Midland

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

Based on examination of ABS demographic releases for the wider region, alongside new address points verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Midland has an estimated residency of approximately 6,940 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 605 individuals (9.6%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded a headcount of 6,335 residents. The variance is calculated from the local population of 6,841, estimated by AreaSearch following analysis of the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) plus an additional 91 validated new addresses since the Census. This population level corresponds to a density of 1,656 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical figure for national locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The suburb of Midland's 9.6% expansion since the 2021 census outperformed the national average (9.3%), positioning it as a regional growth leader. Population expansion in the location was heavily driven by overseas migration, which served as virtually the sole contributor to population increases during recent periods.

AreaSearch incorporates ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 regions lacking this dataset, and to project trends beyond 2032, AreaSearch employs growth projections by age group published by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, utilizing 2022 data). Looking at demographic trajectories, an above median population growth rate compared to national statistical locations is anticipated, with the suburb of Midland expected to add 1,191 residents by 2041 according to aggregated SA2-level forecasts, representing an overall increase of 15.7% across the 16 years.

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

Analysis by AreaSearch of ABS building permit figures, distributed from statistical sector details, indicates that the suburb of Midland has averaged roughly 38 residential building approvals annually, summing to an estimated 192 dwellings over the preceding 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 47 approvals have been logged. With an average of 1.8 individuals migrating to the district annually per completed dwelling over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand and supply appear well-matched, supporting balanced market conditions, while new residences are constructed at a mean valuation of $374,000—slightly above regional standards—indicating a focus on quality builds. Furthermore, commercial building approvals totaling $81.4 million have been documented in the current financial year, highlighting strong local commercial investment.

Relative to Greater Perth, the suburb of Midland exhibits substantially lower construction volume (55.0% below the regional per capita average). This limited supply of new housing generally bolsters demand and valuations for pre-existing properties, although building volumes have risen in recent times. Recent construction activity consists of 30.0% standalone houses and 70.0% townhouses or multi-unit dwellings. This orientation toward higher-density housing offers more accessible price brackets and appeals to downsizers, property investors, and first-time buyers. Having roughly 130 individuals per residential building approval, the suburb of Midland displays the characteristics of a growing area.

Demographic projections indicate the suburb of Midland will add 1,092 residents by 2041 (starting from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current housing development volumes appear to match upcoming needs, preserving stable market conditions without substantial pressure on prices.

Midland has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Few factors shape local outcomes as much as updates to public infrastructure, major commercial projects, and local planning policies. In total, 12 projects have been highlighted by AreaSearch as likely to influence the area. Principal developments include The Avenues Midland, METRONET East - Midland Urban Renewal Precinct, New Junction Precinct, and Tarpaulin Shop Childcare And Office Transformation, with the subsequent list detailing the projects of highest relevance.

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.

Midland shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

The suburb of Midland has a skilled labor force, with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors, an unemployment rate of 8.4%, and an estimated job growth of 4.4% over the preceding year, according to AreaSearch aggregations of statistical area data. As of March 2026, there are 3,735 residents holding jobs, while the local unemployment rate sits 4.2% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 4.2%, indicating potential for betterment, and labor force participation is slightly below average (68.2% compared to 70.2% in Greater Perth). Based on Census returns, a minor 3.9% of residents worked from home, though the influence of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions should be kept in mind.

The primary employment sectors for local residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The locality displays a high concentration in retail trade, where the employment proportion is 1.3 times the regional standard. Conversely, education & training is under-represented, accounting for only 3.9% of the local workforce compared to 9.2% across Greater Perth. With 1.2 workers for each resident at the time of the Census, the suburb of Midland serves as an employment center, containing more jobs than working residents and drawing commuters from neighboring suburbs.

Based on AreaSearch assessments of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from broader statistical regions, over the 12 months ending March 2026, local employment grew by 4.4% while the labor force expanded by 3.6%, leading to a decrease in the unemployment rate of 0.7 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 2.0% and labor force growth of 2.5%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point increase. National employment forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future demand trends for the suburb of Midland. These projections, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been aligned with local industry profiles to project growth. While overall national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary greatly by sector. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto the local employment structure suggests that employment in the suburb of Midland will rise by 6.1% over five years and 13.1% over ten years (note that this is a simple weighted projection for illustration and does not incorporate localized population adjustments).

