Geraldton
Statistical Area - sa2

Geraldton is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Geraldton's population was 12,555 as of August 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This represented a growth of 667 people, an increase of 5.6%, since the 2021 Census which reported 11,888 residents. The change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population data showing 12,501 in June 2024 and validated new addresses totalling 30 since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 573 persons per square kilometer. Geraldton's growth rate, at 5.6%, was within 1.8 percentage points of its SA3 area (7.4%), indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of 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 estimation, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future demographic trends suggest above median population growth for national non-metropolitan areas. Geraldton is projected to expand by 1,535 persons to 2041, with a total increase of 10.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Geraldton averaged approximately 28 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, totalling 142 approvals from FY-21 to FY-25 and 15 in FY-26 so far. Each new dwelling averages around 2.4 new residents per year over the past five financial years, indicating healthy demand that supports property values. The average construction cost of new homes is $600,000, moderately above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals amounted to $104.7 million, reflecting strong commercial development momentum in the area. Compared to the rest of WA, Geraldton has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 33rd percentile nationally, offering more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This level is below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New development consists of 74% standalone homes and 26% medium to high-density housing, maintaining Geraldton's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 507 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. By 2041, Geraldton is projected to grow by 1,314 residents. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Geraldton has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 1stth percentile nationally

Eleven infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Geraldton Homemaker Centre Expansion (commenced 2018), another Geraldton Homemaker Centre Expansion project (scheduled for completion in 2023), a 7-Eleven Service Station at Durlacher Street, Geraldton (opened 2020), and the Geraldton Green Connect Project (commenced 2021). Below is a list of projects likely to be most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment indicates Geraldton faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Geraldton's workforce is balanced between white and blue-collar jobs with prominent essential services sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate was 5.3%.

By this date, 5,569 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.1% higher than Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%. Workforce participation in Geraldton lagged at 52.9%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training, with healthcare jobs at 1.5 times the regional average. Mining employment was under-represented, at 5.4% compared to Rest of WA's 11.7%.

The worker-to-resident ratio was 1.0, indicating Geraldton hosted more jobs than residents. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.2%, employment fell by 2.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of WA's growth in employment (1.1%) and fall in unemployment (0.6 percentage points). Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts, released May 2025, projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Geraldton's industry mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates Geraldton's median income among taxpayers was $54,838, with an average of $68,551. This is higher than the national average. The median income in Rest of WA was $57,323 and the average was $71,163 during this period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for March 2025 would be approximately $61,205 (median) and $76,510 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Geraldton fall between the 10th and 22nd percentiles nationally. The data shows that 26.5% of Geraldton's community earns between $1,500 - 2,999 annually, with this band representing 31.1% of the broader area. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains in Geraldton, ranking at the 12th percentile nationally.

Geraldton is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Geraldton, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.8% houses and 24.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasted with Non-Metro WA's 87.5% houses and 12.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Geraldton stood at 34.6%, with the rest being mortgaged (25.2%) or rented (40.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in Geraldton was $230, compared to Non-Metro WA's $250. Nationally, Geraldton's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Geraldton features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 56.8 percent of all households, including 17.2 percent that are couples with children, 26.2 percent that are couples without children, and 12.2 percent that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 43.2 percent, with lone person households at 39.9 percent and group households comprising 3.3 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.4.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 16.4%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (30.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education. Twelve schools serve 4,974 students in the area. The educational mix includes seven primary, three secondary, and two K-12 schools. The area functions as an education hub with 39.6 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 16.8, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Geraldton has 140 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 13 different routes that combined offer 506 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 176 meters.

On average, there are 72 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately three weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Geraldton is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Geraldton faces significant health challenges, affecting both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 54%, or about 6,742 people, have private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.9%) and mental health issues (9.8%). Conversely, 60.4% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 66.8% in the rest of WA. Geraldton has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.8%, or about 2,733 people, compared to 18.3% in the rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors generally align with those of the broader population.

Geraldton ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Geraldton's cultural diversity was found to be below average. Its population comprised 84.1% citizens, 82.3% born in Australia, and 90.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 51.0% of people identifying as such.

Islam, however, was overrepresented at 2.0%, compared to the Rest of WA's 1.3%. The top three ancestry groups were English (29.6%), Australian (28.0%), and Irish (8.0%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal was also overrepresented in Geraldton at 7.1% versus the regional average of 6.9%, while Maori and South African populations were proportionally similar to the region's averages at 0.7% and 0.5% respectively.

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

Geraldton's median age is 45 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of WA average of 40 years, and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 85 years and above are particularly prominent at 3.2%, while those aged 5 to 14 years make up a comparatively smaller proportion at 10.1% compared to the Rest of WA. Between 2021 and present, the population of Geraldton has seen an increase in the 25 to 34 age group from 11.3% to 13.8%, and the 35 to 44 age cohort from 11.0% to 12.2%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 85 years and above has declined from 4.5% to 3.2%, and the 75 to 84 age group has dropped from 8.2% to 7.0%. Population forecasts for Geraldton in the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow by 47%, adding 822 residents to reach a total of 2,558. In contrast, population declines are projected for those aged 85 years and above, and the 15 to 24 age group.