Karnup

Karnup lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Karnup stands at approximately 2,750 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 654 individuals (31.2%) relative to the 2,096 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The calculation is based on the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 2,744 combined with 212 validated new addresses identified since the Census. This population size results in a density of 50 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density living. The local growth rate of 31.2% since the 2021 census outpaced both the national average (9.3%) and the state average, positioning the area as a regional growth leader. The primary driver of this growth was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 64.3% of the total population increase, though natural growth and overseas migration also made positive contributions.

AreaSearch utilizes projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024, which use 2022 as a baseline. For locations without direct coverage in these figures, or to project trends beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies cohort-specific growth rates from the 2023 Greater Capital Region projections (derived from 2022 data). Factoring in these expected shifts, the community is projected to rank in the highest national quartile for growth, gaining 648 residents by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP statistics, which equates to a cumulative increase of 23.4% over 16 years.

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

Karnup has averaged approximately 65 new residential approvals per year, summing to 327 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 45 approvals have been documented. With an average of 1.9 new residents arriving per completed dwelling between FY-21 and FY-25, demand and supply show strong alignment, promoting stable conditions in the market. The average construction cost for these new dwellings is $260,000. Additionally, commercial development approvals total $157,000 for the current financial year, representing low levels of commercial building activity.

On a per capita basis, home approvals in Karnup are 228.0% higher than in Greater Perth, offering prospective purchasers numerous opportunities. This volume is also much higher than the national benchmark, demonstrating substantial developer trust in the area. Furthermore, all recent construction has consisted of standalone houses, preserving a spacious local profile and appealing to buyers seeking detached properties. With approximately 41 people for every residential approval, the locality displays typical growth-fringe dynamics.

Projections indicate that Karnup's population will expand by 642 residents by 2041, measured from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current construction trajectories suggest that the supply of new housing will easily accommodate this influx, yielding favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially enabling expansion beyond baseline forecasts.

Karnup has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 22ndth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, planning schemes, and major developments have a significant impact on local performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 active projects that are expected to influence the area. Notable projects include Lakelands Estate, The Gardens Estate - Lakelands, Lakelands Town Centre, and Lakelands Residential Development Stage 3, with key details provided in the list below.

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 Karnup remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

The local workforce is evenly distributed between blue-collar and white-collar occupations, with building and construction showing high representation, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. As of March 2026, employed residents count 1,393, while the local jobless rate is 0.9% higher than the Greater Perth mark of 4.2%. Participation in the labor force aligns closely with the Greater Perth average of 70.2%. Census data reveals that a modest 10.0% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 restriction measures.

The primary sectors employing local residents are construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The local labor market is particularly concentrated in construction, representing 1.4 times the average seen across the region. Conversely, technical & professional roles are underrepresented, accounting for only 3.0% of local workers compared to 8.2% across Greater Perth. The relationship between the resident workforce and locally situated jobs suggests that the area offers few immediate local employment options.

An analysis of ABS and SALM statistics by AreaSearch shows that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labor force contracted by 0.9% and total employment fell by 2.9%, leading to a 1.9 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment, a 2.5% expansion of its labor force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. National forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context regarding long-term local trends. These five-year and ten-year national projections have been applied to the local industry mix to estimate potential employment trajectories. Nationally, employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. Applying these trends to the local workforce distribution yields an estimated employment increase of 5.6% over five years and 12.2% over ten years, assuming a weighted extrapolation without adjusting for local population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

Based on aggregated postcode data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Karnup SA2 registered a median income of $63,451 and an average income of $80,581. These figures are very high relative to the rest of the nation, exceeding the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, estimated figures as of March 2026 would be roughly $70,386 for the median and $89,389 for the average. In the 2021 Census, individual, family, and household incomes in the area sat near the 69th national percentile. Examining specific cohorts, the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly household income band contains 46.4% of local households (1,276 individuals), compared to 32.0% for the broader region. Housing costs account for 16.0% of local incomes, but strong overall earnings keep disposable income at the 73rd national percentile, and the SEIFA index for income ranks the area in the 5th decile.

