Coolbellup
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Coolbellup's population is 9,427 as of Aug 2025. This shows an increase of 924 people (10.9%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 8,503. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 9,409 in June 2024 and additional 90 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,085 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Coolbellup's growth rate exceeded the national average (8.6%) since the 2021 census, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 57.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

All drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and utilising ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for areas not covered by this data. Considering projected demographic shifts, above median population growth is projected across statistical areas nationally, with Coolbellup expected to grow by 1,515 persons to 2041 based on latest population numbers, recording a gain of 15.9% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Coolbellup among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Coolbellup has recorded approximately 62 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 314 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. By May 2026, around 8 dwellings have been approved in FY-26. On average, each dwelling has accommodated 2.9 new residents annually over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value of these homes is $316,000, reflecting more affordable housing options compared to regional norms. This year, $400,000 worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating Coolbellup's residential focus. Relative to Greater Perth, the area has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 76th percentile nationally in terms of assessed areas.

Recent construction comprises 72% detached houses and 28% medium and high-density housing, preserving Coolbellup's suburban nature while attracting space-seeking buyers. The area has approximately 157 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. By 2041, Coolbellup is projected to grow by 1,497 residents. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

Coolbellup has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects that may affect this region: Kardinya Park Shopping Centre Redevelopment, North Lake Road - Winterfold Road Intersection Upgrade, Kardinya District Centre Activity Centre Plan, and New Women and Babies Hospital. The following details those considered most relevant.

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

Coolbellup has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Coolbellup has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 5.6% and there was a 4.5% employment growth over the past year.

As of June 2025, 5,497 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.7% higher than Greater Perth's 3.9%. Workforce participation is on par with Greater Perth at 65.2%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade, with notable concentration in education & training at 1.3 times the regional average. Mining shows lower representation at 5.3% compared to the regional average of 7.0%.

Over the year ending June 2025, employment increased by 4.5% while labour force increased by 5.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.2 percentage points in Coolbellup. In Greater Perth, employment grew by 3.7%, labour force expanded by 3.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.1 percentage points. State-wide, WA employment contracted by 0.82% (losing 14,590 jobs) to Sep-25 with a state unemployment rate of 4.3%. National unemployment is at 4.5% with national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary between sectors. Applying these projections to Coolbellup's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Coolbellup had a median taxpayer income of $52,686 and an average income of $66,275. These figures are slightly above the national averages of $58,380 and $78,020 in Greater Perth respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022, estimated median income for Coolbellup is approximately $58,803 and average income is around $73,970 as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Coolbellup rank modestly, between the 40th and 48th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 32.7% of the population, equivalent to 3,082 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the regional figure of 32.0%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Coolbellup, with only 83.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 40th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Coolbellup is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Coolbellup, as recorded at the latest Census, consisted of 79.1% houses and 20.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Perth metro's 81.2% houses and 18.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coolbellup was at 26.7%, aligning with Perth metro's level, while mortgaged dwellings accounted for 41.8% and rented ones for 31.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, lower than Perth metro's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent figure in Coolbellup was recorded at $310, compared to Perth metro's $370. Nationally, Coolbellup's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Coolbellup features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 64.4% of all households, including 25.7% couples with children, 24.4% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.6%, with lone person households making up 31.3% and group households comprising 4.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Tertiary education reaches 29.2% of Coolbellup residents aged 15 and above. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 34.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 24.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.2% in primary education, 7.2% in tertiary education, and 6.9% pursuing secondary education. Coolbellup Learning Centre and Coolbellup Community School collectively serve 245 students. Both schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Local school capacity is limited (2.6 places per 100 residents vs 11.4 regionally), leading many families to travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Coolbellup has 65 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 7 different routes that together facilitate 1,100 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 182 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 157 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Coolbellup is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Coolbellup faces significant health challenges. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~4,939 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Perth's 56.4%. Mental health issues impact 10.6% of residents, while arthritis affects 7.9%. About 67.0% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.9% across Greater Perth. The area has 17.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,655 people), higher than Greater Perth's 14.8%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Coolbellup 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

Coolbellup was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 17.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 32.0% born overseas. The dominant religion in Coolbellup is Christianity, comprising 43.5% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category makes up 0.9% of Coolbellup's population, slightly higher than the 0.8% regional average.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (27.8%), Australian (22.5%), and Other (10.1%). Some ethnic groups show notable variations: Croatian is overrepresented at 1.2%, compared to 2.3% regionally; French is also higher at 0.8%, versus 0.5%; similarly, Welsh is overrepresented at 0.8%, against a regional average of 0.6%.

Coolbellup's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Coolbellup is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Comparing with Greater Perth, residents aged 25-34 are over-represented at 17.0% locally, while those aged 5-14 are under-represented at 10.0%. Post-Census data from 2021 shows that the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 15.9% to 17.0%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 13.7% to 12.2%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are expected in Coolbellup. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 59%, adding 354 people and reaching a total of 952 from the current 597. Residents aged 65 and older are anticipated to represent 59% of this growth. Conversely, the 5-14 age cohort is forecasted to decrease by 31 people.