Applecross - Ardross

Population growth drivers in Applecross - Ardross are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

According to data examined by AreaSearch, the population of Applecross - Ardross is estimated to be approximately 13,530 in May 2026. This represents a gain of 1,805 people (15.4%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the count stood at 11,725 people. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 13,263 along with 590 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census. Such a population size translates to a density of 2,491 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the highest quartile of all Australian areas analyzed by AreaSearch. The area's 15.4% expansion rate since the 2021 census outpaced the national average (9.3%) and the broader SA3 region, establishing it as a primary driver of growth locally. This upward trend was mostly propelled by net overseas migration, which made up roughly 87.4% of the population increase in recent times, though other components like interstate migration and natural increase also recorded positive contributions.

Projections developed by the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are applied by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. For locations lacking this dataset, and to project population shifts beyond 2032, AreaSearch utilizes cohort-specific growth rates published in the latest Greater Capital Region projections from the ABS (released in 2023, using 2022 data). Looking at anticipated demographic shifts, the area is projected to experience population growth exceeding the national median, climbing by 2,105 persons by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, which equates to an overall growth rate of 13.6% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Applecross - Ardross among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Applecross - Ardross records roughly 220 building approvals for new dwellings annually, with a total of 1,102 homes approved during the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 105 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. An average of 1.2 residents moved into the locality for every completed dwelling over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics and a steady market. However, this ratio rose to 5.3 people per approved dwelling during the past 2 financial years, pointing to heightened demand and a tightening supply pipeline. The average construction value of approved developments is $538,000, showing that developers are prioritizing upscale, premium residential options. Additionally, commercial development approvals reached $46.8 million this financial year, pointing to significant commercial investment locally.

When measured on a per capita basis, Applecross - Ardross exhibits 187.0% more development activity than Greater Perth, giving purchasers a wider selection of properties, even though construction momentum has slowed recently. This level of activity is substantially higher than the nationwide benchmark, highlighting strong interest from developers. Recent residential approvals comprise 20.0% detached houses and 80.0% multi-unit designs like townhouses and apartments. A focus on denser housing styles offers more budget-friendly options and appeals to downsizers, property investors, and first-time buyers. This highlights a clear shift away from the current housing stock (which is 69.0% houses), indicating a dwindling supply of vacant land, changing homeowner preferences, and a push for more varied, economical housing choices. The ratio of approximately 184 people per dwelling approval characterizes Applecross - Ardross as an expanding growth locality.

According to population projections, Applecross - Ardross is set to add 1,836 new residents by 2041 (based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch). Given current construction trends, new dwelling additions are expected to accommodate this influx comfortably, creating favorable buying opportunities and potentially supporting population growth that exceeds these forecasts.

Applecross - Ardross has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major works, and urban planning decisions are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects expected to influence the local area. Significant projects include the Applecross Village Redevelopment (Stage 2), the METRONET Canning Bridge Bus Interchange Upgrade, the LeisureFit Booragoon Spray Park & Spa Refurbishment, and the Booragoon Precinct Structure Plan Review, with details on the most relevant works listed below.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Applecross - Ardross performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

A highly qualified labor force characterizes Applecross - Ardross, with a strong concentration of professionals and an unemployment rate of only 1.6%. As of March 2026, there are 7,223 employed residents, and the local unemployment rate is 2.6% lower than the 4.2% rate recorded across Greater Perth. The participation rate of 65.7% is slightly below the Greater Perth average of 70.2%. Census details indicate that a moderate 14.0% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The area displays a distinct concentration in the professional & technical sector, with its employment share reaching 1.7 times the metropolitan average. Conversely, construction fields employ only 7.0% of local workers, which is below the 9.3% average for Greater Perth. While there are local jobs available, the ratio of Census employment data to the local population indicates that a significant portion of residents travel to other districts for work.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch indicates that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labor force contracted by 0.9% and total employment fell by 1.0%, keeping unemployment relatively constant. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment, a 2.5% expansion of the labor force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide further context on expected demand trends in Applecross - Ardross. These five- and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project future employment trajectories. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates of expansion vary greatly by industry. Applying these industry projections to the local workforce mix suggests that employment in Applecross - Ardross could grow by 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years (note that this calculation is a basic weighted extrapolation for comparison purposes and does not incorporate local population projections).

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

According to the latest ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the Applecross - Ardross SA2 features extremely high income levels by national standards. The median income for taxpayers in the area is $67,671, with the average income reaching $114,403, compared to metropolitan Perth averages of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. Adjusting for a 10.93% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $75,067 for the median and $126,907 for the average. Census data places household, family, and individual incomes between the 86th and 88th percentiles nationally. Income distribution figures show the largest segment consists of 31.9% of residents (4,316 people) earning $4,000+ per week, whereas the most common bracket across the wider metro region is $1,500 - 2,999, containing 32.0% of residents. High-income earners are very prominent, with 43.2% earning over $3,000 weekly, which points to significant purchasing power in the area. After housing costs are deducted, households retain 87.3% of their income, indicating strong financial capacity, and the area's SEIFA index for income ranks in the 9th decile.

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

Data from the latest Census shows that the housing mix in Applecross - Ardross consists of 69.2% detached houses and 30.8% other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to the wider Perth metropolitan average of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Furthermore, home ownership in Applecross - Ardross is higher than the Perth metropolitan average at 44.4%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (30.4%) or rented (25.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,700 was higher than the Perth metropolitan median of $1,907, while the median weekly rent was $475 compared to the Perth average of $350. Nationally, mortgage payments in Applecross - Ardross are significantly higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well above the national average of $375.

Applecross - Ardross has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 74.6%, consisting of 35.3% couples with children, 29.3% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.4%, which includes single person households at 22.9% and group households at 2.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, matching the average for Greater Perth.

Educational achievement in Applecross - Ardross places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Levels of education in Applecross - Ardross are well above state and regional averages, with 51.3% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 27.9% across WA and 28.6% within the SA4 region. This high level of education positions the local workforce well for opportunities in knowledge-based industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 34.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees (12.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Vocational training is held by 21.8% of the population aged 15 and over, split between advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (11.2%).

Participation in education is very high, with 29.4% of residents enrolled in a course of study. This cohort is made up of 10.0% in primary school, 7.9% in secondary school, and 7.2% enrolled in tertiary education.

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

Public transport networks in Applecross - Ardross include 55 active stops serviced by bus routes. These stops accommodate 11 different routes, which together provide 1,686 passenger trips each week. Access to transport is rated as excellent, with the average distance to the nearest stop being 195 meters. Most residents commute out of the area for work, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 78%, followed by buses at 11% and trains at 6%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.5. According to the 2021 Census, 14.0% of residents worked from home, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 240 trips per day across all routes, which is equivalent to approximately 30 weekly trips per transport stop.

Applecross - Ardross's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health data shows excellent outcomes in Applecross - Ardross, according to an AreaSearch analysis of mortality rates and chronic disease indicators, which reveals a very low rate of common health issues across all age groups. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, with approximately 78% of the population (10,553 people) covered, compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 6.3% and 5.6% of residents respectively, while 75.8% of the population reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Residents aged 65 and over make up 23.0% of the population (3,113 people), which is higher than the Greater Perth average of 16.1%. Health outcomes among these older residents are strong, with national rankings matching those of the broader community.

Applecross - Ardross was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Applecross - Ardross shows high levels of cultural diversity, with 24.3% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 40.2% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion, practiced by 50.5% of the population. Judaism shows the most significant relative overrepresentation, accounting for 0.2% of the local population compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

In terms of ancestry, the three largest groups in Applecross - Ardross are English (26.2% of the population), Australian (18.2%), and Chinese (11.3%, which is higher than the regional average of 4.0%). There are also notable differences in other backgrounds: South Australian ancestry accounts for 1.1% of the population (compared to 1.0% regionally), Croatian accounts for 1.1% (compared to 0.8% regionally), and Welsh accounts for 0.8% (compared to 0.7% regionally).

Applecross - Ardross's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Applecross - Ardross is 43 years, which is older than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national average of 38. The age distribution shows a high proportion of people aged 75 - 84 (8.6%), while the 25 - 34 age bracket (10.5%) is smaller than the Perth metropolitan average. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 6.5% to 8.6% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group has risen from 11.9% to 13.1%, while the 0 to 4 group declined from 4.5% to 3.6%. Looking forward to 2041, population forecasts indicate changes in the age structure, with the 75 to 84 age group projected to grow by 647 people (56%), rising from 1,164 to 1,812. The 65 and over cohorts are expected to account for 63% of total population growth, reflecting an aging trend, while the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age brackets are projected to decline in numbers.