Willagee

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of Nov 2025, the estimated population of Willagee is around 6,075. This reflects an increase of 628 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,447. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,075 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 61 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of approximately 2,906 persons per square kilometer, placing Willagee in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 11.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (8.9%), driven primarily by interstate migration contributing approximately 55.00000000000001% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas 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 covered by this data.

For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for Willagee, with an expected increase of 985 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 16.2% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Willagee had approximately 50 dwelling approvals per year. From FY21 to FY25, around 252 homes were approved, with an additional 10 in FY26 so far. Each new dwelling brought about an average of 2.9 new residents annually over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost for new homes was $445,000. This year, Willagee has seen $2.5 million in commercial development approvals. Compared to Greater Perth, Willagee had 41.0% more development per person between FY21 and FY25.

New developments consisted of 68.0% standalone homes and 32.0% townhouses or apartments. The area had approximately 145 people per dwelling approval, indicating growth potential. By 2041, Willagee is projected to grow by 985 residents, suggesting that current development rates should meet demand comfortably.

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

The performance of an area can be significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. One project has been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting this area. Notable projects include the Kwinana Freeway Upgrade (Roe Highway to Safety Bay Road), Kardinya Park Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Fremantle to Murdoch and Cockburn Central Transport Capacity enhancement, and the Kardinya District Centre Activity Centre Plan. The following list details those likely to have the most relevance.

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.

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

Willagee has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.7% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.7% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

As of that date, 3,411 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.9% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Willagee was somewhat below standard at 62.4%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Notably, the area has a particular specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, mining shows lower representation at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 7.0%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.7%, and labour force increased by 5.8%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 1.0 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 3.7%, labour force growth of 3.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer further insight into potential future demand within Willagee. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Willagee's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, although it's important to note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022, indicating Willagee had a median income among taxpayers of $63,923 and an average level of $97,128. These figures place Willagee in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Perth's levels of $58,380 and $78,020 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, estimated median income is approximately $73,000 and average income is around $110,920 as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Willagee cluster around the national 50th percentile. Income brackets show that 28.0% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (1,701 residents), mirroring regional levels where 32.0% occupy this bracket. Economic diversity is evident in Willagee, with 30.4% in constrained financial circumstances and 25.1% achieving substantial weekly earnings. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 43rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

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

In Willagee, as per the latest Census evaluation, 79.4% of dwellings were houses while 20.5% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Perth metropolitan area's 76.5% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Willagee stood at 20.1%, with mortgaged properties at 42.9% and rented ones at 37.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,967, below Perth metro's average of $2,200. Median weekly rent in Willagee was $283, compared to Perth metro's $400. Nationally, Willagee's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $283 compared to the national figure of $375.

Willagee features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 62.6% of all households, including 26.0% couples with children, 20.6% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 37.4%, with lone person households at 32.8% and group households making up 4.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Willagee aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

In Willagee trail, 32.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to the SA3 area's 42.3%. This difference indicates potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 32.2% of residents aged 15 and above holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 21.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.4% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education. The area has two schools serving 541 students: Caralee Community School and Fremantle Language Development Centre. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School capacity is limited locally (8.9 places per 100 residents vs the regional average of 19.6), leading many families to travel for schooling.

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 Willagee shows that there are currently 33 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes. There are three individual routes servicing these stops, collectively providing 502 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 159 meters from the nearest transport stop. The service frequency averages 71 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Willagee is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Willagee faces significant health challenges with common health conditions being somewhat prevalent across all age groups but to a higher degree among older cohorts. Approximately 66% of Willagee's total population (3,994 people) has private health cover, which is notably higher than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 10.6% and 7.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.0% of Willagee residents reported having no medical ailments, compared to 72.5% across Greater Perth. As of 2021, 17.2% of Willagee's population is aged 65 and over (1,044 people), which is lower than the 22.4% in Greater Perth. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting certain challenges.

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

Willagee had a cultural diversity index above average, with 13.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 26.9% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Willagee, accounting for 40.6%. Notably, Judaism comprised 0.1%, compared to 0.1% across Greater Perth.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (28.0%), Australian (24.8%), and Other (9.3%). There were notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Croatian was overrepresented at 1.1% (vs 1.1% regionally), New Zealand at 1.1% (vs 0.6%), and French at 0.7% (vs 0.6%).

Willagee's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Willagee's median age is 37, matching Greater Perth's figure and closely resembling Australia's 38 years. The proportion of people aged 85 and above in Willagee is 3.5%, higher than Greater Perth's figure. Conversely, the percentage of individuals aged 15 to 24 is lower at 11.3%. Between 2021 and present, the population share of those aged 35 to 44 has increased from 14.3% to 15.1%, while the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 13.1% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Willagee's age structure. Notably, the 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 93%, reaching 646 people from a previous count of 334. This growth is part of an overall aging population trend, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 63% of projected population growth. Conversely, the 35 to 44 and 5 to 14 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.