Pinjarra

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

According to the analysis of population updates from the ABS for the wider region, alongside newly validated addresses by AreaSearch following the Census, the suburb of Pinjarra's population is estimated at approximately 5,749 in May 2026. This represents an addition of 835 residents (17.0%) relative to the 2021 Census, which reported a population count of 4,914 individuals. The adjustment is determined from an estimated resident population of 5,550 by AreaSearch, following a review of the ABS's June 2025 ERP release and 65 validated new addresses since the Census date. This size of population results in a density of 300 persons per square kilometer, offering ample room per resident and potential capacity for additional expansion. The 17.0% expansion in the suburb of Pinjarra since the 2021 census was greater than the national growth rate (9.3%), as well as the state average, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Population increases in the area were largely propelled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 78.0% of the total population gains in recent times, though all other contributors, such as natural growth and overseas migration, were also positive.

AreaSearch adopts the ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 regions lacking this data, and for estimating expansion across all areas beyond 2032, AreaSearch utilizes the growth rates by age cohort supplied by the ABS in its 2023 Greater Capital Region projections, which are based on 2022 data. When analyzing future demographic trends, an expansion exceeding the national median is anticipated, with the region projected to grow by 1,044 individuals by 2041 based on compiled SA2-level forecasts, representing a total increase of 14.7% over the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS building approval statistics compiled from statistical area records, about 28 residential building permits have been granted annually in Pinjarra, amounting to an estimated 140 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 75 approvals have been logged. With an average of 3.7 individuals relocating to the region annually for each new dwelling constructed over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), the supply of housing is lagging behind demand significantly, which typically indicates increased competition among buyers, creating upward pressure on prices, while new dwellings are being built with an average construction cost of $425,000, showing that developers are focusing on the higher-end market segment with premium homes. Furthermore, $6.1 million in commercial building approvals have been logged in the current financial year, showing a limited emphasis on commercial building projects.

Compared to Greater Perth, Pinjarra shows substantially lower development volume (55.0% below the regional per capita average). This relative lack of new homes generally boosts demand and supports pricing for existing properties. Additionally, recent construction consists entirely of detached homes, maintaining the low-density character of the area with a focus on standalone housing that appeals to buyers seeking extra space. With approximately 206 individuals per building approval, Pinjarra exhibits the traits of an expanding locality.

Forecasts indicate that Pinjarra will add 845 new residents by 2041 (starting from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly projection). Construction is keeping a reasonable pace with the projected population expansion, though homebuyers may experience greater competition as the community grows.

Pinjarra has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

Few factors impact local performance as much as changes to infrastructure, major projects, and planning developments. In total, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to impact the area. Key developments include the Additional Australind Trains Procurement, the Provision Of Regional-Level Sporting Facilities In Growth Areas Perth And Peel, the WA Police Satellite Technology Upgrade, and the METRONET High Capacity Signalling Project, with the list below highlighting those expected to be most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Pinjarra has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Pinjarra has a balanced labor force consisting of both white-collar and blue-collar workers, with manufacturing and industrial fields being heavily represented, an unemployment rate of 5.8%, and a 5.4% estimated increase in employment over the past year, according to AreaSearch's compilation of regional statistical data. As of March 2026, 2,303 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 1.7% higher than the rate of 4.2% in Greater Perth, and workforce participation is considerably lower (52.8% compared to 70.2% in Greater Perth). Based on Census records, a modest 5.0% of the working population worked from home, although the influence of Covid-19 lockdowns must be taken into account.

The primary industries employing local residents are manufacturing, mining, and health care & social assistance. The community shows a particularly high concentration in manufacturing, with local employment ratios reaching 2.3 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services have a minimal footprint, accounting for 2.7% of local employment compared to 8.2% across the region. This mostly residential locality seems to provide few local job opportunities, as shown by the comparison of Census workers to the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics compiled from regional data, over the year ending March 2026, local employment grew by 5.4% and the labor force expanded by 7.4%, which led to an increase of 1.8 percentage points in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 2.0%, labor force growth of 2.5%, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can provide additional perspective on potential future demand in Pinjarra. These projections, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been aligned with the local employment profile to project future trends. While employment nationally is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary widely across different industries. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the local employment mix suggests that employment in Pinjarra should grow by 5.2% over five years and 11.7% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted projection for illustration and does not incorporate local population forecasts).

