South Lake

South Lake 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 the analysis of demographic records from the ABS for the wider region and recently verified addresses by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of South Lake has a population of approximately 6,427 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 596 residents (10.2%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 5,831 residents. The adjustment is calculated from a base resident count of 6,232, which was calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS release of ERP statistics from June 2025 alongside an extra 8 newly confirmed addresses since the Census. This population level means the suburb has a density of 1,996 persons per square kilometer, placing it above the typical density ratio calculated across Australia by AreaSearch. The suburb of South Lake's growth rate of 10.2% since the 2021 census was higher than the nation's figure of 9.3%, rendering it a local growth leader. Overseas arrivals were the primary driver of population gains, representing roughly 64.0% of total demographic growth in recent times.

Projections sourced from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for every SA2 region are being used by AreaSearch, based on a 2022 baseline released in 2024. For those SA2 locations missing these metrics, and to model demographic shifts beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies age cohort growth parameters published by the ABS in its 2023 Greater Capital Region forecasts using 2022 data. Future projections show this suburb of South Lake is set to experience population growth that is above the national median, with estimates showing an increase of 890 residents by 2041, which corresponds to an overall gain of 10.8% across the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in South Lake according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

An analysis of ABS building approvals allocated from local statistical divisions shows that the suburb of South Lake averages roughly 12 approved residential builds annually. This accounts for a calculated 62 approved homes during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, plus an additional 111 approvals registered throughout FY-26 so far. Because the area has seen an average of 3.2 incoming residents for every finished home over the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, demand is running far ahead of new completions, which commonly drives up prices and intensifies buyer competition, while new builds are established with an average construction valuation of $347,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals valued at $1.8 million have been registered during this financial year, highlighting the predominantly residential character of the locality.

Construction levels in the suburb of South Lake are notably subdued compared to the broader Greater Perth area, coming in at 78.0% below the metropolitan per capita average. This minimal volume of new housing generally helps maintain demand and supports the valuation of existing properties. Local construction activity is also below the typical national rate, illustrating the established nature of the suburb and suggesting the presence of planning restrictions. Moreover, recent residential additions have consisted entirely of single-family detached houses, reinforcing a suburban environment centered on larger houses for buyers wanting space. Having approximately 1130 residents for each new dwelling approval indicates a highly established local market.

Estimates for the future indicate that the suburb of South Lake will add 695 residents by 2041, starting from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch. Should current construction rates persist, the supply of new housing may not keep pace with demographic expansion, potentially intensifying competition among buyers and helping to drive up property valuations.

South Lake has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major planning updates, and public works are among the most influential factors on property performance. AreaSearch has identified 7 distinct projects expected to influence the local area. Principal developments include the Glen Iris Local Shopping Centre within the Glen Iris Estate, the expansion and modernization of Yangebup Primary School, the Cockburn Central East Structure Plan, the Armadale Road and North Lake Road Bridge Interchange Project, and Cockburn Central West, with details below focusing on the most significant initiatives.

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

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

The suburb of South Lake possesses a qualified workforce with a strong presence in industrial and production sectors, showing an unemployment rate of 6.0% based on statistical data compiled by AreaSearch. In March 2026, there were 3,393 employed residents, while the local jobless rate sat 1.8% higher than the Greater Perth rate of 4.2%, and the proportion of the population participating in the workforce matched the metropolitan average of 70.2%. Census records indicate that a modest 5.2% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic containment measures.

Most working residents in the suburb of South Lake are employed within healthcare and social services, construction, and retail. The suburb has a particularly strong concentration of workers in the manufacturing sector, where employment is 1.4 times higher than the metropolitan average. Conversely, mining activities employ only 5.2% of the local workforce, which is lower than the Greater Perth benchmark of 7.0%. A comparison between the census count of local jobs and the resident workforce suggests that this mostly residential suburb offers few local employment opportunities.

Analysis of AreaSearch data, which combines SALM and ABS figures from larger statistical regions, indicates that the labour force in the area shrank by 2.1% during the last twelve months, employment fell by 2.5%, and the unemployment rate increased by 0.4 percentage points. Greater Perth, however, saw employment grow by 2.0% and the labour force grow by 2.5%, accompanied by a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide additional context regarding future demand in South Lake. These forecasts span five and ten-year horizons and have been overlaid with the local employment structure to estimate future growth trajectories. Nationally, employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and by 13.7% over ten years, though these figures vary considerably across different industry sectors. When these sectoral growth rates are applied to South Lake's current employment composition, local employment is expected to grow by 6.1% over five years and by 13.0% over ten years. This projection uses a simple weighting method for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localized population forecasts.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to tax data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year aggregated at the postcode level, taxpayers in the suburb of South Lake recorded a median income of $57,061 and an average income of $69,370. These statistics are slightly higher than national averages, though they compare to $60,748 and $80,248 across the Greater Perth region. Factoring in a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of approximately $63,298 and an average of $76,952 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of South Lake are modest, sitting between the 48th and 49th percentiles. Looking at how earnings are distributed, the largest cohort consists of 37.6% of residents (2,416 people) earning within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, mirroring the metropolitan trend where 32.0% of the population falls into this category. Elevated housing costs account for 15.6% of household income, but solid overall earnings keep net disposable income at the 50th percentile.

