Manning

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

According to investigations of ABS population statistics for the surrounding region, combined with address records verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Manning has an estimated population of 5,201 in May 2026. This indicates a growth of 982 people (23.3%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 4,219 people. The adjustment is calculated from a resident population of 5,174, which was estimated by AreaSearch using the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) and an additional 37 validated new addresses registered after the Census date. This population size represents a density ratio of 3,006 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb of Manning in the top quartile of all Australian locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The 23.3% growth rate recorded in the suburb of Manning since the 2021 census was higher than the national figure (9.3%) and the broader SA3 area, establishing it as a regional growth leader. Population expansion in the suburb of Manning was primarily fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 87.0% of the overall population increases in recent times.

AreaSearch applies the population projections published by the ABS and Geoscience Australia in 2024 (using 2022 as the base year) for each SA2 area. For SA2 areas without direct coverage, and to calculate growth trends after 2032, AreaSearch utilizes age cohort growth rates from the latest Greater Capital Region projections published by the ABS in 2023, which are grounded in 2022 data. Looking at future demographic trends in the suburb of Manning, projections point to growth exceeding the national median, with the suburb of Manning expected to expand by 739 persons by 2041 based on compiled SA2-level figures, indicating a total growth of 13.7% over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Manning when compared nationally

According to an analysis of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical area records, Manning averages approximately 34 approved residential properties annually, leading to a total estimate of 174 dwellings over the past 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 12 approvals have been documented. Since an average of 4.6 individuals moved to the locality for each constructed dwelling during the past 5 financial years (covering the period from FY-21 to FY-25), demand is outstripping new supply, which typically drives up prices and intensifies competition among buyers, while new developments are built at an average value of $825,000, indicating that developers are focusing on the higher-end market with premium housing.

Compared with Greater Perth, Manning exhibits a slightly higher rate of new home approvals, tracking at 22.0% above the regional per capita average over the 5 year period, which helps preserve choice for buyers while maintaining demand for existing properties, even though construction activity has decelerated recently. The composition of new developments is 80.0% standalone houses and 20.0% semi-detached or attached residences, which preserves the established suburban feel of the neighborhood while catering to buyers who want larger family homes. With approximately 408 people per approval, Manning represents a fully developed market.

Long-term forecasts indicate that Manning will see an increase of 712 residents by 2041, according to the most recent quarterly projections from AreaSearch. Based on current building trends, the supply of new housing is expected to comfortably accommodate demand, creating favorable buying opportunities and potentially enabling population increases that outpace current projections.

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

An area's performance is closely linked to updates in regional infrastructure, major works, and urban planning schemes. AreaSearch has identified no projects that are expected to influence the locality. Notable projects in the wider region include Henley Rise, Australian Hockey Centre, Willetton Sports Precinct Transformation, and Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal, with details provided below for those most likely to be relevant.

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The labour market in Manning shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Manning features a workforce with high levels of education, strong representation in professional services, an unemployment rate of only 3.0%, and a yearly jobs growth rate estimated at 3.9% based on AreaSearch statistical area aggregations. As of March 2026, there are 2,885 working residents, representing an unemployment rate 1.2% lower than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%, while labor force participation is slightly below average (67.8% relative to 70.2% in Greater Perth). Census records indicate that a modest 11.6% of residents worked from their homes, although this may reflect the influence of Covid-19 restrictions.

The principal sectors employing local residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The locality shows a distinct concentration in education & training, where the employment share is 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing jobs account for only 3.1% of the local workforce, which is below the 5.5% recorded across Greater Perth. As a mainly residential area, local job opportunities appear limited, judging by the ratio of working residents to local jobs in the Census.

Based on an analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical regions, the 12 months ending March 2026 saw employment expand by 3.9% and the labor force grow by 3.8%, which kept the unemployment rate steady. In comparison, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% increase in employment, a 2.5% expansion of the labor force, and a rise of 0.4 percentage points in unemployment. National employment projections released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia help illustrate prospective future demand in Manning. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce distribution 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 widely by industry. Weighting these industry projections against the local job profile suggests employment in Manning will rise by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection that does not incorporate localized population adjustments.

