Margaret River
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Margaret River's population is around 11,894 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,701 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,193. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,692 in June 2024 and an additional 116 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 88 persons per square kilometer. Margaret River's growth of 16.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 45.7% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, growth rates by age cohort from the ABS's latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are used. Projected demographic shifts indicate an above median population growth for Australian non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, Margaret River is projected to expand by 2,611 persons, reflecting a total increase of 20.2% over the 17 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 has averaged approximately 131 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 655 homes approved over the past five financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), and 13 approved so far in FY-26. Each dwelling built, on average, attracts 2.5 new residents annually over the past five financial years. This suggests solid demand supporting property values, with new homes being constructed at an average expected cost of $485,000.

In FY-26, $6.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating the area's residential character. Comparing Margaret River's construction activity per person to the Rest of WA shows comparable levels, suggesting market stability aligned with regional patterns. This level is notably higher than the national average, implying strong developer confidence in the location. New developments consist of 95% detached dwellings and 5% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

With approximately 85 people per approval, Margaret River reflects a developing area. Future projections indicate that Margaret River will add around 2,402 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth exceeding current forecasts.

Margaret River has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 22ndth percentile nationally

The performance of a region can be significantly influenced by changes in its infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 16 such projects that could potentially impact this area. Notable among them are the Margaret River Net-Positive Circular Hotel project, located at Margaret River WA 6285, the Goldfields Group Darch Road Development project, and the Margaret River South Structure Plan project. The following list outlines those projects considered most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Margaret River performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Margaret River has an educated workforce with tourism and hospitality prominent. Its unemployment rate is 2.0%, lower than the Rest of WA's 3.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.3%. As of June 2025, 6946 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.2% below the state average and workforce participation at 67.0%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Key industries include accommodation & food, construction, and retail trade. Margaret River has a high specialization in accommodation & food, with employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 4.1% compared to Rest of WA's 9.3%. Many residents may commute elsewhere for work based on census data. Employment levels increased by 5.3% and labour force by 5.4% in the year to June 2025, keeping unemployment stable at 2.0%. In contrast, Rest of WA had employment growth of 1.1% and labour force growth of 0.5%, with a drop in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest Margaret River's employment could grow by approximately 5.5%% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Margaret River had a median taxpayer income of $47,488 and an average income of $63,297 in financial year 2022. These figures are slightly lower than national averages, with Rest of WA having a median income of $57,323 and an average income of $71,163 during the same period. As of March 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $53,001 (median) and $70,646 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that income levels in Margaret River are around the 52nd percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 35.8% of Margaret River's population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, comprising 4,258 individuals. This is consistent with broader trends in the surrounding region, where 31.1% of people are in the same income category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Margaret River, with only 84.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 47th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Margaret River is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Margaret River, as per the latest Census findings, 92.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 7.7% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of housing. This is compared to Non-Metro WA's 89.8% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Margaret River stood at 30.8%, with mortgaged properties making up 42.2% and rented dwellings accounting for 27.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,700, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Margaret River was recorded at $380, slightly higher than the Non-Metro WA figure of $360. Nationally, Margaret River's median monthly mortgage repayment is below the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents are above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 72.4% of all households, including 32.9% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.6%, with lone person households at 22.5% and group households making up 4.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of 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

Educational attainment in Margaret River is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 30.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 17.6% in the rest of WA and 18.0% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 40.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas comprise 13.0% and certificates make up 27.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.5% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education. Margaret River's 5 schools have a combined enrollment of 2,487 students. The ICSEA score for Margaret River's schools is 1048, indicating typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities. The schools include 3 primary, 1 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. School capacity exceeds residential needs, with 20.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.5, suggesting Margaret River serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Transport analysis indicates one active public transport stop in Margaret River. This stop offers a mix of bus services, with only one route currently operating. The weekly passenger trips facilitated by this route total 22.

Transport accessibility is limited in the area, with residents usually residing 2681 meters away from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency stands at three trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 22 weekly trips per individual stop.

Margaret River's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Margaret River exhibits excellent health outcomes with a low prevalence of common conditions across all ages.

Private health cover stands at approximately 51% (6,089 people), slightly below the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 7.1% and 6.1% of residents respectively. A majority, 76.4%, report no medical ailments, higher than Rest of WA's 69.5%. The population aged 65 and over is 13.9% (1,659 people), lower than the state average of 20.0%. Despite this, seniors' health outcomes are strong and align with the general population's profile.

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

Margaret River's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 10.3% of its population speaking a language other than English at home as of 2016. This compares to the national average of 25%. Additionally, 26.2% of Margaret River's residents were born overseas, higher than the Australian average of 24.6%.

Christianity was found to be the dominant religion in Margaret River, with 27.3% adherents as of 2016. However, Buddhism showed a notable overrepresentation, comprising 1.6% of the population compared to the regional average of 1.1%. In terms of ancestry, based on country of birth of parents, English was the largest group in Margaret River at 33.1%, followed by Australian at 25.5% and Irish at 8.2%. There were notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: French was overrepresented at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 0.7%, Dutch at 1.9% (vs 1.7%), and Welsh at 0.8% (vs 0.7%).

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

The median age in Margaret River is 40 years, aligning with the Rest of WA's average but slightly higher than the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 45-54 make up 15.9% of the population, while those aged 55-64 constitute 10.6%. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 11.8% to 13.7%, while the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 15.2% to 13.4%. The 55 to 64 age group has also dropped from 11.7% to 10.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant changes in Margaret River's age structure. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to increase by 665 people (41%), growing from 1,623 to 2,289. Conversely, both the 15 to 24 and 85+ age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.