Swanbourne

Population growth drivers in Swanbourne are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Swanbourne is around 4,838, reflecting an increase of 246 people since the 2021 Census. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of a resident population of 4,819, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and address validation since the Census date. The current population density ratio is 919 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Swanbourne has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.6%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimations, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Swanbourne is expected to increase by 526 persons to reach a total population of 5,364 by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 14.2% over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Swanbourne had virtually no dwelling approvals in recent years. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, there were an estimated four homes approved. So far in FY26, zero approvals have been recorded.

This results in an average of 102 people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these years. This high demand-to-supply ratio typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction value of new properties is $1,347,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. Compared to Greater Perth, Swanbourne has markedly lower building activity. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. Additionally, this activity is below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New construction in Swanbourne consists entirely of standalone homes, preserving its low-density nature with an emphasis on detached housing, which attracts space-seeking buyers. This favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (81.0% at Census), demonstrating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 4922 people, reflecting the area's quiet, low activity development environment.

Swanbourne has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. Key projects include Claremont on the Park Stage 2 (The Crescent), Swanbourne Station Transit-Oriented Development, The Grove Residences, and 22 St Quentin Avenue Mixed-Use Development.

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 analysis of employment trends sees Swanbourne performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Swanbourne has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate is 1.3%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 2654 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.7% below Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation stands at 69.5%, slightly lower than Greater Perth's 71.6%. Census responses indicate that 14.6% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level, but construction shows lower representation at 5.0% compared to the regional average of 9.3%.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the working population versus resident population count. Over a 12-month period, labour force decreased by 3.0%, employment declined by 3.3%, and unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment rise by 2.9% and labour force grow by 3.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Swanbourne's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that income in Swanbourne is among the top percentile nationally. The median assessed income is $79,986 while the average income stands at $161,440. This contrasts with Greater Perth's figures of a median income of $60,748 and an average income of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year ending June 2023, current estimates for Swanbourne would be approximately $87,681 (median) and $176,971 (average) as of September 2025. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes in Swanbourne all rank highly nationally, between the 96th and 99th percentiles. Distribution data shows that 43.5% of residents (2,104 people) fall into the $4000+ bracket, contrasting with the broader area where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 32.0%. A significant 56.2% earn above $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 88.9% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Swanbourne's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 81.4% houses and 18.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Perth metro's 71.2% houses and 28.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Swanbourne stood at 42.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.9% and rented ones at 26.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,504, higher than Perth metro's average of $1,875. Median weekly rent in Swanbourne was recorded at $470, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Swanbourne's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 79.7% of all households, including 43.1% couples with children, 28.0% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 20.3%, with lone person households at 17.7% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Swanbourne demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Swanbourne's residents aged 15 and above demonstrate higher educational attainment than broader averages. Specifically, 58.0% of Swanbourne residents hold university qualifications, surpassing WA's 27.9% and Greater Perth's 30.1%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 37.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.7%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational pathways account for 16.9%, with advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 8.1%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 36.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.9% in secondary education, 10.8% in primary education, and 8.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Swanbourne has 26 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by five routes that facilitate 1,375 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is deemed good with residents located an average of 209 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with outward commuting being common. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 79%, while train accounts for 6% and walking for 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 196 trips per day, equating to roughly 52 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Swanbourne's health outcomes show exceptional results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was found to be exceptionally high at approximately 91% of the total population (4,416 people), compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis and asthma, affecting 6.8% and 6.8% of residents respectively. A total of 75.3% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Swanbourne has 19.2% of residents aged 65 and over (928 people), higher than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Swanbourne records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Swanbourne's cultural diversity aligns with its wider region, with 74.9% born in Australia, 91.0% being citizens, and 92.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion at 47.8%. Judaism shows overrepresentation at 0.8%, compared to Greater Perth's 0.3%.

For ancestry, English (33.4%) and Australian (25.1%) are dominant, with Scottish at 9.4%. Notable differences exist for South African (1.2% vs regional 1.0%), Welsh (0.7% vs 0.7%), and Dutch (1.7% vs 1.5%).

Swanbourne's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Swanbourne was close to Greater Perth's average at 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years as of the latest data. Compared to Greater Perth, Swanbourne had a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.2%) but fewer individuals aged 25-34 (9.7%). Between the 2021 Census and the current period, the population aged 75-84 increased from 5.1% to 6.9%, while those aged 15-24 rose from 13.9% to 15.3%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 declined from 14.5% to 13.1%, and the age group 5-14 decreased from 16.4% to 15.2%. By 2041, Swanbourne's population is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The number of individuals aged 85 and above is expected to grow by 125%, reaching 327 from 145. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 53% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the age groups 0-4 and 5-14.