North Perth

Population growth drivers in North Perth are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of North Perth's population is estimated at around 10,843 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,220 people (12.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,623 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 10,692, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 76 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,531 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. North Perth's 12.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 63.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is utilising the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Moving forward with demographic trends, an above median population growth of national areas is projected, with the suburb expected to increase by 1,818 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 15.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

Between FY21 and FY25, North Perth had approximately 32 dwelling approvals per year, totaling around 161 homes. As of FY26, there have been 14 approvals recorded. On average, each home built accommodates about 7.5 new residents annually over these five financial years. This supply is significantly lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

The construction value of new homes averages around $620,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, commercial development approvals totaled $3.0 million, reflecting North Perth's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Perth, North Perth shows significantly reduced construction activity, at 57.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. Nationally, this activity is also below average, suggesting possible planning constraints.

New building activity consists of approximately 75.0% detached dwellings and 25.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving North Perth's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 320 people per dwelling approval, North Perth indicates a developing market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, North Perth is expected to grow by approximately 1,669 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 21 projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones include Alma Square, Targeted Underground Power Program - Joondanna, Osborne Park, Tuart Hill, North Perth Town Centre Planning Framework, and North Perth / Mount Lawley Underground Power Project. The following list details those most relevant.

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.

The employment environment in North Perth shows above-average strength when compared nationally

North Perth has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.3%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 6,618 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% lower than Greater Perth's 4.0%.

Workforce participation is 73.9%, slightly higher than Greater Perth's 71.6%. Census responses show that only 12.3% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (strong specialization with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction is under-represented, with only 6.5% of North Perth's workforce compared to Greater Perth's 9.3%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.0%, and employment declined by 3.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment growth of 2.9% and a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to North Perth's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The suburb of North Perth had a median taxpayer income of $70,212 and an average income of $95,929 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This places it in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Perth's median income of $60,748 and average income of $80,248. By September 2025, estimates suggest these figures would be approximately $76,966 (median) and $105,157 (average), based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since the financial year 2023. The 2021 Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in North Perth ranked between the 84th and 88th percentiles nationally. In terms of earnings profile, 28.4% of the population (3,079 individuals) fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region at 32.0%. The district exhibits considerable affluence, with 38.7% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 14.8% of income, while strong earnings rank residents within the 84th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

North Perth displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

North Perth's dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 65.4% houses and 34.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). This compares to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Perth was 29.6%, similar to Perth metro. Dwellings were either mortgaged (36.5%) or rented (33.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,473, above Perth metro's average of $1,907. Median weekly rent in North Perth was $400, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, North Perth's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 61.8% of all households, including 27.2% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 7.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.2%, with lone person households at 30.4% and group households making up 7.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

North Perth has a notably high educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 49.7% holding university qualifications compared to the broader state average of 27.9% and the Greater Perth average of 30.1%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 33.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.1%). Vocational pathways account for 22.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 13.1%. Educational participation is high in the area, with 26.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 7.9% in tertiary education, 7.6% in primary education, and 6.0% pursuing secondary education.

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

North Perth has 50 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 19 different routes, together offering 4220 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents usually located 156 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode at 70%, while buses account for 17%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.2, below regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 12.3% of residents work from home, which might reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 602 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 84 weekly trips per individual stop.

North Perth's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout North Perth. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low across both young and old age cohorts, as assessed by AreaSearch. Private health cover was exceptionally high, at approximately 65% of the total population (7,078 people), compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were mental health issues affecting 10.1% of residents and asthma impacting 6.6%. A total of 72.3% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The under-65 population demonstrated better than average health outcomes. As of the latest data (2021), the area had 16.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,767 people). Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

North Perth's population showed high cultural diversity, with 19.4% speaking a language other than English at home and 30.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 42.2%. Judaism's representation in North Perth was notably higher at 1.1%, compared to Greater Perth's 0.3%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (24.4%), Australian (19.7%), and Italian (9.1%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Macedonian (1.4% vs regional 0.4%), Croatian (1.2% vs 0.8%), and Polish (1.0% vs 0.7%).

North Perth's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in North Perth is close to Greater Perth's average at 38 years. It is also equivalent to Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, North Perth has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (17.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.0%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 65-74 has grown from 7.8% to 9.1%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 5-14 has declined from 10.2% to 9.0%. By 2041, North Perth's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 81%, reaching 963 people from the current 531. This growth will contribute significantly to the overall increase in the 65+ population, which is projected to comprise 57% of North Perth's demographic growth by 2041. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 35-44 and 5-14 age cohorts.