Margaret River

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

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, Margaret River has a population of approximately 12,090 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,897 individuals (18.6%) from the 10,193 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. This population shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 12,077 from June 2025, combined with 264 validated new addresses identified since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 89 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and space for potential future expansion. The 18.6% growth rate of Margaret River since the 2021 census was higher than the national expansion rate of 9.3% and outpaced the Rest of WA, positioning it as a leading growth area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this growth, accounting for roughly 50.3% of the overall population rise in recent times, though other factors like interstate migration and natural growth also made positive contributions.

AreaSearch utilizes the ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline for each SA2. For SA2 regions lacking these projections, and to estimate growth beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies age cohort growth rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which are based on 2022 data. Based on these demographic projections, the area is expected to experience population growth above the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with the local population projected to increase by 2,353 individuals by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP figures, representing a 19.4% total expansion over the 16 years.

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

Margaret River averages approximately 131 residential building approvals annually, with 655 dwellings approved during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 140 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, the area added an average of 2.8 new residents for each newly built home, indicating steady demand that helps sustain property values, while the average construction cost for new dwellings stands at $315,000. Furthermore, $6.9 million in commercial building approvals have been registered during the current financial year, highlighting the primarily residential nature of the locality.

Compared to the Rest of WA, Margaret River exhibits a similar volume of per capita building approvals, aligning with regional trends to support market stability. This rate of construction is significantly higher than the national average, indicating strong developer interest in the region. Residential development is dominated by detached houses, which make up 95.0% of approvals, while semi-detached and attached dwellings account for 5.0%, preserving the low-density landscape and providing spacious homes for families. With approximately 88 people per approved dwelling, Margaret River is characterised as a developing area.

Based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, Margaret River is projected to add 2,340 residents by the year 2041. The current rate of home construction is expected to provide an adequate supply of housing to meet this demand, establishing positive conditions for purchasers and potentially supporting growth that surpasses current projections.

Margaret River has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 2ndth percentile nationally

Changes to infrastructure, major projects, and local planning policies have a significant impact on local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 16 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Key developments include the Margaret River Net-Positive Circular Hotel, the Goldfields Group Darch Road Development, Margaret River Wa 6285, and the Margaret River South Structure Plan, with details on the most relevant projects provided below.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Margaret River performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

The local workforce is highly educated, with a strong representation in the tourism and hospitality sectors, a low unemployment rate of 1.9%, and a 0.9% rise in estimated employment over the preceding year. As of March 2026, there are 7,053 employed residents, and the local unemployment rate sits 1.6% lower than the Regional WA average of 3.5%, while the participation rate is high at 73.7% compared to 65.6% across Regional WA. According to Census data, a modest 12.7% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Accommodation & food services, construction, and retail trade represent the primary employment sectors for local residents. The area shows a clear employment concentration in accommodation & food services, where the employment share is 1.9 times the regional average. Conversely, agricultural, forestry, and fishing activities employ only 4.1% of the local workforce, compared to 9.3% across Regional WA. Although there are jobs available within the area, a comparison between the local working population and the resident population in the Census indicates that a significant portion of residents travel outside the area for employment.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch indicates that for the year ending March 2026, the number of employed residents rose by 0.9% and the total labor force grew by 0.9%, maintaining a steady unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional WA recorded a 0.1% decline in employment and a 0.3% increase in the labor force, leading to a 0.4 percentage point increase in its unemployment rate. Additional details regarding future employment demand in Margaret River can be drawn from the national forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five-year and ten-year national projections have been applied to the local workforce composition to estimate growth trends. Globally, national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates of growth vary considerably across different industries. Applying these sector-specific growth rates to the employment profile of Margaret River suggests local employment could expand by 5.5% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation based on industry shares without adjusting for local population trends.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Aggregated postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year shows that taxpayers in Margaret River have a median income of $47,777 and an average income of $64,850. These figures are below the national average and compare to a median of $59,973 and an average of $74,392 in Regional WA. Adjusting for a 10.93% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimated incomes would be approximately $52,999 for the median and $71,938 for the average as of March 2026. Census statistics show that household, family, and individual incomes in Margaret River place the area around the 52nd percentile nationally. Income distribution figures show that 35.8% of the population, representing 4,328 people, earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which aligns with the broader regional trend where 31.1% of the population falls into this bracket. Housing costs consume a significant portion of earnings, leaving only 84.0% of income remaining, which ranks in the 46th percentile nationally, while the SEIFA index for income places the area in the 5th decile.

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

At the time of the most recent Census, the housing stock in Margaret River consisted of 92.4% separate houses and 7.7% other housing types, such as townhouses, apartments, or alternative dwellings, compared to 88.5% separate houses and 11.6% other dwellings in Regional WA. Home ownership rates in Margaret River were slightly below the Regional WA average at 30.8%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (42.2%) or rented (27.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,700 was higher than the Regional WA average of $1,560, and the median weekly rent of $380 was also above the regional average of $265. Compared to national benchmarks, Margaret River mortgage repayments are below the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents exceed the national median of $375.

Margaret River features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up 72.4% of all households in the area, consisting of 32.9% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 11.9% single parents. The remaining 27.6% are non-family households, which consist of lone person households making up 22.5% and group households at 4.9%. The median size of households is 2.6 persons, which is slightly larger than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

Margaret River shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Residents of Margaret River display high levels of education, with 30.3% of those aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 17.6% in the Rest of WA and 18.0% in the broader SA4 region. This education profile positions the community well for professional and knowledge-based roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education qualification at 22.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.7% and graduate diplomas at 3.4%. Vocational and technical skills are also common, with 40.0% of residents aged 15 and over holding qualification certificates, split between advanced diplomas (13.0%) and certificates (27.0%).

Enrolment in education is strong, with 30.8% of the population participating in formal study. This student population includes 12.5% in primary schools, 9.7% in secondary schools, and 2.2% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

An analysis of public transport options shows 1 active transit stop in Margaret River, which is serviced by buses. This stop is connected to 1 route that provides a total of 22 passenger trips per week. Transport accessibility is classified as limited, with residents living an average of 2,681 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential and most workers commute out of the district, with private cars being the primary mode of travel for 88% of commuters, while 5% walk and 2% cycle. The average number of motor vehicles is 1.6 per household. A relatively low proportion of residents (12.7%) worked from home, according to 2021 Census data, which may reflect conditions during the pandemic.

Services average 3 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 22 weekly trips at each transit stop.

The level of general health in Margaret River is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes in Margaret River are above average, according to AreaSearch indicators for mortality and chronic illness, which show a low incidence of common health issues among both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is relatively low at roughly 51% of the population, or approximately 6,190 people. This compares to a private cover rate of 56.4% across Regional WA.

Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most prevalent medical issues reported locally, affecting 7.1% and 6.1% of the population, respectively, while 76.4% of residents reported having no chronic health conditions, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. The working-age population is healthy, showing a low incidence of long-term illness. Individuals aged 65 and over comprise 14.2% of the population (1,716 people), which is lower than the 19.2% average for Regional WA. Older residents exhibit particularly strong health outcomes, ranking higher relative to national averages than the general local population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Margaret River was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Margaret River exhibits a higher level of cultural diversity than average, with 10.3% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 26.2% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 27.3% of the population. The most pronounced religious divergence is in Buddhism, which is practiced by 1.6% of the population, compared to 1.0% across Regional WA.

In terms of ancestral background, the three most common ancestries in Margaret River are English at 33.1%, Australian at 25.5%, and Irish at 8.2%. The area also shows higher concentrations of certain other ancestral groups than the wider region, with French ancestry at 1.1% (compared to 0.4% regionally), Welsh at 0.8% (compared to 0.6%), and Dutch at 1.9% (compared to 1.5%).

Margaret River's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Margaret River is 40 years, matching the Regional WA average of 40 years and slightly exceeding the national median of 38 years. Residents aged 45 to 54 are particularly well represented at 16.0% of the population, while those aged 75 to 84 represent a smaller cohort at 3.9% compared to Regional WA. Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 increased from 11.8% to 13.4%, whereas the 5 to 14 age group decreased from 15.2% to 13.2%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections suggest shifts in the age profile, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to grow by 593 people (37%) from 1,621 to 2,215, while the cohorts aged 75 to 84 and 85 and over are projected to decrease in size.