Kulin

Kulin has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Kulin's population is approximately 4,423 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 174 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,249. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,399 in June 2024 and the addition of 12 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 0.20 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Kulin has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of -0.1%, outperforming its SA3 area. Natural growth contributed approximately 54.8% to overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, based on 2022 data. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimations, AreaSearch employs growth rates by age cohort from the ABS' latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, using 2022 data). Future demographic trends suggest lower quartile growth for regional areas nationwide. Kulin is expected to expand by 28 persons to reach a population of approximately 4,451 by 2041, reflecting an increase of around 0.1% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Kulin, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Kulin has seen approximately 9 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 47 homes were approved, with an additional 4 approved so far in FY-26. On average, around 1.2 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years.

This balance between supply and demand has resulted in stable market conditions. The average construction cost value for new dwellings is $249,000, aligning with regional patterns. In FY-26, $7.1 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to the Rest of WA, Kulin has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person.

Nationally, it ranks in the 38th percentile for areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This is below the national average, reflecting the area's maturity and potentially indicating planning constraints. New building activity in Kulin comprises 83.0% standalone homes and 17.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining its traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 582 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Kulin will gain 4 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Kulin has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely to affect the region. Notable ones are Kondinin Housing Replacement Plan, Kondinin Wind and Solar Project, Hyden Recreation Centre Extension - Stage 2, and Hyden Townsite Expansion Plan. The following list details those most relevant.

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.

The labour market strength in Kulin positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Kulin's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs across diverse sectors. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 1.2%.

In comparison to Rest of WA's 3.3% unemployment rate, Kulin's is 2.1% lower. Workforce participation in Kulin stands at 67.3%, exceeding Rest of WA's 59.4%. Leading employment industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and public administration & safety. Notably, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs 5.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, mining has a limited presence with 1.8% employment compared to the regional average of 11.7%. The local population may commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to local population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Kulin's labour force decreased by 4.6%, with a 4.1% employment decline, leading to a 0.5 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of WA saw employment growth of 1.4% and labour force expansion of 1.2%, with a 0.2 percentage point decrease in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kulin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.1% over five years and 9.8% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Kulin SA2 is above the national average. The median income is $53,583 and the average income is $68,973. This contrasts with Rest of WA's figures where the median income is $57,323 and the average income is $71,163. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Kulin SA2 would be approximately $61,192 (median) and $78,767 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that personal income ranks at the 66th percentile ($897 weekly), while household income sits at the 34th percentile. Distribution data shows that the largest segment comprises 33.3% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (1,472 residents). Housing costs are manageable with 95.1% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 46th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Kulin is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Kulin, as per the latest Census, was 96.0% houses and 3.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro WA had 95.1% houses and 4.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kulin stood at 56.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.9% and rented ones at 22.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $743, below Non-Metro WA's average of $1,105. The median weekly rent in Kulin was $160, compared to Non-Metro WA's $200. Nationally, Kulin's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Kulin has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 68.9% of all households, including 27.6% that are couples with children, 35.3% that are couples without children, and 5.3% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.1%, with lone person households at 28.7% and group households comprising 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is larger than the Rest of WA average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 16.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.3%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.2%) and postgraduate qualifications (0.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 35.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.1%) and certificates (26.3%). Educational participation is high at 28.3%, comprising primary education (15.7%), secondary education (5.5%), and tertiary education (1.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.7% in primary education, 5.5% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transportation in Kulin shows that there are currently 17 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with two individual routes providing service collectively resulting in ten weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as limited, with residents typically located approximately 6323 meters away from their nearest transport stop.

On average, across all routes, there is one trip per day, which equates to roughly zero weekly trips per individual stop.

Kulin's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data shows relatively positive outcomes for Kulin residents.

Prevalence of common health conditions is quite low across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 54% of the total population (~2,375 people) has private health cover. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.2 and 7.8% of residents respectively. 69.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.6% across Rest of WA. As of 31 December 2020, the area has 20.0% of residents aged 65 and over (885 people), which is lower than the 21.7% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

Kulin is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Kulin had a cultural diversity score below average, with 83.2% of its population being citizens, 88.2% born in Australia, and 96.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Kulin, accounting for 48.7% of people, compared to 49.0% across Rest of WA. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (35.8%), English (33.3%), and Irish (7.8%).

Notably, New Zealanders were overrepresented at 0.8%, Maori at 0.6%, and Australian Aboriginals at 2.7%.

Kulin hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Kulin is 43 years, slightly higher than Rest of WA's average of 40 years and well above Australia's median of 38 years. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Kulin at 12.5%, compared to the Rest of WA average, while those aged 15-24 are under-represented at 7.2%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 10.5% to 12.0% of Kulin's population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 15.9% to 13.8%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 13.8% to 12.4%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Kulin, with the 25 to 34 age cohort projected to expand by 135 people (26%) from 529 to 665. Meanwhile, the 85+ and 45 to 54 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.