Madeley - Darch

Population growth drivers in Madeley - Darch are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to research by AreaSearch, the population of Madeley - Darch stands at approximately 15,551 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,352 people (9.5%) relative to the 2021 Census, when 14,199 people were counted. This adjustment is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 15,551 for June 2025 alongside 204 validated new addresses identified after the Census. The resulting population density is 1,185 persons per square kilometer, a figure that aligns closely with typical levels across analyzed regions. The 9.5% expansion since the 2021 census paced ahead of the national benchmark (9.3%), placing the locality among regional growth leaders. The expansion was chiefly driven by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 86.1% of all population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates ABS and Geoscience Australia projections published in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 sectors lacking direct coverage, and to calculate trends past 2032, growth rates per age group from the latest Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, utilizing 2022 statistics) are applied. Factoring in anticipated demographic transitions, population gains are expected to land slightly below the national median, with the community projected to add 989 persons by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP statistics, indicating a total growth rate of 6.4% across the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Madeley - Darch among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Madeley - Darch averages approximately 43 residential building approvals per year, with 216 dwellings authorized over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 43 recorded during FY-26. With an average of 4.8 people entering the locality for every home constructed during those last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), supply remains well below demand, which typically intensifies buyer rivalry and elevates prices, though new builds average a construction value of $220,000—a level under the regional average—suggesting more budget-friendly purchasing paths. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $12.2 million this financial year, pointing to steady non-residential building activity.

Building activity in Madeley - Darch is substantially subdued compared to Greater Perth (73.0% below the regional per capita average). This limited addition of new stock generally bolsters demand and values for pre-existing properties. This construction rate also lags behind national trends, reflecting the established status of the locality and hinting at potential regulatory or planning limits. New construction is dominated by detached dwellings at 96.0%, with medium and high-density formats comprising 4.0%, maintaining the suburban character and appealing to buyers seeking extra space. With roughly 426 people for each building approval, Madeley - Darch represents a mature housing market.

Looking forward, the population of Madeley - Darch is projected to rise by 989 residents by 2041 (starting from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch). Under ongoing building trends, the volume of new residential completions is expected to comfortably accommodate this growth, creating favorable buying conditions and potentially supporting population expansion above the current projections.

Madeley - Darch has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major works, and municipal planning developments are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 23 initiatives expected to influence this locality. Among the most significant projects are the Kingsway City Shopping Centre Serviced Apartments, Evida Darch, Wanneroo Road Intersection Upgrades, and the East Landsdale Precinct - Madeley Release Area, with details of the most relevant developments provided below.

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Employment conditions in Madeley - Darch demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Madeley - Darch is characterized by a skilled resident workforce, with strong representation in industrial and manufacturing fields, an unemployment rate sitting at just 3.1%, and an estimated job growth rate of 3.2% over the previous year. As of March 2026, there are 9,131 working residents, while the local unemployment rate is 1.1% lower than the 4.2% rate recorded across Greater Perth. The participation rate is typical, standing at 74.0% compared to 70.2% in Greater Perth. Data from the Census showed a low 8.3% of workers operating from home, though this period may have been influenced by pandemic containment measures.

The primary employment fields for local workers are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Retail trade is especially concentrated locally, with employment density tracking at 1.2 times the regional average. Conversely, mining represents a smaller share of the workforce at 5.6%, compared to 7.0% across Greater Perth. With a ratio of 1.4 jobs for each local resident at the time of the Census, the locality serves as a employment destination, containing more positions than resident workers and drawing commuters from neighboring suburbs.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch indicates that during the 12 months ending March 2026, local employment grew by 3.2% while the total labor force expanded by 3.8%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Perth saw jobs grow by 2.0% and the labor force rise by 2.5%, with its unemployment rate increasing by 0.4 percentage points. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia issued in May-25 offer additional context on future labor needs in Madeley - Darch. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce composition to project potential changes. Although national employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary widely across industries. Applying these sectoral trends to the local employment structure suggests Madeley - Darch could see employment increases of 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years (this represents a direct weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population projections).

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Taxpayer income details from the latest postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year show a median of $60,888 and an average of $73,376 in the Madeley - Darch SA2. This exceeds the national average, contrasting with a median of $60,748 and an average of $80,248 in Greater Perth. Adjusting for a 10.93% rise in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year yields estimated values of approximately $67,543 (median) and $81,396 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed median weekly household incomes at an elevated 81st percentile ($2,261). Income distribution data shows that 36.5% of the local population (5,676 people) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, which is comparable to the 32.0% recorded regionally. A high concentration of affluent residents (32.4% earning more than $3,000/week) demonstrates substantial financial capacity within the area. Housing costs consume 14.6% of income, while strong local earnings place residents in the 82nd percentile for disposable funds, and the SEIFA index ranks the locality in the 7th decile for income.

