Midland - Guildford

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

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Midland - Guildford is estimated at 12,405 in May 2026. This indicates a growth of 1,318 individuals (11.9%) relative to the 2021 Census, which recorded 11,087 residents. This population shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 12,249 alongside 226 validated new addresses identified after the Census. This population level translates to a density of 1,059 persons per square kilometer, aligning closely with typical figures across areas monitored by AreaSearch. The growth rate of 11.9% since the 2021 census outpaced the nationwide figure (9.3%), positioning the area as a regional growth leader. Population expansion was driven almost entirely by overseas migration, which served as the exclusive source of growth in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024, using 2022 as a baseline. For locations where this dataset is unavailable, and for projections extending past 2032, growth calculations apply age cohort expansion rates from the 2023 Greater Capital Region forecasts based on 2022 data. Future demographic trends indicate that the area will experience population growth above the median of places assessed by AreaSearch. Specifically, the population is projected to expand by 2,279 people by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a overall rise of 17.1% over the 16 years.

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

Midland - Guildford recorded an average of roughly 73 new residential approvals annually, with 368 approvals during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 101 registered in FY-26 to date. An average of 2.2 additional residents were gained per completed dwelling during the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demonstrating a healthy level of demand that supports local property values. The average construction cost of these new residences stands at $308,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $149.5 million in the current financial year, pointing to strong investment by local enterprises.

Compared against the wider Greater Perth region, building approvals in Midland - Guildford are substantially quieter, sitting 51.0% below the regional per capita average. This limited addition of new housing stock typically supports the demand and price levels of established homes, even though construction activity has risen recently. Current residential development projects consist of 28.0% standalone houses and 72.0% medium to high density options like townhouses or apartments. This focus on higher-density housing options provides lower-cost options for buyers and appeals to downsizers, property investors, and first-time buyers. This trend represents a major departure from the current housing distribution, which features 51.0% houses, showing the effects of fewer available development sites and responding to changing lifestyle preferences and budget constraints. The district has a ratio of approximately 190 people for every approved dwelling, indicating a growing marketplace.

Looking forward, the population of Midland - Guildford is projected to rise by 2,123 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Although residential construction is keeping pace with these growth projections, purchasers may face increased market competition as the population increases.

Midland - Guildford has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and development initiatives are key drivers of local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 20 projects that are anticipated to influence the local area. Prominent developments include the METRONET East - Midland Urban Renewal Precinct, The Avenues Midland, New Junction Precinct, and the Tarpaulin Shop Childcare And Office Transformation, with the most relevant local projects outlined in the list below.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Midland - Guildford recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

The local workforce in Midland - Guildford is characterised by solid skills, with strong representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 7.9%, and an annual employment growth rate of 4.8%. In March 2026, there were 6,618 employed residents, while the local unemployment rate sat 3.7% higher than the Greater Perth average of 4.2%. Labor force participation is slightly lower than regional benchmarks, recorded at 67.9% compared to 70.2% in Greater Perth. According to the Census, a minor 6.0% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may have been affected by pandemic lockdowns.

The primary sectors employing local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. In contrast, the professional & technical sector is underrepresented, accounting for 5.7% of local employment compared to 8.2% across the wider region. Reflecting a ratio of 1.5 jobs for every working resident at the time of the Census, the locality serves as a major regional employment center, importing workers from surrounding suburbs.

AreaSearch evaluated SALM and ABS data for the year ending March 2026, revealing a 4.8% rise in employment and a 4.0% increase in the labour force, which contributed to a 0.7 percentage point decline in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 2.0%, a 2.5% rise in the labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia released national employment forecasts in May-25 to provide further context on potential future demand within Midland - Guildford. These forecasts span five and ten-year horizons and were overlaid with local employment data to project growth trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though sectoral growth rates vary considerably. When these industry-specific projections are applied to Midland - Guildford's employment composition, local employment is estimated to rise by 6.1% over five years and 13.1% over ten years. This calculation represents a basic weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localized population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Based on AreaSearch's compilation of the 2023 financial year ATO statistics, taxpayers in the Midland - Guildford SA2 recorded a median income of $59,779 and an average income of $72,453. These figures are higher than the national averages and compare to median and average levels of $60,748 and $80,248 across Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimated values would be approximately $66,313 for median income and $80,372 for average income in March 2026. The 2021 Census reports that individual income is positioned at the 38th percentile ($749 per week), while household income ranks at the 20th percentile. Income distribution statistics reveal that the largest segment of the population, comprising 28.8% of residents (3,572 individuals), falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which is consistent with the wider regional trend of 32.0% in this range. Pressures on housing affordability are substantial, leaving residents with only 80.6% of their income, which places the area in the 17th percentile.

