Dardanup
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Dardanup's population, as of August 2025, is around 3,687. This figure represents an increase of 401 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,286. The change is inferred from ABS data: an estimated resident population of 3,630 in June 2024 and an additional 100 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 7.1 persons per square kilometer. Dardanup's growth rate of 12.2% since the 2021 Census exceeds the national average of 8.6%. The primary driver for this growth was interstate migration, contributing approximately 65.6% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch projects future trends using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch uses ABS growth rates by age cohort from its Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Non-metropolitan areas nationally are projected to have above median population growth, with Dardanup expected to expand by 492 persons to 2041, recording a total gain of 11.8% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Dardanup among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Dardanup has seen approximately 33 new homes approved annually. Development approval data from the ABS is on a financial year basis: 167 homes were approved over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with six approvals so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling has brought in about 2.3 new residents per year over these five years. The average construction cost value of new homes is around $565,000, which is higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

This financial year, $5.7 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of WA, Dardanup has 67% more construction activity per person. While building activity has slowed in recent years, it has primarily consisted of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low density character and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 156 people per approval, Dardanup reflects a developing area.

By 2041, Dardanup is projected to grow by 435 residents. Current construction levels suggest that housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 19 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Picton Enterprise Park Development, Waterloo Industrial Park, Roseland at Dardanup, and Wanju District Structure Plan. The following details projects likely to be most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Dardanup performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Dardanup's workforce is skilled with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.9% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.5%. As of that month, 2,100 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.3% lower than Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%. Workforce participation stood at 64.0%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Employment is concentrated in construction, healthcare & social assistance, and manufacturing.

The area specializes in manufacturing with an employment share twice the regional level (2.0 vs 1.0). Conversely, mining shows lower representation at 7.6% versus the regional average of 11.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 5.5% alongside labour force growth of 5.4%, with unemployment remaining unchanged at 1.9%. Rest of WA recorded lower employment growth (1.1%) and labour force growth (0.5%), with a decrease in unemployment (-0.6 percentage points). Jobs and Skills Australia's 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 Dardanup's industry mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.3% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Dardanup's median income among taxpayers was $57,376 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $73,744 during the same period. These figures compare to Rest of WA's median and average incomes of $57,323 and $71,163 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Dardanup would be approximately $64,037 (median) and $82,306 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, incomes in Dardanup cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 32.2% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (1,187 residents), aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 31.1%. After housing costs, residents retain 88.6% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Dardanup, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.6% houses and 5.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro WA had 88.1% houses and 11.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dardanup stood at 41.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.1% and rented ones at 14.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,750, higher than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,616. Median weekly rent in Dardanup was $260, lower than Non-Metro WA's $300. Nationally, Dardanup's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $375 compared to the national figure.

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

Family households account for 77.8% of all households. They consist of 33.0% couples with children, 37.2% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 22.2%. Lone person households constitute 21.1%, while group households comprise 1.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of WA.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 18.4%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.4%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.3% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.7%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 33.2%. Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.3% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education. Dardanup's three schools have a combined enrollment of 465 students as of the latest data available. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 994) with balanced educational opportunities. All three schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. School places per 100 residents stand at 12.6, falling below the regional average of 17.1, indicating some students may attend schools outside Dardanup.

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

Transport analysis indicates one active public transport stop operating in Dardanup. This stop serves a mix of bus routes. One individual route services this stop, collectively offering five weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 5532 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages zero trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

Dardanup's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data shows relatively positive outcomes for Dardanup residents with common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (2,083 people), compared to 54.1% across Rest of WA.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.1 and 7.6% of residents respectively. A total of 69.5% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.4% across Rest of WA. As of 2021, the area has 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (718 people), which is higher than the 17.6% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Dardanup is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Dardanup, surveyed in June 2016, had a low cultural diversity with 84.1% of its population born in Australia, 90.3% being citizens, and 97.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 49.3% of Dardanup's population, slightly higher than the regional average of 45.9%. The top three ancestry groups were English (35.3%), Australian (31.4%), and Scottish (7.6%).

Notably, South African, Dutch, and Italian ethnicities were overrepresented in Dardanup compared to the region: South African at 1.1% vs 0.8%, Dutch at 2.0% vs 1.6%, and Italian at 5.5% vs 4.8%.

Dardanup hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Dardanup's median age is 45 years, significantly higher than Rest of WA's average of 40 years and Australia's average of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 65-74 year-old group is particularly prominent at 12.8%, while the 25-34 year-old group is relatively smaller at 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, Dardanup's median age has decreased by 1.1 years to 45 from 46. During this period, the 35-44 age group has increased from 11.6% to 13.4%, and the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.7% to 11.3%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 16.0% to 13.1%, and the 55-64 age group has dropped from 16.4% to 14.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Dardanup, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to grow by 57%, adding 197 residents to reach 544. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 65-74 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.