Morawa

Morawa has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Morawa is approximately 4,149 as of May 2026. Since the 2021 Census, which recorded 3,876 residents, the population has expanded by 273 individuals, representing a growth of 7.0%. This update is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 4,149 along with 45 validated new addresses identified after the Census. The resulting population density stands at 0.20 persons per square kilometer, indicating a low-density environment with significant personal space. The population increase of 7.0% since the census is within 1.2 percentage points of the broader SA4 region's rate of 8.2%, showing competitive local growth. The primary contributor to this growth was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 45.2% of the total population increase, although other factors like natural increase and interstate migration also registered positive results.

AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024, using 2022 as the baseline. For locations without these specific projections, and to estimate trends beyond 2032, growth rates for different age brackets from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 data) are applied. Anticipated demographic shifts suggest population growth will track slightly under the median for regional Australian locations, with an estimated rise of 341 individuals by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP figures, corresponding to an overall expansion of 8.2% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Morawa recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Approvals for residential construction in Morawa average approximately 15 properties annually, with a total of 78 dwellings approved over the preceding 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 26 approvals have been registered. The region gained an average of 2.8 new residents for each completed dwelling between FY-21 and FY-25, which points to solid demand that supports property values. The average construction value for new dwellings is $319,000. Additionally, commercial building approvals have reached $4.1 million during this financial year, highlighting that the area is mostly residential.

Morawa maintains construction volumes per capita that align closely with the Rest of WA, keeping supply and demand in balance with adjacent regions. All recent housing construction has consisted of standalone houses, preserving a low-density neighborhood character designed to appeal to buyers looking for larger properties. The development market is growing, with approximately 318 residents for each approved dwelling.

Projections indicate that Morawa will add 341 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. The current pace of residential construction should easily accommodate this growth, offering favorable conditions for property purchasers and potentially allowing for population gains above current forecasts.

Morawa has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 1stth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning changes are key drivers of regional economic performance. A total of 14 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a potential impact on the local area. Prominent developments include the Warradarge Wind Farm, the Iluka Eneabba Rare Earths Refinery, the Twin Hills Wind Farm, and the Eneabba Mineral Sands Mine, with details on the most significant projects listed below.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Morawa exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

The local workforce is split evenly between professional and manual occupations across multiple industries, featuring an unemployment rate of just 3.3% and estimated employment growth of 3.8% over the prior year. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 2,088, while the unemployment rate was 0.2% below the Regional WA level of 3.5%. Participation in the labor force is somewhat lower than the regional standard, sitting at 63.5% compared to 65.6% for Regional WA. According to Census records, a modest 16.6% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been affected by pandemic lockdowns.

The primary sectors employing local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, public administration & safety, and education & training. The agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector is especially prominent, with employment concentrations 4.0 times higher than the regional benchmark. In contrast, health care & social assistance is underrepresented at 5.1% of the workforce compared to the regional average of 11.9%. Although there are local employment options, comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests a significant proportion of residents travel outside the area for employment.

According to AreaSearch analysis of ABS and SALM figures, employment expanded by 3.8% and the labor force grew by 3.5% in the twelve months leading to March 2026, leading to a 0.3 percentage point decrease in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Regional WA saw employment fall by 0.1%, the labor force grow by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context on future demand trends in Morawa. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely across industries. Applying these sector-specific trends to the local industry mix yields an estimated employment increase of 4.3% over five years and 10.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighted projection and does not account for specific local population forecasts.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year shows that the Morawa SA2 recorded a median taxpayer income of $56,352 and an average taxpayer income of $73,823. These figures are above the national averages and compare to a median of $59,973 and an average of $74,392 throughout Regional WA. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $62,511 for the median and $81,892 for the average. The 2021 Census reported that household incomes sit at the 20th percentile, whereas personal incomes perform better at the 42nd percentile. Income distribution statistics show that 29.3% of the population (representing 1,215 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring Regional WA where 31.1% of the population are in this bracket. Housing costs consume a small portion of earnings, with 93.8% of income retained, though disposable income is below average at the 34th percentile.

