Kiara

An assessment of population growth drivers in Kiara reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Kiara's population is estimated to have reached approximately 1,932 by May 2026, according to analysis of ABS population updates for the region and new address datasets validated by AreaSearch since the Census. This is an increase of 156 residents (8.8%) from the 1,776 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment stems from an AreaSearch estimated resident population of 1,920, following an assessment of the ABS's latest June 2025 ERP release alongside post-census address validations. The resulting population density stands at 1,389 persons per square kilometer, which is greater than the typical density across national locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The post-census growth rate of 8.8% in the suburb of Kiara is within 0.5 percentage points of the national average (9.3%), indicating solid growth performance. The local population gains were mostly driven by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 39.0% of the net growth in recent times, though natural increase and overseas migration also made positive contributions.

For projected data, AreaSearch uses SA2-level projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. In instances where SA2 data is unavailable, or to calculate growth past 2032, AreaSearch applies age-cohort growth rates published in the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which were modeled on 2022 data. Based on these demographic projections, the suburb of Kiara is expected to experience substantial expansion relative to other statistical areas nationwide, with projections at the SA2 level suggesting a growth of 553 residents by 2041, representing a total gain of 28.0% over the 16 years.

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

Analysis of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical areas shows that property developers have initiated almost no new residential projects in Kiara recently, with an estimated 3 dwellings approved during the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, and none approved during FY-26 so far. With an average of 21 new residents added per constructed dwelling over the FY-21 to FY-25 period, housing demand is outpacing local supply, a scenario that typically drives up property prices and intensifies competition among buyers.

Compared with the broader Greater Perth area, Kiara exhibits far less construction activity. This limited supply of new dwellings generally supports demand and prices for existing properties, even though building activity has seen a recent uptick. The level of activity is also below the national average, highlighting the mature state of the local market and hinting at potential planning constraints. Furthermore, recent building approvals consist entirely of detached houses, maintaining the suburb's low-density profile and appeal to buyers seeking larger residences. With approximately 1277 people per approved dwelling, the Kiara market is highly mature.

Kiara has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure developments, major projects, and local planning decisions are critical factors in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified no projects that are expected to influence the local area. Key projects of note in the surrounding region include the Bennett Springs East Structure Plan, St Relic - Caversham, Roe Estate, and the future Bennett Springs East Station, with details of the most relevant developments listed below.

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

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

The local workforce is characterized by high skill levels and a strong representation in essential services, with an unemployment rate sitting at 3.8% and annual job growth estimated at 2.4% according to aggregated regional statistics. In March 2026, there were 1,127 employed residents, and the unemployment rate was 0.4% below the Greater Perth average of 4.2%. Participation in the labor force is typical, sitting at 72.5% compared to 70.2% in Greater Perth. According to Census responses, a modest 6.2% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure was likely influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are retail trade, health care & social assistance, and construction. Retail trade shows a particularly strong concentration, with local employment levels reaching 1.2 times the average across the broader region. Conversely, the mining sector has a minor footprint, accounting for 4.0% of employment compared to 7.0% regionally. The balance between local jobs and resident workers indicates that Kiara offers relatively few employment opportunities within its immediate boundaries.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated for the broader region reveals that employment expanded by 2.4% over the 12-month period, which matched a 2.4% rise in the labour force, keeping local unemployment steady. By comparison, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment, a 2.5% increase in the labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Future local employment demand can be contextualized using Jobs and Skills Australia's national forecasts from May-25. These five-year and ten-year national growth projections have been aligned with local industry profiles to estimate future trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary significantly by sector. Applying these sectoral trends to the local workforce mix suggests employment for Kiara residents could expand by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighted extrapolation that excludes local population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

Taxpayer data from the ATO for financial year 2023 indicates that Kiara's income levels sit slightly below the national average. The median income for local taxpayers was $55,454, while the average income was $66,007, compared to Greater Perth medians and averages of $60,748 and $80,248. Adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, these figures are estimated at approximately $61,515 for median and $73,222 for average income as of March 2026. In the Census, Kiara's family, household, and personal incomes ranked in the modest 36th to 40th percentiles. The largest income bracket contains 33.5% of taxpayers (647 residents) who earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which aligns closely with the 32.0% share recorded across the broader area. Mortgage and rental pressures are prominent, with residents retaining only 84.7% of their income, placing the area in the 37th percentile for affordability and the 4th decile on the SEIFA income index.

