Lockridge - Kiara
Statistical Area - sa2

Lockridge - Kiara lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Lockridge-Kiara's population was around 14,439 as of Aug 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure reflects a growth of 1,921 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,518. The increase is inferred from an estimated resident population of 14,418 in June 2024 and an additional 164 validated new addresses after the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 988 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Lockridge-Kiara's growth rate of 15.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both national (8.6%) and state averages, making it a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 39.2% of overall population gains during recent periods, though all factors including natural growth and overseas migration were positive contributors.

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 growth estimates, AreaSearch utilizes age cohort growth rates provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is expected for the area, with a projected expansion of 3,424 persons to reach 18,863 by 2041. This reflects a total increase of 23.6% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Lockridge - Kiara among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Lockridge-Kiara has seen approximately 97 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides this data on a financial year basis, totalling 489 approvals from FY-21 to FY-25 and 12 so far in FY-26. On average, each home built over the past five years has accommodated 4.5 new residents annually. This supply is lagging behind demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

The average construction cost of new homes is $518,000, which is moderately above regional levels, indicating a focus on quality construction. Commercial development approvals this financial year amount to $16.8 million, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Perth, Lockridge-Kiara has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 50th percentile nationally.

The area's building activity comprises 95% standalone homes and 5% townhouses or apartments, maintaining its traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes. With around 324 people per dwelling approval, Lockridge-Kiara shows a developing market. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 3,403 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Lockridge - Kiara has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects expected to impact the area. Notable ones include Cedar Woods' Bushmead Estate project, Caversham Valley Primary School Expansion, Bennett Springs East Structure Plan, and Hazelmere Logistics Estate. The following list outlines those likely to be most relevant.

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

Lockridge - Kiara has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Lockridge - Kiara has an unemployment rate of 5.0% as of June 2025. The area experienced a 3.6% employment growth over the past year.

There are 7,984 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is 1.1% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Perth's at 65.2%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area has a strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services show lower representation at 5.8% compared to the regional average of 8.2%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 3.6%, while labour force grew by 4.2%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth had employment growth of 3.7% and labour force growth of 3.8%, with a smaller unemployment rate increase of 0.1 percentage points. State-level data for WA as of Sep-25 shows employment contracted by 0.82%, losing 14,590 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.5%, and employment growth is 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lockridge - Kiara's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 indicates Lockridge - Kiara had a median income among taxpayers of $60,343 and an average of $71,827. Nationally, these figures are very high, with Greater Perth reporting a median of $58,380 and an average of $78,020. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Lockridge - Kiara would be approximately $67,349 (median) and $80,166 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Lockridge - Kiara cluster around the 54th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 36.8% of locals (5,313 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to regional levels where 32.0% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 53rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Lockridge-Kiara's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 88.2% houses and 11.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Perth metro's figures were 89.1% houses and 10.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lockridge-Kiara was 22.9%, similar to Perth metro. Mortgaged dwellings were 55.5%, rented ones 21.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, below Perth's average of $1,842. Median weekly rent was $325, compared to Perth's $340 and Australia's national figure of $375. Nationally, Lockridge-Kiara's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863.

Lockridge - Kiara has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.9% of all households, including 37.9% couples with children, 22.8% couples without children, and 12.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 25.1%, with lone person households at 22.1% and group households making up 3.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.8.

Educational outcomes in Lockridge - Kiara fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

In Lockridge-Kiara, 23.6% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent with 36.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (26.0%). Educational participation is high at 30.5%, with 11.7% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education.

The five schools in Lockridge-Kiara have a combined enrollment of 1,978 students. There are three primary and two secondary schools serving distinct age groups. Note: for 'n/a' school enrolments, refer to the parent campus.

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

The analysis of public transport in the Lockridge-Kiara area shows that there are currently 76 operational transport stops. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 7 individual routes operating. The combined weekly passenger trips across these routes amount to 1,572.

The accessibility of transport in this region is rated as good, with residents on average being located 214 meters away from the nearest transport stop. The service frequency across all routes averages out to 224 trips per day, which equates to approximately 20 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Lockridge - Kiara is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Lockridge-Kiara demonstrates a relatively low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population compared to national averages, but with higher rates among older, at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 55% (~7,984 people) of the total population has private health cover. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 7.6% and 7.4% of residents respectively. Around 73.0% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Perth. The area has 12.4% (1,787 people) of residents aged 65 and over, with health outcomes among seniors requiring more attention than the broader population.

Lockridge - Kiara is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Lockridge-Kiara has a high level of cultural diversity, with 30.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 37.5% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Lockridge-Kiara, making up 45.4% of people there. However, the category 'Other' has an equal representation compared to Greater Perth, comprising 2.4% of Lockridge-Kiara's population.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.7%), Australian (20.1%), and Other (15.7%). Notably, Filipino (3.3%) is overrepresented in Lockridge-Kiara compared to Greater Perth (2.4%), as are Serbian (0.8% vs 0.3%) and Croatian (1.1% vs 0.9%).

Lockridge - Kiara's population is younger than the national pattern

Kiara's median age in Lockridge stands at 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Perth's 37 and somewhat younger than Australia's national average of 38 years. The age group of 35-44 years has strong representation at 17.8%, compared to Greater Perth, while the 75-84 age cohort is less prevalent at 3.9%. Between 2021 and now, the 35-44 age group has grown from 16.2% to 17.8% of the population. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 16.0% to 13.2%, and the 0-4 age group has dropped from 8.3% to 7.2%. By 2041, demographic forecasts indicate substantial changes for Lockridge-Kiara. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to increase by 733 people (40%), growing from 1,816 to 2,550. Meanwhile, the 35-44 age cohort is projected to grow by a modest 0%, with an increase of just 6 people.