Derby - West Kimberley

Derby - West Kimberley has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Derby - West Kimberley stands at approximately 8,675 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 1,630 residents (23.1%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 7,045 individuals. This shift is calculated using the estimated resident population of 8,675 recorded by the ABS as of June 2025 alongside 44 validated new addresses identified since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 0.10 persons per square kilometer, indicating a substantial amount of space per resident. The 23.1% population expansion in Derby - West Kimberley since the 2021 census outpaced the national average (9.3%) and the Rest of WA, positioning the area as a leader in regional growth. The main driver of this growth was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 52.1% of the total population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for each SA2 region, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and to calculate development beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies age cohort growth rates from the latest Greater Capital Region projections released by the ABS in 2023, which utilize 2022 data. Future demographic forecasts suggest the area will experience population growth above the national median for regional locations, with an expected rise of 1,043 individuals by 2041 compared to the most recent annual ERP statistics, translating to a total gain of 12.0% over the 16 years.

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

Derby - West Kimberley averages approximately 9 residential building approvals annually, summing to 48 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 0 approvals have been logged. With an average of 7.3 additional residents for each completed dwelling during the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, demand outstrips new supply by a wide margin, a dynamic that typically spurs price appreciation and heightens competition among buyers, while new residences carry an average construction value of $685,000, pointing to a focus by developers on upscale, higher-end properties. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $9.9 million have been registered during this financial year, reflecting a steady flow of business investment.

Compared to the Rest of WA, construction activity in Derby - West Kimberley is notably quiet, sitting 59.0% below the regional average per capita. This lack of new inventory generally supports the value and demand for existing structures, even though construction activity has climbed in recent times. This rate also sits below the national benchmark, highlighting the mature state of the local market and suggesting possible planning constraints. Furthermore, recent construction consists solely of detached houses, maintaining the low-density character of the area with a focus on standalone homes that attract buyers seeking space. An estimated ratio of 662 people in the region for each residential approval highlights the quiet, low-volume nature of local development.

Long-term forecasts indicate Derby - West Kimberley will add 1,043 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If current building rates persist, residential supply may struggle to keep pace with this demographic expansion, potentially intensifying competition among buyers and supporting upward pressure on home values.

Derby - West Kimberley has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development schemes play a key role in regional progress. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 14 projects expected to influence the local area. Principal works include the RAAF Curtin Redevelopment Project, Derby Light Industrial Estate, Derby Future Energy System, and Derby District High School Redevelopment, with details provided on those of greatest relevance.

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

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Employment conditions in Derby - West Kimberley face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

The labor force in Derby - West Kimberley is distributed across white and blue collar occupations, with strong representation in essential services, alongside an unemployment rate of 21.4% and an estimated annual job growth rate of 3.3%. As of March 2026, there are 2,353 employed residents, while the unemployment rate sits 17.9% higher than the 3.5% registered in Regional WA, indicating potential for labor market improvement, and participation in the workforce remains low at 43.9% compared to 65.6% in Regional WA. Census data shows a low proportion of residents working from home at 4.8%, though this figure may be influenced by past pandemic restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are education & training, health care & social assistance, and public administration & safety. The region displays a high concentration of jobs in education & training, which stands at 2.5 times the regional average. By contrast, mining is underrepresented, employing only 2.8% of the local workforce compared to the regional average of 11.7%. A comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests that local employment opportunities are somewhat limited.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics indicates that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the number of employed persons grew by 3.3% and the labor force expanded by 3.1%, leading to a decrease in the unemployment rate of 0.1 percentage points. This trend diverges from Regional WA, where total employment shrank by 0.1%, the workforce grew by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide context on potential future labor demand in Derby - West Kimberley. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to project growth trends. While national employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary by sector. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto the local employment distribution suggests that employment in Derby - West Kimberley would rise by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, noting that this is a direct weighted extrapolation for illustration and does not incorporate local population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Taxpayer data from the ATO compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year indicates that the Derby - West Kimberley SA2 has an income level below the national average. Taxpayers in the Derby - West Kimberley SA2 record a median income of $53,737 and an average income of $64,621, compared to $59,973 and $74,392 respectively for Regional WA. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of roughly $59,610 and an average of $71,684 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed weekly household income at the 22nd percentile ($1,327 weekly) and personal income at the 2nd percentile. In terms of income brackets, the largest group contains 30.4% of residents (2,637 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999, which aligns closely with the broader region where 31.1% fall into this range. Housing costs are manageable, with residents retaining 91.6% of their income, though disposable income is below average at the 32nd percentile.

Derby - West Kimberley is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

According to the latest Census, the housing stock in Derby - West Kimberley consisted of 88.1% separate houses and 11.9% other dwelling types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative structures, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other options in Regional WA. Home ownership rates in Derby - West Kimberley lagged behind the regional average at 10.3%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (7.8%) or renters (81.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area stood at $1,629, which is higher than the Regional WA average of $1,560, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $100 compared to $265 regionally. On a national level, mortgage payments in Derby - West Kimberley are notably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are considerably below the national benchmark of $375.

Derby - West Kimberley features high concentrations of lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households represent the largest segment at 67.7% of all households, comprising couples with children at 26.0%, couples without children at 21.2%, and single-parent households at 16.5%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 32.3%, which is made up of single-person households at 30.2% and group households at 2.3%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

Derby - West Kimberley faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Educational attainment levels in the area show distinct trends, with university qualification rates at 16.2%, which is lower than the national average of 30.4%. This highlights an opportunity for targeted learning programs. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.0% and graduate diplomas at 2.1%. Vocational and technical training is common, with 32.5% of residents aged 15+ holding a qualification in these fields, consisting of advanced diplomas (6.3%) and certificates (26.2%).

A high level of educational participation is observed, with 36.3% of the population enrolled in formal study. This student population includes 19.2% in primary school, 9.6% in secondary school, and 1.8% in higher education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health outcomes in Derby - West Kimberley are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the prevalence of long-term health issues, health outcomes in Derby - West Kimberley are below average, with common conditions slightly more frequent across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is low, held by approximately 51% of the population (~4,441 people) compared to 56.4% in Regional WA.

Diabetes and asthma represent the most frequent medical conditions, affecting 6.5% and 4.4% of local residents, respectively, while 80.2% of the population reported no chronic conditions compared to 69.3% across Regional WA. The working-age population exhibits good health with low rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and older represent 8.8% of the local population (761 people), which is lower than the 19.2% share in Regional WA. Seniors in the area display strong health outcomes, ranking higher nationally than the general local population.

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

Derby - West Kimberley exhibits above-average cultural diversity, with 8.6% of residents born outside Australia and 43.1% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 54.8% of the population. The most prominent religious overrepresentation is in the Other category, which accounts for 2.2% of residents compared to 0.7% across Regional WA.

In terms of parent country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Derby - West Kimberley are Australian Aboriginal at 56.7% of the population (significantly above the regional average of 6.1%), Australian at 13.0% (notably below the regional average of 28.4%), and English at 11.7% (notably below the regional average of 31.3%). Other cultural groups show specific patterns, with Maori represented at 0.9% of the population (compared to 1.0% regionally) and Samoan at 0.1% (compared to 0.1% regionally).

Derby - West Kimberley hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 32 years in Derby - West Kimberley is younger than the Regional WA average of 40 and the national average of 38 years. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 20.3% of the population, compared to a lower presence of 6.1% for the 65 - 74 bracket. This 25 - 34 cohort concentration is higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age group expanded from 18.0% to 20.3% of the population, and the 35 to 44 cohort rose from 13.5% to 14.8%. By contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.1% to 11.0% and the 15 to 24 age bracket dropped from 14.5% to 13.5%. Demographic projections for 2041 point to significant changes, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to grow by 564 people (32%) from 1,763 to 2,328, while declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age brackets.