Wannanup

Wannanup lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to the latest demographic assessments derived from official agency statistics and subsequent address validations by AreaSearch, the suburb of Wannanup has a residency count estimated at 4,843 as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 701 individuals (16.9%) compared to the 2021 Census, which recorded 4,142 residents. The calculation builds upon a baseline of 4,831 residents determined from the ABS June 2025 regional population release, supplemented by 45 new validated properties identified post-census. The resulting population density stands at 1,542 persons per square kilometer, outstripping the typical density of localities evaluated nationally. The suburb of Wannanup registered a 16.9% expansion rate that outpaced the national growth metric of 9.3% as well as state-level trends, placing the community among the regional leaders in population expansion. The primary catalyst for this growth was interstate relocation, which accounted for roughly 55.00000000000001% of the total demographic gains, with positive contributions also observed from international arrivals and natural increase.

Projections utilize regional statistical models issued in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, supplemented where necessary by cohort growth rates from the 2023 capital city forecasting models based on 2022 benchmarks. Future projections indicate that the suburb of Wannanup is set to experience population growth exceeding the national median, with expectations of adding 693 residents by 2041, representing a total increase of 14.1% over a 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Wannanup among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Analysis of building permit registries indicates that Wannanup has maintained an annual average of approximately 52 residential building approvals, leading to a total of 262 residential units authorized during the 5 fiscal years from FY-21 to FY-25, alongside 35 permits issued during the current FY-26 period. Average household occupancy shows 2.6 new residents per year per home during the 5 fiscal years from FY-21 to FY-25, reflecting solid demand to help anchor real estate values. The average anticipated construction value for these new properties is $508,000, pointing to developer focus on upscale, high-end housing. Additionally, commercial authorizations totaling $599,000 have been logged during this fiscal period, indicating that development is overwhelmingly focused on the residential sector.

Wannanup displays per capita building approval volumes comparable to Greater Perth, maintaining supply stability alongside neighboring markets. This rate sits substantially higher than the nationwide average, demonstrating strong developer commitment. The composition of these approvals is 94.0% standalone houses and 6.0% townhouses or units, maintaining the low-density suburban landscape and catering to purchasers prioritizing spacious family living. With an average of roughly 88 people per building permit, the area displays clear hallmarks of a growing suburban fringe.

Based on the most recent quarterly estimates, future demographic projections suggest Wannanup will add 681 residents by 2041. Under current construction trajectories, housing delivery is positioned to comfortably accommodate this influx, offering favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially enabling growth to surpass current projections.

Wannanup has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure updates, planning decisions, and major civil works have a significant impact on real estate performance. There are 2 active projects tracked locally that are expected to influence the area. High-profile initiatives include the Yalgorup National Park Eco-Tourism Development, Falcon Coastal Shared Path, Dawesville Community Centre, and Timbers Edge Estate, with specific details provided below for the most relevant projects.

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

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

Wannanup features a well-rounded labor market that includes both white and blue collar positions, with manufacturing and industrial fields making up a large share of the economy. The unemployment rate stands at 2.3%, and the area has seen an estimated employment growth of 8.1% over the last twelve months according to AreaSearch's compilation of statistical area information. By March 2026, the number of residents employed was 2,204, and the local unemployment rate was 1.9% lower than Greater Perth's 4.2%. At the same time, workforce participation in Wannanup was notably lower, reaching 55.4% in contrast to Greater Perth's 70.2%. Census data indicates that only 9.3% of residents worked from home, a figure that may still reflect the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdown measures.

The primary employment sectors for local workers are extractive industries, building and construction, and healthcare and social assistance. Mining shows an exceptionally high concentration, employing workers at 1.9 times the metropolitan rate. In contrast, technical and professional services are underrepresented, accounting for 3.9% of workers compared to the metropolitan average of 8.2%. The high ratio of resident workers to local jobs suggests the community is primarily a commuter suburb with limited local employment options.

Analysis of SALM and ABS data from AreaSearch, which combines figures from larger statistical areas, indicates that employment rose by 8.1% and the labour force grew by 8.7% during the year to March 2026, leading to an unemployment increase of 0.5 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Perth saw employment grow by 2.0% and the labour force expand by 2.5%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia released national employment forecasts in May-25 that provide useful context for anticipating future demand in Wannanup. These forecasts span five and ten year horizons and have been overlaid with local employment data to project growth trajectories. National employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and by 13.7% over ten years, though sectoral growth varies considerably. When these industry projections are applied to Wannanup's current employment structure, local employment is estimated to rise by 5.6% over five years and by 12.2% over ten years. This calculation uses a basic weighting method for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate local population projections.

