Kununurra

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

The population of the Kununurra statistical area as of November 2025 is estimated at around 6,187. This reflects an increase of 693 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,494 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 6,165 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 8 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2.8 persons per square kilometer. The Kununurra statistical area's growth rate of 12.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.7%. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 54.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). With these demographic trends, a population increase of just below the median for non-metropolitan areas nationally is expected. The Kununurra statistical area is projected to grow by 671 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 9.7% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Kununurra recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows Kununurra averaged approximately 13 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 69 homes. In FY26 so far, 24 approvals have been recorded. Between FY21 and FY25, an average of 5.9 people moved to the area for each dwelling built.

This indicates demand significantly outpaces supply, typically putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. New properties are constructed at an average value of $416,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, $16.5 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Rest of WA, Kununurra shows 17.0% lower construction activity per person.

Nationally, it places among the 40th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. This is under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New construction in Kununurra has been completely comprised of standalone homes, maintaining its traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (66.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The estimated count of 419 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Kununurra will gain 598 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Present construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Kununurra has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects that could impact this region. Notable initiatives include Coolibah Estate, Kununurra Town Centre Revitalisation, Aboriginal Employee Housing Kununurra, and Kununurra Primary Health Centre. The following list highlights those most likely to be relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The labour market performance in Kununurra lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Kununurra has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate in September 2025 was 7.8%.

Employment stability over the past year is relative. As of September 2025, 3136 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 4.5% above Rest of WA's rate of 3.3%. Workforce participation is fairly standard at 63.3%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety.

Health care & social assistance has notable concentration with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Mining is under-represented, with only 1.5% of Kununurra's workforce compared to 11.7% in Rest of WA. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. From September 2024 to September 2025, the labour force increased by 0.8% while employment declined by 0.1%, causing unemployment rate rise by 0.8 percentage points. This compares to 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 potential future demand within Kununurra. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Kununurra's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 indicates that income in Kununurra is high nationally. The median income is $65,304 and the average income stands at $77,121. This contrasts with Rest of WA figures where the median income is $59,973 and the average income is $74,392. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year ending June 2023, current estimates for Kununurra would be approximately $71,586 (median) and $84,540 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows individual earnings in Kununurra stand out at the 88th percentile nationally, with weekly earnings of $1,153. Income analysis reveals that the majority of residents (39.5%, or 2,443 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket per week after tax, aligning with broader area trends where this cohort represents 31.1%. After housing costs, residents retain 87.4% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power in the area. The SEIFA income ranking places Kununurra in the 5th decile.

Kununurra displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Kununurra's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.5% houses and 33.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro WA's figures of 79.3% houses and 20.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kununurra stood at 15.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 19.6% and rented dwellings at 64.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,019, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $2,167. The median weekly rent in Kununurra was $266, compared to Non-Metro WA's $200. Nationally, Kununurra's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,019 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $266 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 71.5% of all households, including 28.9% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 13.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 24.1% and group households comprising 4.3%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.8.

Educational outcomes in Kununurra fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational attainment in Kununurra shows significant advancement compared to broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 28.0% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, surpassing the Rest of WA's 17.6% and the SA4 region's 20.5%. This educational advantage is driven by a high proportion of Bachelor degrees (20.0%), postgraduate qualifications (4.9%), and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 39.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (29.0%).

Educational participation is notably high in Kununurra, with 36.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 17.3% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results in Kununurra, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is approximately 58% of the total population (around 3,577 people), compared to 54.2% across the rest of WA.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 5.9% and 4.8% of residents respectively. About 79.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 79.9% reported across the rest of WA. Approximately 7.4% of residents are aged 65 and over (around 457 people). Health outcomes among seniors in Kununurra are particularly strong, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

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

Kununurra's population shows above-average cultural diversity, with 18.0% born overseas and 14.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Kununurra, accounting for 40.6% of its population. Notably, Judaism, comprising 0.1%, is overrepresented compared to the rest of WA where it is not present.

Regarding ancestry, Australian (24.4%), English (23.9%), and Australian Aboriginal (19.9%) are the top three groups in Kununurra. The latter is lower than the regional average of 33.7%. Some ethnic groups show notable divergences: French at 0.5% compared to 0.5% regionally, New Zealand at 0.7% versus 0.6%, and Dutch at 1.3% against 1.0%.

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

Kununurra's median age is 32 years, which is significantly younger than the Rest of WA's 40 years and the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprises 20.7% of Kununurra's population, compared to the Rest of WA, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 5.6%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, Kununurra has seen its median age decrease by 1.1 years to 32 from a previous age of 33. During this period, the 25-34 age group grew from 18.4% to 20.7%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 14.5% to 16.1%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 14.2% to 11.9%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 12.0% to 10.4%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest significant demographic changes in Kununurra. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 27%, adding 349 residents and reaching a total of 1,630. In contrast, both the 75-84 and 85+ age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.