Kiara is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

At the time of the latest Census, the housing mix in Kiara was composed of 88.7% houses and 11.3% semi-detached, apartment, or other dwelling types, contrasting with the Perth metropolitan breakdown of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. The rate of outright home ownership stood at 36.0%, which is considerably higher than the metropolitan average. The remaining households were either paying off mortgages (44.2%) or renting (19.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,625 was lower than the Perth metropolitan median of $1,907, while the median weekly rent was $333, compared to the wider metropolitan median of $350. Nationally, Kiara's mortgage costs are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the national benchmark of $375.

Kiara features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up 72.3% of all households in Kiara, consisting of couples with children at 31.1%, couples without children at 26.3%, and single parent households at 13.3%. The remaining 27.7% are non-family households, which consist of single-person households at 24.4% and group households at 3.9%. The median household size is 2.5 residents, slightly below the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

The proportion of residents with tertiary qualifications in Kiara is lower than the regional average, with university degree holders representing 20.5% of residents aged 15 and over, compared to 30.4% nationally. Among these qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.5% and graduate diplomas at 1.5%. Vocational and technical qualifications are well represented, with 34.1% of residents aged 15 and over holding vocational qualifications, comprising advanced diplomas at 8.6% and certificates at 25.5%.

There is strong participation in study locally, with 26.6% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. This group includes 7.7% in primary school, 7.4% in high school, and 5.2% pursuing higher education.

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

There are 20 active public transport stops located within Kiara, consisting of bus services. These stops accommodate 6 distinct routes, which combine to support 793 weekly passenger journeys. Access to transport is high, with residents living an average of 189 meters from their nearest stop. Because Kiara is primarily residential, the majority of working residents commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel at 87%, followed by train travel at 7%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.6. A modest 6.2% of residents worked from home at the time of the 2021 Census, though this figure was likely affected by pandemic conditions.

Public transport services average 113 trips per day across all local routes, which translates to roughly 39 weekly trips for each individual stop.

Kiara'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 indicators show favorable conditions for local residents, with analysis of mortality rates and medical conditions matching national averages. Common medical conditions are reported at typical levels across age brackets, and the proportion of residents with private health insurance is slightly above the SA2 average at approximately 53% of the population, which represents about 1,031 people. This compares to a private coverage rate of 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most prevalent medical conditions reported among local residents are arthritis and mental health conditions, which affect 7.0% and 8.1% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 68.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Health status among working-age residents is typical, and Kiara has a slightly higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 17.2% (332 people) compared to the Greater Perth average of 16.1%, with health rankings for this cohort matching the broader population.

Kiara was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

The suburb of Kiara exhibits high levels of cultural diversity relative to most local markets, with 35.4% of its residents born overseas and 24.1% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religion, representing 49.8% of the population. However, the most distinct religious representation is Buddhism, which is practiced by 5.8% of residents, compared to a regional average of 2.7% across Greater Perth.

English ancestry is the most common at 24.6% of the population, followed by Australian ancestry at 19.8%, and those identifying as Other at 12.5%. There are also notable differences in specific ethnic backgrounds, with Polish heritage representing 1.7% of Kiara compared to 0.7% regionally, Vietnamese heritage at 3.6% compared to 0.8% regionally, and Serbian heritage at 0.6% compared to 0.3% regionally.

Kiara's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in the suburb of Kiara is 39 years, which is slightly higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 years and very close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to regional averages, the 55 to 64 age bracket is over-represented at 16.0%, while the 35 to 44 age bracket is under-represented at 12.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 increased from 10.9% to 12.0%, while the 25 to 34 age bracket decreased from 15.0% to 12.7%. Long-term projections for 2041 indicate shifts in local demographics, led by the 55 to 64 group, which is projected to grow by 32% (adding 98 people) to reach 408 from a baseline of 309. The school-aged 5 to 14 cohort is projected to grow by a modest 1%, adding just 2 residents.