Geraldton

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

Geraldton's population, as of Nov 2025, is estimated at around 3460 people. This reflects a growth of 214 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3246 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3406 following examination of ABS' ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of five new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 774 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Geraldton's growth rate of 6.6% since the census is within 1.1 percentage points of the SA3 area (7.7%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains in recent periods for the Geraldton statistical area (Lv2).

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 growth estimation, AreaSearch utilises ABS' Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with the Geraldton (SA2) expected to grow by 360 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 7.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Geraldton has seen approximately 9 new homes approved annually over the past 5 financial years, totalling around 47 homes. In FY-26 so far, 9 approvals have been recorded. On average, about 1.9 new residents arrive per new home each year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand. However, this has moderated to -1.1 people per dwelling over the past 2 financial years, suggesting an improved supply-demand balance. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $600,000, reflecting a focus on premium properties.

This year, $52.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating high local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of WA, Geraldton records about 66% of building activity per person and ranks among the 35th percentile nationally, offering limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. The area's new building activity consists of 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining its traditional low density character. As of now, there are an estimated 481 people per dwelling approval in the area.

By 2041, Geraldton is projected to grow by 260 residents, with current development levels aligned with future requirements, suggesting stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Geraldton has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified nine such projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include the Geraldton Green Connect Project, a 7-Eleven Service Station at Durlacher Street, Geraldton, the expansion of the Geraldton Homemaker Centre, and the development of the Geraldton Youth Precinct Masterplan. The following list details those likely to have the most relevance.

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.

Employment drivers in Geraldton are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Geraldton has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 6.1%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 1,453 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.8% higher than Rest of WA's rate of 3.3%. Workforce participation stands at 50.6%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Geraldton has a particular specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, mining shows lower representation at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 11.7%. There are 1.3 workers for every resident, indicating that Geraldton functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.1% alongside a 1.1% employment decline, causing unemployment to rise by 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of WA experienced employment growth of 1.4% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Geraldton's employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Geraldton had a median taxpayer income of $53,108 and an average income of $66,389 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than the national average, with Rest of WA having a median income of $59,973 and an average income of $74,392 during the same period. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $58,217 and the average income around $72,776, based on a 9.62% growth in wages since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Geraldton falling between the 9th and 18th percentiles nationally. In Geraldton, 25.9% of individuals earn between $400 and $799, unlike surrounding regions where 31.1% fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 range. After accounting for housing costs, 85.0% of income remains in Geraldton, which ranks at the 12th percentile nationally.

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

In Geraldton, as per the latest Census evaluation, 64.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 35.5% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This is in contrast to Non-Metro WA's dwelling structure, which was 87.5% houses and 12.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Geraldton stood at 32.6%, with mortgaged properties at 22.2% and rented dwellings at 45.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,400, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in Geraldton was recorded at $220, compared to Non-Metro WA's $250. Nationally, Geraldton's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 55.3% of all households, including 15.9% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 44.7%, with lone person households at 41.0% and group households comprising 3.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 19.6%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (28.3%).

Educational participation is high at 29.1%, including secondary education (10.6%), primary education (8.2%), and tertiary education (3.3%).

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

Geraldton has 38 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 13 different routes that together facilitate 515 weekly passenger trips. The city's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 183 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 73 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Geraldton is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Geraldton faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups.

The rate of private health cover in Geraldton is approximately 54%, higher than the average SA2 area (~1,853 people). Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, impacting 10.8% and 10.1% of residents respectively. However, 59.2% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 66.8% in Rest of WA. Geraldton has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 25.1%, with 868 people falling into this age group, compared to the 18.3% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly aligned with those of the general population.

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

Geraldton's cultural diversity was above average, with 20.9% of residents born overseas and 11.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Geraldton as of 2021, accounting for 51.5% of its population. Islam was overrepresented compared to the rest of WA, with 2.3% of Geraldton's population identifying as Muslim.

The top three ancestry groups were English (27.9%), Australian (27.3%), and Irish (9.0%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal people were slightly overrepresented in Geraldton at 6.6%, compared to the regional average of 6.9%. South African and Hungarian ethnicities also showed notable representation, with 0.6% each in Geraldton, while regionally they stood at 0.6% and 0.1% respectively.

Geraldton hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Geraldton's median age was 46 in 2021, which is higher than the Rest of WA figure of 40 and above the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 85+ were particularly prominent at 5.9%, while the 5-14 group was smaller at 9.4% compared to the Rest of WA. Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, Geraldton's median age decreased by one year from 47 to 46, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes included the growth of the 25-34 age group from 10.9% to 13.5%, and the 35-44 cohort from 11.2% to 12.5%. Conversely, the 85+ cohort declined from 7.2% to 5.9%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 11.0% to 9.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Geraldton's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 45%, adding 207 residents to reach 675. Meanwhile, the 65-74 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.