Karawara

Karawara has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census the suburb of Karawara's population is estimated at around 1,967 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 125 people (6.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,842 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,954, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and an additional one validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,986 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. the suburb of Karawara's 6.8% growth since census positions it within 2.5 percentage points of the national average (9.3%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is utilising the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Looking at population projections moving forward, an above median population growth of statistical areas across the nation is projected, with the area expected to grow by 254 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting with an increase of 12.2% in total over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Karawara is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Analysis by AreaSearch of ABS figures for building approvals, distributed from statistical zones, indicates that Karawara has experienced almost no home approvals lately. Specifically, a total of four dwellings were approved during the previous five financial years (spanning FY-21 to FY-25), with one approval recorded so far in FY-26. Because the population has decreased recently, the supply of housing has remained sufficient to meet demand, maintaining a balanced market with healthy options for purchasers. Meanwhile, newly built properties average a value of $825,000, which highlights that developers are focusing on the upscale market with higher-priced builds. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $1.6 million have been documented during this financial year, underscoring the residential focus of this locality.

Compared with Greater Perth, Karawara exhibits a drastically lower volume of building activity, falling 93.0% below the regional average on a per-capita basis. This minimal injection of new housing stock generally helps support demand and bolster pricing for existing homes. This rate of construction is also below the nationwide average, pointing to the mature state of the local market and hinting at potential constraints in planning. Additionally, all recent construction projects have consisted exclusively of detached houses, maintaining the suburban character of the area which features a high proportion of family-oriented properties aimed at buyers who value extra space. Notably, developers are building a higher ratio of standalone houses than the historical mix suggests (74.0% at the Census), reflecting a sustained appetite for family residences even as densification occurs elsewhere. The area currently has approximately 3919 residents for every single dwelling approval, confirming its status as an established market.

Karawara has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning initiatives, and major developments have a significant impact on local performance. AreaSearch has identified no projects that are expected to influence this locality. Prominent regional projects include the Australian Hockey Centre, Curtin University B316 Sciences Building, Albany Highway Precinct Structure Plan, and Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal, with details provided below on the most relevant listings.

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Karawara recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Karawara possesses a highly qualified workforce with a prominent concentration of professionals, alongside an unemployment rate of 6.5%, according to AreaSearch data compiled from statistical areas. In March 2026, 1,052 local citizens were employed. The local unemployment rate stands 2.3% higher than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%, while the participation rate in the labor market is considerably lower (64.3% in comparison to 70.2% for Greater Perth). According to Census responses, a minor 9.4% of the working population operated from home, though this figure should be interpreted alongside the potential influence of pandemic lockdowns.

The primary employment fields for local workers are accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The neighborhood exhibits a particularly high representation in accommodation & food, with employment concentrations reaching 1.9 times the metropolitan average. On the other hand, the building trade has a relatively small footprint, employing 5.5% of workers compared to 9.3% across the wider region. This heavily residential district appears to provide few local employment options, as shown by comparing the count of census workers against the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch assessments of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from surrounding statistical areas, the labor force shrank by 0.4% during the 12 months leading up to March 2026, and total employment fell by 0.6%, leading to a 0.1 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% expansion in employment and a 2.5% increase in the labor force, with its unemployment rate ticking up by 0.4 percentage points. National employment predictions released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context regarding future demand trends in Karawara. These five and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with the local workforce profile to project potential growth paths. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these growth trajectories vary widely by industry. Applying these sectoral projections to the current employment structure of Karawara suggests that local jobs could grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a basic weighted projection for visualization and does not account for localized population shifts.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to the latest postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, Karawara records a median taxpayer income of $38,561 and an average of $54,906. This falls short of the national averages, and is lower than the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimated values would stand at roughly $42,776 for the median and $60,907 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census shows individual weekly earnings at the 10th percentile ($588), whereas household earnings perform better at the 48th percentile. In terms of earnings brackets, the $1,500 - 2,999 range accounts for 31.1% of the local population (representing 611 residents), which mirrors the surrounding region where 32.0% of people fall into the same bracket. Affordability pressures regarding housing are substantial, with residents retaining only 84.8% of their income, which ranks in the 49th percentile, while the SEIFA index for income places the area in the 6th decile.

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

The mix of housing in Karawara at the time of the latest Census consisted of 73.7% standalone houses and 26.3% alternative dwellings like semi-detached properties, townhouses, and apartments, compared to the Perth metropolitan ratio of 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings. The home ownership rate in Karawara was lower than the metropolitan average at 27.0%, with the remaining properties being purchased under a mortgage (26.3%) or occupied by tenants (46.7%). The median monthly payment for home loans in the area was higher than the Perth metropolitan average at $2,000, whereas the median weekly rent was recorded at $300, compared to metropolitan figures of $1,907 and $350 respectively. On a national scale, Karawara mortgage commitments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rental costs are notably lower than the national figure of $375.

Karawara features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 65.0%, which is composed of 29.8% couples living with offspring, 21.0% couples without children, and 10.4% single-parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 35.0%, with single-person households representing 24.9% and group living situations making up 10.3%. The median household size of 2.6 residents matches the average recorded across Greater Perth.

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

The locality presents educational disparities, with university degree completion rates (37.7%) falling well below the SA3 regional average of 48.6%. This highlights both a clear challenge and an opening for targeted learning programs. Bachelor degrees represent the most common higher qualification at 23.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees (11.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational and technical training is common, with 26.5% of residents aged 15 and over holding qualification certificates, including advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificate-level training (15.6%).

Participation in study is remarkably high, with 40.5% of the local population currently signed up for formal education. This group comprises 21.4% enrolled in university or tertiary courses, 6.7% attending high schools, and 6.5% enrolled in primary schools.

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

Public transit records show 22 active passenger stops operating in Karawara, consisting of various bus options. These stops are serviced by 4 separate routes, which combine to support 1,234 passenger trips each week. Transit access is classified as excellent, with residents living an average of 147 meters from their nearest stop. Because this is a residential neighborhood, the majority of workers travel outside the suburb to work, with private cars remaining the primary choice at 75%, while 8% travel by train and 8% take the bus. Households own an average of 1.4 vehicles. A small proportion of residents (9.4%) work from home, based on the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic restrictions.

Service frequency averages 176 transit runs each day across all routes, which translates to roughly 56 weekly runs for each individual stop.

Karawara's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Medical statistics show favorable trends for residents of Karawara, with AreaSearch investigations of mortality and health metrics showing outcomes that align closely with national averages. The prevalence of standard chronic illnesses is low in the general population, though it rises above national benchmarks for older, high-risk groups. Additionally, private health insurance uptake is relatively low, covering approximately 49% of the population (representing roughly 963 residents). This compares to a coverage level of 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most frequent diagnoses among local residents were mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 7.9% and 6.4% of the population respectively. Meanwhile, 74.1% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 71.9% for Greater Perth as a whole. The demographic under the age of 65 exhibits stronger health metrics than average. The area has 13.5% of its population aged 65 and older (representing 265 residents), which is a lower proportion than the 16.1% average in Greater Perth, though this older cohort ranks lower nationally compared to the overall local population.

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

Karawara demonstrates a high degree of multiculturalism, with 37.6% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 48.1% having been born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, claimed by 37.3% of the local population. The most prominent religious overrepresentation is Buddhism, which is practiced by 8.6% of residents, a rate significantly higher than the Greater Perth average of 2.7%.

Regarding family heritage (parental birthplaces), the primary ancestries identified in Karawara are English at 18.2% of the population (considerably below the regional average of 28.0%), Australian at 17.0%, and Other at 16.9% (which is substantially higher than the regional average of 11.2%). Significant differences are also visible in other ethnic groups: Chinese ancestry is highly represented at 15.3% of Karawara (compared to 4.0% across the region), Hungarian stands at 0.4% (compared to 0.2%), and Polish represents 0.9% (compared to 0.7%).

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

With a median age of 30 years, Karawara is notably younger than the Greater Perth average of 37 and is significantly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, Karawara has a larger proportion of residents aged 15 - 24 (27.0%) but fewer children aged 5 - 14 (7.0%). This concentration of young people aged 15 - 24 is much higher than the national average of 12.7%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that this younger demographic has pulled the median age down by 1.3 years to 30. Notable changes include the 25 to 34 age bracket increasing from 15.9% to 18.4% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group rising from 24.6% to 27.0%. In contrast, the cohort aged 5 to 14 has shrunk from 9.1% to 7.0%, and those aged 55 to 64 declined from 11.3% to 9.4%. Projections for the year 2041 point to major demographic changes. The 25 to 34 group is expected to experience the strongest growth at 24%, adding 87 residents to total 449, while the 35 to 44 and 5 to 14 brackets are projected to contract.