Spalding (WA)

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

Analyzing population updates from the ABS for the surrounding region alongside address records verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Spalding (WA) is calculated to have approximately 2,045 residents in May 2026. This represents an addition of 53 individuals (2.7%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 1,992 residents. This shift is derived from the resident population of 2,043, calculated by AreaSearch using the most recent ABS ERP publication from June 2025 and 4 verified new addresses added after the Census date. This population level translates to a density of 459 persons per square kilometer, which offers plenty of space per resident and opportunity for future expansion. Overseas migration was the primary driver of demographic gains, serving as almost the exclusive source of population growth in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates regional projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For locations lacking this coverage, and to calculate growth trends past 2032, AreaSearch employs growth projections by age bracket from the latest ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 utilizing 2022 data. Based on these anticipated demographic trends, regional areas are projected to experience population expansion above the national median, with the suburb of Spalding (WA) projected to add 278 residents by 2041 based on compiled SA2 statistics, representing a total increase of 13.5% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Spalding is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Spalding experiences a very modest volume of building activity, averaging 1 approvals annually, with a total of 7 recorded over the previous five years. Low levels of building are typical in rural locations where housing requirements remain limited and development is constrained by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Because approvals are so limited, individual building projects can exert a large influence on yearly statistics and comparisons.

Spalding displays much lower volumes of construction compared to the Rest of WA. This level of building activity also sits below nationwide trends. Furthermore, recent building completions have consisted entirely of standalone houses, which aligns with the rural nature of the area where larger lots and open space are standard.

Projecting forward, Spalding is expected to add 276 residents by 2041, starting from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch. If current building rates do not accelerate, new housing supply may fall behind population growth, which could increase buyer competition and support price growth.

Spalding has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure updates, major construction projects, and planning changes have a significant impact on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a single project expected to influence the local area. Key projects include the Geraldton Homemaker Centre Expansion, Geraldton Heights Estate, Geraldton Youth Precinct Masterplan Development, and the Dongara-Geraldton-Northampton Route (DGN Route), with the primary details focusing on the most relevant schemes.

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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Spalding faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Spalding has a diverse labor force spanning professional and trade occupations, with notable representation in the retail and lifestyle sectors, an unemployment rate of 7.8%, and a 3.5% annual expansion in employment based on compiled statistical area data from AreaSearch. In March 2026835 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 4.3% higher than the Regional WA rate of 3.5%, showing potential for improvement, while participation in the workforce is notably lower at 56.9% compared to 65.6% in Regional WA. Census responses show that only 2.2% of residents worked from home, although the influence of Covid-19 restrictions should be kept in mind.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are retail trade, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food services. Retail trade shows exceptionally high specialization, with its share of employment standing at 1.7 times the regional level. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing is less represented at 3.3% compared to the regional average of 9.3%. Although there are local employment options, a comparison of the Census working population to the local population indicates that a significant share of residents travel to other areas for work.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics compiled from surrounding geographic areas, employment grew by 3.5% and the labor force expanded by 3.0% over the 12 months leading to March 2026, which resulted in a decrease in the unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. During the same period in Regional WA, employment declined by 0.1%, the labor force grew by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide additional context on prospective future demand in Spalding. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local industry mix to model growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary widely by industry. Weighting these projections against the employment profile of Spalding suggests local employment would rise by 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though this is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not account for local population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to compiled ATO postcode data for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in Spalding recorded a median income of $44,216 and an average income of $55,273. These figures are below the national averages and compare to median and average levels of $59,973 and $74,392 across Regional WA. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would be approximately $49,049 for the median and $61,314 for the average in March 2026. The 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Spalding all rank between the 5th and 5th percentiles nationally. The data reveals that the $800 - 1,499 bracket is the most common, accounting for 27.7% of residents (566 people), whereas in the wider region, 31.1% of residents fall in the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Residents retain 84.9% of their income after housing costs, which ranks in the 7th percentile nationally.

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

Residential structures in Spalding at the time of the latest Census consisted of 86.3% houses and 13.6% other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative housing), compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings in Regional WA. The home ownership rate in Spalding matched the Regional WA level of 35.7%, while the remaining properties were mortgaged (31.5%) or rented (32.7%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,211 was well below the Regional WA average, while the median weekly rent was $220, compared to regional averages of $1,560 and $265. On a national level, mortgage repayments in Spalding are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent prices are significantly below the national median of $375.

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

Family households make up the majority of homes at 64.1%, consisting of 20.4% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 16.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.9%, which includes single-person households at 33.9% and group households at 3.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is below the Regional WA average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Spalding exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area shows low rates of higher education, with university qualification levels at 6.2%, which is well below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents an opportunity for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 4.4%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.4% and postgraduate degrees at 0.4%. Vocational and technical training is highly represented, with 43.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, split between advanced diplomas at 7.3% and certificates at 36.4%.

Participation in education is high, with 34.4% of residents enrolled in study. This group is composed of 13.5% in primary school, 11.0% in secondary school, and 1.6% in tertiary studies.

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

Analysis of transit options shows 19 active public transport stops operating in Spalding, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 3 distinct routes, which combine to provide 149 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents living an average of 206 meters from the nearest stop. Because this is a residential suburb, most workers commute outside the area; private cars are the dominant mode of travel at 92%, while 2% of residents cycle. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 cars per home, which is below the regional average. A low 2.2% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Service frequency averages 21 trips daily across the transport network, which is roughly equivalent to 7 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Spalding is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Spalding faces significant health issues, as shown by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality figures and chronic disease rates, which affect both younger and older residents. The rate of private health insurance is low, with approximately 49% of the population (~1,005 people) having coverage. This compares to 56.4% in Regional WA and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health conditions recorded were mental health issues and asthma, which affect 10.2 and 9.5% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 58.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. The working-age population has high rates of chronic illness, indicating notable health challenges. Residents aged 65 and over make up 13.8% of the population (282 people), which is lower than the Regional WA average of 19.2%. Senior health metrics present some challenges, ranking similarly to the general local population.

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

Spalding has lower cultural diversity metrics compared to national averages, with citizens making up 79.4% of the population, 88.0% born in Australia, and 92.1% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 46.1% of residents. The most notable religious overrepresentation is Islam, which accounts for 2.6% of the population compared to 0.8% across Regional WA.

In terms of parental heritage, the three largest ancestral groups are Australian at 30.4%, English at 25.8% (which is below the regional average of 31.3%), and Australian Aboriginal at 15.9% (which is higher than the regional average of 6.1%). There are also notable differences in other backgrounds: Maori heritage is recorded at 0.9% (compared to 1.0% regionally), Vietnamese at 0.9% (compared to 0.1% regionally), and Samoan at 0.2% (compared to 0.1% regionally).

Spalding's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Spalding is 39 years, which is close to the Regional WA median of 40 years and the national average of 38 years. Children aged 5 to 14 years are highly represented at 15.2% compared to Regional WA, while seniors aged 75 to 84 years are less common at 2.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age bracket has increased from 11.0% to 13.5% of the population, and the 35 to 44 age bracket grew from 11.8% to 13.1%. In contrast, the 75 to 84 bracket fell from 4.5% to 2.6%, and the 85+ bracket declined from 1.4% to none. Population projections for 2041 point to shifts in local demographics, led by the 25 to 34 age bracket, which is expected to grow by 41% (112 people), rising from 276 to 389. Conversely, the 75 to 84 and 15 to 24 cohorts are projected to shrink.