Orelia

Orelia is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to evaluations of ABS demographic releases for the wider region alongside newly verified residential addresses since the Census, the suburb of Orelia has an estimated population of 5,002 as of May 2026. This represents a rise of 467 residents (10.3%) from the 2021 Census, when the count stood at 4,535 individuals. The estimation is based on a localized population of 4,937 calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP release, with an additional 19 validated new addresses added after the Census. This population level results in a density of 1,707 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical figure recorded across national areas monitored by AreaSearch. The 10.3% growth rate in the suburb of Orelia since the 2021 census was higher than the country's average of 9.3%, placing it among the faster-growing localities in the region. Demographic expansion was mostly driven by arrivals from overseas, who made up roughly 53.0% of the net gains, although natural increase and interstate migration also contributed positive growth.

Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are applied to each SA2 region. For areas lacking this data, and for long-term outlooks beyond 2032, growth calculations rely on age cohort growth rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections using 2022 figures. Future demographic models suggest the suburb of Orelia will experience expansion above the national median, with aggregated SA2 calculations indicating an increase of 604 residents by 2041, representing a total expansion of 10.8% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Orelia recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Building approval records from the ABS indicate that the suburb of Orelia averaged approximately 8 residential approvals per year. This compiles to an estimated 43 dwellings approved over the 5 fiscal years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, with 36 approvals recorded during FY-26 so far. Because the area added an average of 5.8 new residents for each completed home during the 5 fiscal years from FY-21 to FY-25, demand remains higher than incoming supply. This imbalance typically exerts upward pressure on property prices and elevates buyer rivalry, while newly constructed residences carry an average development value of $340,000. Furthermore, commercial approvals worth $700,000 have been logged during this fiscal year, indicating that development is heavily tilted toward residential projects.

Relative to Greater Perth, construction intensity in the suburb of Orelia is extremely low, sitting 87.0% below the per-capita average for the region. While building activity has shown recent acceleration, this limited volume of new supply generally supports the value of existing properties. The building rate is also below the national benchmark, reflecting a established residential landscape and pointing to potential zoning limits. Additionally, all recent home building has consisted of standalone houses, reinforcing the low-density suburban character which attracts buyers seeking space. Home builders are focusing more heavily on traditional houses than the historical distribution suggests, which stood at 82.0% at the Census, demonstrating persistent demand for detached family homes despite density challenges. A ratio of roughly 361 people for every building approval highlights a mature property sector.

Demographic forecasts point to an additional 539 people living in the suburb of Orelia by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. If building activity continues at its current pace, housing additions may fall short of population growth, which could increase competition among buyers and support rising home values.

Orelia has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and major works are significant drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 3 active projects expected to influence the local area. Notable projects include the Kwinana Education Precinct, the Hammond West Private Estate (Vivente), the Westport - Kwinana Container Port, and the Cassia Estate, which represent the most relevant developments for the community.

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.

Employment conditions in Orelia face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

The labor profile in the suburb of Orelia comprises a mix of white-collar and blue-collar occupations, with notable representation in industrial and manufacturing fields, alongside an unemployment rate of 15.2%. As of March 2026, there are 2,181 employed locals. The unemployment rate is 11.0% higher than the Greater Perth average of 4.2%, indicating potential for employment growth, and the participation rate of 62.7% is lower than the metropolitan average of 70.2%. Census figures show that only 3.6% of workers operated from home, though this data may reflect the influence of pandemic restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are retail trade, construction, and health care & social assistance. The local workforce has a notable concentration in manufacturing, where employment is 1.9 times the metropolitan share. Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented, accounting for 3.2% of employment compared to 8.2% across the wider region. Comparing the number of working residents to the local job count indicates that this predominantly residential sector offers limited employment opportunities within its borders.

