Koo Wee Rup

Koo Wee Rup lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Koo Wee Rup's population is around 12,965 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,896 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,069 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,598 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 848 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 31 persons per square kilometer. Koo Wee Rup's growth rate of 28.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 9.3%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 70.8% of overall population gains.

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 the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these trends, Koo Wee Rup is predicted to grow by 6,846 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 50.0% in total over the 16-year period.

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

Koo Wee Rup recorded approximately 197 residential property approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 986 homes. In FY26 so far, 118 approvals have been recorded. On average, around 3.3 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25. Commercial approvals valued at $475,000 were registered this financial year.

Koo Wee Rup records 81.0% more new home approvals per person compared to Greater Melbourne. New development consists of 98.0% detached houses and 2.0% medium and high-density housing. Around 68 people are expected per dwelling approval. Population forecasts indicate Koo Wee Rup will gain 6,479 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth.

Population forecasts indicate Koo Wee Rup will gain 6,479 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Koo Wee Rup has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 45 projects that could impact the region. Notable ones include Costco Pakenham Warehouse, Cardinia Motor Recreation and Education Park, Kala Estate, and The Rise Estate - Pakenham.

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

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Employment conditions in Koo Wee Rup demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Koo Wee Rup has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar employment. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 3.4% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.4%.

There are 6,712 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 1.4%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 17.8% of residents work from home. Key industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing.

Construction employment levels are at 1.9 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 3.3%, compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.4% and labour force by 4.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.5 percentage points. Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Koo Wee Rup's employment mix, local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch reports median taxpayer income in Koo Wee Rup SA2 was $55,893 and average income was $64,918 in financial year 2023. These figures are lower than the national averages of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively for Greater Melbourne. By March 2026, estimated median income is approximately $61,270 and average income is $71,163 based on a 9.62% growth in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023. According to 2021 Census data, incomes in Koo Wee Rup cluster around the 52nd percentile nationally. Income distribution shows 40.9% of individuals fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to regional levels at 32.8%. High housing costs consume 15.9% of income but disposable income ranks at the 55th percentile nationally. Koo Wee Rup's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Koo Wee Rup's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 92.0% houses and 8.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Koo Wee Rup was 31.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 53.4% and rented dwellings at 15.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,940, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Koo Wee Rup was $320, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Koo Wee Rup's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $375.

Koo Wee Rup features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 77.1% of all households, including 37.0% couples with children, 29.4% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for 22.9%, comprising 21.0% lone person households and 1.8% group households. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.9%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 9.2%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.9%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15+, with 43.0% holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 32.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (11.2%), secondary education (8.0%), and tertiary education (2.5%).

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

Koo Wee Rup has six operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by five different routes, collectively facilitating 554 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is considered limited, with residents generally situated 943 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Koo Wee Rup residents commute outwards, primarily using cars (95%). On average, there are 1.9 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 17.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 79 trips daily, translating to roughly 92 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Koo Wee Rup is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Koo Wee Rup faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis 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 (~6,638 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. Asthma and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.2 and 8.4% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 68.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 16.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,092 people), which is higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Koo Wee Rup ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Koo Wee Rup, as per the census conducted on 9 August 2016, showed low cultural diversity with 86.3% of its population born in Australia, 90.1% being citizens, and 92.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 42.8%. The 'Other' category comprised 1.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 2.3%.

Ancestry-wise, Australian (33.1%), English (30.0%), and Irish (7.1%) were the top groups, exceeding regional averages of 18.4%, 20.1%, and 5.6% respectively. Dutch ancestry was notably higher at 2.7% compared to 1.2% regionally, while Sri Lankan was lower at 0.6% (vs 0.8%) and Italian slightly lower at 4.1% (vs 5.2%).

Koo Wee Rup's population is younger than the national pattern

Koo Wee Rup's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Koo Wee Rup has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (14.4%) but fewer residents aged 45-54 (9.8%). Between the 2021 Census and present day, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 12.0% to 14.5%, while the 75-84 age group has increased from 4.8% to 5.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 11.8% to 9.8%. Population forecasts for Koo Wee Rup indicate significant demographic changes by 2041. The 35-44 age cohort is projected to grow strongly at 47%, adding 887 residents to reach a total of 2,771.