Lathlain

Population growth drivers in Lathlain are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Analysis of ABS demographic updates and new address validations by AreaSearch since the Census indicates the population of the suburb of Lathlain is approximately 4,281 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 582 people (15.7%) compared to the 3,699 residents recorded during the 2021 Census. This change is calculated from the resident population of 4,281, which was estimated by AreaSearch using the June 2025 ABS ERP release and 3 validated new addresses registered since the Census. With this population level, the density ratio reaches 2,779 persons per square kilometer, placing the area in the top quartile of all Australian locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb of Lathlain's growth of 15.7% since the 2021 census was higher than both the state average and the national average (9.3%), establishing it as a regional growth leader. This population rise was mostly fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 83.0% of the total demographic gains in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 regions lacking this data, and to project demographic changes beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies age cohort growth rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (which utilized 2022 data). Future demographic forecasts indicate that the area will experience population growth exceeding the national median, with projections showing an increase of 745 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2 data, representing an overall expansion of 17.4% across the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Lathlain among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of building approvals from regional statistical data, the suburb of Lathlain averages approximately 16 new residential approvals annually. This includes an estimated 84 homes approved over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, alongside 16 approvals recorded during the current FY-26 period. Because the area has averaged 5.7 new residents for each completed dwelling during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, demand is outstripping supply. This imbalance typically drives property values upward and intensifies buyer competition, while newly constructed properties have an average value of $761,000, showing that developers are targeting the high-end market with premium housing options. Furthermore, commercial developments worth $9.3 million have been approved during the current financial year, demonstrating consistent commercial investment.

The rate of new residential approvals per person in the suburb of Lathlain is about three-quarters of the rate seen across Greater Perth, placing the area in the 68th percentile of all locations analyzed nationwide. Newly approved residential construction is divided between 35.0% separate houses and 65.0% medium-to-high density options like apartments or townhouses. This preference for denser housing layouts provides more affordable options for entering the property market and draws downsizers, real estate investors, and first-time buyers. This trend represents a distinct shift from the existing housing stock, where houses make up 78.0% of properties, showing that vacant residential land is becoming scarce and that development is adapting to changing lifestyle choices and affordability constraints. With approximately 202 people per residential approval, the suburb of Lathlain displays the hallmarks of a developing region.

Long-term forecasts suggest the suburb of Lathlain will add 745 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly projections from AreaSearch. If residential construction continues at its current pace, housing supply might not keep up with population growth, which could increase competition among buyers and support rising property prices.

Lathlain has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning decisions are key drivers of regional property performance. In total, AreaSearch has identified 12 active projects that are likely to influence the local area. Major developments include Perth Park (Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct), Burswood Point, the Ebizco Rivervale Mixed-Use Tower on Armadale Road, and the Lathlain Precinct Redevelopment Project, with the most relevant developments detailed in the list below.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Lathlain places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Lathlain features a well-educated labor pool with strong representation in essential services, a low unemployment rate of 1.9%, and an estimated employment growth of 1.6% over the previous year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. By March 2026, 2,730 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3% which sits below Greater Perth's 4.2%, and workforce participation stood at 76.9% compared to Greater Perth's 70.2%. Census data indicates that only 9.5% of residents worked from home, although the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.

The local workforce is mainly employed in the professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors. The professional & technical services sector is especially prominent, employing residents at 1.4 times the regional average rate. On the other hand, retail trade plays a smaller role, accounting for 6.8% of employment compared to 9.3% across the wider region. Comparing the number of working residents to the local jobs recorded in the Census indicates that this mostly residential suburb offers limited employment opportunities within its own borders.

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from broader regions, both employment and the total labor force grew by 1.6% over the 12-month period, which kept the local unemployment rate stable. This differed from Greater Perth, which saw employment grow by 2.0%, the labor force expand by 2.5%, and the unemployment rate rise by 0.4 percentage points. The national employment forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional perspective on potential future demand in the suburb of Lathlain. These five-year and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with the local workforce profile to project future trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary significantly by sector. Applying these sector-specific trends to the local employment distribution suggests that employment in the suburb of Lathlain will rise by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection for illustration that does not incorporate local population forecasts.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

Tax data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year indicates that the suburb of Lathlain has a very high income level compared to national benchmarks. Taxpayers in the suburb of Lathlain have a median income of $59,291 and an average income of $79,031, compared to $60,748 and $80,248 respectively across Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimated values would be approximately $65,772 for median income and $87,669 for average income as of March 2026. According to Census data, household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Lathlain sit near the 74th percentile nationally. The weekly earnings distribution is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, which contains 29.9% of residents (1,280 people), mirroring the wider region where 32.0% of the population falls into this category. A substantial 32.6% of taxpayers earn more than $3,000 per week, indicating affluent pockets that support local business activity. Housing costs consume 14.7% of income, while strong earning power places residents in the 70th percentile for disposable income, and the area ranks in the 8th decile on the SEIFA index for income.