Based on SALM and ABS data analyzed across broader areas, the labor force shrank by 1.9% and total employment fell by 2.9% over the 12-month period, causing the unemployment rate to climb by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment, a 2.5% expansion of the labor force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future local employment trends can be examined using the national occupational forecasts released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sector growth rates vary. Weighting these national trends against the local industry mix suggests employment among residents could rise by 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Based on ATO taxpayer records for the 2023 financial year, residents in the suburb of Orelia recorded a median income of $56,169 and an average income of $65,524. These figures sit slightly below national levels and compare to median and average incomes of $60,748 and $80,248 across Greater Perth. Applying the 10.93% Wage Price Index increase since the 2023 financial year yields estimated values of $62,308 for median income and $72,686 for average income as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed local household, family, and personal incomes between the 16th and 17th percentiles nationwide. The largest income bracket contains 30.1% of local taxpayers (1,505 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to the broader metropolitan distribution where 32.0% fall into this bracket. Affordability pressures are high, with residents retaining only 82.5% of their income, which ranks at the 16th percentile.

Orelia is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

According to the latest Census, the housing mix in the suburb of Orelia consisted of 81.8% detached houses and 18.3% other dwelling types such as townhouses, apartments, and alternative structures, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings across metropolitan Perth. The home ownership rate was 23.4%, which is lower than the metropolitan average, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (43.3%) or rented (33.3%). The median mortgage payment was $1,343 per month, and the median rent was $250 per week, compared to metropolitan averages of $1,907 and $350. Nationally, local mortgage costs are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the national median of $375.

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

Family households represent 64.6% of the local area, consisting of couples with children at 24.8%, couples without children at 21.1%, and single-parent households at 17.4%. Non-family households account for 35.4% of the total, with lone-person households representing 31.5% and group living arrangements at 3.7%. The typical household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Tertiary education rates in the suburb of Orelia are below the national trend, with 10.4% of residents holding a university qualification compared to 30.4% across Australia. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.7% and graduate diplomas at 1.1%. Vocational and technical skills are highly represented, with 41.8% of residents aged 15 and over holding qualification credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (33.0%).

Educational enrollment is high, with 29.5% of the population participating in formal studies. This total includes 10.4% enrolled in primary schools, 8.5% in high schools, and 3.1% in tertiary programs.

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

Analysis of local transit shows 44 active passenger stops within the suburb of Orelia, consisting of bus services. These stops are connected to 5 separate bus routes, which support a total of 609 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is high, with residents living an average of 149 meters from their nearest transit point. Because the area is mostly residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 82%, followed by trains at 8% and buses at 5%. Average vehicle ownership stands at 1.3 cars per home, which is lower than the metropolitan average. At the 2021 Census, 3.6% of residents worked from home, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Service runs average 87 daily trips across the transit network, which translates to approximately 13 weekly arrivals per individual stop.

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

Health indicators highlight some challenges in the suburb of Orelia based on analysis of mortality and chronic illness rates across younger and older demographics. Private health insurance coverage is slightly higher than the average SA2 region, with approximately 53% of residents (~2,662 people) covered, compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most prevalent diagnosed conditions are mental health disorders and asthma, affecting 10.4% and 9.5% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 64.1% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Health issues are notable within the working-age population due to elevated rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 15.8% of the community (790 people), with senior health metrics generally aligning with national averages.

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

The suburb of Orelia displays higher levels of cultural diversity than most comparable locations, with 14.3% of the population speaking a non-English language at home and 30.6% born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 40.3% of residents. The most pronounced religious overrepresentation relative to the metropolitan area is Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of the local population compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

Regarding family heritage, the primary ancestries reported are English at 28.7%, Australian at 26.9% (which is higher than the regional average of 21.2%), and Other at 8.3%. Other distinct cultural demographics include Maori residents at 2.3% of the population (compared to 0.9% regionally), New Zealand ancestry at 1.4% (compared to 0.8% regionally), and Filipino ancestry at 3.0% (compared to 1.4% regionally).

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

The median age in the suburb of Orelia is 38 years, which is close to the Greater Perth median of 37 and identical to the national median of 38. Compared to the metropolitan area, there is a higher share of residents aged 45 - 54 (14.0%) but a smaller proportion aged 25 - 34 (13.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket grew from 12.8% to 14.4%, and the 75 to 84 bracket increased from 4.5% to 5.7%, while the 35 to 44 age group fell from 14.9% to 13.5%. Demographic projections for 2041 indicate that the 75 to 84 cohort will increase by 57% (161 people) to reach 447, up from 285. Residents aged 65 and over are expected to account for 54% of total population growth, while declines are projected for children aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14.