Stirling (WA)

Population growth drivers in Stirling are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on evaluation of ABS demographic updates for the surrounding region, alongside new address points verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the population of the suburb of Stirling (WA) is estimated to be approximately 11,254 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 1,089 individuals (10.7%) compared to the 2021 Census, when the population stood at 10,165 residents. The variance is calculated from a resident base of 11,228, estimated by AreaSearch analyzing the ABS demographic release from June 2025 and 95 validated new addresses since the Census. This population level translates to a density of 2,320 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical level recorded across national regions studied by AreaSearch. The 10.7% expansion rate in the suburb of Stirling (WA) since the 2021 census was higher than the national metric of 9.3%, positioning the locality as a regional leader in expansion. Population gains in the area were chiefly driven by overseas migration, which made up approximately 76.0% of the total demographic growth over recent times.

AreaSearch implements ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and to calculate expansion in the years after 2032, AreaSearch utilizes age cohort growth rates from the latest ABS Greater Capital Region projections published in 2023 using 2022 data. Looking at future demographic trends, population growth exceeding the national median is anticipated for the suburb of Stirling (WA), with the locality projected to add 1,904 persons by 2041 based on compiled SA2-level figures, indicating a total growth rate of 16.7% over the 16 years.

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

According to AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approvals compiled from localized statistical data, Stirling has recorded approximately 23 new homes authorized annually, totaling an estimated 116 dwellings approved over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 39 during the current FY-26 period. With an average of 6.4 additional residents per year for every home constructed during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand significantly outpaces the supply of new housing, which typically drives up values and intensifies competition among purchasers, while new projects show a mean valuation of $435,000, indicating that developers are focusing on the higher-end market tier with premium properties. Furthermore, $18.5 million in commercial building approvals have been logged in the current financial year, showing moderate commercial construction activity.

Stirling registers considerably lower building volume compared to Greater Perth, tracking 51.0% below the regional per capita average. This restricted volume of new supply generally underpins demand and pricing for existing homes, though construction activity has accelerated recently. The rate also falls below the national average, pointing to the mature nature of the locality and hinting at potential planning constraints. Ongoing construction comprises 52.0% separate houses and 48.0% multi-unit dwellings, showcasing a growing proportion of attached options that deliver variety across different pricing tiers, ranging from roomy family residences to more affordable compact options. This marks a clear departure from the current housing stock, which is 87.0% houses, showing a dwindling supply of vacant land while reflecting modern lifestyle shifts and a need for varied, lower-cost housing. With approximately 343 people for every approval, Stirling represents a market undergoing transition.

Future projections indicate Stirling will add 1,878 residents by 2041 according to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If current building rates do not accelerate, the supply of housing is likely to fall behind population growth, which will probably increase competition among buyers and support price increases.

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

Local infrastructure updates, major construction projects, and planning changes have a significant influence on regional development. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects in progress or planned that are expected to affect this locality. Key developments include the Osborne Park Hospital Women and Newborn Services Expansion, the Stephenson Avenue Extension, the Stirling Bus Interchange Upgrade, and the Lake Monger Primary School Additions and Relocation, with further details provided on the most significant works.

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Stirling ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Stirling has a highly educated labor force with a substantial share of professional services workers, a low unemployment rate of 2.5%, and an annual employment growth rate estimated at 3.2% based on AreaSearch compilation of regional statistical data. As of March 2026, 6,390 local citizens are employed, with the unemployment rate tracking 1.6 percentage points lower than the 4.2% rate recorded in Greater Perth, while participation in the workforce matches the Greater Perth level of 70.2%. Census data reveals that a modest 11.1% of working residents performed their jobs from home, though this figure was likely influenced by Covid-19 restrictions.

The primary employment fields for local residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. The locality shows a strong concentration in professional & technical services, with its share of employment reaching 1.4 times the regional proportion. Conversely, the mining sector accounts for only 5.1% of the local workforce, which is lower than the 7.0% average for Greater Perth. While there are local job opportunities within the neighborhood, travel data comparing the Census working population to local residents suggests a significant portion of the workforce travels to other areas for employment.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics compiled from broader regional sources, the year ending March 2026 saw employment levels rise by 3.2% and the labor force expand by 3.6%, which led to a 0.4 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment, a 2.5% expansion in the labor force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context regarding future demand trends in Stirling. These projections, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Although total national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change differ widely across industries. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to Stirling's occupational structure suggests local employment would rise by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes that does not incorporate localized population trends.

