Derby - West Kimberley
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Derby - West Kimberley's population is approximately 8,524 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,479 people (21.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,045. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,516 in June 2024 and three validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 0.10 persons per square kilometer. Derby - West Kimberley's growth rate exceeded the national average (8.9%) and that of non-metro areas, making it a regional growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 52.3% to overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch employs growth rates by age cohort from the ABS's Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population projections indicate an above median growth for regional areas nationally, with Derby - West Kimberley expected to increase by 1,105 persons to 2041, representing a total gain of 12.9% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Derby - West Kimberley according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Derby - West Kimberley averaged approximately 9 new dwelling approvals annually between FY-21 and FY-25. A total of 48 homes were approved during this period, with none yet approved in FY-26. On average, around 4.8 new residents arrived per year for each dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25.

This indicates demand significantly exceeds supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $685,000, targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, there have been $9.9 million in commercial approvals, showing moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the rest of WA, Derby - West Kimberley has significantly less development activity, 60.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new properties typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

Development activity has picked up recently but remains under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. There are approximately 652 people per dwelling approval in the area, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections indicate Derby - West Kimberley adding 1,097 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Derby - West Kimberley has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified a total of 14 projects that are likely to impact this particular area. Notable among these are the RAAF Curtin Redevelopment Project, Derby Light Industrial Estate, Derby Future Energy System, and Derby District High School Redevelopment. The following list details those projects considered most relevant:.

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.

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

Derby-West Kimberley has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, prominent essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 21.6%. As of June 2025, 2,255 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 18.5% higher than Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%.

Workforce participation is significantly lower at 39.0%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include education & training, health care & social assistance, and public administration & safety. Education & training has a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 2.5 times the regional average. Conversely, mining shows lower representation at 2.8% compared to the regional average of 11.7%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.2%, while employment declined by 4.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.8 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of WA, where employment rose by 1.1%, the labour force grew by 0.5%, and unemployment fell by 0.6 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Derby-West Kimberley. These projections estimate local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Derby-West Kimberley's median income among taxpayers was $52,354 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $61,246 during the same period. In comparison, Rest of WA had a median income of $57,323 and an average income of $71,163. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income in Derby-West Kimberley will be approximately $59,788 and the average income $69,943, based on a 14.2% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 22nd percentile ($1,327 weekly), while personal income sits at the 2nd percentile. In terms of income distribution, 30.4% of locals (2,591 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the broader area where 31.1% occupy this bracket. Housing costs allow for 91.6% retention, but disposable income is below average at the 33rd percentile.

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

Derby - West Kimberley's dwellings were 88.1% houses and 11.9% other dwellings at the Census. Non-Metro WA had 79.3% houses and 20.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Derby - West Kimberley was 10.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 7.8% and rented ones at 81.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,629, below Non-Metro WA's $2,167. Median weekly rent in the area was $100, compared to Non-Metro WA's $200. Nationally, Derby - West Kimberley's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,629 versus Australia's $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Derby - West Kimberley features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 67.7% of all households, including 26.0% couples with children, 21.2% couples without children, and 16.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.3%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households comprising 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.8 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of WA.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 16.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 32.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 6.3% and certificates for 26.2%.

Educational participation is high at 36.3%, including 19.2% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education. Sixteen schools serve 1,449 students across Derby - West Kimberley, with educational conditions varying across the area. The educational mix includes four primary, one secondary, and eleven K-12 schools.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Derby - West Kimberley's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Derby-West Kimberley shows excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all ages. Private health cover rate is approximately 51%, compared to 53.4% in the rest of WA.

Diabetes and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 6.5% and 4.4% respectively. About 80.2% report no medical ailments, similar to the 79.9% across the rest of WA. The area has 8.7% residents aged 65 and over (744 people), higher than the 7.4% in the rest of WA. Seniors' health outcomes are strong, comparable to the general population's profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Derby - West Kimberley was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Derby-West Kimberley has a higher than average cultural diversity, with 8.6% of its population born overseas and 43.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Derby-West Kimberley, comprising 54.8% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category makes up 2.2% of the population, higher than the Rest of WA average of 1.5%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian Aboriginal is the most represented group at 56.7%, significantly higher than the regional average of 33.7%. Australian and English groups are underrepresented at 13.0% and 11.7% respectively, compared to regional averages of 19.7% and 19.1%. There is notable overrepresentation of Maori (0.9%) and Samoan (0.1%) groups in Derby-West Kimberley.

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

Derby-West Kimberley's median age is 31 years, which is considerably lower than the Rest of WA average of 40 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of WA, Derby-West Kimberley has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (20.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (6.2%). This 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 18.0% to 20.3%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 13.5% to 14.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 11.0% to 9.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Derby-West Kimberley. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 38%, adding 653 residents to reach a total of 2,383. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups.