Erskine (WA)

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

Based on analysis of demographic updates from the ABS for the wider region alongside newly validated addresses recorded by AreaSearch following the Census, the suburb of Erskine (WA) has a projected population of approximately 6,290 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 861 residents (15.9%) from the 2021 Census, which registered 5,429 people. This shift is calculated from a resident population of 6,268 estimated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population release combined with 33 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This population level yields a density of 1,625 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average across national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. The 15.9% expansion rate in the suburb of Erskine (WA) since the 2021 census outpaced the national average (9.3%) as well as the state, positioning the locality as a regional leader in population growth. Population gains were largely propelled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 49.0% of the overall increase during recent periods, though all growth drivers including overseas migration and natural increase remained positive.

For each SA2 region, AreaSearch adopts projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For any SA2 locations missing from this dataset, and to project population shifts beyond 2032, AreaSearch implements age-cohort growth rates published by the ABS in the 2023 Greater Capital Region projections, which rely on 2022 data. Current demographic trajectories suggest a substantial population expansion that ranks in the highest national quartile, with the area projected to add 1,647 residents by 2041 according to combined SA2 projections, representing a 25.8% increase over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Erskine among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Analysis of ABS building approvals compiled from statistical areas by AreaSearch indicates that Erskine has averaged approximately 17 newly approved dwellings annually, with 88 residential approvals registered over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 18 approvals recorded during the current FY-26 period. With an average of 9.5 new residents added for every completed dwelling over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), housing supply is failing to match demand, a scenario that typically intensifies buyer competition and drives up prices. The average estimated value of these new builds is $506,000, indicating a focus by developers on higher-end, premium residential construction. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $431,000 have been logged during the current financial year, highlighting a focus that remains mostly residential.

In comparison to Greater Perth, building activity in Erskine is considerably subdued, running at 75.0% below the regional average per capita. While construction rates have picked up recently, this restricted supply of new housing generally supports demand and helps maintain value for existing homes. The volume of approvals is also low by national standards, reflecting the established nature of the area and indicating potential planning restrictions. Recent builds consist of 70.0% standalone houses and 30.0% attached dwellings, showcasing a growing variety of medium-density formats that provide choices across different budgets, from larger family properties to more affordable compact homes. Representing approximately 177 people per approval, Erskine demonstrates characteristics of a developing area.

Demographic forecasts indicate that Erskine is on track to add 1,625 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly estimation by AreaSearch. Should current construction rates persist, the supply of new housing is unlikely to satisfy population growth, which could heighten competition among prospective buyers and underpin stronger price growth.

Erskine has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure updates, planning decisions, and major projects are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 6 projects that are expected to influence this locality. Prominent developments include Seaside Estate, Madora Bay - Stage 11 & 12, Waardong Court Multiple Dwellings, Southern Beaches Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP), and Nerimba Estate Halls Head, with the most relevant ones detailed in the list below.

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

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Erskine ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Erskine exhibits a balanced employment profile encompassing both professional and industrial roles, with manufacturing and industrial sectors playing a key role, an unemployment rate sitting at only 2.2%, and an estimated employment growth of 9.5% over the past year, according to aggregated statistical area data from AreaSearch. By March 2026, 2,313 local residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 2.0% lower than the Greater Perth average of 4.2%. However, labor force participation is significantly lower at 41.8% compared to the 70.2% recorded across Greater Perth. Census responses indicate that only 7.6% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are healthcare & social assistance, mining, and construction. The workforce is highly specialized in mining, with a employment share that is 1.7 times the regional average. In contrast, the professional & technical services sector is underrepresented, accounting for 4.2% of employment compared to the regional average of 8.2%. The area is predominantly residential and appears to offer few local jobs, as highlighted by the comparison between the Census working population and resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from broader statistical regions, employment rose by 9.5% and the labor force grew by 10.0% during the 12 months leading to March 2026, leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Greater Perth saw employment expand by 2.0% and its labor force grow by 2.5%, representing a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional perspective on potential future demand in Erskine. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trends differ markedly by industry. Applying these industry projections to the local employment distribution suggests Erskine should see employment grow by 5.9% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though this relies on a basic weighting extrapolation and does not incorporate local population growth estimates.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to the latest postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the median taxpayer income in Erskine stands at $45,530, with an average taxpayer income of $64,204. These levels sit below national benchmarks, contrasting with a median of $60,748 and an average of $80,248 in Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to approximately $50,506 for the median and $71,221 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and individual incomes in Erskine all rank between the 2nd and 6th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket contains 34.5% of residents earning between $400 - 799 per week (representing 2,170 people), whereas the metropolitan area sees its largest concentration of 32.0% in the $1,500 - 2,999 range. With 42.0% of earners receiving less than $800 weekly, the area faces notable income limits that shape local retail spending. Housing affordability pressures are pronounced, with residents retaining only 81.0% of their income, placing the area in the 3rd percentile.

