Halls Creek (WA)

Population growth drivers in Halls Creek are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, the estimated population of the suburb of Halls Creek (WA) as of Feb 2026 is around 2,176. This reflects an increase of 604 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,572. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 2,160 in June 2024 and six validated new addresses since the Census date. This equates to a density ratio of 49 persons per square kilometer. Halls Creek's growth of 38.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 61.0% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch uses ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Projected demographic shifts indicate a population increase just below the median of Australia's regional areas, with an expected increase of 223 persons to 2041, reflecting a decrease of 4.3% over the 17 years.

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

Halls Creek has had minimal construction activity with three new dwellings approved annually on average over the past five years, totalling 15. This low development level reflects its rural nature, where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth and relativity statistics.

Halls Creek's development activity is naturally lower compared to the rest of WA and below national averages. New building activity consists of 75% detached houses and 25% townhouses or apartments, focusing on family homes suited for rural lifestyle seekers. The area has approximately 263 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Halls Creek may experience less housing pressure, potentially creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, Halls Creek may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Halls Creek has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects that could impact this region. Key initiatives include Halls Creek to Kununurra Bridges, Network Optimisation Program - Rail, Resources Community Investment Initiative, and Coastal Hazards Adaptation Strategy. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Halls Creek face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Halls Creek has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 20.4% as of September 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. This rate is significantly higher than the Rest of WA's rate of 3.3%, indicating room for improvement.

Workforce participation in Halls Creek lags behind the Rest of WA at 38.3% compared to 67.2%. Only 3.3% of residents work from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety. Halls Creek shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level.

Conversely, mining employs only 1.7% of local workers compared to Rest of WA's 11.7%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending in September 2025, labour force increased by 2.8% while employment declined by 0.8%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 2.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of WA where employment grew by 1.4%, labour force expanded by 1.2%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Halls Creek's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that in Halls Creek, median income is $54,910 and average income is $67,696. This contrasts with Rest of WA's median income of $59,973 and average income of $74,392. Based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $60,192 (median) and $74,208 (average). Census 2021 income data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Halls Creek fall between the 1st and 15th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 32.6% of residents earn $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, aligning with the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 31.1%. Housing costs are modest, with 90.0% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 21st percentile nationally.

Halls Creek is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Halls Creek, as per the latest Census, consisted of 77.6% houses and 22.4% other dwellings. In contrast, Non-Metro WA had 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Halls Creek was at 6.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 2.0% and rented ones at 91.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,780, higher than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,560. The median weekly rent in Halls Creek was $125, compared to Non-Metro WA's $265. Nationally, Halls Creek's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,780 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $125 compared to the national figure of $375.

Halls Creek features high concentrations of lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 65.5% of all households, including 18.7% couples with children, 14.5% couples without children, and 28.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.5%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

Halls Creek faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 17.8%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 27.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (3.5%) and certificates (24.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 19.2% in primary education, 10.5% in secondary education, and 1.3% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Halls Creek's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data shows positive outcomes for Halls Creek residents. Mortality rates and health conditions are broadly in line with national benchmarks.

Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts at a fairly standard level. Private health cover is high, with approximately 54% of the total population (~1,176 people), compared to 56.4% across Rest of WA. The most common medical conditions are diabetes (5.9%) and asthma (3.8%). 84.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.3% across Rest of WA. The area has 7.5% of residents aged 65 and over (163 people), lower than the 19.2% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Halls Creek's cultural diversity aligns with its wider region, with 84.8% citizens, 91.5% born in Australia, and 71.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Halls Creek, accounting for 66.8%, compared to 44.6% across Rest of WA. The top three ancestry groups are Australian Aboriginal (64.0%), English (10.6%), and Australian (9.1%).

These figures differ from regional averages: Australian Aboriginal is substantially higher (64.0% vs 6.1%), while English and Australian are notably lower (10.6% vs 31.3%, and 9.1% vs 28.4%). Other ethnic groups show notable divergences, such as Filipino at 1.1% in Halls Creek versus 1.2% regionally, French at 0.4% versus 0.4%, and Vietnamese at 0.2% versus 0.1%.

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

Halls Creek has a median age of 30, which is younger than Rest of WA's figure of 40 and Australia's 38 years. Compared to Rest of WA, Halls Creek has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (19.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (4.6%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the 25-34 age group has grown from 17.1% to 19.3%, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.1% to 10.7% and the 15-24 group has dropped from 14.9% to 13.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Halls Creek. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by 20%, adding 84 residents to reach a total of 504. Meanwhile, both the 35-44 and 45-54 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.