Wanneroo

An assessment of population growth drivers in Wanneroo reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Wanneroo's population is estimated at around 13,834 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,721 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,113 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 13,406 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 165 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 675 persons per square kilometer in Wanneroo. The suburb's 14.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%). Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, 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). Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for statistical areas across the nation. Wanneroo is expected to expand by 2,448 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 14.2% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Wanneroo was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Wanneroo has experienced around 102 dwellings receiving development approval per year. Over the past 5 financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 513 homes were approved, with a further 128 approved in FY-26 so far. Each dwelling built over these years has resulted in an average of 2.2 new residents per year.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $376,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting emphasis on quality construction. This financial year, $11.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development.

New building activity comprises 99.0% detached dwellings and 1.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 80 people per dwelling approval, Wanneroo shows characteristics of a growth area. Latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate projects Wanneroo adding 1,958 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 37 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Arbella Estate, Wanneroo Recreation Centre - New Sports Hub and Community Hub Upgrade, East Wanneroo District Structure Plan, and St. Andrews Urban Precinct (Hocking & Pearsall). Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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The employment landscape in Wanneroo shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Wanneroo's workforce is skilled with notable representation in construction. The unemployment rate was 5.0% as of September 2025, with estimated employment growth of 5.2% over the past year (AreaSearch). Residents in work totalled 7,034 by September 2025, while the unemployment rate was 1.0% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation was lower at 66.9%, compared to Greater Perth's 71.6%. A low 8.3% of residents worked from home (Census). Leading industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction showed strong specialization with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services had lower representation at 5.2%, compared to the regional average of 8.2%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census data comparison between working population and resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 5.2% while labour force rose by 3.7%, reducing unemployment by 1.3 percentage points (AreaSearch). In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment grow by 2.9%, labour force expand by 3.0%, and marginal unemployment increase. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wanneroo's industry mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released on June 30, 2023 for financial year 2023, the suburb of Wanneroo's median income among taxpayers is $49,091. The average income in Wanneroo was $59,538 during this period. This is lower than the national average. In Greater Perth, the median income was $60,748 with an average of $80,248 for financial year 2023. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since June 30, 2023, current estimates suggest that as of September 2025, the median income in Wanneroo would be approximately $53,814 and the average income around $65,266. From the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data collected on August 10, 2021, household incomes in Wanneroo ranked at the 34th percentile. Family incomes were at the 37th percentile, while personal incomes were at the 39th percentile. In Wanneroo, 32.9% of individuals (representing 4,551 people) had an income range between $1,500 and $2,999. This is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region where 32.0% of individuals fell within the same income category. Housing affordability pressures in Wanneroo are severe, with only 83.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile nationally. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the fourth decile.

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

In Wanneroo, as per the latest Census, 86.9% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 13.2% being semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is in contrast to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership stood at 31.9% in Wanneroo, higher than Perth metro's figure. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 46.2%, with rented properties making up 22.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,736, lower than the Perth metro average of $1,907. Median weekly rent in Wanneroo was $350, matching the Perth metro figure. Nationally, Wanneroo's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Wanneroo has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.2% of all households, including 31.2% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 26.2% and group households comprising 2.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Wanneroo shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 16.7%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (29.9%). Educational participation is high, with 27.8% currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 10.0% in primary, 7.6% in secondary, and 4.4% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wanneroo has 59 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by five different routes that collectively facilitate 1,319 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as good, with residents typically located about 307 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents in this primarily residential area commute outward using cars, which remain the dominant mode of transport at 84%. Eight percent of residents use trains for commuting. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 188 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 22 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Wanneroo are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Wanneroo's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population, which is around 7,033 people, compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.2 and 8.0% of residents respectively. About 67.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has approximately 22.1% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling around 3,057 people, which is higher than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings largely in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Wanneroo was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Wanneroo had a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 13.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 37.3% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Wanneroo, making up 48.3% of people. Hinduism showed an overrepresentation, comprising 1.8% compared to Greater Perth's 2.5%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (33.1%), Australian (22.3%), and Irish (7.9%). Notably, Welsh (1.0%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.7%, as were South African (1.1% vs 1.0%) and New Zealand (1.1% vs 0.8%) groups.

Wanneroo's median age exceeds the national pattern

Wanneroo's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and slightly older than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Wanneroo has a notably higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (11.1% locally) and a lower percentage of residents aged 25-34 (11.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 grew from 10.6% to 12.0%, while those aged 75-84 increased from 6.6% to 8.0%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 55-64 decreased from 12.3% to 11.4%. Demographic modeling indicates that Wanneroo's age profile will significantly change by 2041. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 52%, adding 579 residents and reaching a total of 1,686. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 62% of the population growth, while the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are projected to decline in population.