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

According to tax registry files for the 2023 financial year, local taxpayers recorded a median income of $55,565 and an average of $78,355. This represents a high national ranking, though it sits below the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median of $61,638 and an average of $86,919 as of March 2026. However, 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and individual incomes sit in the lower tier, ranging between the 22nd and 33rd percentiles. The local earnings profile shows that the largest cohort, representing 27.3% of earners (1,322 people), falls into the $1,500 - 2,999 band, compared to 32.0% across the wider region. Affordability pressures are high, with residents retaining only 83.0% of their income, placing the suburb in the 32nd percentile, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 4th decile for income.

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

Residential structures in the suburb consisted of 90.7% standalone houses and 9.2% other housing formats like townhouses or apartments at the time of the last Census, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership was notably higher than the metropolitan benchmark, with 39.6% of homes owned outright, while 40.1% were mortgaged and 20.3% were occupied by tenants. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,885 was lower than the metropolitan median of $1,907, whereas the median weekly rent of $363 sat slightly above the metropolitan figure of $350. Nationally, local mortgage costs exceed the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents remain below the national average of $375.

Wannanup features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households represent the clear majority at 77.6% of dwellings, consisting of 27.1% couples with children, 38.4% couples without children, and 11.4% single-parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 22.4%, with single-person households at 20.2% and group living situations at 2.1%. The median household size of 2.5 residents is slightly below the metropolitan average of 2.6.

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

Educational outcomes show room for development, with university graduation rates of 14.7% sitting well below the national average of 30.4%. Among those with higher education degrees, bachelor studies lead at 10.7%, followed by postgraduate studies at 2.2% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 43.6% of residents aged 15+ holding practical qualifications, including 11.4% with advanced diplomas and 32.2% holding certificates.

Enrolment in education is strong, with 25.2% of the population actively participating in study. This includes 9.5% attending primary schools, 8.0% in secondary schools, and 2.5% undertaking tertiary education.

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

Public transit infrastructure includes 20 passenger stops within the boundaries, consisting of bus services. These stops are connected to 3 distinct routes, which combine to support 595 passenger journeys each week. Local access is good, with residents living an average of 269 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area, with private cars remaining the primary choice at 85%, followed by train travel at 5%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.6 cars per home. A modest 9.3% of workers worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Service schedules average 85 runs per day across the network, translating to approximately 29 weekly departures per individual transit stop.

Wannanup's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health assessments indicate positive wellness indicators across the local population, characterized by low rates of chronic illness and mortality across all age categories. Additionally, private health insurance uptake is high, covering approximately 58% of the population, equivalent to about 2,823 people.

The most common chronic diagnoses among residents were arthritis and mental health conditions, affecting 9.6% and 6.5% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 68.3% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Health status within the working-age cohort matches broader benchmarks. The population contains 30.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,457 people), which is significantly higher than the 16.1% average for Greater Perth. Health outcomes for these older residents are strong, aligning well with national comparisons.

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

Cultural diversity matches regional averages, with 70.5% of residents born in Australia, 88.8% holding citizenship, and 94.7% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 49.3% of the community. The most notable statistical variance is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of the local population compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

Regarding family backgrounds, the leading three ancestries reported are English at 36.3% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 28.0%, Australian at 24.6%, and Scottish at 8.6%. Minor variations from regional norms are also visible in other groups, with Welsh heritage recorded at 1.2% locally compared to 0.7% regionally, South Australian at 1.0% compared to 1.0% regionally, and Dutch at 1.9% compared to 1.5% regionally.

Wannanup hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age of 47 years is higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 and also exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 65 - 74 age bracket is highly represented at 18.0% compared to the metropolitan area, while the 25 - 34 cohort is lower at 7.2%. This 65 - 74 representation is higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census figures show the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 6.6% to 9.8% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.6% to 11.2% and the 55 to 64 group declined from 14.9% to 13.6%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes by 2041, with the 75 to 84 age group expected to grow by 69%, adding 328 residents to total 803. Seniors aged 65+ are expected to account for 84% of all population growth, highlighting local aging trends, while the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age cohorts are projected to experience declines.