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

At the most recent Census, the local housing mix consisted of 100.0% standalone houses and 0.0% semi-detached dwellings, apartments, or other property types, contrasting with the Perth metropolitan split of 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings. Home ownership rates in Karnup lagged the metropolitan average, standing at 17.9%, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgage holders (62.1%) or tenants (20.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,857 was lower than the Perth metropolitan median of $1,907, while weekly median rent sat at $370, compared to $350 in the metropolitan area. On a national level, mortgage costs in the area are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the national average of $375.

Karnup features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up 85.6% of local households, consisting of couples with children at 46.8%, couples without children at 26.3%, and single parents at 12.2%. The remaining 14.4% are non-family households, which include lone person households at 13.1% and group living arrangements at 1.1%. The average household size is 3.0 persons, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Karnup performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The locality faces educational disparities, with university graduation rates at 13.2%, which is well below the national rate of 30.4%. This highlights opportunities for targeted education programs. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees represent 8.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.5% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational qualifications are highly prevalent, with 49.2% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, divided between advanced diplomas (12.6%) and certificates (36.6%).

Enrolment rates are high, with 32.0% of the population participating in formal education. Primary school pupils make up 13.2% of the population, secondary students account for 9.2%, and tertiary students account for 2.9%.

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

Analysis of public transit indicates there is 1 active stop in Karnup, which is serviced by buses. This stop is connected to 1 route, delivering 415 passenger journeys per week. Transport options are limited, with residents living an average of 1211 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, and most workers travel outside the suburb for work, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 86% and trains at 6%. The average number of motor vehicles per household is 1.9, which is higher than the regional average. A low share of 10.0% of the workforce worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Service frequency across all routes averages 59 trips daily, which translates to approximately 415 weekly services for each transit stop.

The level of general health in Karnup is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

The area records favorable health metrics based on AreaSearch analysis of mortality and chronic illness rates, with low incidence of common health issues among both younger and older residents. Private health insurance coverage is high, with approximately 60% of the population (1,636 people) maintaining private cover.

Mental health conditions and asthma are the most common medical issues locally, affecting 7.8% and 7.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 74.8% of the population reported no chronic health issues, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Residents aged under 65 exhibit better health outcomes than average. Those aged 65 and over make up 10.4% of the population (285 people), which is lower than the Greater Perth share of 16.1%. The health status of local seniors is above average, with national benchmarks aligning closely with those of the broader community.

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

Cultural diversity metrics are comparable to regional averages, with citizens making up 83.5% of the population, Australian-born individuals representing 72.6%, and English-only speakers at home representing 93.9%. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 36.3% of the community. The most distinct variance is in the Other category, which represents 0.8% of residents compared to 1.4% across Greater Perth.

In terms of parent country of birth, the three largest ancestral cohorts are English at 34.4% (exceeding the regional average of 28.0%), Australian at 28.3% (exceeding the regional average of 21.2%), and Scottish at 6.2%. Other notable deviations from regional averages include residents of Maori ancestry at 2.3% (compared to 0.9% regionally), South Australian ancestry at 1.9% (compared to 1.0%), and New Zealand ancestry at 1.5% (compared to 0.8%).

Karnup hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 30 years is lower than the Greater Perth median of 37 and the national median of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, the area has a high proportion of children aged 5 - 14 (15.9%) and a lower share of seniors aged 65 - 74 (6.0%). Post-2021 Census data shows the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 12.3% to 15.5%, and the 15 to 24 cohort has risen from 11.6% to 13.9%. In contrast, the 25 to 34 group fell from 19.8% to 17.5% and the 0 to 4 group decreased from 10.3% to 8.7%. Projections for 2041 indicate that the local age profile will shift. The 55 to 64 cohort is expected to increase by 97 people (42%) to reach 329, up from 231, while the 0 to 4 cohort will increase by a minor 6% (13 people).