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

The mix of housing in Madeley - Darch at the time of the latest Census consisted of 91.2% separate houses and 8.9% alternative structures (including townhouses, apartments, and other dwellings), compared to 77.8% separate houses and 22.1% alternative structures throughout metropolitan Perth. The proportion of owner-occupiers without debt matched the metropolitan average of 28.2%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (55.7%) or occupied by tenants (16.1%). The median monthly payment for mortgage holders was $2,000, higher than the Perth metropolitan median of $1,907, while median weekly rent stood at $450, compared to $350 in metropolitan Perth. On a national level, monthly mortgage payments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are considerably higher than the national median of $375.

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

Families represent the vast majority of local households at 83.5%, consisting of couples with children (50.4%), couples without children (22.0%), and single parent households (10.4%). Non-family households account for the remaining 16.5%, which is split between lone person households (15.2%) and group households (1.2%). The median household size of 3.0 individuals is larger than the Greater Perth median of 2.6.

The educational profile of Madeley - Darch exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The educational makeup of the area is distinct within the region, as university graduation rates (27.2% of residents aged 15+) track ahead of the SA3 average of 19.7%, highlighting a strong local focus on tertiary studies. Bachelor degrees represent the most common credential at 20.4%, followed by postgraduate studies (4.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational and technical training is also highly represented, with 33.0% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (21.2%).

Enrolment rates are high, with 32.6% of the population actively participating in educational institutions. This group includes 11.3% attending primary schools, 10.5% in secondary education, and 5.8% enrolled in tertiary programs.

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

Public transport services in Madeley - Darch include 103 active transit stops serviced by buses. These stops accommodate 12 distinct routes, which combine to offer 2,445 passenger journeys every week. Accessibility is highly rated, with the average distance from a dwelling to the nearest stop measuring 196 meters. Given the residential nature of the suburb, the majority of working residents commute out of the area; private vehicles are the primary mode of travel for 84% of commuters, while 11% utilize trains. The average number of motor vehicles per household is 1.8, exceeding the regional average. A relatively low 8.3% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, a figure that may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

Transit service frequency averages 349 trips per day across the network, which translates to approximately 23 weekly departures for each individual stop. The accompanying map displays the location of the 100 nearest stops relative to the geographical center of the area.

The level of general health in Madeley - Darch 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

The population of Madeley - Darch exhibits positive health characteristics based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the frequency of chronic illnesses, with common conditions showing a low prevalence overall, though tracking above the national average within older, vulnerable cohorts. Private health insurance membership is very high, covering approximately 55% of the local population (~8,615 people), compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues among residents, affecting 6.0% and 5.8% of the population respectively, while 76.3% of the community reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Residents aged 65 and older represent 14.0% of the population (2,170 people), which is lower than the 16.1% average for Greater Perth, though this cohort ranks lower on national comparisons than the overall local population.

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

Madeley - Darch shows high levels of multicultural representation, with 34.9% of residents using a language other than English in their homes and 41.2% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 51.0% of the community. The most distinct religious variance is seen in Hinduism, which represents 7.4% of the local population, compared to a 2.5% share across Greater Perth.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds based on parents' birthplace, the three largest groups in Madeley - Darch are English at 21.1% of the population (notably lower than the regional average of 28.0%), Australian at 18.6%, and Other at 14.0%. There are also distinct concentrations of other heritage groups compared to the wider region: South Australian heritage accounts for 2.2% of residents (vs 1.0% regionally), Macedonian heritage stands at 3.3% (vs 0.4%), and Vietnamese heritage makes up 3.4% (vs 0.8%).

Madeley - Darch's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Madeley - Darch is 38 years, which is close to the Greater Perth average of 37 and matches the national median of 38. Compared to the wider Perth region, Madeley - Darch contains a higher proportion of residents in the 45 - 54 age bracket (16.5%) but a lower share of those aged 25 - 34 (10.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the 55 to 64 age category has expanded from 9.1% to 11.3% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group rose from 14.1% to 15.4%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group contracted from 15.9% to 13.5%, and the 35 to 44 cohort fell from 15.8% to 14.4%. Significant demographic transitions are expected by 2041, led by the 55 to 64 age bracket which is projected to grow by 31% (adding 541 people to reach 2,302 from 1,760). The aging of the community is apparent, with residents aged 65 and over accounting for 57% of all projected population growth. In contrast, contractions are projected for both the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age cohorts.