South Lake is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The composition of residential properties in the suburb of South Lake at the time of the last Census consisted of 92.8% standalone houses and 7.2% other housing types like duplexes and apartments, whereas the Perth metropolitan area averaged 77.8% standalone houses and 22.1% other property types. Home ownership in the suburb of South Lake was lower than the Perth metropolitan average at 25.1%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with mortgages (48.2%) or tenants (26.7%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,600 was lower than the Perth metropolitan average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $350, matching the metropolitan figure of $350. Compared nationally, mortgage payments in the suburb of South Lake are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent is below the national average of $375.

South Lake features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households represent the vast majority of local residences at 72.2%, consisting of couples with children at 31.6%, couples without children at 24.8%, and single parents at 13.8%. The remaining 27.8% are non-family households, which are made up of single-person households at 22.7% and group homes at 5.2%. The median household size of 2.6 residents is identical to the average across Greater Perth.

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

Academic credentials in the suburb of South Lake are lower than metropolitan averages, with 21.1% of residents aged 15 and older holding a university degree compared to 30.4% across Australia. This difference highlights opportunities for expanding educational options and professional training. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 15.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Vocational and technical skills are highly represented, with 36.1% of residents aged 15 and older holding vocational credentials, split between advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificate courses (26.8%).

The proportion of residents in the suburb of South Lake engaged in studies is quite high, with 27.1% of the population currently enrolled in education. This share includes 9.6% attending primary school, 6.9% in secondary school, and 4.8% enrolled in higher education.

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

An analysis of public transport options reveals 35 operational bus stops within the suburb of South Lake. These facilities are connected to 4 different routes, which support a total of 709 weekly passenger journeys. Transport options are rated as good, with residents living an average of 213 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential focus of the suburb, most workers commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel for 84% of commuters, followed by 8% using the train. Households own an average of 1.6 vehicles. A relatively low 5.2% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect conditions during the pandemic.

Public transport services average 101 daily runs across all active routes, which translates to roughly 20 weekly journeys for each individual transit stop.

Health performance in South Lake is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

The suburb of South Lake faces notable health issues, based on an analysis by AreaSearch looking at mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses among both young and old cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is relatively high at roughly 55% of the population, or approximately 3,518 people. This compare with a coverage rate of 59.0% across the Greater Perth region.

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent medical issues reported in the area, affecting 8.8% and 9.1% of residents respectively, while 68.1% of the population reported no chronic health issues compared to 71.9% throughout Greater Perth. Residents of working age exhibit higher rates of chronic health issues than average. Seniors aged 65 and older make up 15.6% of the population, which equals 1,002 residents. Health trends among this older cohort present some difficulties, with national indicators matching those of the broader community.

South Lake was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

The suburb of South Lake displays higher levels of cultural diversity than most property markets, with 22.9% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 34.2% of the population born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 43.0% of residents in the suburb of South Lake. The most prominent religious overrepresentation in the area is Islam, which accounts for 2.3% of the community, compared to 3.2% across Greater Perth.

In terms of parent country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups in the suburb of South Lake are English at 25.6%, Australian at 23.3%, and Other at 13.1%. There are also notable differences in the concentration of other backgrounds: Serbian ancestry is represented at 0.7% of the suburb of South Lake compared to 0.3% across the region, Croatian ancestry is at 1.0% compared to 0.8% regionally, and South Australian ancestry is at 0.8% compared to 1.0% regionally.

South Lake's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in the suburb of South Lake is 36 years, which is close to the Greater Perth median of 37 years and slightly below the national median of 38 years. Relative to Greater Perth, the suburb of South Lake has a higher proportion of young children aged 0 to 4 (6.6%) but fewer seniors aged 75 to 84 (4.5%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 grew from 3.2% to 4.5%, and the 65 to 74 age bracket expanded from 8.1% to 9.2%. Conversely, the cohort aged 45 to 54 declined from 13.8% to 12.3%, while the 55 to 64 group decreased from 12.6% to 11.3%. Projections suggest that the age structure in the suburb of South Lake will shift considerably by 2041. The group aged 75 to 84 is expected to grow the fastest, increasing by 68% and adding 197 residents to reach a total of 487. Older residents aged 65 and over will account for 56% of the overall population growth, highlighting local aging trends. Meanwhile, the cohorts aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 are projected to experience population decreases.