Harrisdale

Harrisdale lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Analysis of ABS population updates for the wider region, along with recent address validations by AreaSearch since the Census, indicates the population of the suburb of Harrisdale is approximately 14,422 as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 2,755 people (23.6%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 11,667 residents. The calculation is based on a resident population of 14,125 estimated by AreaSearch using the latest ABS ERP data release (June 2025) plus an additional 347 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This population level yields a density of 2,499 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb of Harrisdale in the highest quartile of all national areas evaluated by AreaSearch. The suburb of Harrisdale recorded 23.6% growth since the 2021 census, which was higher than both the national average (9.3%) and the state average, establishing it as a regional growth leader. Population growth was driven primarily by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 42.0% of the total population gains in recent times, though all other contributors, including interstate migration and natural growth, remained positive.

AreaSearch incorporates ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 regions lacking this information, and to project development in the years after 2032, AreaSearch uses cohort-specific growth rates from the latest Greater Capital Region projections released by the ABS in 2023 (based on 2022 data). Looking at upcoming population trends, a major population expansion ranking in the highest national quartile is projected, with the area expected to grow by 3,637 persons to 2041 under consolidated SA2-level forecasts, representing an overall increase of 23.2% over the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical areas, the suburb of Harrisdale has seen approximately 88 residential properties approved each year, summing to an estimated 441 homes over the previous 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26105 approvals have been documented. Because an average of 5.4 people moved to the area for every finished dwelling over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is falling far behind demand, which typically intensifies buyer competition and exerts upward pressure on prices, while new homes are built at an average value of $412,000, showing developers are targeting the premium, upmarket sector. Furthermore, commercial approvals worth $4.3 million have been recorded this financial year, pointing to a limited focus on commercial development.

Relative to Greater Perth, the suburb of Harrisdale has roughly two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per capita, placing in the 47th percentile of locations evaluated across the country, which implies somewhat restricted options for buyers while bolstering demand for existing properties. Additionally, all recent development has consisted of detached houses, preserving the traditional suburban aesthetic of the area with family-oriented layouts that appeal to buyers looking for space. The area contains approximately 358 people per dwelling approval, showing it is an established suburb.

Projections indicate the suburb of Harrisdale will add 3,340 residents by 2041 (starting from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch). Current building rates seem in line with future demand, supporting stable market conditions without generating excessive price growth.

Harrisdale has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects and planning initiatives. In total 23 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Harrisdale North Residential Estate, Harrisdale North Skeet Balannup Precinct, Harrisdale Green Estate, and The Village Harrisdale, with the below list detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Harrisdale performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

The suburb of Harrisdale has a highly educated workforce, a strong representation of essential services industries, an unemployment rate of only 1.4%, and an estimated job growth rate of 1.7% over the past year, according to aggregated statistical area data from AreaSearch. As of March 2026, 8,420 residents are employed, which leaves the unemployment rate 2.8% below the Greater Perth rate of 4.2%, while the workforce participation rate is exceptionally high at 81.2% compared to 70.2% in Greater Perth. According to Census records, a modest 7.8% of residents worked from home, although this may have been influenced by COVID-19 lockdowns.

The primary employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. In contrast, construction has a relatively minor presence, employing 7.9% of workers compared to 9.3% across the region. This mostly residential locality seems to provide few local jobs, as shown by comparing the number of employed residents to the local working population in the Census.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical areas, during the 12 months ending March 2026, employment rose by 1.7% while the labour force expanded by 2.0%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% increase in employment, a 2.5% expansion in the labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide additional context on prospective demand in the suburb of Harrisdale. These five-year and ten-year projections have been aligned with the local workforce composition to estimate growth trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary widely by sector. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto the local employment distribution suggests employment in the suburb of Harrisdale should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population forecasts).

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Harrisdale registers a median taxpayer income of $63,528 and an average of $74,542, according to the latest postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This represents a very high level nationally, contrasting with the median income of $60,748 and average of $80,248 in Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, updated estimates would stand at roughly $70,472 (median) and $82,689 (average) as of March 2026. Income data from the 2021 Census reveals household, family, and individual incomes are all highly ranked in the suburb of Harrisdale, placing between the 84th and 88th percentiles nationally. The income distribution shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the most common, accounting for 42.7% of residents (6,158 people), which mirrors the broader regional trend where 32.0% fall into this range. Economic robustness is highlighted by the 34.3% of households that earn high weekly incomes of more than $3,000, which supports strong consumer spending. High housing costs account for 16.6% of income, but strong earnings keep disposable income at the 86th percentile, and the SEIFA income index ranks the area in the 7th decile.