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

Based on the most recent postcode-level ATO data released by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the suburb of Pinjarra's median taxpayer income is $47,535, with an average of $63,656. This stands below the national average, comparing to a median of $60,748 and average of $80,248 in Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current projections estimate these figures at approximately $52,731 (median) and $70,614 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census income statistics show that household, family, and personal earnings in Pinjarra all fall between the 6th and 9th percentiles nationally. The statistics indicate the largest group consists of 28.8% earning weekly incomes of $400 - 799 (1,655 residents), which contrasts with the metropolitan region where 32.0% of households fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category. Affordability pressures for housing are severe, with only 81.4% of income remaining, placing the area in the 9th percentile.

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

The mix of dwelling types in Pinjarra, as recorded in the most recent Census, consisted of 86.6% houses and 13.3% other types of housing (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, or other dwellings), compared to the Perth metro profile of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, home ownership rates in Pinjarra were significantly higher than the Perth metro average, sitting at 34.7%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (38.9%) or rented (26.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was significantly lower than the Perth metro average at $1,517, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $290, compared to $1,907 and $350 in the Perth metro area. Nationally, Pinjarra's mortgage payments are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially below the national median of $375.

Pinjarra has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households represent the majority at 69.8% of all households, consisting of 25.5% couples with children, 29.3% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.2%, with lone person households at 28.0% and group living situations making up 2.0% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 residents is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

The region experiences educational challenges, as university qualification rates (9.5%) are significantly below the national average of 30.4%. This represents both a hurdle and a chance for focused educational campaigns. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.2%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.2%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.1%). Vocational and technical skills are highly prevalent, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (33.8%).

Participation in education is notably high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal studies. This comprises 11.2% in primary schools, 9.7% in secondary schools, and 2.0% in tertiary institutions.

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

Public transport analysis shows 41 active transit stops operating in Pinjarra, consisting of a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 3 individual routes, which collectively offer 187 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is classified as good, with residents typically residing 279 meters from the closest transit stop. As a predominantly residential suburb, most residents commute outward, and the car remains the primary mode of travel at 88%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. A relatively small 5.0% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 26 trips per day across all routes, which corresponds to roughly 4 weekly trips for each transport stop.

Health performance in Pinjarra is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Health metrics indicate considerable challenges in Pinjarra, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of death rates and chronic illness prevalence, which impact both younger and older cohorts, while the rate of private health insurance coverage is slightly ahead of the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~3,016 people). This compares to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most common medical ailments in the region are arthritis and mental health conditions, affecting 11.2 and 10.7% of residents, respectively, while 59.1% reported being completely free of medical issues compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. The working-age population experiences significant health challenges with higher rates of chronic conditions. The area has 26.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,511 people), which is higher than the 16.1% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes for seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally aligned with the broader population.

Pinjarra ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Pinjarra was found to have below-average cultural diversity, with 86.4% of its residents being citizens, 81.2% born in Australia, and 95.5% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion in Pinjarra is Christianity, representing 46.6% of the population, compared to 45.0% across Greater Perth.

Regarding parent country of birth (ancestry), the three most common groups in Pinjarra are English, representing 35.2% of the population, which is considerably higher than the regional average of 28.0%, Australian, representing 31.9% of the population, which is significantly above the regional average of 21.2%, and Scottish, representing 8.0% of the population. Furthermore, there are notable differences in the representation of other ethnic backgrounds: Dutch is slightly overrepresented at 1.6% of Pinjarra (versus 1.5% in the region), South Australian is at 0.6% (versus 1.0%), and Maori is at 0.7% (versus 0.9%).

Pinjarra hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age of 43 in Pinjarra is much higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 and also exceeds the national median of 38. The age distribution shows that the 65 - 74 year-old cohort is especially prominent (13.2%), whereas the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller (8.4%) than in Greater Perth. In the period since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 8.1% to 9.5% of the population, while the 15 to 24 age bracket grew from 11.2% to 12.4%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 13.9% to 12.4%, and the 45 to 54 group fell from 12.2% to 10.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, population forecasts indicate major changes in Pinjarra's age composition. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to expand significantly, increasing by 365 people (67%) from 546 to 912. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 75% of total population growth, showing the aging demographic profile of the area. On the other hand, the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.