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

Tax statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicate that personal earnings in the suburb of Stirling are higher than the national average. The median income among local taxpayers is $57,518 and the average income is $72,411, compared to Greater Perth metrics of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current estimates indicate levels of roughly $63,805 for median income and $80,326 for average income as of March 2026. The 2021 Census indicates that household income sits at the 79th percentile ($2,221 per week), and individual income is at the 62nd percentile. Distribution statistics show that the largest cohort comprises 27.0% of local taxpayers (3,038 individuals) earning in the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, mirroring the broader region where 32.0% fall into this category. Local economic capacity is highlighted by the 37.0% of households that earn high weekly incomes above $3,000, which supports local retail and service spending. Discretionary funds remain strong with residents keeping 87.4% of their earnings after housing expenses, and the neighborhood is positioned in the 8th decile of the SEIFA index for income.

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

According to the latest Census, the housing mix in Stirling consisted of 86.9% separate houses and 13.1% multi-unit housing types like townhouses and apartments, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership rates in Stirling were significantly higher than the Perth metro average, sitting at 44.7%, while the remaining houses were under mortgage (39.9%) or rented (15.5%). The median monthly home loan payment was $2,348, which is higher than the Perth metro average of $1,907, and the median weekly rent was $410, compared to $350 in metropolitan Perth. On a national scale, mortgage costs in Stirling are higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and rent costs exceed the national benchmark of $375.

Stirling features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up 80.5% of all local households, consisting of 40.8% couples with children, 30.5% couples without children, and 8.2% single parent households. The remaining 19.5% of households are non-family arrangements, with single person dwellings representing 17.9% and group living situations comprising 1.7% of the total. The median size of households is 2.7 people, which is slightly larger than the average of 2.6 across Greater Perth.

Stirling shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The educational credentials of the local population are notable within the region, with university graduation rates representing 35.3% of residents aged 15 and over, which is higher than the WA average of 27.9% and the SA4 regional average of 29.0%, showing a strong orientation toward tertiary study. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 24.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 8.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.9%. Technical and vocational training is also well represented, with 27.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding practical qualifications, split between advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 16.7%.

Enrolment in education is strong, with 26.7% of local residents currently undertaking formal study. This student population includes 9.2% attending primary school, 7.4% enrolled in high school, and 5.7% studying at tertiary institutions.

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

Public transit records show 63 active stops operating within Stirling, comprising a combination of bus and train access. These locations are connected to 15 distinct transit routes, which support 4,530 passenger journeys weekly. Transit proximity is high, with residents living an average of 188 meters from their closest stop. Due to the residential character of the suburb, most workers travel to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary transit choice at 82%, followed by train travel at 11%. Car ownership stands at an average of 1.7 vehicles per household, which is higher than the regional average. A relatively low proportion of 11.1% of workers reported working from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 rules.

Transit service frequency averages 647 daily journeys across all active routes, which translates to roughly 71 services per week for each transit stop.

Stirling's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health profiles for Stirling show highly favorable outcomes based on AreaSearch measurements of mortality rates and chronic illnesses, which reveal a very low rate of common conditions across all age brackets, while private health insurance rates are strong, covering roughly 56% of the population (~6,296 residents) compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most frequent health conditions reported in the locality are arthritis and mental health challenges, affecting 6.9% and 5.8% of the population, respectively, while 74.8% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. The suburb has 21.1% of its population aged 65 and over (2,374 individuals), which is higher than the 16.1% average in Greater Perth. Senior citizens in the area show strong health profiles, with national standings aligning closely with those of the broader population.

Stirling is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Stirling displays a relatively high level of cultural diversity, with 36.3% of residents using a language other than English for home communication and 40.5% having been born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 60.9% of the local population, compared to 45.0% for Greater Perth.

Regarding parent birthplaces, the three largest ancestry groups in Stirling are Italian, representing 17.2% of residents, which is higher than the metropolitan average of 4.2%, English, representing 16.9% of the population, which is lower than the metropolitan average of 28.0%, and Australian, representing 15.1% of the population, which is lower than the metropolitan average of 21.2%. There are also distinct variations in other backgrounds, with Croatian heritage overrepresented at 3.0% of the population compared to 0.8% regionally, Macedonian at 3.6% compared to 0.4% regionally, and Polish at 1.2% compared to 0.7% regionally.

Stirling's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age of residents in Stirling is 42 years, which is older than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national average of 38 years. The 65 - 74 age bracket is well represented at 10.6% compared to Greater Perth, while the 25 - 34 cohort is less common, also at 10.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has increased from 6.3% to 7.5%, whereas the 55 to 64 bracket has decreased from 12.9% to 12.0%. Long-term population forecasts for 2041 point to notable demographic shifts in Stirling, led by a 64% increase in the 75 to 84 cohort (an increase of 538 people), moving from 844 to 1,383. The combined age brackets from 65 upward are projected to make up 55% of all demographic growth, highlighting the aging trend in the area, whereas the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to contract.