Bentley - Wilson - St James

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bentley - Wilson - St James reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Bentley - Wilson - St James stands at approximately 24,498 as of May 2026. This represents a rise of 3,886 residents (18.9%) compared to the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 20,612 individuals. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 24,479 and 78 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 2,197 persons per square kilometer, outstripping the typical density across national locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The area's 18.9% expansion rate since the 2021 census outperformed the national average (9.3%) as well as the SA3 area, establishing it as a regional growth leader. This population rise was chiefly powered by overseas migration, which acted as virtually the sole source of gains in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for every SA2 region, published in 2024 with 2022 serving as the baseline. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and to calculate growth across all sectors after 2032, AreaSearch applies age cohort growth rates from the latest Greater Capital Region projections published by the ABS in 2023, using 2022 data. Future population projections point to growth exceeding the median of statistical areas assessed by AreaSearch, with the locality projected to add 3,016 residents by 2041 using the latest annual ERP statistics, which translates to a total increase of 12.2% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Bentley - Wilson - St James was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

The Bentley - Wilson - St James locality has recorded an average of roughly 98 new dwelling approvals annually, totaling 491 residential approvals over the previous 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 97 during FY-26 so far. Since an average of 5.8 individuals moved to the area for every home built over the previous 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), the incoming supply is lagging demand considerably, which typically creates intense buyer competition and upward pricing pressure, while new structures are built at an average cost of $309,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $347.4 million this financial year, showing robust local commercial progress.

In comparison to Greater Perth, Bentley - Wilson - St James registers 15.0% lower construction volume (per capita) while placing in the 67th percentile of locations analyzed across the country. Recent construction is made up of 66.0% detached houses and 34.0% multi-unit housing or townhouses, showing a growing combination of connected dwellings that provide options across price brackets, from large family residences to more affordable smaller properties. The area exhibits roughly 241 residents per residential approval, showing capacity for further expansion.

Looking forward, Bentley - Wilson - St James is projected to add 2,997 residents by 2041 (based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly projection). Construction is keeping a reasonable pace with the projected population rise, though purchasers may experience heightened competition as the local population increases.

Bentley - Wilson - St James has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 31stth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning schemes, and major developments have a significant impact on local performance. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 34 developments that are expected to influence the area. Prominent examples include the Australian Hockey Centre, Kent Street Weir Precinct Redevelopment, Curtin University Net Zero Precinct Digital Twin, the Sam Kerr Football Centre, and the Queens Park Regional Open Space, with the primary projects detailed below.

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 labour market in Bentley - Wilson - St James demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

A highly qualified labor force characterizes Bentley - Wilson - St James, which features varied industry representation, an unemployment rate sitting at just 3.9%, and an estimated 2.0% employment growth over the past year. In March 2026, there are 14,142 working residents, with an unemployment rate that is 0.3% lower than the Greater Perth figure of 4.2%, and labor force participation is slightly below average (68.2% compared to 70.2% in Greater Perth). Census figures show a modest 6.0% of local workers operated from home, though the influence of Covid-19 restrictions should be kept in mind.

The primary employment fields for residents are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. The locality exhibits a strong concentration in accommodation & food, with a workforce share that is 1.6 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, construction has a smaller footprint, employing 6.7% of residents compared to 9.3% across the wider region. The presence of 0.6 workers for every resident at the time of the Census indicates a higher-than-average volume of local jobs.

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, during the 12 months leading to March 2026, the count of employed individuals rose by 2.0% and the active labor force expanded by 2.0%, which kept the unemployment rate steady. This differs from Greater Perth, where employment expanded by 2.0%, the labor force grew by 2.5%, and unemployment went up by 0.4 percentage points. The national employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective future demand in Bentley - Wilson - St James. These projections, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local job structure to project expansion trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary heavily by industry. Utilizing these sector-specific forecasts for the Bentley - Wilson - St James workforce profile suggests local employment should expand by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted calculation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population forecasts).

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Based on the most recent ATO postcode data published for financial year 2023, the median income for taxpayers in the Bentley - Wilson - St James SA2 is $48,510, with an average income of $58,415. This sits below the national average and compares to a median of $60,748 and average of $80,248 in Greater Perth. Incorporating Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current projections estimate these figures at approximately $53,812 (median) and $64,800 (average) as of March 2026. Census statistics show household, family, and individual incomes are all relatively low in Bentley - Wilson - St James, falling in the 30th to 34th percentiles. The largest income bracket contains 30.3% of taxpayers earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (7,422 residents), which corresponds closely to the wider region where this segment comprises 32.0%. Affordable housing challenges are prominent, with residents retaining only 81.3% of their income, which sits at the 31st percentile, and the area's SEIFA income score falls in the 5th decile.