Midland - Guildford displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

According to the latest Census, the housing stock in Midland - Guildford consisted of 50.8% traditional houses and 49.1% alternative dwellings such as townhouses and apartments, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings across the broader Perth metropolitan area. Home ownership rates in Midland - Guildford were lower than the Perth average at 22.5%, with the remaining properties being purchased with a mortgage (27.8%) or occupied by tenants (49.7%). The median mortgage repayment in the area stood at $1,600 per month, which was lower than the Perth average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent was $300, compared to $350 across the metro area. On a national level, housing costs in Midland - Guildford are lower, with mortgage payments below the Australian average of $1,863 and rent levels below the national average of $375.

Midland - Guildford features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up 53.3% of all local households, consisting of couples with children at 17.1%, couples without children at 20.7%, and single parent households at 13.4%. The remaining 46.7% of households are non-family arrangements, with single person households accounting for 41.5% and group share houses making up 5.3% of the total. The median size of households in the area is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Midland - Guildford aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The proportion of residents with tertiary qualifications in Midland - Guildford sits below the regional average, with 22.4% of people aged 15 and over holding a university degree compared to 30.4% nationally. This difference points to opportunities for future educational attainment and skills development. Among university graduates, Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 15.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.6% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational and technical qualifications are common, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.2% and vocational certificates at 27.3%.

Enrolment rates in education are high, with 27.3% of the local population currently engaged in study. This group includes 8.2% of residents in primary school, 7.5% in high school, and 5.1% in tertiary studies.

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

An analysis of public transport infrastructure shows 136 active train and bus stops within Midland - Guildford. These stops are served by 67 separate routes, which combine to offer 8,633 passenger trips every week. Access to transport is rated as excellent, with the average distance from homes to the nearest stop standing at 186 meters. Because the area is primarily residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 76%, followed by trains at 10% and walking at 4%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 0.9 cars per home, which is below the wider metropolitan average. A relatively low 6.0% of the workforce worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect conditions during the pandemic.

Transport services average 1,233 trips daily across the route network, which represents roughly 63 weekly trips for each stop. The accompanying map displays the location of the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the area.

Health performance in Midland - Guildford is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

AreaSearch's analysis of mortality data and the prevalence of chronic illnesses points to significant health difficulties in Midland - Guildford across both older and younger age demographics. The proportion of residents with private health insurance is relatively high, covering roughly 55% of the local population (~6,810 individuals), which compares to 59.0% across the Greater Perth region.

Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the most common illnesses in the area, affecting 12.0% and 8.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 63.5% of the population reported having no chronic health issues, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The working-age cohort exhibits elevated rates of chronic illnesses, presenting clear health difficulties. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 18.9% of the local population (2,347 individuals), which exceeds the Greater Perth proportion of 16.1%. Health profiles among senior citizens present notable difficulties, with national rankings for this cohort sitting higher than those of the general local population.

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

Midland - Guildford demonstrates higher levels of cultural diversity than most other local areas, with 18.2% of the population speaking a language other than English in their homes and 33.1% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the primary religion in the area, accounting for 44.6% of residents. The most noticeable area of overrepresentation compared to the wider city is in the Other category, which represents 1.2% of the population locally versus 1.4% across Greater Perth.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds based on parent country of birth, the three largest groups in Midland - Guildford are English at 29.1%, Australian at 22.1%, and Other at 8.1%. Some ethnic groups show distinct differences in representation compared to the wider metropolitan area: Maori residents account for 1.6% of the local population (compared to 0.9% across the region), Croatian residents represent 1.3% (compared to 0.8%), and Filipino residents make up 3.0% (compared to 1.4%).

Midland - Guildford's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age of residents in Midland - Guildford is 40 years, which is slightly higher than the Greater Perth median of 37 and the national median of 38. Compared to the wider Perth metropolitan area, there is a higher concentration of residents in the 65 - 74 age bracket (10.1% locally) and a lower proportion in the 5 - 14 cohort (8.5%). Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 has risen from 13.4% to 15.2%. During the same period, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 13.6% to 11.9%, and the 85 and over cohort declined from 3.8% to 2.7%. Demographic projections indicate that the age profile of Midland - Guildford will shift by 2041. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 534 individuals (70%), increasing from 769 to 1,304. Residents aged 65 and older are projected to account for 58% of the total population growth, pointing to an aging demographic profile. In contrast, the population within the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 age brackets is projected to decrease.