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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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East Pilbara has an estimated 6,402 residents, up from 5,910 at the 2021 Census — a change of 492 people, or 8.3%. Overseas migration accounts for 92.9% of that increase. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to evaluation by AreaSearch, the resident count for East Pilbara stands at approximately 6,402 as of Aug 2026. This indicates an expansion of 492 people (8.3%) relative to the 2021 Census, when 5,910 people were tallied. This shift is derived from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 6,402 as of June 2025 alongside 4 validated new addresses recorded following the Census date. Spreading this headcount across the region results in a population density of virtually no residents per square kilometer, ensuring substantial space for each resident. The local post-census expansion of 8.3% trails the broader Australian benchmark (9.5%) by only 1.2 percentage points, highlighting solid demographic momentum.
Inbound international migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 92.9% of net population additions across recent periods. Projections generated by ABS/Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 localities—published in 2024 using 2022 as their starting baseline—have been incorporated by AreaSearch. In instances where specific SA2s lack coverage, and when calculating trends continuing post-2032 across all districts, AreaSearch applies cohort-specific growth metrics taken from the latest Greater Capital Region projections published by the ABS in 2023, based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, demographic modeling points toward regional growth outpacing the national regional median, with local numbers projected to rise by 968 persons to 2041 according to the most recent annual ERP releases, translating to an aggregate expansion of 15.1% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building permit volume throughout East Pilbara remains sparse, recording an average of 3 approvals per year (amounting to 18 approvals over five years). Such constrained volumes are typical of non-metropolitan environments where residential accommodation requirements are conservative and construction pace is naturally governed by localized demand alongside infrastructure capacity. Because absolute numbers are small, individual building proposals can exert a disproportionate effect on annual rate changes and comparative metrics. Residential building output across East Pilbara is noticeably subdued compared to Rest of WA, whilst also trailing wider national averages. Furthermore, recent building activity has been exclusively dedicated to standalone dwellings, reflecting the regional setting where larger allotments and open areas prevail.
A ratio of 1458 people in the area for every building permit granted illustrates the subdued, quiet character of the local development sector. Demographic forecasts indicate that East Pilbara will see an influx of 968 residents by 2041, based on the newest quarterly calculation from AreaSearch. Should building rates stay at current levels, the addition of new dwellings could lag demographic increases, thereby intensifying buyer demand and underpinning stronger capital values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around East Pilbara
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 22 current infrastructure and development projects inside East Pilbara, worth an estimated $72.9 billion. A further 109 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $109.8 billion. 46 are already under construction and 36 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, transport & logistics and manufacturing. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local economic momentum is heavily shaped by civil works, major regional initiatives, and strategic planning schemes. AreaSearch has highlighted 68 projects in total that have the capacity to shape the regional landscape. Prominent undertakings encompass the Green Iron Metal Project, Great Northern Highway Overtaking Lanes Newman-Port Hedland, Cloudbreak Solar Farm, as well as the Resources Community Investment Initiative, with key initiatives outlined below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Green Iron Metal Project
A project to produce more than 1,500 tonnes per annum of green metal, located at the Green Energy Hub at Christmas Creek. It will use green hydrogen to convert iron ore into sponge iron, which is then processed in an electric smelting furnace to produce high-purity green metal.
Great Northern Highway Overtaking Lanes Newman-Port Hedland
Construction of 11 overtaking lanes along the Great Northern Highway between Newman and Port Hedland to improve road safety and freight productivity. Five overtaking lanes in Package 1 are open. Package 2 covers the remaining six overtaking lanes between Munjina (Auski) and Port Hedland, with the overall project remaining under construction and completion targeted during 2026. Jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments.
Cloudbreak Solar Farm
A 190MW solar PV plant at the Cloudbreak mine site.
Resources Community Investment Initiative
A $750 million partnership between the WA Government and major resource companies funding iconic community, social, and regional infrastructure across Western Australia. Key projects include the Perth Concert Hall redevelopment, Tom Price and Paraburdoo Hospital redevelopments, the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and regional education and health initiatives. The initiative is facilitated in partnership with the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA.
Jigalong Water Infrastructure Upgrade
Upgrade of water infrastructure at Jigalong Aboriginal Community including design and construction of steel ground tank and associated works under the National Partnership Remote Housing Water and Wastewater Capacity Upgrades program.
