Wattle Grove (WA)

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

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Wattle Grove (WA) is around 7,510. This figure reflects a growth of 963 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,547. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 7,439 residents, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 116 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 901 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wattle Grove's population growth rate of 14.7% since the 2021 census exceeds both the national average (8.9%) and the SA3 area average. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 39.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

However, all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors. 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, future population trends suggest a slight increase below the national median for statistical areas. By 2041, the suburb is expected to increase by approximately 335 persons, reflecting an overall increase of around 2.3% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Wattle Grove among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Wattle Grove experienced around 58 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 291 homes were approved, with another 4 in FY-26 to date. Each year, an average of 2.6 new residents per dwelling was gained.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $387,000. This financial year has seen $22.7 million in commercial approvals. Compared to Greater Perth, Wattle Grove records 121.0% more development activity per person. Building activity slowed recently but maintains a traditional low density character with 95.0% standalone homes and 5.0% townhouses or apartments.

The area has approximately 250 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. Future projections estimate Wattle Grove adding 175 residents by 2041. Current development rates should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers.

Wattle Grove has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 14 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Cell 9 Wattle Grove Urban Development, Hartfield Park Master Plan Stage 2: Co-Location, Forrestfield/High Wycombe Industrial Area, and Tonkin Highway Corridor - Roe Highway to Kelvin Road. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Wattle Grove ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Wattle Grove has an educated workforce with strong manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.4%, below Greater Perth's 3.9%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.2%. As of June 2025, 72.9% of residents participate in the workforce compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area specializes in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

However, construction has limited presence at 8.0% compared to the regional average of 9.3%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparison between working population and resident population. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, labour force by 3.1%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment growth of 3.7% and labour force growth of 3.8%, with a rise in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (Sep-22) project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wattle Grove's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Wattle Grove's median income among taxpayers was $62,677 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $73,454 during the same period. These figures are higher than Greater Perth's median and average incomes of $58,380 and $78,020 respectively. By September 2025, estimated median and average incomes in Wattle Grove would be approximately $71,577 and $83,884 based on a 14.2% growth in wages since financial year 2022. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Wattle Grove rank between the 75th and 87th percentiles nationally. Income distribution reveals that 41.3% of locals (3,101 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, mirroring regional levels where 32.0% occupy this bracket. Higher earners make up a substantial presence with 32.8% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. Housing accounts for 15.1% of income while residents rank in the 86th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Wattle Grove is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Wattle Grove, as per the latest Census data, 99.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 0.3% being other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This is in contrast to Perth metro's figures of 93.9% houses and 6.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wattle Grove stood at 21.2%, with mortgaged properties making up 64.2% and rented dwellings accounting for 14.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,993, exceeding Perth metro's average of $1,907. The median weekly rent in Wattle Grove was recorded at $430, compared to Perth metro's figure of $370. Nationally, Wattle Grove's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 87.2% of all households, including 55.3% couples with children, 21.0% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 12.8%, with lone person households at 11.0% and group households comprising 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 3.3 people, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 31.6% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the SA3 area average of 22.5% and Western Australia's state average of 27.9%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 21.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 33.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 11.8% while certificates make up 22.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 36.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.1% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education. Wattle Grove Primary School serves the local community, enrolling 879 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA value of 1073. There is one school focusing exclusively on primary education in the area, with secondary options available nearby. The ratio of school places to residents (11.7 per 100) is below the regional average (17.5), indicating some students may attend schools outside the immediate area.

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

The analysis of public transport in Wattle Grove shows that there are currently 59 active transport stops operating. These stops offer a mix of bus services, with 5 individual routes providing a total of 448 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 201 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 64 trips per day across all routes, which equates to around 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

Wattle Grove's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Wattle Grove's health outcomes show excellent results across all age groups.

Both younger and older residents have low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is high, with approximately 56% of the total population (~4,232 people) having it. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (6.2%) and mental health issues (5.6%). A majority, 79.4%, report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Perth. As of the latest data on September 30th, 2021, Wattle Grove has 9.6% residents aged 65 and over (720 people), lower than Greater Perth's 20.2%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those in the broader population.

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

Wattle Grove has a high level of cultural diversity, with 41.0% of its population born overseas and 41.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Wattle Grove, comprising 41.6% of the population. However, Islam is overrepresented, making up 10.5% compared to the Greater Perth average of 2.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.3%), Australian (19.4%), and Other (18.5%). Notably, Indian (8.4%) Filipino (3.1%), and Chinese (7.6%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.9%, 1.2%, and 1.7% respectively.

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

Wattle Grove's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Wattle Grove has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (18.5%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.2%). This 5-14 concentration is notably higher than the national average of 12.2%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.5% to 12.9%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 1.5% to 2.9%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group has decreased from 12.0% to 11.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Wattle Grove. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 80%, adding 173 residents to reach a total of 391. Conversely, declines are forecast for the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups.