Mandurah - South

Population growth drivers in Mandurah - South are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Mandurah - South stands at approximately 13,205 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,882 people (16.6%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 11,323 residents. This calculation combines the ABS estimated resident population of 12,932 from June 2025 and 569 validated new addresses registered since the Census. The area has a density of 1,116 persons per square kilometer, a figure that aligns with typical values across assessed regions. The growth rate of 13,205 since the 2021 census outpaced the national figure of 9.3% and the state benchmark, positioning the locality as a regional leader in expansion. The population rise was mostly fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 62.9% of the total demographic gains lately.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024, using 2022 as a baseline, have been adopted by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. For locations lacking this data, and to model growth beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies cohort-specific growth rates from the latest ABS Greater Capital Region projections published in 2023 using 2022 data. Future demographic patterns suggest the location will experience growth exceeding the national median, with the population projected to rise by 2,046 persons by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP figures, translating to a 13.4% overall increase over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Mandurah - South was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Building approvals in Mandurah - South average approximately 123 new homes each year, with 615 residential builds approved during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 178 registered so far in FY-26. Assuming an occupancy rate of 2.5 new residents per dwelling over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, which points to solid demand likely to hold up property prices, these new residences carry an average construction value of $319,000. Additionally, commercial development remains quiet, with just $134,000 in commercial approvals logged during the current financial year.

Mandurah - South registers 15.0% less building activity per capita than Greater Perth, although it places in the 91st percentile of all examined areas nationwide, showing a recent uptick in building tasks. Free-standing houses account for 99.0% of this new supply, while townhouses and apartments make up 1.0%, reinforcing the suburban character of the neighborhood with spacious properties geared toward families. The ratio of residents to each new housing approval stands at about 73, highlighting a growing local market.

Projections indicate that Mandurah - South will gain 1,773 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Looking at current construction trends, the volume of new housing should easily accommodate this growth, providing favorable options for buyers and potentially supporting population increases that outpace current forecasts.

Mandurah - South has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 5thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning initiatives play a significant role in area performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects expected to impact the local community. Key projects include the Mandurah Estuary Bridge Duplication, Frasers Landing - Forest Walk Stage 11, the Dudley Park Transit Precinct Structure Plan (Proposed), and Lakeside Quarter, with details on the most relevant developments provided below.

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

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Employment performance in Mandurah - South has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

The local economy in Mandurah - South displays a diverse workforce representing both white-collar and industrial occupations, with a notable presence of manufacturing. The unemployment rate is 5.7%, while the annual job growth is estimated at 7.1%. As of March 2026, there are 5,016 employed residents. The local unemployment level sits 1.5% higher than the Greater Perth rate of 4.2%, and the labor participation rate of 47.4% is lower than the capital city average of 70.2%. Data from the Census indicates that only 6.6% of local workers operated from home, though this figure may have been affected by pandemic-related restrictions.

Local workers are primarily employed in healthcare & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Mining is exceptionally prominent in the area, employing staff at a rate 1.4 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented, accounting for 3.3% of employment compared to 8.2% across the wider region. Comparing the number of local jobs held during the Census against the total resident workforce suggests this neighborhood is primarily residential, offering limited employment opportunities within its borders.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the number of employed residents rose by 7.1% while the overall labor force expanded by 9.1%, resulting in a 1.7 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment, a 2.5% expansion of the labor force, and a 0.4 percentage point uptick in unemployment. National forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective employment trends in Mandurah - South. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by sector. Applying these industry projections to the local employment profile suggests that jobs in Mandurah - South will grow by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, representing a basic weighting model for illustration that does not incorporate specific local population forecasts.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

Tax data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year indicates that incomes in the Mandurah - South SA2 sit slightly below the national average. The median taxpayer income is $47,784 and the average income is $65,676, compared to Greater Perth averages of $60,748 and $80,248. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 would be roughly $53,007 for the median and $72,854 for the average. Census data places household, family, and personal incomes in the region between the 4th and 6th percentiles nationally. The most common weekly household income bracket is $400 - 799, containing 30.3% of households (representing 4,001 residents), which differs from the broader metropolitan area where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is largest at 32.0%. Housing cost pressures are high, with households retaining only 81.2% of their income, ranking in the 5th percentile.

