Margaret River (WA)

Margaret River lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Estimated at 10,690 as of May 2026, the population of the suburb of Margaret River (WA) has expanded by 1,772 residents since the 2021 Census, when the count stood at 8,918. This 19.9% rate of growth is calculated from an estimated resident base of 10,677 derived from June 2025 ABS figures, combined with 256 newly validated residential addresses since the Census. Currently, the suburb of Margaret River (WA) has a population density of 174 individuals per square kilometer, which points to significant space per resident and capacity for additional residential expansion. With its 19.9% growth rate, the suburb of Margaret River (WA) outpaced the national growth average of 9.3% and the Rest of WA, placing it among the fastest-expanding areas in the state. Interstate migrants represented the largest driver of population growth, contributing 46.0% of the overall gains, though other components including natural increase and overseas migration also registered positive trends.

Projections for SA2 districts utilise 2024 ABS and Geoscience Australia releases with 2022 as the base year, while future trends beyond 2032 or for areas without specific projections rely on cohort-based growth models from the 2023 Greater Capital Region forecasts. Driven by these anticipated demographic shifts, non-metropolitan sectors across Australia are expected to grow at a pace exceeding the median, with the suburb of Margaret River (WA) projected to add 2,086 residents by 2041, representing a total population increase of 19.4% over a 16-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Margaret River was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Based on statistical area data for building approvals, Margaret River averages roughly 127 annual dwelling approvals, with 637 residential structures approved between FY-21 and FY-25, alongside 133 approvals during FY-26 so far. Over the five-year period from FY-21 to FY-25, each new dwelling averaged 2.7 new occupants, highlighting a strong demand that bolsters local property values. Newly constructed homes average $485,000 in value, pointing to a strong developer preference for upmarket, premium properties. In contrast, commercial development has remained a minor focus, with approvals totaling $6.3 million during the current financial year.

Per-capita construction volumes in Margaret River align closely with the Rest of WA, maintaining a supply-demand balance in line with state trends. This level of building activity is significantly higher than the national average, indicating strong developer optimism. Detached houses comprise 95.0% of new projects, while multi-dwelling and high-density builds account for only 5.0%, preserving a low-density character that attracts buyers seeking spacious homes. The local market shows a ratio of about 76 people for each approved dwelling, pointing to a growing real estate sector.

Long-term forecasts suggest Margaret River will add 2,073 new inhabitants by 2041 when measured from the most recent quarterly estimates. Given current construction volumes, housing supply is expected to satisfy demand, creating a positive environment for home buyers and potentially allowing population growth to outpace existing projections.

Margaret River has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 8thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, development planning, and major projects represent key drivers of growth. A total of 10 major projects have been identified as having potential local impacts. Significant projects in the area include the Margaret River Net-Positive Circular Hotel, the Goldfields Group Darch Road Development, Margaret River Wa 6285, and the Witchcliffe Ecovillage.

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

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Employment conditions in Margaret River demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Margaret River features a highly qualified labor force with a prominent tourism and hospitality presence, an unemployment rate of 2.2%, and a 0.9% rise in local employment over the past year. Employment figures for March 2026 show 6,099 working residents, with unemployment sitting 1.3% below the Regional WA average of 3.5%, and labor force participation reaching 72.3% compared to the 65.6% recorded across Regional WA. According to Census data, a modest 11.9% of the workforce worked from home, a figure that may reflect pandemic-related restrictions.

Local jobs are heavily concentrated in accommodation and food services, retail trade, and construction. Notably, the hospitality and accommodation sector employs workers at 2.0 times the average rate seen across the region. Conversely, mining accounts for only 6.7% of local jobs, compared to 11.7% in Regional WA. A comparison between the resident workforce and locally available positions indicates that local employment opportunities are somewhat limited.