Jigalong Regional Connectivity Program
Fully managed public satellite Wi-Fi and VoIP telephone solutions providing unlimited free calls to national landlines and mobile phones, plus access to government websites without data charges.
Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program Jigalong
Joint project between National Indigenous Australians Agency and Australian Army creating community-owned youth centre, outdoor barbecue setting, creek culvert, and public amenities block.
Marble Bar Road Upgrade
Upgrading 92km of Marble Bar Road to a two-lane sealed road to improve road safety, serviceability and provide better connectivity and accessibility for local and regional traffic, including to several mine sites.
4,449 residents of East Pilbara are employed, from a labour force of 4,616. Unemployment sits at 3.6%, with participation at 77.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 3.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 11,748, about 184% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
A balanced mix between blue-collar and white-collar roles characterizes the local labor landscape in East Pilbara, where the building and construction trade is notably prominent, joblessness sits at a modest 3.6%, and estimated annual workforce growth reached 4.7%. As of March 2026, employed locals tally 4,449, while the local jobless rate exceeds Regional WA's mark of 3.5% by 0.1%, accompanied by an elevated labor participation level of 77.0% against 65.4% across Regional WA. Census data indicated that only 1.9% of local workers performed their duties from home, though historical Covid-19 restrictions must be kept in mind.
The primary employment generators for local residents include mining, construction, alongside accommodation & food. Mining representation is particularly heavy, capturing a workforce proportion 4.8 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 1.5% of jobs held by residents, underperforming the Regional WA figure of 11.9%. Recording 2.4 workers for each local inhabitant at the Census, the locality serves as a major regional employment center that supplies more jobs than it has residents and draws personnel from adjacent territories. AreaSearch assessment of SALM and ABS figures indicates that over the 12-month period, local employment expanded by 4.7% while the workforce pool widened by 4.6%, keeping the jobless rate relatively steady. In contrast, Regional WA registered an employment reduction of 0.1%, labor pool growth of 0.3%, and a 0.4 percentage point uptick in unemployment. National employment outlooks released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future workforce requirements across East Pilbara. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied across local industry distributions to model prospective trajectories. Whereas nationwide employment is projected to climb by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, expansion trajectories diverge markedly across distinct industries. Applying these sector-level expectations to the local workforce composition points to an employment increase of 3.9% over five years and 10.0% over ten years in East Pilbara (this constitutes a weighted calculation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localized population adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in East Pilbara is $1,159 a week (about $60,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,801 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $82,785 a year against an average of $94,054. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxation data at the postcode level compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 reveals a median taxpayer income of $82,785 and an average taxpayer earnings figure of $94,054 across the East Pilbara SA2. These figures are exceptionally high in the national context, outstripping Regional WA where the median sits at $59,973 and the average is $74,392. Adjusting for a 10.93% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 places updated estimates around $91,833 for median remuneration and $104,334 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census showed individual personal earnings at the 99th percentile across Australia ($1,801 weekly), whereas household remuneration placed substantially lower at the 10th percentile.
In terms of earnings distribution, 27.6% of residents (equating to 1,766 individuals) fall within the $800 - 1,499 wage bracket, contrasting with the capital city area where the $1,500 - 2,999 band represents the largest share at 31.1%. Even though housing expenditure remains low with 90.8% of income retained, overall disposable financial capacity sits at only the 17th percentile across Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
East Pilbara had 437 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 1% apartments. 9% are owned with a mortgage, 78% rented and 13% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $70 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,435 a month. Rent absorbs 6.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 48.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, residential stock throughout East Pilbara was divided between 87.2% separate houses and 12.7% alternate options (encompassing semi-detached residences, units, and other dwellings), whereas Regional WA recorded 88.5% houses and 11.6% alternate dwellings. Outright home ownership in East Pilbara trailed the Regional WA standard at 13.0%, with the balance of properties being mortgaged (9.3%) or occupied by tenants (77.7%). Monthly mortgage commitments averaged a median of $2,435 locally—well above the Regional WA benchmark of $1,560—while weekly rental costs averaged a median of $70 against $265 in Regional WA.