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

According to latest ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, taxpayers in Manning earn exceptionally high incomes relative to the rest of the nation. The median taxpayer income is $61,712, while the average income is $87,868, compared to Greater Perth values of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 are approximately $68,457 for the median and $97,472 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Manning all fell within the 72nd to 78th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket consists of 25.3% of taxpayers (1,315 residents) earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, which aligns with regional patterns where 32.0% fall into this category. High-income earners are prominent, with 38.1% of residents earning more than $3,000 weekly, highlighting strong local purchasing power. Residents spend 14.2% of their income on housing, and their high earnings place them in the 80th percentile for disposable income, with the area ranking in the 8th decile of the SEIFA index.

Manning 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 Manning consisted of 88.1% separate houses and 11.8% alternative housing types like townhouses and apartments, compared to the Perth metropolitan breakdown of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Manning was higher than the metropolitan average at 30.9%, with the remaining properties being held with a mortgage (37.2%) or occupied by renters (31.9%). The median mortgage repayment of $2,400 monthly was significantly higher than the Perth metropolitan median of $1,907, while the median weekly rent stood at $340, compared to the metropolitan median of $350. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Manning are well above the Australian median of $1,863, whereas rental costs are below the national median of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 73.0%, consisting of couples with children (35.3%), couples without children (24.6%), and single parents (10.8%). Non-family households represent the remaining 27.0%, with lone occupants accounting for 23.1% and group households representing 4.1% of the total. The median size of a household is 2.6 people, matching the average for Greater Perth.

Manning shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment levels in Manning are significantly higher than regional averages, with 43.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 27.9% across WA and 29.9% in the SA4 region. This educational profile positions the workforce well for knowledge-intensive roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 28.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees (10.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational training is held by 24.6% of residents aged 15+, which includes advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificate-level qualifications (14.7%).

Participation in study is quite high, with 32.1% of the population enrolled in an educational institution. This is composed of 9.7% in primary school, 8.7% in university or higher education, and 8.6% in high school.

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

Public transport studies show 28 active transport stops in Manning, consisting of various bus options. These stops are served by 5 distinct routes, which combine to support 1,515 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is classified as excellent, with residents living an average of 144 meters from their nearest stop. Because Manning is primarily residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with cars being the main transport mode at 78%, followed by trains at 8% and buses at 8%. Dwellings have an average of 1.5 vehicles. A relatively low 11.6% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census records which may have been influenced by COVID-19 rules.

The average service frequency is 216 daily trips across all active routes, which translates to roughly 54 weekly trips for each individual stop.

The level of general health in Manning is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Based on AreaSearch analysis of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates, Manning experiences above-average health outcomes, with a low prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older demographics, and private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high at roughly 62% of the population (3,228 people). This compares to 59.0% in Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health conditions recorded locally are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 7.5 and 7.0% of the population, respectively, while 72.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. The working-age population is particularly healthy with low levels of chronic disease. Residents aged 65 and older represent 18.7% of the local population (972 people), which is higher than the 16.1% average in Greater Perth. Senior citizens in the area enjoy above-average health, with national health rankings that generally align with the broader community.

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

Manning displays higher levels of cultural diversity than most local markets, with 19.2% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 31.2% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 48.5% of the population. However, the most distinct religious deviation is in Islam, which accounts for 4.8% of residents compared to 3.2% across Greater Perth.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three largest groups in Manning are English (26.7%), Australian (23.4%), and Other (10.7%). There are also notable differences in the representation of other backgrounds: French ancestry is overrepresented at 0.9% (compared to 0.5% regionally), Croatian at 0.9% (compared to 0.8%), and South Australian at 0.7% (compared to 1.0%).

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

With a median age of 37, Manning is identical to the Greater Perth median of 37 and close to the Australian median of 38 years. The 15 - 24 age bracket is highly represented at 16.3% compared to Greater Perth, while the 5 - 14 demographic is less common at 10.8%. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 13.7% to 16.3% of the population, and the 25 to 34 age group rose from 11.5% to 13.8%. In contrast, the 5 to 14 cohort decreased from 13.5% to 10.8%, and the 45 to 54 group fell from 13.8% to 11.8%. Looking forward to 2041, projections indicate significant changes in the age distribution of Manning. The 75 to 84 cohort will increase by 59% (181 people), rising from 306 to 488. The trend toward an older population is clear, with individuals aged 65 and over accounting for 57% of all projected growth, while the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 cohorts are expected to decrease in size.