Karnup
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Karnup's population is around 2,764 as of August 2025. This reflects an increase of 668 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,096 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,524 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 209 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 51 persons per square kilometer. Karnup's growth rate of 31.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.6%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 51.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are utilised. Future population dynamics forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of statistical areas across the nation, with Karnup expected to increase by 711 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 17.0% in total over the 17 years.

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

Karnup has received approximately 50 dwelling approvals each year. Development approval data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows a total of 254 approvals over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25, with an additional 10 approved in FY-26. On average, Karnup has seen about 1.5 new residents per year for each dwelling constructed during these years. This suggests a balance between supply and demand, contributing to stable market conditions.

The average expected construction cost of new dwellings is $366,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options. In FY-26, there have been $157,000 in commercial approvals registered, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to Greater Perth, Karnup has recorded 323.0% more new home approvals per person, providing ample choice for buyers. This level is significantly higher than national averages, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. All recent development in Karnup has consisted of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to families seeking space.

With around 39 people per dwelling approval, Karnup exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate that Karnup is expected to gain approximately 471 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling population growth to exceed current forecasts.

Karnup has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 15 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones include The Gardens Estate - Lakelands, METRONET Karnup Station Precinct, Lakelands Residential Development Stage 3, and Lakelands District Centre. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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

The employment environment in Karnup shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Karnup has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 3.9% and estimated employment growth of 4.5% in the past year.

As of June 2025, 1,395 residents are employed, mirroring Greater Perth's unemployment rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is high at 70.4%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Key employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Karnup specializes in construction, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Professional & technical services employ only 3.0% of local workers, below Greater Perth's 8.2%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.5%, and labour force grew by 5.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment growth of 3.7% and unemployment rise by only 0.1%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.82%, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest Karnup's growth may be approximately 5.6% over five years and 12.2% over ten years.

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

Karnup has a median taxpayer income of $60,008 and an average of $74,121 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. This is higher than the national average, with Greater Perth having a median income of $58,380 and an average income of $78,020. By March 2025, estimates suggest Karnup's median income will be approximately $66,975 and the average will be around $82,726, factoring in a Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that incomes in Karnup cluster around the 70th percentile nationally for households, families, and individuals. The income distribution shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket is dominant, with 46.4% of residents (1,282 people) falling into this category, which is also prevalent in the metropolitan region at 32.0%. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income in Karnup, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 74th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Karnup, as per the latest Census, comprised 100.0% houses and 0.0% other dwellings. In contrast, Perth metro had 90.5% houses and 9.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Karnup was at 17.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 62.1% and rented ones at 20.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Karnup was $1,857, higher than Perth metro's $1,733. The median weekly rent in Karnup was $370, compared to Perth metro's $330. Nationally, Karnup's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 85.6 percent of all households, including 46.8 percent couples with children, 26.3 percent couples without children, and 12.2 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 14.4 percent, with lone person households at 13.1 percent and group households comprising 1.1 percent of the total. The median household size is 3.0 people, 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 area's university qualification rate is 13.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 8.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15+, with 49.2% holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas comprise 12.6% and certificates make up 36.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.2% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education. Rockingham Montessori School - Karnup Campus, established on 6th February 2008, offers local educational services within Karnup but has no current students enrolled (as of 1st January 2023). All 1 schools in the area offer integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. As there are no schools located within Karnup, residents must travel to nearby areas for educational services.

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

The analysis of public transportation in Karnup indicates there is one active transport stop currently operating. This stop services a mix of bus routes, with one individual route providing service. Collectively, these routes facilitate 412 weekly passenger trips through this stop.

The accessibility to public transport in Karnup is rated as limited, with residents typically located 1211 meters away from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to 58 trips per day, translating to approximately 412 weekly trips per individual stop.

Karnup's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Karnup, with younger age groups experiencing particularly low prevalence of common health conditions.

Approximately 56% (~1,561 people) of Karnup's total population have private health cover. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 7.8% and 7.2% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 74.8%, report being completely free from medical ailments compared to 68.5% across Greater Perth. Karnup has a lower proportion of seniors (10.7%, or 296 people) than Greater Perth (15.6%). Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Karnup are above average and require more attention than the broader population.

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

Karnup's population was found to align with the broader area's average in terms of cultural diversity, with 83.5% being citizens, 72.6% born in Australia, and 93.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Karnup, comprising 36.3% of its population. However, the most significant overrepresentation was seen in the 'Other' category, which accounted for 0.8% compared to 0.7% across Greater Perth.

The top three ancestry groups were English at 34.4%, Australian at 28.3%, and Scottish at 6.2%. Notably, South African ancestry was overrepresented at 1.9% in Karnup compared to the regional average of 1.1%, Maori at 2.3% (vs 2.0%), and New Zealand at 1.5% (vs 1.2%).

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

Karnup's median age at 30 years is younger than Greater Perth's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, Karnup has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (16.9%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (8.4%). Post-2021 Census data shows the 15 to 24 age group grew from 11.6% to 13.5%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 12.3% to 14.0%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 19.8% to 16.9%, and the 0 to 4 group dropped from 10.3% to 8.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Karnup's age profile will significantly change. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to increase substantially by 110 people (111%), from 100 to 211. Conversely, the numbers in the 0 to 4 age range are expected to fall by 4.