Balga - Mirrabooka
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Balga - Mirrabooka's population was approximately 23,324 as of August 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 2,292 people from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,032. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates; the population was 23,317 in June 2024 and there were 62 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,468 persons per square kilometer, placing Balga - Mirrabooka in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 10.9% since the 2021 census surpassed both the national average (8.6%) and the SA3 area average, indicating strong population growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 71.4% of overall population gains during recent periods in Balga - Mirrabooka.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends suggest a modest increase for Balga - Mirrabooka. By 2041, the area is expected to gain approximately 2,660 persons, representing an overall growth of 11.4% over the 17-year period based on current population numbers.

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

Balga - Mirrabooka averaged approximately 102 new dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, indicating 512 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25, with 21 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Each home built, on average, accommodates around 4.3 new residents per year during these five financial years. This supply is lagging behind demand, potentially leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

The average construction cost of new homes is $289,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers in the area. There have been $3.1 million in commercial approvals this financial year, reflecting the residential character of Balga - Mirrabooka. Compared to Greater Perth, Balga - Mirrabooka has similar development levels per person, maintaining market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas.

New building activity consists predominantly of detached dwellings at 71.0%, with townhouses or apartments making up the remaining 29.0%, sustaining the area's suburban identity and offering family homes suited to buyers seeking space. The population density stands at around 234 people per approval, indicating a transitioning market. Population forecasts project an increase of 2,653 residents for Balga - Mirrabooka by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Balga - Mirrabooka has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects potentially impacting this area. Notable initiatives include Perth Active Transport Network, Mirrabooka Town Square Upgrade (2020), Mirrabooka Town Square Upgrade (2025), and TAFE Balga Campus Skills Hub (scheduled for completion in 2023). The following list details projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment drivers in Balga - Mirrabooka are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Balga-Mirrabooka has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 11.3% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 5.8%.

As of June 2025, 10,893 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 7.5%, significantly higher than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation lags at 58.7% compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Notably, transport, postal & warehousing has a high concentration with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence at 4.5% compared to the regional average of 8.2%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 5.8% while labour force increased by 4.0%, resulting in a 1.5 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 3.7% and labour force growth of 3.8%, with a slight rise in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.82% (losing 14,590 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Balga-Mirrabooka's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2%% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, although these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localised population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

Balga-Mirrabooka's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $43,976. The average income stood at $49,392 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Perth's median and average incomes of $58,380 and $78,020 respectively. By March 2025, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $49,082 and the average income around $55,126, accounting for a Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022. According to data from the 2021 Census, incomes in Balga-Mirrabooka fall between the 16th and 20th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 31.3% of locals (7,300 people) with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Balga-Mirrabooka, with only 80.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 17th percentile nationally.

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

At the latest Census, dwelling structures in Balga - Mirrabooka comprised 73.7% houses and 26.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Perth metro had 59.6% houses and 40.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Balga - Mirrabooka was 19.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.2% and rented ones at 44.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,482, lower than Perth metro's $1,950. The median weekly rent figure for Balga - Mirrabooka was $305, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Balga - Mirrabooka's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,482 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Balga - Mirrabooka features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 65.8% of all households, including 28.9% couples with children, 18.8% couples without children, and 16.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.2%, with lone person households at 29.0% and group households comprising 5.2%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Balga - Mirrabooka fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has university qualification rates of 20.1%, significantly lower than the SA3 area average of 37.1%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 34.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (23.7%). Educational participation is high at 35.0%, comprising 11.3% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 5.8% pursuing tertiary education.

A total of 10 schools operate within Balga - Mirrabooka, educating approximately 3,765 students. These include 7 primary, 1 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools.

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

Balga-Mirrabooka has 134 active public transport stops. These are served by 17 bus routes, offering a total of 3,489 weekly passenger trips. Residents' average distance to the nearest stop is 178 meters.

Daily service frequency averages 498 trips across all routes, equating to around 26 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Balga - Mirrabooka 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

Balga-Mirrabooka shows better-than-average health results with fewer common health conditions among its general population compared to national averages, but higher rates are seen among older, at-risk groups. Only 46% of the total population (~10,752 people) has private health cover, significantly lower than Greater Perth's 59.9% and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma were the most prevalent conditions, affecting 7.0% and 6.4% of residents respectively, while 74.8% reported having no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Perth's 73.0%.

The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 13.6% (3,174 people) compared to Greater Perth's 18.3%, but health outcomes for this age group require more attention due to the existing challenges.

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

Balga-Mirrabooka is one of the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 54.3% of its population speaking a language other than English at home as of 2016 Census data. Furthermore, 52.4% of the population was born overseas during this period. Christianity is the dominant religion in Balga-Mirrabooka, comprising 43.2% of people.

However, Islam is significantly overrepresented compared to Greater Perth's average, making up 16.2% of the population. Regarding ancestry, 'Other' is the largest group at 32.5%, notably higher than the regional average of 13.8%. English ancestry comprises 16.2% and Australian comprises 14.3% of Balga-Mirrabooka's population. Some ethnic groups are notably divergent: Vietnamese (4.9%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average of 1.7%, Macedonian (1.9%) is slightly higher than the regional average of 1.5%, and Serbian (0.7%) is also relatively higher than its regional counterpart of 0.5%.

Balga - Mirrabooka's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Balga-Mirrabooka has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Perth's figure of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Balga-Mirrabooka has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (17.6%) but fewer residents aged 45-54 (10.9%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the percentage of residents aged 75 to 84 has increased from 3.6% to 4.5%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 18.6% to 17.6%. By the year 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Balga-Mirrabooka. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 74%, adding 781 residents to reach a total of 1,833. This growth will contribute to an increase in the number of residents aged 65 and older, who are expected to represent 59% of the population growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.