Exmouth
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Exmouth's population is around 5,281 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 622 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,659 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,277 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 47 validated new addresses since the Census date. Exmouth's population density ratio is 0.00 persons per square kilometer. Since the 2021 census, Exmouth has seen a growth rate of 13.4%, exceeding the SA4 region average of 7.6% and the national average. Interstate migration contributed approximately 46.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 uses growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Based on latest population numbers, Exmouth is projected to grow by 948 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 17.9% over the 17-year period.

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

Exmouth has received approximately 48 dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 243 homes were approved in total, with 8 approvals already recorded in FY26. On average, about 2.7 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $495,000. This year has seen $26.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting balanced commercial development activity compared to other areas in WA. Exmouth records 68% more development activity per capita than the rest of WA, offering greater choice for buyers. Recent construction comprises 77% standalone homes and 23% medium to high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes.

With around 113 people per dwelling approval, Exmouth shows characteristics of a growth area. Future projections suggest Exmouth will add approximately 944 residents by 2041. Current construction levels are expected to meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Exmouth has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely to affect the region. Notable ones include Learmonth And Curtin Raaf Upgrades, Sundrift Estate (Exmouth Marina), Exmouth Marina Edge Land Release - 150 Lots, and HyEnergy Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Project. The following list details those of most relevance.

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

Employment conditions in Exmouth demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Exmouth has a skilled workforce with tourism and hospitality sectors prominently featured. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 1.8%.

By this date, 2,945 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.3% lower than Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%, indicating a strong local job market. Workforce participation in Exmouth is high at 66.7%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Employment among residents is concentrated in accommodation & food, public administration & safety, and retail trade sectors. Notably, the accommodation & food sector employs 2.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, health care & social assistance employs only 5.6% of local workers, lower than Rest of WA's 11.9%. This suggests a shift in employment towards other sectors. Despite local opportunities, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the year to June 2025, Exmouth's labour force decreased by 2.3% and employment decreased by 2.5%, leading to a slight increase in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of WA's employment growth of 1.1% and falling unemployment by 0.6 percentage points during the same period. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 provide insight into potential future demand within Exmouth. National employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Exmouth's current employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.6% over five years and 11.7% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended 30 June 2022, Exmouth had a median income among taxpayers of $51,715 with the average level standing at $69,297. This is higher than average nationally and compares to levels of $57,323 and $71,163 across Rest of WA respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% from financial year ended 30 June 2022 to March 2025, current estimates would be approximately $57,719 (median) and $77,342 (average). Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 68th percentile ($905 weekly), while household income sits at the 49th percentile. Income analysis reveals the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 34.4% of residents (1,816 people). After housing, 86.2% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Exmouth is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Exmouth, as per the latest Census evaluation, 74.3% of dwellings were houses, with 25.7% being other types such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro WA's figures of 76.7% houses and 23.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Exmouth stood at 29.1%, similar to Non-Metro WA. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 27.8%, while rented properties made up 43.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, higher than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,733. Weekly rent was recorded at $263, compared to Non-Metro WA's $240. Nationally, Exmouth's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $375.

Exmouth features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 63.8% of all households, including 25.5% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 6.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 36.2%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households comprising 6.2%. The median household size is 2.4 people, matching the Rest of WA average.

Exmouth faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Educational qualifications in Exmouth trail regional benchmarks, with 22.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (33.8%). Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.9% in primary education, 6.0% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education. As of 2021, Exmouth has a robust network of 6 schools educating approximately 678 students. The educational mix includes 2 primary schools and 4 K-12 schools.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Exmouth demonstrates excellent health outcomes, with very low prevalence of common conditions across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 54%, covering about 2872 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 6.5% and 5.8% of residents respectively. 77.1% of Exmouth's population reports no medical ailments, compared to 74.5% in the rest of WA. As of 2021, 11.0% of residents are aged 65 and over (581 people), lower than the regional average of 13.9%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors align with those of the general population.

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

Exmouth's cultural diversity aligns with the broader regional average, as indicated by its population statistics: 79.9% citizens, 78.4% born in Australia, and 91.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Exmouth, representing 33.2% of its population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Exmouth compared to the rest of WA, with 0.1% versus 0%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (30.7%), English (29.9%), and Scottish (7.1%). Some ethnic groups show significant disparities: Spanish (0.6% vs regional 0.4%), Australian Aboriginal (4.7% vs 9.3%), and French (0.6% vs 0.5%) are notably divergent in their representation.

Exmouth's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Exmouth is 35 years, which is lower than Rest of WA's average of 40 and also slightly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to Rest of WA, Exmouth has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.1%) but fewer individuals aged 65-74 (7.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, Exmouth's median age has decreased from 37 years in 2016 to 35 years. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 increased from 17.1% to 21.1%, while those aged 35-44 rose from 15.2% to 17.4%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals aged 65-74 decreased from 9.2% to 7.3%, and the 55-64 age group dropped from 13.5% to 11.9%. By 2041, Exmouth's population is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 42%, reaching 1,583 people from the current 1,116. Meanwhile, population declines are anticipated for the 55-64 and 85+ age cohorts.