Glendalough

Population growth drivers in Glendalough are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Glendalough is around 3,055, reflecting a 16.2% increase since the 2021 Census which reported 2,628 people. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3,044 residents following examination of the ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 79 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 4,243 persons per square kilometer, placing Glendalough in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This growth exceeds both the national average (8.9%) and state averages, marking Glendalough as a growth leader in its region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. 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 estimations, AreaSearch uses growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population dynamics anticipate a median increase, with Glendalough expected to grow by 299 persons to reach 3,354 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 6.6% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Glendalough when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Glendalough shows an average of around 5 new dwelling approvals per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 27 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 3 approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 10.3 new residents arriving annually per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25.

Glendalough has significantly less development activity than Greater Perth, with 75.0% below the regional average per person. Recent development consists entirely of detached houses, preserving the area's suburban nature. Population forecasts indicate Glendalough will gain 202 residents by 2041. Construction pace is maintaining reasonable growth despite increasing population and competition among buyers.

Population forecasts indicate Glendalough will gain 202 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Construction is maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers could encounter growing competition as population increases.

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

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to its local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. One significant project has been identified by AreaSearch that is expected to impact the area. Key projects include The Coolbinia Residential Development, Herdsman Glendalough Local Development Plan (LDP) from 2014-2034, a 40km/h Speed Zone Project in Wembley and West Leederville initiated in April 2021, and Scarborough Beach Road Streetscape Upgrade starting in late 2022. Below is a list detailing those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Glendalough ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Glendalough has a highly educated workforce with key services sectors well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.0%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 1,908 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.8% below Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Glendalough stands at 71.4%, exceeding Greater Perth's 65.2%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, administrative & support services, and retail trade. Notably, administrative & support services have a high concentration with employment levels at 4.0 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction has limited presence with 3.9% employment compared to 9.3% regionally. The area's predominantly residential nature suggests limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.2%, with employment decreasing by 2.2%, causing a rise in unemployment rate of 1.0 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Perth where employment rose by 3.7%, labour force grew by 3.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer insight into potential future demand within Glendalough. These projections suggest that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Glendalough's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.

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

Glendalough's median income among taxpayers was $55,399 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $86,839 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Perth's median and average incomes of $58,380 and $78,020 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 14.2% since financial year 2022, estimated median and average incomes for Glendalough as of September 2025 would be approximately $63,266 and $99,170 respectively. According to Census 2021 income data, personal income ranks at the 58th percentile ($848 weekly) in Glendalough, while household income sits at the 39th percentile. The predominant income cohort spans 37.4% of locals (1,142 people), falling within the $1,500 - $2,999 category. This pattern is similar to the broader area where 32.0% of residents occupy this income range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Glendalough, with only 84.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 40th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Glendalough's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 7.6% houses and 92.4% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Perth metro's 37.1% houses and 62.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glendalough stood at 13.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.5% and rented ones at 65.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Perth metro's average of $2,167. Median weekly rent in Glendalough was $280, compared to Perth metro's $390. Nationally, Glendalough's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Glendalough features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 55.0% of all households, including 21.6% couples with children, 24.7% couples without children, and 6.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 45.0%, with lone person households at 37.6% and group households comprising 7.5%. The median household size is 2.1 people, aligning with the Greater Perth average.

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

In Glendalough, educational attainment is notably high with 49.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to 27.9% in Western Australia (WA) and 30.1% in Greater Perth. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 29.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.9%) and certificates (13.1%). Educational participation is high, with 31.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.1% in tertiary education, 7.8% in primary education, and 4.0% pursuing secondary education. Chrysalis Montessori School serves Glendalough, with an enrollment of 113 students as of the latest data. The area's educational performance is exceptional (ICSEA: 1189), placing local schools among the most advantaged nationally. There is one school focusing exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited, with 3.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 17.1, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Glendalough has nine active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that combined offer 873 weekly passenger trips. The average distance between residents' homes and the nearest transport stop is 139 meters.

On average, there are 124 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 97 weekly trips per individual stop.

Glendalough's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance throughout Glendalough. Younger cohorts particularly exhibit low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover stands at approximately 62% of the total population (1,884 people), compared to Greater Perth's 69.8%.

Nationally, this averages at 55.3%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent medical conditions in Glendalough, affecting 7.9 and 5.1% respectively. A majority of residents, 78.9%, report being completely clear of medical ailments compared to Greater Perth's 74.5%. The area has 13.2% of residents aged 65 and over (403 people), lower than Greater Perth's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting challenges.

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

Glendalough has a high level of cultural diversity, with 54.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 65.2% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion in Glendalough, comprising 25.1%. Buddhism is notably overrepresented at 24.3%, compared to Greater Perth's average of 4.3%.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other' is the largest group at 34.9%, higher than the regional average of 12.6%. English ancestry comprises 17.1%, lower than the regional average of 24.9%. Australian ancestry is also lower at 11.3% compared to the regional average of 18.0%. Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Indian is overrepresented at 9.6% versus 2.4%, Serbian at 0.8% versus 0.4%, and Macedonian at 0.3% versus 0.4%.

Glendalough hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Glendalough's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Glendalough has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (27.9%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (4.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has increased from 2.9% to 4.1%, while the proportion of those aged 55 to 64 has decreased from 5.6% to 4.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate that Glendalough's 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 80%, adding 99 residents and reaching a total of 225. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 58% of the population growth, reflecting broader demographic aging trends. Conversely, declines in population are projected for the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups.