Utakarra

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

Analysis of ABS population updates for the wider region, alongside newly validated addresses recorded by AreaSearch since the Census, indicates the population of the suburb of Utakarra stands at approximately 1,592 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 125 people (8.5%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 1,467 people. The estimate is derived from a resident population of 1,588, calculated by AreaSearch using the latest ERP data release from the ABS (June 2025) plus an additional 6 validated new addresses established after the Census date. This population size corresponds to a density ratio of 322 persons per square kilometer, indicating substantial personal space and capacity for future expansion. The 8.5% growth rate of the suburb of Utakarra since the 2021 census outpaced the SA4 region (8.2%) and the SA3 area, establishing it as a regional growth leader. Population gains in the area were chiefly driven by natural increase, which accounted for approximately 75.0% of the overall population rise in recent times.

AreaSearch implements ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for individual SA2 regions, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and to project expansion across all areas beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies growth rates by age cohort from the latest Greater Capital Region projections published by the ABS in 2023, based on 2022 data. Looking forward, demographic patterns suggest population growth will track just below the median for regional locations nationwide, with the suburb of Utakarra projected to expand by 156 persons by 2041 under aggregated SA2-level forecasts, representing an overall gain of 9.6% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Utakarra when compared nationally

Utakarra exhibits very limited residential construction activity, averaging 3 dwelling approvals annually, totaling 19 approvals over a five-year timeframe. Such low volume is typical of rural environments where residential requirements are modest and building activity is restricted by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note that because the volume of approvals is so small, individual building projects can exert a disproportionate effect on annual growth and comparison statistics.

Utakarra exhibits far less building activity compared to the Rest of WA. This level of activity is also below national trends. Approved construction consists of 80.0% detached houses and 20.0% medium and high-density housing, reflecting rural preferences for space and privacy. With approximately 226 people for each approval, the local market is in transition.

Projections indicate that Utakarra will add 152 residents by 2041, starting from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Although building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, buyers may encounter increased competition as the population expands.

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

Local infrastructure projects and planning changes have a significant influence on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified no projects that are expected to impact the local area. Key projects of relevance include the Geraldton Youth Precinct Masterplan Development, the Dongara-Geraldton-Northampton Route (DGN Route), the WA Police Satellite Technology Upgrade, and the Regional And Rural Wa Road Network Safety Improvements, with the detailed list highlighting those most likely to be applicable.

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

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

The local workforce is evenly distributed between professional and trade occupations, with notable representation in lifestyle and retail sectors. The unemployment rate sits at 8.1%, and estimated employment growth reached 3.0% over the prior year, based on AreaSearch statistical aggregations. As of March 2026662 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 4.5% higher than the Regional WA average of 3.5%, indicating room for improvement. Labor force participation is also low at 59.1% compared to Regional WA's 65.6%. Census data reveals that a low 3.6% of residents worked from home, though the influence of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions should be noted.

The primary employment sectors for residents are retail trade, health care & social assistance, and transport, postal & warehousing. The local area shows a strong concentration in retail trade, with employment in this sector reaching 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is minimal, employing just 1.2% of workers compared to 9.3% across the region. Comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests this mostly residential area provides limited local employment opportunities.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, aggregated from broader statistical regions, shows that over the 12 months ending March 2026, employment grew by 3.0% and the labor force expanded by 2.0%, leading to a 0.9 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional WA saw employment fall by 0.1% and the labor force grow by 0.3%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point increase. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide additional context for potential future labor demand in Utakarra. These five and ten-year projections have been aligned with the local employment profile to model potential growth. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary widely by industry. Applying these industry-specific projections to the local employment mix suggests employment in Utakarra will rise by 6.0% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighted extrapolation for illustration and does not incorporate local population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the suburb of Utakarra recorded a median taxpayer income of $48,779 and an average of $60,677. This is lower than national averages, contrasting with Regional WA's median of $59,973 and average of $74,392. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $54,111 for the median and $67,309 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Utakarra all sit between the 15th and 23rd percentiles nationally. The earnings profile reveals that 31.0% of the population (493 individuals) earn in the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which is very similar to the regional rate of 31.1%. Housing affordability pressures are major, with only 84.8% of income remaining, placing the area in the 25th percentile.

Utakarra is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

At the time of the latest Census, residential structures in Utakarra consisted of 94.1% standalone houses and 5.9% other dwellings, such as semi-detached homes, apartments, or alternative options, compared to Regional WA's split of 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Utakarra was lower than the regional rate, standing at 25.2%, with the remaining properties either mortgaged (40.8%) or rented (34.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was $1,300, which is lower than the Regional WA average of $1,560, while the median weekly rent was $240 compared to Regional WA's $265. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Utakarra are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are lower than the national figure of $375.

Utakarra has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households represent the largest segment at 71.1%, which includes couples with children at 22.8%, couples without children at 24.8%, and single parent families at 22.2%. The remaining 28.9% are non-family households, consisting of lone person households at 24.6% and group households at 3.2%. The median household size of 2.6 people is larger than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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

The local community shows lower rates of higher education, with university qualification rates at 5.0%, which is below the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary credential at 3.1%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.0% and postgraduate qualifications at 0.9%. Vocational and technical skills are highly prevalent, with 47.3% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (39.1%).

Educational enrollment is high, with 36.3% of residents currently undertaking formal study. This student population includes 14.7% in primary school, 12.5% in secondary school, and 1.6% enrolled in tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis identifies 15 active transport stops in Utakarra, consisting of bus services. These stops are serviced by 1 distinct routes, which provide 55 weekly passenger trips in total. Accessibility is good, with residents typically living 350 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area, and private vehicles remain the dominant mode of travel at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling, which is lower than the regional average. A low 3.6% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect the impact of pandemic conditions.

Service frequency averages 7 runs per day across the network, which translates to roughly 3 weekly trips at each transport stop.

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

Significant health issues are apparent in Utakarra based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic disease prevalence, with various health conditions impacting both younger and older cohorts, and the rate of private health insurance is low at approximately 51% of the population, which is roughly 816 people. This is lower than the 56.4% recorded across Regional WA.

Mental health conditions and asthma are the most prevalent medical issues, affecting 10.5 and 10.0% of residents respectively, while 63.5% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions compared to 69.3% across Regional WA. The working-age cohort faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic illness rates. Residents aged 65 and over make up 13.5% of the population (214 people), which is lower than the Regional WA average of 19.2%. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, with national rankings for this age group even higher than the general local population.

Utakarra is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Utakarra exhibits lower levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 82.6% of the population, 89.4% born in Australia, and 92.5% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 44.9% of the local population. The most prominent overrepresentation is in the Other category, which accounts for 1.0% of residents compared to 0.7% across Regional WA.

Regarding parental country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups are Australian at 30.3%, English at 26.0% (which is lower than the regional average of 31.3%), and Australian Aboriginal at 18.0% (which is higher than the regional average of 6.1%). Other ethnic groups show notable differences from regional averages: Maori represents 0.8% of Utakarra (compared to 1.0% regionally), Lebanese is at 0.4% (compared to none regionally), and Filipino is at 1.6% (compared to 1.2% regionally).

Utakarra hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

The median age of 33 years in Utakarra is lower than the Regional WA average of 40 and also below the national median of 38. Compared to Regional WA, Utakarra has a larger cohort of residents aged 15 - 24 (15.0%) but fewer aged 55 - 64 (10.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age bracket increased from 12.7% to 15.2% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 11.9% to 9.8% and the 55 to 64 group decreased from 11.5% to 10.2%. Demographic modeling suggests the local age distribution will shift by 2041, with the 25 to 34 cohort projected to grow by 37%, adding 89 residents to reach 331, while both the 55 to 64 and 75 to 84 cohorts are expected to contract.