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

At the time of the latest Census, standalone houses made up 95.5% of the housing stock in Morawa, with other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative housing) accounting for the remaining 4.5%. This compares to 88.5% standalone houses and 11.6% other options in Regional WA. Home ownership is high, with 54.9% of residents owning their properties outright, while 21.6% have mortgages and 23.5% rent. The median monthly mortgage payment was $800, which is well below the Regional WA median of $1,560, and the median weekly rent was $175, compared to the regional figure of $265. Locally, mortgage payments are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are significantly below the national average of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 65.3%, consisting of couples with children at 22.3%, couples without children at 36.6%, and single parent households at 5.9%. Non-family living arrangements account for 34.7% of households, with single person households representing 33.8% and group homes making up 1.2%. The median household size of 2.2 individuals is below the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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

Educational outcomes show room for development, with university degree attainment rates at 15.2%, which is significantly below the national average of 30.4%. This presents opportunities for targeted education programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education qualification at 11.0%, with graduate diplomas at 2.3% and postgraduate degrees at 1.9%. Vocational and technical training is common, with 41.9% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications in these areas, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.7% and certificates at 33.2%.

Enrolment in education is strong, with 31.4% of the population currently undertaking formal studies. Of these students, 15.1% are in primary school, 7.3% are in secondary school, and 2.3% are in higher education.

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

Analysis of public transit options indicates there are 23 active transport stops in Morawa, consisting of a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 4 distinct routes, which provide a total of 28 weekly passenger journeys. Transport accessibility is classified as limited, with residents living an average of 742 meters from the nearest stop. Given the residential nature of the area, most workers commute out of the district, with private cars being the primary mode of travel for 76% of workers, while 14% walk. Car ownership averages 1.8 vehicles per household, which is higher than the regional average. About 16.6% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic regulations.

Service frequencies average 4 journeys per day across all transit routes, which represents approximately 1 weekly journey for each individual stop.

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

The region records positive health profiles, based on analysis of mortality rates and chronic health conditions by AreaSearch, with low rates of common health issues observed in both younger and older cohorts, alongside a high level of private health insurance coverage at approximately 56% of the population (about 2,327 people).

Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical diagnoses in the area, affecting 9.8% and 7.4% of residents, respectively, while 65.8% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 69.3% across Regional WA. Working-age residents experience chronic health conditions at rates above the average. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 24.2% of the population (representing 1,003 people), which is higher than the Regional WA proportion of 19.2%. Health indicators for these older residents are strong, with national percentiles matching the broader community.

Morawa is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Morawa has lower levels of cultural diversity compared to averages, with citizens making up 76.9% of the population, 86.8% born in Australia, and 96.2% of residents speaking only English in the home. The most common religious affiliation is Christianity, followed by 48.7% of residents, compared to 44.6% across Regional WA.

Looking at parent birthplaces, the most common ancestries are English at 34.3%, Australian at 31.8%, and Scottish at 7.7%. Specific ethnic representations show Maori residents making up 0.9% of the population (compared to 1.0% regionally), Aboriginal Australians accounting for 4.3% (compared to 6.1% regionally), and South Australians representing 0.5% (compared to 0.6% regionally).

Morawa hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Morawa has a median age of 46, which is higher than the Regional WA median of 40 and the national median of 38. The age distribution shows a high proportion of residents in the 65 - 74 bracket (15.9%), which is above the national average of 9.4%, while the 15 - 24 cohort is smaller at 7.4% than the regional average. Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group increased from 12.0% to 14.2% and the 5 to 14 cohort grew from 10.5% to 11.6%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 bracket fell from 17.0% to 15.5% and the 45 to 54 group decreased from 12.3% to 11.1%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic models project that the 25 to 34 age bracket will grow by 34% (adding 134 people) to reach 534 from 399, while the population in the 75 to 84 and 65 to 74 groups is projected to decline.