Bentley - Wilson - St James displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Residential patterns in Bentley - Wilson - St James, recorded at the latest Census, consisted of 64.6% separate houses and 35.4% other residences (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative structures), compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% other residences across the Perth metropolitan region. Home ownership in Bentley - Wilson - St James is lower than the Perth metropolitan rate, standing at 21.6%, while the remaining properties are mortgaged (26.8%) or occupied by tenants (51.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,733 was below the Perth metro average, while median weekly rent was recorded at $330, compared to regional averages of $1,907 and $350. Nationally, the mortgage payments in Bentley - Wilson - St James are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are considerably below the national figure of $375.

Bentley - Wilson - St James features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 54.7%, consisting of couples with children (21.1%), couples without children (23.2%), and single parents (7.8%). Non-family living situations account for the other 45.3%, with single-person households at 33.0% and shared households representing 12.3%. The median household size of 2.4 residents is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Bentley - Wilson - St James exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The level of education in Bentley - Wilson - St James is higher than broader regional averages, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 27.9% in WA and 29.9% in the SA4 region. This educational profile prepares the area well for professional and knowledge-based fields. Bachelor degrees represent the largest group at 26.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees (11.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Technical and vocational qualifications are also common, with 28.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, comprising advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (16.8%).

School and university attendance is high, with 36.7% of the local population currently engaged in formal studies. This group includes 16.7% in higher education, 6.8% in primary school, and 5.0% in high school programs.

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

Public transport networks in Bentley - Wilson - St James include 160 active bus and train stops. These facilities are served by 46 routes, which provide 7,851 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is highly rated, with residents living an average of 161 meters from the nearest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, most residents travel outside the suburb for work, with private vehicles remaining the primary transport method at 77%, followed by buses at 12% and trains at 6%. Motor vehicle ownership stands at 1.2 vehicles per household, which is below the regional average. A low share of residents worked from home, at 6.0% (recorded in the 2021 Census, which may show the influence of pandemic conditions).

Service runs average 1,121 times per day across the network, which is approximately 49 weekly trips per stop. The map shows the 100 closest transit stops relative to the center of the area.

Health performance in Bentley - Wilson - St James is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Public health records indicate notable issues for Bentley - Wilson - St James, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality patterns and chronic illnesses, which show prominent rates of common health issues across younger and older demographics, while the share of residents with private health insurance is low at approximately 48% of the population (~11,808 people). This compares to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national rate of 55.7%.

Mental health concerns and arthritis represent the most common medical diagnoses in the area, affecting 7.7 and 6.2% of the population respectively, while 73.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Working-age people are generally healthy, displaying low rates of chronic illness. Seniors aged 65 and older make up 14.0% of the local population (3,429 people), which is lower than the Greater Perth proportion of 16.1%. Health profiles among older residents present some issues, with national rankings aligning closely with general population benchmarks.

Bentley - Wilson - St James is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bentley - Wilson - St James is characterized by a high degree of cultural diversity, with 40.8% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 51.2% born outside Australia. Christianity is the main religious affiliation, representing 38.6% of residents. The most distinct religious concentration is Buddhism, which accounts for 7.7% of the population, well above the Greater Perth average of 2.7%.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds based on parents' birthplace, the three largest groups in Bentley - Wilson - St James are English at 21.0% (below the regional average of 28.0%), Other at 20.1% (above the regional average of 11.2%), and Australian at 16.5%. Significant variations exist in other demographics, with Korean ancestry overrepresented at 1.1% of the population (compared to 0.3% regionally), Chinese at 10.9% (compared to 4.0%), and Indian at 4.0% (compared to 2.6%).

Bentley - Wilson - St James's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

With a median age of 32 years, Bentley - Wilson - St James is younger than Greater Perth's average of 37 and the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, the area features a higher share of residents aged 25 - 34 (25.1%) and a smaller share aged 5 - 14 (7.5%). The 25 - 34 demographic is higher than the national rate of 14.6%. Data since the 2021 Census indicates that younger residents have reduced the median age by 1.3 years to 32. Key shifts show the 25 to 34 age bracket rose from 22.6% to 25.1%, and the 15 to 24 cohort grew from 17.7% to 19.7%. Meanwhile, residents aged 85+ decreased from 4.6% to 2.9%, and the 55 to 64 group fell from 8.0% to 6.9%. Projections indicate the age profile will change by 2041, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to grow by 13%, adding 785 people to reach 6,922, while the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 cohorts are expected to decrease in size.