Chidlow
Statistical Area - sa2

Chidlow has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Chidlow's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, was approximately 5,158 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 525 people, a rise of 11.3%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,633. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,156 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 30 persons per square kilometer. Chidlow's growth rate of 11.3% exceeded the national average of 8.6%, positioning it as a growth leader in its region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 43.9% of overall population gains, with other factors such as interstate migration and natural growth also being positive influences.

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 uses growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections, released in 2023 and based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, demographic trends suggest an above median population growth for the area. According to the latest population numbers, Chidlow is projected to grow by 1,063 persons to reach 2041, marking a total gain of 20.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Chidlow recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Chidlow has seen approximately 9 new homes approved annually. Development approval data from the ABS covers financial years, totalling 48 approvals across FY21 to FY25 inclusive, with none recorded so far in FY26. On average, 5.3 new residents per year have arrived for each dwelling constructed over these five years. This demand outpaces supply, potentially driving up prices and increasing buyer competition.

New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $426,000. In contrast, commercial development approvals in FY26 totalled $335,000, indicating a residential focus. Compared to Greater Perth, Chidlow's construction levels are 57.0% below the regional average per person, suggesting stronger demand and values for established properties due to limited new supply. This activity is also under the national average, implying the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, maintaining Chidlow's traditional low-density character appealing to those seeking space in family homes.

There are currently estimated to be 562 people per dwelling approval in the area. Population forecasts indicate Chidlow will gain 1,061 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Chidlow has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 11thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. One major project is anticipated to influence this region: EastLink WA. Notable initiatives include Perth Active Transport Improvements and METRONET, along with its High Capacity Signalling Program. The following details projects expected to have the greatest relevance.

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

Employment performance in Chidlow has been broadly consistent with national averages

Chidlow has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominently featuring manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, and it saw an employment growth of 3.4% in the year ending June 2025.

In that month, 1,781 residents were employed, with a local unemployment rate of 2.9%, compared to Greater Perth's 3.9%. Workforce participation was lower at 36.1%, against Greater Perth's 65.2%. Dominant employment sectors include mining, health care & social assistance, and construction. Mining is particularly strong, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance has a limited presence at 10.7% compared to 14.8% regionally. The area might offer limited local job opportunities, as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.4%, labour force grew by 4.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Perth saw employment growth of 3.7% and unemployment rose by 0.1 percentage points. State-wide, WA's employment contracted by 0.82% (losing 14,590 jobs) by Sep-25, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, slightly below the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chidlow's employment mix suggests local growth rates of approximately 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Chidlow's median income among taxpayers was $53,898 in the financial year 2022, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $76,585 during this period. In Greater Perth, the median income was $58,380 and the average was $78,020. As of March 2025, current estimates suggest Chidlow's median income would be approximately $60,156 and the average would be around $85,477, based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that incomes in Chidlow cluster around the 57th percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 33.7% of individuals in Chidlow earn between $1,500 and $2,999, with a total of 1,738 individuals falling into this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region where 32.0% fall into the same income bracket. After housing expenses, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses in Chidlow.

Chidlow is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Chidlow's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.7% houses and 0.3% other dwellings. This compares to Perth metro's figures of 94.8% houses and 5.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chidlow stood at 33.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 56.5% and rented ones at 9.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,920, below Perth metro's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent in Chidlow was $367, compared to Perth metro's $330. Nationally, Chidlow's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

Chidlow features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 78.2% of all households, including 33.9% couples with children, 33.5% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.8%, with lone person households at 19.3% and group households comprising 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Perth average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 11.0%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 8.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are held by 29.0% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 6.0% and certificates at 23.0%. Educational participation is high, with 57.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 22.7% in secondary, 17.0% in primary, and 5.8% in tertiary education.

The area has two primary schools, Wooroloo Primary School and Chidlow Primary School, serving a total of 156 students. Chidlow Primary School has an ICSEA score of 979, indicating balanced educational opportunities typical of Australian schools. Both schools cater exclusively to primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited, with only 3.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.5, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Chidlow has 41 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by three different routes that together offer 78 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is limited, with residents usually located about 1075 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 11 trips per day across all routes, which means each stop gets approximately one trip per week.

Chidlow's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data for Chidlow shows positive outcomes with low prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups.

The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 58% (2,981 people). Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.0 and 8.4% respectively. A total of 69.4% reported no medical ailments, compared to 67.2% in Greater Perth. The area has 13.5% (695 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the 21.2% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Chidlow's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with its population comprising 52.9% citizens, 77.7% born in Australia, and 96.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Chidlow, accounting for 36.2% of its population. The most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, which constituted 0.8% compared to Greater Perth's 0.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (36.4%), Australian (30.2%), and Scottish (8.1%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Welsh was overrepresented at 0.8% in Chidlow versus 0.9% regionally, French at 0.7% compared to 0.5%, and Dutch at 1.6% against 2.0%.

Chidlow's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Chidlow has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Perth's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Chidlow has an over-representation of the 35-44 age group (20.1% locally vs. 19.6% in Greater Perth) and an under-representation of the 5-14 year-olds (6.5% vs. 8.7%). Nationally, the 35-44 cohort makes up 14.2%. Between 2021 and present, Chidlow's 35 to 44 age group has increased from 18.7% to 20.1%, while the 65 to 74 group has grown from 7.6% to 8.8%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 18.5% to 14.6%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant shifts in Chidlow's age profile. The 65 to 74 age group is expected to grow by 338 people (75%), increasing from 451 to 790. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 52% of total population growth. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.