Mount Barker (WA)

Mount Barker has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

By 2025 November, Mount Barker's population was estimated around 3,058, a 7.1% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 2,855 people. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and ERP data released by ABS in June 2024, resulting in an estimated resident population of 3,002. The density ratio was 6.2 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Mount Barker demonstrated a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%, outperforming its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 76% to overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and used growth rates by age cohort from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for areas not covered.

Projected demographic shifts indicate an expected population increase just below the median of regional areas nationwide, with Mount Barker expected to grow by 366 persons to reach approximately 4,221 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 11.6% over 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Mount Barker shows approximately 12 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 63 homes. As of FY-26, 7 approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of 3.3 new residents per year for every home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating demand outpacing supply. New homes are being constructed at an average value of $293,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options.

Additionally, $6.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Rest of WA, Mount Barker has around 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 65th percentile nationally. Recent development has consisted entirely of standalone homes, maintaining the area's low-density character with a focus on family homes.

This results in approximately 216 people per approval, reflecting a transitioning market. Future projections estimate Mount Barker to add 356 residents by 2041, suggesting current development is well-matched to future needs and supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Mount Barker has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 4thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like modifications to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are expected to impact this area. Notable projects include South West Interconnected System Transformation, Western Australia Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements, WA Police Satellite Technology Upgrade, and Regional And Rural Wa Road Network Safety Improvements. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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AreaSearch analysis places Mount Barker well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Mount Barker's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.8% in June 2025.

Employment stability has been relatively consistent over the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. As of June 2025, 1,553 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4%, below Rest of WA's 3.2%. Workforce participation was lower at 51.0% compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Key employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. Mining employs only 3.2% of local workers, below Rest of WA's 11.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.3%, while labour force decreased by 1.9%, reducing the unemployment rate by 2.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of WA saw employment rise by 1.1%, labour force grow by 0.5%, and unemployment fall by 0.6 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Barker's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 5.2% over five years and 11.7% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released in financial year 2022, Mount Barker had a median income among taxpayers of $42,665 with the average level at $51,918. This is lower than national averages which stood at $57,323 and $71,163 for Rest of WA respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $48,723 (median) and $59,290 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Mount Barker all fell between the 7th and 12th percentiles nationally. The data showed that 30.7% of the population (938 individuals) had incomes within the $400 - 799 range, contrasting with surrounding regions where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket led at 31.1%. Housing costs were modest with 86.7% of income retained, but total disposable income ranked at just the 11th percentile nationally.

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

The latest Census data shows that Mount Barker's dwelling structure comprised 95.7% houses and 4.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro WA's 92.1% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Barker was 42.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.5% and rented ones at 25.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,226, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,490. The median weekly rent figure in Mount Barker was $225, compared to Non-Metro WA's $280. Nationally, Mount Barker's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,226 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Mount Barker has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 70.0% of all households, including 25.2% that are couples with children, 34.2% that are couples without children, and 9.3% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.0%, with lone person households at 27.6% and group households comprising 1.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the average for the Rest of WA.

Mount Barker faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 14.6%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.5%) and certificates (31.6%). Educational participation is high at 30.3%, comprising 11.8% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 2.0% in tertiary education.

Mount Barker Community College serves the area with an enrollment of 656 students. The school offers integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. School capacity exceeds local needs at 21.4 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.0, indicating it functions as an educational hub for the broader region.

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

Mount Barker has one active public transport stop operating within its boundaries. This stop is a mix of bus services and is served by two routes in total. These routes collectively provide 24 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of these services is rated as limited, with residents typically located 839 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency across all routes is 3 trips per day, resulting in approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Mount Barker is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Mount Barker faces substantial health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% (around 1,462 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 10.5 and 9.8% of residents respectively. About 62.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 64.7% in the rest of WA. Mount Barker has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.2% (740 people), compared to 21.0% in the rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Mount Barker's population is culturally diverse, with 82.7% being citizens, 78.2% born in Australia, and 90.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 42.8%. Islam is overrepresented compared to Rest of WA, making up 4.2% versus 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (35.6%), Australian (29.7%), and Scottish (8.5%). Welsh (0.7%) and Dutch (1.6%) are also overrepresented in Mount Barker compared to regional averages. Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 3.1% versus 2.6%.

Mount Barker hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Mount Barker's median age is 48 years, which is notably higher than Rest of WA's median age of 40 years, and considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of WA average, Mount Barker has a notably over-represented cohort of 65-74 year-olds (14.7% locally), while the 35-44 year-olds are under-represented (9.8%). This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 9.9% to 11.2% of Mount Barker's population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 16.0% to 15.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that Mount Barker's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to expand notably, increasing by 135 people (47%) from 290 to 426. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 85+ cohorts.