131 people for every dwelling approval, Ellenbrook displays the attributes of a growth area.

Future projections indicate Ellenbrook will gain 4,491 residents by 2041 (using the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch). Based on current construction trends, new housing supply should easily satisfy demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Local infrastructure projects, major works, and planning initiatives have a significant impact on how an area performs. In total, 26 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to affect the locality. Primary projects include Swan Active Ellenbrook Recreation & Aquatic Centre, Housing Diversity Pipeline Ellenbrook, Stockland Vale Aveley, and Ellenbrook Station Precinct Improvement Scheme No. 1, with the list below highlighting those expected to be of greatest significance.

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 employment landscape in Ellenbrook shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Ellenbrook has a balanced labor force consisting of white and blue collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, an unemployment rate of 5.1%, and an estimated 3.4% growth in employment over the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregations of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 15,875 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.9% higher than the rate in Greater Perth of 4.2%, and labor force participation is significantly above the standard level (76.0% compared to Greater Perth's 70.2%). According to Census responses, a low 5.7% of residents worked from home, though the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.

The primary employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area exhibits a particularly high concentration in retail trade, with an employment share that is 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services have a minor footprint with 4.1% employment compared to 8.2% across the region. This mostly residential area seems to present few local employment options, as shown by the comparison of Census working population to resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical regions, during the 12 months to March 2026, employment rose by 3.4% while the labor force expanded by 3.8%, leading to an increase of 0.4 percentage points in the unemployment rate. This compares to Greater Perth, where employment increased by 2.0%, the labor force expanded by 2.5%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 can provide additional context on future demand in Ellenbrook. These projections, which span five and ten-year timeframes, have been aligned with the local employment profile to estimate growth trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary considerably across different industries. Applying these industry-specific projections to the employment composition of Ellenbrook suggests local employment should expand by 5.9% over five years and 12.7% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population projections).

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

The suburb of Ellenbrook's income level is slightly below the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The suburb of Ellenbrook's median income among taxpayers is $54,695 and the average income stands at $65,458, which compares to figures for Greater Perth's of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $60,673 (median) and $72,613 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Ellenbrook cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. Distribution data shows 39.5% of the population (11,375 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 32.0% in the same category. High housing costs consume 18.4% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 53rd percentile.

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

The composition of dwellings in Ellenbrook at the time of the last Census consisted of 89.4% houses and 10.6% other options (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to the Perth metro split of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other options. Meanwhile, the rate of home ownership in Ellenbrook was lower than that of Perth metro, sitting at 15.4%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (59.4%) or rented (25.1%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was lower than the Perth metro average at $1,833, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $350, compared to Perth metro figures of $1,907 and $350. Nationwide, Ellenbrook's mortgage payments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are below the national average of $375.

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

Family households make up the majority at 78.4% of all households, consisting of 41.0% couples with offspring, 20.8% couples without offspring, and 15.5% single parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 21.6%, with single person households representing 19.5% and group households making up 2.2% of the total. The median household size of 2.9 individuals is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Ellenbrook aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The district experiences educational obstacles, with university qualification levels (15.6%) tracking well below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a difficulty and a chance for focused educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational and technical qualifications are highly prevalent, with 42.6% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials – advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (31.2%).

Educational enrollment is remarkably strong, with 35.1% of residents currently taking part in formal learning. This comprises 14.5% in primary schools, 9.9% in secondary schools, and 3.8% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

An analysis of public transit shows 144 active transport stops operating in Ellenbrook, offering a combination of train and bus options. These stops are served by 13 distinct routes, which together provide 3,612 passenger trips per week. Transit access is classified as good, with residents generally living 200 meters from the nearest stop. As it is a predominantly residential suburb, most working residents commute out of the area - the private car is the primary method at 87%, followed by train at 5%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. A low 5.7% of residents work from home (2021 Census; potentially reflecting COVID-19 rules).

Transit service frequency averages 516 trips per day across all routes, which is roughly 25 weekly trips per individual stop. The associated map indicates the 100 closest transit stops to the central point of the location.

Health performance in Ellenbrook is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Health statistics demonstrate significant difficulties for Ellenbrook, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic health condition prevalence, which indicates a much higher than average occurrence of common health conditions, particularly among older cohorts, while the proportion of people with private health insurance is just above the average SA2 region at approximately 53% of the total population (~15,318 individuals). This compares to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most frequent health issues in the area are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 9.0 and 8.2% of residents, respectively, while 71.8% of residents reported having no medical conditions at all, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Health profiles for the working-age population are generally standard. The area contains 11.0% of residents aged 65 and older (3,167 individuals), which is lower than the 16.1% recorded in Greater Perth. Health outcomes for seniors present some difficulties, although they rank lower nationally than the rest of the local population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Ellenbrook was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ellenbrook displays a higher level of cultural diversity than most local property markets, with 20.5% of residents using a language other than English at home and 33.5% born in another country. Christianity is the primary religion in Ellenbrook, accounting for 42.1% of the population. However, the most notable overrepresentation is in the Other category, which accounts for 2.5% of the population, compared to 1.4% across Greater Perth.

Looking at parent countries of birth, the three most common ancestries in Ellenbrook are English, making up 27.9% of the population, Australian, making up 23.3% of the population, and Other, making up 13.4% of the population. There are also clear differences in the concentration of other ethnic groups: Maori is significantly overrepresented at 2.1% of Ellenbrook (compared to 0.9% regionally), South Australian at 1.2% (compared to 1.0%) and New Zealand at 1.2% (compared to 0.8%).

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

At 32 years, the median age in Ellenbrook is considerably younger than the Greater Perth average of 37 and also well below the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Ellenbrook has a higher proportion of residents aged 5 - 14 (16.0%) but fewer residents in the 65 - 74 age bracket (5.3%). Data since the 2021 Census reveals the 15 to 24 age group has expanded from 13.3% to 14.6% of the population, while the 55 to 64 group grew from 7.9% to 9.2%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 18.2% to 16.0% and the 0 to 4 group fell from 8.1% to 6.9%. Demographic models indicate that Ellenbrook's age distribution will transform significantly by 2041. The 45 to 54 cohort has the highest projected increase at 26%, adding 907 residents to total 4,450. In contrast, population losses are projected for the 35 to 44 and 5 to 14 cohorts.