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

According to the latest Census, the housing stock in Mandurah - South consisted of 85.3% separate houses and 14.6% other options like semi-detached properties, townhouses, and apartments, compared to 77.8% separate houses and 22.1% other dwellings in metropolitan Perth. Home ownership was higher than the metropolitan average at 37.9%, with mortgaged properties making up 31.3% and rented properties accounting for 30.8%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,500 was lower than the Perth average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent was $280 compared to the capital average of $350. Nationally, mortgage outlays are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rents are below the national median of $375.

Mandurah - South features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families comprise 64.8% of all households, consisting of couples without children at 32.5%, couples with children at 18.4%, and single-parent households at 12.7%. Non-family households represent the remaining 35.2% of the local area, consisting of lone person households at 32.4% and group households at 2.7%. The median household size of 2.2 individuals is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

The region presents low levels of tertiary education, with university qualification rates at 11.6% compared to the national average of 30.4%. This represents a clear target for educational programs. Bachelor degrees account for 8.2% of qualifications, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.8% and graduate diplomas at 1.6%. Technical qualifications are highly common, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, including 10.4% with advanced diplomas and 30.1% with certificates.

A total of 24.5% of the local population is enrolled in formal education. Primary school students represent 9.1% of the population, secondary school students make up 7.5%, and tertiary students account for 2.8%.

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

Public transport services in Mandurah - South include 65 stops serviced by buses. These stops accommodate 9 routes that run a combined total of 813 weekly trips. Transport access is convenient, with residents living an average of 240 meters from the nearest stop. Private cars are the primary mode of travel for 85% of commuters, while 6% travel by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per household, which is lower than the metropolitan average. A relatively low proportion of residents, 6.6%, worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Public transport services run an average of 116 trips daily across all routes, which averages out to approximately 12 weekly trips for each stop.

Health performance in Mandurah - South is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality and the prevalence of chronic health conditions across different age groups, residents in Mandurah - South face notable health difficulties. The rate of private health insurance is lower than the typical SA2 area, standing at roughly 52% of the population (~6,853 people), compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent medical issues, affecting 12.5% and 9.4% of residents. Meanwhile, 57.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. The working-age population exhibits high rates of chronic health issues. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 32.9% of the local population (4,349 people), which is significantly higher than the 16.1% average in Greater Perth. Health outcomes for these older residents present challenges, with national rankings lower than those of the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Mandurah - South 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 in Mandurah - South is higher than the average, with 7.1% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 27.8% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the primary religion in the area, practiced by 50.8% of the population, compared to 45.0% across Greater Perth.

English ancestry is the most common at 35.4% of the population, exceeding the regional average of 28.0%, followed by Australian ancestry at 27.2% compared to 21.2% regionally, and Scottish ancestry at 7.4%. Other represented ancestries include Welsh at 0.8% of Mandurah - South (vs 0.7% regionally), Maori at 0.9% (vs 0.9%), and South Australian at 0.7% (vs 1.0%).

Mandurah - South ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Mandurah - South is 51 years, which is older than the Greater Perth median of 37 and the national median of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 16.2% compared to the Greater Perth average, while 25 - 34 year-olds are underrepresented at 8.6%. The proportion of residents aged 65 - 74 is also higher than the national average of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age bracket has risen from 9.8% to 11.6% of the population, and the 75 to 84 bracket has grown from 11.3% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 10.4% to 9.2%, and the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 11.7% to 10.7%. Projections suggest the local age profile will change by 2041, with the 75 to 84 cohort expected to grow by 760 people (45%) from 1,682 to 2,443. The combined 65+ age categories are expected to make up 80% of the total population growth, reflecting an aging population, while declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 cohorts.