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to the latest postcode-level ATO statistics released for financial year 2023, the median income for taxpayers in the suburb of Midland is $54,472, with a mean income of $65,951. This sits slightly below the national average, and compares to a median of $60,748 and a mean of $80,248 in Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, contemporary estimates would be roughly $60,426 (median) and $73,159 (average) as of March 2026. Census data indicates household incomes are at the 9th percentile, whereas personal incomes rank higher at the 31st percentile. Income distribution statistics show that the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly earnings bracket accounts for 28.8% of the local population (1,998 individuals), which matches the wider region where this group represents 32.0%. Housing affordability challenges are acute, with only 78.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 6th percentile.

Midland displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The mix of housing types in the suburb of Midland, measured during the latest Census, was composed of 32.3% standalone houses and 67.7% other housing structures (such as townhouses, flats, and alternative dwellings), compared to the Perth metropolitan average of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other housing structures. Furthermore, the rate of home ownership in the suburb of Midland was lower than the Perth metro average, sitting at 17.1%, while the remaining properties were either mortgaged (19.0%) or rented (63.8%). The median monthly home loan payment in the suburb of Midland was significantly below the Perth metro average at $1,350, while the median weekly rent stood at $295, compared to Perth metro figures of $1,907 and $350. Nationally, the suburb of Midland's mortgage payments are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially below the national average of $375.

Midland features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households represent 46.1% of the total, consisting of 12.4% couples with children, 17.6% couples without children, and 14.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 53.9%, with single-person households representing 47.8% and group living situations comprising 6.1%. The median household size of 1.9 individuals is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

The locality experiences educational challenges, with university completion rates (18.0% of the population) tracking well below the national average of 30.4%. This represents both a hurdle and a chance for focused educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary qualification at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational and technical training is prominent, with 41.9% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificate qualifications (30.8%).

Enrollment rates in education are high, with 27.6% of residents currently undertaking formal study. This comprises 8.4% of the population in primary school, 5.7% in secondary school, and 5.3% pursuing higher education programs.

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

Analysis of local transit indicates there are 77 active public transport stops in the suburb of Midland, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are connected to 44 distinct routes, delivering a combined 4,086 passenger journeys each week. Transport accessibility is classified as excellent, with residents living an average of 183 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the dominant residential character, most working residents commute out of the area, with private cars remaining the primary travel choice at 74%, followed by train travel at 9% and bus transit at 6%. The average number of motor vehicles is 0.7 per household, trailing the regional average. A relatively low 3.9% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

Transit service frequency averages 583 runs per day across all local routes, which translates to roughly 53 weekly trips per individual transit stop.

Health performance in Midland is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Substantial health difficulties are apparent in the suburb of Midland, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the prevalence of long-term conditions, with several ailments affecting both younger and older cohorts. The rate of private health insurance coverage is slightly above the average SA2 region, sitting at approximately 53% of the population (~3,704 people), compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most prevalent health diagnoses in the locality were mental health conditions and arthritis, affecting 12.6% and 8.3% of residents, respectively, while 62.9% reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. The working-age cohort faces clear health challenges, marked by elevated rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 18.8% of the population (1,304 people), which is higher than the 16.1% proportion in Greater Perth. Health profiles for senior residents show some difficulties, with national rankings aligning closely with the general population.

Midland 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 Midland exhibits a high level of cultural diversity, with 25.7% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 38.3% born outside Australia. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 45.3% of local residents. However, the most notable overrepresentation is found in the Other category, which accounts for 1.7% of the population, compared to 1.4% across Greater Perth.

Regarding family ancestry, the top three represented backgrounds in the suburb of Midland are English, representing 26.9% of the population, Australian, representing 19.5% of the population, and Other, representing 10.9% of the population. There are also notable differences in the concentration of other backgrounds: Maori is highly represented at 2.3% of the suburb of Midland (compared to 0.9% regionally), Filipino at 4.6% (compared to 1.4%), and Croatian at 1.4% (compared to 0.8%).

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

The median age of 38 years in the suburb of Midland is similar to the Greater Perth average of 37 and matches the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, the suburb of Midland has a larger proportion of residents aged 25 - 34 (18.9%) but a smaller share of children aged 5 - 14 (7.0%). Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 14.0% to 15.6% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.7% to 11.1%, and the 85+ cohort has dropped from 4.4% to 3.2%. By 2041, the suburb of Midland is projected to experience substantial changes in its age structure. Leading these shifts, the 75 to 84 cohort will increase by 65% (282 people), rising to 720 from 437. This aging trend is prominent, with individuals aged 65+ accounting for 60% of the projected growth. Conversely, population drops are projected for the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 age groups.