Harrisdale is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The housing stock in the suburb of Harrisdale at the time of the latest Census consisted of 98.6% houses and 1.4% other dwellings (including semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative options), compared to the Perth metro distribution of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the home ownership rate in the suburb of Harrisdale lagged behind Perth metro at 11.5%, with the rest of the properties being mortgaged (68.2%) or rented (20.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was higher than the Perth metro average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $420, compared to Perth metro averages of $1,907 and $350. Nationally, mortgage repayments in the suburb of Harrisdale exceed the Australian average of $1,863, while rent costs are considerably higher than the national figure of $375.

Harrisdale features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up the vast majority of households at 87.7%, consisting of 57.7% couples with children, 19.0% couples without children, and 9.9% single parents. The remaining 12.3% are non-family households, with lone person households representing 10.9% and group households making up 1.4% of the total. The median household size of 3.2 people is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Harrisdale places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Academic achievement in the suburb of Harrisdale is considerably higher than broader benchmarks, with 38.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees, compared to 22.7% in the SA3 area and 27.9% in WA. This notable educational advantage positions the locality well for professional opportunities in knowledge industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 25.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees (10.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational and technical training is also highly represented, with 32.0% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (12.5%) and certificates (19.5%).

Enrollment rates in education are remarkably high, with 35.5% of residents currently undertaking formal study. This comprises 14.8% in primary school, 9.2% in secondary school, and 4.7% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

Analysis of public transit reveals 38 active stops operating in the suburb of Harrisdale, consisting of various bus options. These stops are served by 3 unique routes, which together provide 669 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is classified as good, with residents generally living within 200 meters of their closest transport stop. Due to the area's residential nature, most employed residents commute out of the suburb, with cars remaining the main transport mode at 81% and trains accounting for 11%. Car ownership stands at an average of 1.7 vehicles per household, which is above the regional average. A relatively low 7.8% of residents work from home (2021 Census; potentially reflecting COVID-19 circumstances).

Service frequency averages 95 trips daily across all routes, which corresponds to roughly 17 weekly trips for each transport stop.

Harrisdale's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health metrics indicate exceptional outcomes in the suburb of Harrisdale, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates, which shows a very low prevalence of common medical issues across all age brackets, and the level of private health insurance is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~8,190 people). This compares to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the locality were asthma and mental health challenges, affecting 5.0% and 4.8% of residents respectively, while 83.5% reported no chronic medical conditions at all, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. The suburb of Harrisdale has 6.7% of residents aged 65 and older (966 people), which is below the 16.1% average in Greater Perth. Seniors in the area enjoy particularly strong health outcomes, with national health rankings matching those of the broader local population.

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

The suburb of Harrisdale ranks highly for cultural diversity, with 45.9% of its residents speaking a non-English language at home and 51.9% born abroad. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 38.6% of residents in the suburb of Harrisdale. However, the most notable religious concentration is Hinduism, which is practiced by 12.9% of the population, a share significantly higher than the Greater Perth average of 2.5%.

Regarding ancestry (the birthplace of parents), the three most common groups in the suburb of Harrisdale are Other at 19.7% of the population, which is considerably higher than the regional average of 11.2%, English at 18.8%, which is noticeably lower than the regional average of 28.0%, and Australian at 15.5%, which is noticeably lower than the regional average of 21.2%. There are also significant differences in other ethnic communities: Indian is highly represented at 13.4% of the suburb of Harrisdale (compared to 2.6% regionally), South Australian at 1.8% (compared to 1.0%), and Sri Lankan at 1.2% (compared to 0.2%).

Harrisdale's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

The median age of 34 years in the suburb of Harrisdale is lower than the Greater Perth average of 37 and younger than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, the suburb of Harrisdale contains a higher share of residents aged 35 - 44 (22.9%) but a smaller proportion aged 65 - 74 (4.1%). The concentration of 35 - 44 year-olds is significantly above the national average of 14.3%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket expanded from 9.9% to 13.5% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort grew from 10.7% to 13.4%. On the other hand, the 25 to 34 age range fell from 15.2% to 11.7%, and the 0 to 4 group decreased from 9.5% to 6.7%. Population projections for 2041 show major demographic shifts for the suburb of Harrisdale. The 45 to 54 cohort is expected to grow the fastest at 56%, adding 1,080 residents to total 3,013, whereas the number of people in the 35 to 44 age bracket is projected to decrease by 245.