Esperance

Esperance is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Nov 2025, the Esperance statistical area (Lv2) has an estimated population of around 2,126, reflecting a 46-person increase (2.2%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,080 people. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 2,122 based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional two validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is approximately 847 persons per square kilometer, aligning with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade (2015-2025), Esperance has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%, outpacing its SA3 area. Natural growth contributed approximately 54.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Looking ahead, population projections indicate a growth of 191 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 12.0% over the 17-year period, just below the median of regional areas nationally.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Esperance according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Esperance has seen limited development activity over the past five years, with an average of two approvals per year, totaling 14. This low level is typical of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is constrained by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that with such low numbers, yearly growth figures can vary significantly based on individual projects.

Esperance's development levels are substantially lower than those in the Rest of WA and below national averages. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, with a focus on family homes suited to those seeking rural lifestyle and space. Developers have constructed more detached housing than previously indicated (63.0% at Census), reflecting strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1471 people, reflecting Esperance's quiet development environment.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Esperance is expected to grow by 256 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Esperance has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly impact an area's performance like modifications to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects that are expected to affect this area. Notable projects include WA Police Satellite Technology Upgrade, Regional And Rural Wa Road Network Safety Improvements, WA Regional Digital Connectivity Program (WARDCP), and Western Australia Coastal Hazards Adaptation, with the following list detailing those most relevant.

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

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While Esperance retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.8%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Esperance's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs with varied industry representation. Its unemployment rate was 3.8% as of September 2025, based on AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

In Esperance, 967 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.5% higher than Rest of WA's 3.3%. Workforce participation was lower at 48.9%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Key employment sectors for residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Notably, transport, postal & warehousing had employment levels 1.8 times the regional average.

Mining had limited presence with 1.9% employment compared to regionally at 11.7%. The area offered limited local employment opportunities, indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, labour force remained stable (0.0%) while employment declined by 0.7%, increasing unemployment by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of WA saw employment growth of 1.4% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a decrease in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Esperance's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Esperance's median income among taxpayers is $48,968, with an average of $63,591. This is lower than the national average, compared to Rest of WA's median of $59,973 and average of $74,392. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $53,679 (median) and $69,708 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data indicates Esperance's household incomes are at the 6th percentile, while personal income is at the 27th percentile. Income analysis reveals 30.0% of the population fall within the $400 - 799 income range, unlike regional trends where 31.1% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Lower income households are prevalent, with 42.5% earning below $800 weekly. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 8th percentile.

Esperance displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Esperance, as per the latest Census evaluation, 63.3% of dwellings were houses while 36.7% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro WA had 89.0% houses and 10.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Esperance stood at 33.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 17.6% and rented ones at 49.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in Esperance was $235, compared to Non-Metro WA's $260. Nationally, Esperance's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,500 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 48.5% of all households, consisting of 15.2% couples with children, 23.1% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 51.5%, with lone person households at 48.7% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Esperance fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 15.9%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.6%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 37.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 28.3%. A total of 24.6% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 10.2% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 2.9% in tertiary education.

A substantial 24.6% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Esperance has 36 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. There are six different routes operating in total, offering 103 weekly passenger trips combined. The accessibility of the transport system is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located just 145 meters from their nearest transport stop.

On average, there are 14 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Esperance is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Esperance faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 52% (~1,115 people) have private health cover, slightly higher than the average SA2 area but lower than Rest of WA's 56.5%.

The most common conditions are arthritis (11.2%) and mental health issues (8.1%). About 59.1% report no medical ailments, compared to 68.9% in Rest of WA. Esperance has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 31.4% (667 people), compared to 18.2% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors show some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

Esperance ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Esperance's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 81.8% of its population being Australian citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Esperance, comprising 49.0% of its population. Notably, Buddhism is overrepresented compared to the rest of Western Australia, making up 1.6% of Esperance's population versus 0.7%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (32.5%), Australian (31.4%), and Scottish (9.2%). Maori (0.8%) and New Zealand (0.8%) populations are notably higher than the regional averages, while Sri Lankan residents make up 0.3% of Esperance's population compared to 0.1% regionally.

Esperance ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Esperance's median age of 51 years is notably older than Rest of WA's 40 and significantly higher than Australia's median of 38. The age profile indicates that those aged 75-84 are particularly prominent, making up 12.2% of the population, while the 45-54 group comprises 7.9%. This concentration of the 75-84 age group is higher than the national average of 6.0%. Post-Census data from 2021 shows that the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 9.5% to 11.1%, and the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 8.6% to 10.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 9.8% to 7.9%. Demographic projections suggest that Esperance's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, increasing by 128 people (48%) from 270 to 399. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 cohorts.