Labor force trends to March 2026 show a 0.9% rise in employment and a 1.0% increase in the total workforce, keeping local unemployment steady. By comparison, Regional WA recorded a 0.1% drop in employment, a 0.3% rise in the labor force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future labor demand is modeled using national projections from May-25 mapped against local industry patterns. While overall Australian employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the expansion rates vary widely by industry. Weighting these national projections against the local job mix indicates that Margaret River's employment could grow by 5.5% over five years and 11.9% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Tax office data from the 2023 financial year indicates that incomes in the suburb of Margaret River are lower than the national average, with a median of $46,818 and an average of $62,404, compared to Regional WA values of $59,973 and $74,392 respectively. Factoring in a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of $51,935 and an average income of $69,225 as of March 2026. Census data places household, family, and individual earnings around the national 50th percentile. Specifically, 35.7% of the population, representing 3,816 people, earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is comparable to the 31.1% recorded in the wider region. Housing costs present a major challenge, leaving residents with 83.4% of their income, which ranks in the 44th percentile, while the SEIFA index places the area in the 5th decile for income.

Margaret River is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Census data shows that detached houses make up 92.4% of housing in Margaret River, with apartments, semi-detached properties, and other structures accounting for the remaining 7.6%, compared to Regional WA averages of 88.5% and 11.6% respectively. Homeownership in Margaret River stands at 29.7%, which is lower than the Regional WA average, while mortgaged properties account for 42.9% and rental homes make up 27.4%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,694 and median weekly rent of $380 both exceed the regional averages of $1,560 and $265. However, compared to national benchmarks, mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents exceed the national median of $375.

Margaret River features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families comprise the majority of households at 72.1%, consisting of couples with children at 32.3%, couples without children at 27.0%, and single-parent households at 12.4%. The remaining 27.9% are non-family households, which include single person households at 22.5% and group households at 5.2%. The average household size is 2.6 residents, slightly higher than the Regional WA median of 2.5.

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

Educational qualification rates in Margaret River are high, with 28.8% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 17.6% across the Rest of WA and 18.0% in the broader SA4 region. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common at 21.0%, with postgraduate degrees at 4.6% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Technical and vocational training is also well represented, with 40.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding vocational qualifications, split between advanced diplomas at 12.7% and certificates at 27.7%.

A significant proportion of the population is engaged in learning, with 30.6% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. This group includes 12.6% in primary school, 9.2% in high school, and 2.2% studying at the tertiary level.

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

Public transport services in Margaret River include 1 active stop with bus access, serviced by 1 route that provides 22 weekly trips. Access is limited, with residents living an average of 1957 meters from their nearest stop. Car travel is the main commuting method, used by 88% of residents, while 5% walk and 2% cycle to work. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles, and a lower-than-average 11.9% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census.

Bus services run at an average frequency of 3 trips per day across all available routes, which translates to roughly 22 weekly services for each transit stop.

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

Health indicators show positive outcomes in Margaret River, with low rates of chronic illness and mortality across all age demographics. Private health insurance coverage is slightly lower than the SA2 average, with approximately 52% of the population, or about 5,556 individuals, having private cover, compared to 56.4% across Regional WA.

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnoses, affecting 6.2% and 7.4% of the population respectively, while 75.9% of residents reported no chronic health issues, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. Health outcomes are particularly strong among working-age residents and seniors. Residents aged 65 and over make up 13.9% of the population, totaling 1,485 people, which is below the Regional WA average of 19.2%.

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

Margaret River exhibits moderate cultural diversity, with 26.9% of the population born outside Australia and 10.8% of residents speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 27.5% of the population. Notably, Jewish residents make up 0.1% of the population, compared to a nominal regional average of exactly zero percent.

The most common self-reported ancestries are English at 33.1%, Australian at 25.4%, and Irish at 7.9%. Some smaller European groups show higher representation than regional averages, with French ancestry at 1.2% compared to 0.4% regionally, New Zealand heritage at 1.2% compared to 0.9%, and Welsh ancestry at 0.8% compared to 0.6%.

Margaret River's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age of 39 in Margaret River aligns closely with the Regional WA average of 40 and the national median of 38. The 45 to 54 age bracket is well represented at 16.4% compared to Regional WA, while the 55 to 64 group is less common at 10.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group increased from 12.3% to 13.7% and the 45 to 54 group grew from 15.2% to 16.4%, while the 5 to 14 cohort decreased from 15.3% to 13.2%. By 2041, demographic forecasts project a 36% increase in the 25 to 34 age group, growing from 1,464 to 1,990 people, while the 85 and over and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to decline.