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

According to the latest Census, residential dwellings in Erskine consisted of 79.1% standalone houses and 21.0% other housing types, such as semi-detached homes, apartments, or alternative dwellings, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings in the Perth metropolitan area. Home ownership was significantly higher in Erskine at 49.7%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 28.9% and rental properties making up 21.4%. The median monthly mortgage payment in the suburb was $1,701, which is below the Perth metropolitan average of $1,907. The median weekly rent was recorded at $320, compared to the metropolitan average of $350. Nationally, Erskine's mortgage payments are below the Australian average of $1,863, and rental costs are considerably lower than the national median of $375.

Erskine features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families comprise the majority of local households at 62.6%, consisting of couples with children at 14.9%, couples without children at 39.5%, and single parent families at 8.0%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 37.4% of households, with single-person households representing 35.6% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.0 residents, which is smaller than the average of 2.6 found across Greater Perth.

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

The local community experiences educational challenges, with the percentage of residents holding university qualifications (12.6%) falling far below the national rate of 30.4%. This highlights both a regional deficit and a target for future educational programs. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are most common at 9.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 40.2% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications in these areas, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (29.1%).

Approximately 18.9% of the population is enrolled in school or university. This student population includes 6.8% in primary school, 5.7% in high school, and 2.3% in higher education.

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

An evaluation of public transport options reveals 20 active transit stops in Erskine, consisting of bus services. These stops are connected to 3 distinct routes, which combine to support 642 passenger journeys each week. Transport connection is rated as good, with residents living an average of 273 meters from their nearest stop. Being predominantly residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars being the main transport mode at 86%, and trains accounting for 5%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.0 per household, which is below the regional average. A low 7.6% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

Service frequency averages 91 daily runs across all active routes, which equates to roughly 32 weekly runs for each transit stop.

Health outcomes in Erskine are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, health measures point to below-average outcomes in Erskine. While common medical conditions among the general population are relatively standard, they are higher than the national average among older age brackets. The rate of private health insurance coverage is slightly above the average SA2 region at roughly 53% of the total population, which equates to about 3,314 people, compared to 59.0% observed across Greater Perth.

Arthritis and mental health challenges were the most common medical conditions recorded, affecting 15.3 and 7.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 53.9% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% throughout Greater Perth. Residents of working age exhibit a higher rate of chronic conditions than the national average. The suburb has 48.1% of its population aged 65 and over (representing 3,025 people), which is significantly higher than the 16.1% average in Greater Perth. Health outcomes for seniors present certain challenges, though their national standing is better than that of the suburb's broader population.

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

Erskine exhibits above-average cultural diversity, with 5.6% of residents using a language other than English at home and 33.0% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the predominant religion, representing the faith of 53.6% of residents in Erskine, compared to 45.0% across Greater Perth.

Regarding parental birthplace and ancestry, the three largest groups in Erskine are English at 40.1% of the population (considerably above the regional average of 28.0%), Australian at 25.4%, and Scottish at 7.8%. There are also distinct variations in other backgrounds: Welsh residents represent 0.9% of Erskine (compared to 0.7% regionally), Dutch residents make up 1.6% (compared to 1.5%), and South Australian residents represent 0.6% (compared to 1.0%).

Erskine ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Erskine has a median age of 61 years, which is substantially higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national average of 38. The demographic profile is heavily weighted toward the 75 - 84 age group, which accounts for 20.4% of the population, whereas the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller (7.0%) than the share seen across Greater Perth. The proportion of residents aged 75 - 84 is far higher than the national benchmark of 6.1%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 18.3% to 20.4% of the population, and the group aged 85 and over has increased from 4.9% to 6.5%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort shrank from 8.8% to 7.5%. Looking to 2041, demographic projections indicate major changes in Erskine's age profile. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to expand significantly, increasing by 685 people (53%) from 1,283 to 1,969. This demographic aging is underscored by the fact that residents aged 65 and older represent 90% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age brackets.