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

According to the latest Census, the housing mix in the suburb of Lathlain consisted of 77.7% separate houses and 22.3% alternative dwellings like townhouses, apartments, and other housing types, which closely resembles the metropolitan Perth distribution of 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings. The home ownership rate in the suburb of Lathlain was recorded at 29.4%, which matches the Perth metropolitan average, with the remaining properties either under mortgage (35.2%) or occupied by tenants (35.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,167 was considerably higher than the Perth metropolitan average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent was $350, matching the Perth metropolitan figure of $350. Compared to national statistics, mortgage payments in the suburb of Lathlain are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents are lower than the national median of $375.

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

Families make up 65.2% of all local households, consisting of couples with children at 29.6%, couples without children at 26.0%, and single-parent households at 7.7%. The remaining 34.8% are non-family households, which are divided between single-person households at 28.2% and group households at 6.4%. The average household size is 2.4 people, which is slightly below the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Lathlain exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Academic achievement in the suburb of Lathlain is considerably higher than regional averages, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 27.9% across WA and 29.9% in the local SA4 region. This high concentration of tertiary qualifications positions the suburb well for jobs in the knowledge economy. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 27.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 8.8% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Vocational education is also common, with 30.0% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (18.6%).

Participation in study is high in the suburb of Lathlain, with 29.5% of the population enrolled in an educational program. This student population includes 8.2% in primary school, 8.1% in tertiary studies, and 6.9% attending high school.

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

Public transport services in the suburb of Lathlain include 15 active stops serviced by a mix of buses. These stops accommodate 7 separate routes that combine to deliver 2,177 passenger trips per week. Transport access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 222 meters from the nearest stop. Because the suburb is primarily residential, the majority of residents travel outside the area for work, with private vehicles remaining the most common choice at 77%, followed by train travel at 10% and bus travel at 7%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.4 cars. A relatively low 9.5% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Public transport routes average 311 daily trips across the suburb of Lathlain, which translates to approximately 145 weekly trips for each transport stop.

Lathlain's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health indicators compiled by AreaSearch based on mortality statistics and chronic disease rates show favorable outcomes in the suburb of Lathlain, with a very low occurrence of common medical conditions across all age cohorts. Additionally, the rate of private health insurance is high, covering approximately 59% of the population (2,507 people).

The most frequently reported medical conditions in the suburb of Lathlain are mental health conditions and asthma, which affect 8.1% and 6.4% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 74.9% of the population reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The working-age population exhibits good health outcomes with a low occurrence of chronic disease. Residents aged 65 and over make up 13.6% of the population (582 people), which is lower than the Greater Perth benchmark of 16.1%. Seniors in the suburb of Lathlain exhibit favorable health outcomes, with national health rankings matching those of the broader local population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Lathlain was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The suburb of Lathlain exhibits higher levels of cultural diversity than most local property markets, with 18.6% of residents using a language other than English at home and 29.6% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 43.8% of the population. The most distinct variance from broader metropolitan trends is in Buddhism, which is practiced by 2.8% of residents, compared to 2.7% across Greater Perth.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds based on parents' country of birth, the three most common ancestries in the suburb of Lathlain are English (27.0%), Australian (23.5%), and Other (9.5%). There are also notable differences in the representation of specific ethnic groups compared to the wider region: Polish ancestry is represented at 1.1% in the suburb of Lathlain (compared to 0.7% regionally), Italian ancestry at 6.6% (compared to 4.2%), and New Zealand ancestry at 1.0% (compared to 0.8%).

Lathlain's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in the suburb of Lathlain is 35 years, making it slightly younger than the Greater Perth median of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 19.5% compared to Greater Perth, while the 5 - 14 demographic is less common at 10.8%. Since 2021, the cohort aged 75 to 84 has increased from 3.0% to 4.4% of the population, whereas the cohort aged 0 to 4 has decreased from 5.9% to 4.8%. Demographic forecasts for 2041 point to significant changes, with the 75 to 84 cohort projected to increase by 179 people (95%) from 188 to 368. Conversely, population declines are expected within the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 age brackets.