College Grove - Carey Park

College Grove - Carey Park has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, College Grove - Carey Park's population is around 7,525 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 549 people (7.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,976 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,475 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 14 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 775 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. College Grove - Carey Park's 7.9% growth since the census positions it within 2.0 percentage points of the national average (9.9%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 59.2% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including interstate migration and natural growth, were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is utilising the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). As we examine future population trends, an above-median population growth for non-metropolitan areas nationally is projected, with the area expected to expand by 1,435 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, recording a gain of 18.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees College Grove - Carey Park recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

College Grove - Carey Park has seen around 13 new homes approved each year, with 66 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 9 so far in FY-26. Given an average of 6.6 new residents per year arriving per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand significantly exceeds new supply, which usually results in price growth and increased buyer competition, while new dwellings are developed at an average construction cost of $224,000‚—under regional levels—indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. There have also been $4.3 million in commercial approvals this financial year, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature.

Compared to the Rest of WA, College Grove - Carey Park shows substantially reduced construction (69.0% below regional average per person). This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, though construction activity has intensified recently. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. New building activity consists of 89.0% detached houses and 11.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 428 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Future projections show College Grove - Carey Park adding 1,385 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

College Grove - Carey Park has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 3rdth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 17 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the SWAMS Health Hub and Community Centre, Glen Iris Commercial & Retail Development, Bunbury Regional Hospital Redevelopment, and Carey Park Football Club Upgrades, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates College Grove - Carey Park faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

College Grove - Carey Park has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, an unemployment rate of 6.6%, and 5.3% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 3,397 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 3.1% above Regional WA's rate of 3.5%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation lags significantly (57.8% compared to Regional WA's 67.4%). Based on Census responses, a low 2.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area shows particularly strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.2% of local workers, below Regional WA's 9.3%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 5.3% while the labour force increased by 5.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional WA, where employment rose by 1.0%, the labour force grew by 1.4%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within College Grove - Carey Park. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to College Grove - Carey Park's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.9% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The College Grove - Carey Park SA2's income level is lower than average on a national basis according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The College Grove - Carey Park SA2's median income among taxpayers is $45,481 and the average income stands at $58,623, which compares to figures for Regional WA's of $59,973 and $74,392 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $49,856 (median) and $64,263 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in College Grove - Carey Park all fall between the 8th and 14th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals the largest segment comprises 27.4% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (2,061 residents), consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 31.1% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 8th percentile.

College Grove - Carey Park is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within College Grove - Carey Park, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 82.9% houses and 17.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional WA's 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within College Grove - Carey Park was lagging that of Regional WA, at 26.2%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (31.5%) or rented (42.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional WA average at $1,300, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $280, compared to Regional WA's $1,560 and $265. Nationally, College Grove - Carey Park's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

College Grove - Carey Park features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 59.0% of all households, comprising 18.2% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 16.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 41.0%, with lone person households at 36.6% and group households comprising 4.4% of the total. The median household size of 2.2 people is smaller than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

College Grove - Carey Park faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (12.0%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 9.1%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.6%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.3%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (7.4%) and certificates (31.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 33.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 10.0% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 67 active transport stops operating within College Grove - Carey Park, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 13 individual routes, collectively providing 541 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 183 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 92%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 2.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 77 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in College Grove - Carey Park is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Critical health challenges are evident across College Grove - Carey Park, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions have marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~3,642 people). This compares to 56.4% across Regional WA. The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 12.2% and 10.2% of residents, respectively, while 59.7% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.3% across Regional WA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 15.4% of residents aged 65 and over (1,161 people), which is lower than the 19.2% in Regional WA. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, College Grove - Carey Park records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

College Grove - Carey Park is roughly in line with the wider region's average in terms of cultural diversity, with 78.1% of its population being citizens, 80.5% born in Australia, and 90.6% speaking English only at home. The main religion in College Grove - Carey Park is Christianity, which makes up 43.3% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Other, which comprises 0.8% of the population, compared to 0.7% across Regional WA.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in College Grove - Carey Park are English, comprising 33.0% of the population, Australian, comprising 28.1% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 7.1% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Maori is notably overrepresented at 1.4% of College Grove - Carey Park (vs 1.0% regionally), New Zealand at 0.9% (vs 0.9%), and Australian Aboriginal at 4.0% (vs 6.1%).

College Grove - Carey Park's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

At 38 years, College Grove - Carey Park's median age is marginally below the Regional WA average of 40, though in line with the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Regional WA average, the 25 - 34 cohort is notably over-represented (16.1% locally), while 5 - 14 year-olds are under-represented (10.0%). Following the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 13.4% to 16.0% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 11.7% to 12.8%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 12.8% to 11.2% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 11.2% to 10.0%. Demographic modeling suggests College Grove - Carey Park's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 41%, adding 500 residents to reach 1,711. On the other hand, both the 85+ and 75 to 84 age groups will see reduced numbers.