Serpentine (WA)

Serpentine lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis 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 Serpentine's population is estimated at around 3263 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 400 people (14.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2863 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3167, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 53 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 31 persons per square kilometer. Serpentine's 14.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (8.9%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 48.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and overseas migration 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). Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is expected, with the suburb expected to grow by 314 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 6.6% in total over the 17 years.

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

Serpentine has received approximately 21 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totaling around 106 homes. In FY-26 so far, 11 approvals have been recorded. Each new home constructed in Serpentine between FY-21 and FY-25 attracted an average of 2.8 people to the area. The average construction cost value for these homes was $382,000.

This financial year has seen $3.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating Serpentine's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Perth, Serpentine has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks within the 64th percentile nationally when assessed against other areas. All approved constructions since FY-21 have been standalone homes, maintaining Serpentine's traditional low-density character focused on family homes.

There are approximately 222 people per dwelling approval in Serpentine, suggesting a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Serpentine is projected to add around 216 residents by 2041. Current development patterns indicate that new housing supply should meet demand effectively, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting the region: Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade. Other notable projects include Provision Of Regional-Level Sporting Facilities In Growth Areas Perth And Peel, Additional Australind Trains Procurement, and H2Perth Hydrogen Facility. Key details are listed below.

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Employment performance in Serpentine exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Serpentine has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 2.8% and estimated employment growth of 3.7% in the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation.

As of June 2025, 1,550 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% lower than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is significantly lower at 53.1%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Major employment industries include construction, mining, and retail trade. The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 8.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance employs only 8.3% of local workers, below Greater Perth's 14.8%. Employment opportunities may be limited locally, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.7%, while the labour force grew by 3.3%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 3.7% and labour force growth of 3.8%, with a slight rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industries. Applying these projections to Serpentine's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 11.9% over ten years.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Serpentine is $57,507 and average income stands at $73,961. This contrasts with Greater Perth's median income of $58,380 and average income of $78,020. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes are approximately $65,673 (median) and $84,463 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 62nd percentile ($1,955 weekly) and personal income is at the 42nd percentile. Income distribution shows that 28.1% of Serpentine's population falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 range (916 individuals), similar to the broader area where 32.0% occupy this range. A substantial proportion, 30.8%, earns above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity in the suburb. After housing expenses, 85.0% of income remains for other expenses. Serpentine's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Serpentine's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.0% houses and 13.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Perth metro had 97.8% houses and 2.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Serpentine was at 39.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 52.3% and rented ones at 7.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,200, higher than Perth metro's average of $1,971. The median weekly rent figure in Serpentine was $348, compared to Perth metro's $380. Nationally, Serpentine's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

Serpentine features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 80.1% of all households, including 35.8% couples with children, 36.1% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 19.9%, with lone person households at 18.1% and group households comprising 1.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 3.0.

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

The area's university qualification rate is significantly lower than the Australian average, at 12.2% compared to 30.4%. This presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common among residents with higher education qualifications (9.7%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (31.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 36.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including secondary (13.0%), primary (12.6%), and tertiary education (3.3%). Serpentine Primary School and Eton Farm Primary School serve a total of 262 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 1007). Both schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited at 8.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.4, leading many families to travel for schooling.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Serpentine is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Serpentine faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~1,845 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.3% and 8.5% of residents respectively. A total of 65.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.5% across Greater Perth. As of the latest data (2016), 19.6% of residents are aged 65 and over (639 people), which is higher than the 11.1% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Serpentine's population showed lower cultural diversity, with 77.2% being citizens and 77.3% born in Australia. Most residents spoke English only at home (97.3%). Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 44.1%.

Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to 0.0% regionally. Top ancestry groups were English (35.8%), Australian (32.7%), and Scottish (6.8%). Some ethnic groups showed notable variations: Dutch were slightly overrepresented at 3.3% (vs regional 3.4%), Welsh at 0.9% (vs 0.6%), and South African at 0.5% (vs 1.1%).

Serpentine hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Serpentine is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Serpentine has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (16.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.3%). This proportion for the 55-64 age group is well above the national average of 11.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 65-74 has increased from 10.3% to 11.9%, while the 55-64 age group has risen from 15.3% to 16.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 17.4% to 13.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Serpentine's age structure. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow by 46%, reaching 565 people from 388. Notably, the combined ages of 65+ will account for 92% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0-4 and 25-34 age groups are projected to decrease in number.