Woodlands (WA)

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

The population of the suburb of Woodlands (WA) was estimated to be around 5,111 as of Feb 2026. This figure reflects an increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,551 people. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 5,008 residents following examination of ABS data released in June 2024, along with additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,648 persons per square kilometer, placing Woodlands in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 12.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 91.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although 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, 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, above median population growth is projected for Woodlands, with an expected increase of 914 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.8% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Woodlands when compared nationally

Woodlands has seen around 18 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 93 homes. So far in FY26, six approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.5 new residents per year are associated with every home built between FY21 and FY25. This indicates significant demand exceeding supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition.

The average construction cost of new properties is $874,000, reflecting a focus on the premium market by developers. In FY26, $4.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting limited commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Perth, Woodlands has 11.0% lower construction activity per person and ranks among the 57th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

Detached houses make up 89.0% of new building activity, with attached dwellings accounting for 11.0%, maintaining Woodlands' traditional suburban character. However, developers are constructing more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (69.0% at Census), indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. With around 267 people per dwelling approval, Woodlands is experiencing growth as a developing market. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Woodlands to add 809 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Woodlands has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Glendalough Green, Glendalough Station Precinct Planning, Odin Road Residential Infill, and Stirling City Centre Development. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Woodlands performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Woodlands has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 1.3% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.0% over the past year. In comparison to Greater Perth's unemployment rate of 4.0%, Woodlands had a lower rate of 2.6%.

However, workforce participation lagged behind at 64.1%, compared to Greater Perth's 71.6%. Only 13.0% of residents worked from home based on Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The area had a particular employment specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level.

Manufacturing had limited presence with only 2.9% employment compared to the regional average of 5.5%. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 4.0%, while labour force increased by 3.8%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment grow by 2.9% and labour force expand by 3.0%, with a marginal rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insights into potential future demand within Woodlands. These projections suggest national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Woodlands' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Woodlands' median taxpayer income was $60,772 and average income was $82,754. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Perth's median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $66,618 (median) and $90,715 (average). Census 2021 data indicates Woodlands' household, family, and personal incomes cluster around the 68th percentile nationally. The $4000+ income bracket dominates with 26.5% of residents (1,354 people), unlike Perth's metropolitan region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is predominant at 32.0%. Woodlands' affluence is evident with 37.6% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and services. After housing costs, residents retain 86.8% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Woodlands displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Woodlands' residential structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 69.3% houses and 30.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woodlands stood at 48.5%, with the rest being mortgaged (33.2%) or rented (18.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, exceeding Perth metro's average of $1,907. Weekly rent in Woodlands was recorded at $420, higher than Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Woodlands' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Woodlands has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 71.0% of all households, including 37.4% couples with children, 23.3% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.0%, with lone person households at 26.8% and group households making up 2.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Perth average.

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

Woodlands has a higher educational attainment than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 45.6% have university qualifications compared to WA's 27.9% and the SA4 region's 29%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 31%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational pathways account for 24.8%, with advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 13.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.5% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in secondary, 9.9% in primary, and 6.0% in tertiary education.

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

Woodlands has 19 active public transport stops serving buses along 11 routes, providing a total of 2,226 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 180 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 79%, with train at 9% and bus at 6%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 13.0% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 318 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 117 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Woodlands is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Woodlands demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high, with approximately 60% of the total population (3,069 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.1 and 6.9% of residents respectively, while 69.9% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The area has 25.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,287 people), which is higher than the 16.3% in Greater Perth but ranks lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Woodlands, compared to most local markets, had a higher cultural diversity with 17.9% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 32.4% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Woodlands, accounting for 53.4%, slightly higher than the Greater Perth average of 45.0%. The top three ancestry groups were English (28.0%), Australian (22.9%), and Other (8.2%).

Some ethnic groups had notable differences: South African residents made up 1.2% in Woodlands compared to 1.0% regionally, Welsh residents were at 0.8% versus 0.7%, and Polish residents stood at 1.0% compared to 0.7%.

Woodlands hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Woodlands has a median age of 44, which is higher than Greater Perth's figure of 37 and significantly exceeds the national norm of 38. The age group of 75-84 years shows strong representation in Woodlands at 10.2%, compared to Greater Perth, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 7.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 12.6% to 14.6%, whereas the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 14.8% to 12.3%. Demographic projections suggest that Woodlands' age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 106%, reaching 653 people from the current 316, indicating a clear aging population trend with those aged 65 and above comprising 70% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.