From a nationwide perspective, mortgage costs in East Pilbara sit considerably above the Australian standard of $1,863, whereas rental payments are noticeably lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
East Pilbara counted 437 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 473 today, averaging 3.3 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 19% couples without children. 31% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.4 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the clear majority of local living arrangements at 68.2%, comprising couples with children at 29.1%, couples without children at 19.3%, and single parent households at 15.6%. Non-family domestic setups account for the other 31.8%, led by single-person dwellings at 30.7% and group shared households at 2.0%. With an average of 3.3 people, household occupancy exceeds the Regional WA average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
15.8% of adults in East Pilbara hold a university qualification, including 11.5% with a bachelor degree and 3.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 81% of areas nationally. A further 44.4% hold a vocational qualification. 10 schools serve the area, with 259 enrolment places. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment in the region shows noticeable gaps, with tertiary degree attainment (15.8%) trailing well behind the nationwide proportion of 30.4%, creating clear scope for targeted training programs. Among university graduates, bachelor credentials comprise 11.5%, post-graduate qualifications make up 3.4%, and graduate diplomas account for 0.9%. Meanwhile, vocational qualifications are widespread, with 53.4% of the population aged 15+ possessing trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificate-level awards (44.4%). Community educational engagement is substantial, with 40.6% of the population actively pursuing formal studies. This cohort includes 16.0% undertaking primary schooling, 9.7% enrolled in secondary education, and 4.5% participating in tertiary courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around East Pilbara means driving: households keep an average of 0.8 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
81.6% of residents in East Pilbara report no long-term health condition. 1.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 67.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 9.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Public health indicators across East Pilbara generally align with Australian norms based on chronic illness rates and mortality statistics evaluated by AreaSearch, exhibiting standard illness frequencies across both younger and older demographics, while private medical insurance coverage is exceptionally high at roughly 68% of residents (totaling 4,321 people). This surpasses the 56.4% proportion in Regional WA and the national standard of 55.7%. Diabetes and asthma represent the most widespread medical conditions diagnosed locally, affecting 5.5 and 5.1% of inhabitants respectively, whereas 81.6% of residents report having no diagnosed medical conditions, outperforming the 69.3% proportion across Regional WA.
The working-age cohort demonstrates strong vitality and minimal chronic illness. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 5.8% of the local population (373 people), sitting below the 19.1% share recorded throughout Regional WA, with older residents registering exceptionally high health indicators relative to nationwide benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
27.2% of East Pilbara residents were born overseas and 36.8% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian Aboriginal (25.6%) and English (23.5%). 25.6% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in East Pilbara surpasses that of most surrounding regions, with 27.2% of locals born overseas and 36.8% utilizing a non-English language at home. Christianity is the predominant religious denomination, accounting for 41.7% of the populace. Meanwhile, the Other category displays the most pronounced divergence, representing 5.5% of residents locally versus 0.7% across Regional WA. Regarding ancestral background (based on parental birthplace), the three most common groups in East Pilbara are Australian Aboriginal at 25.6% (exceeding the regional average of 6.1%), English at 23.5% (trailing the regional mark of 31.3%), and Australian at 16.0% (below the regional share of 28.4%).
Specific minority ethnicities also demonstrate noticeable variations: Maori residents comprise 2.3% in East Pilbara (against 1.0% across the region), Filipino representation sits at 2.0% (against 1.2%), and Samoan background accounts for 0.3% (against 0.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of East Pilbara is 36. 33.0% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The local age profile in East Pilbara tilts heavily toward childless young adults. As of updated estimates for August 2026, 51.0% of the populace falls into the young to middle-aged adult bracket (25 - 44), compared to 26.6% in Regional WA, while the cohort of children and young adults (0 - 24) constitutes 13.9% against a regional share of 29.1%. AreaSearch assesses the median age at 36 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census and sitting 4 years below the Regional WA benchmark of 40 established at the same Census.
The most noticeable movement since the Census occurred among children and young adults, whose proportion dropped from 19.2% to an estimated 13.9%. Looking toward 2041, young to middle-aged adults will capture the majority of population increases, expanding by 649 residents (20%) to 3,916, while the youth cohort is anticipated to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for East Pilbara
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 last month all 22 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 4 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (5,910 at the 2021 Census → 6,402 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (510021267). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.