Morley
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Morley's population as of Aug 2025 is around 25,023. This reflects an increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 22,714 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 24,983 in June 2024 and an additional 92 validated new addresses since the Census date. Morley's population density ratio is 2,371 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth of 10.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 77.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimations, AreaSearch uses growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for statistical areas across the nation. Morley is expected to increase by 3,872 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 15.3% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Morley among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Morley has averaged approximately 126 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics generates development approval data on a financial year basis, showing 633 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with 19 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. On average, each home built over these five years accommodates around three new residents. This demand significantly exceeds supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition.

The average construction cost of new homes is $375,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalling $62.7 million have been registered, indicating robust commercial development activity in Morley. Compared to Greater Perth, Morley has seen slightly more development, with a 32.0% increase per person over the past five years.

This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. Recent construction in Morley comprises 75.0% detached dwellings and 25.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's traditional suburban character with an emphasis on family homes. With approximately 216 people per approval, Morley reflects a transitioning market dynamics. Projections suggest Morley will gain around 3,830 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to meet these future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Morley has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 11thth percentile nationally

The performance of a local area can significantly be influenced by changes in infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. A total of 21 such projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable ones include the Morley Galleria Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Beechboro Road South Mixed Use Development, Morley Station Precinct Structure Plan, and Mangini Street SDA Apartments. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment positions Morley ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Morley has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.5% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Perth's 3.9%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.9%. As of June 2025, 14,271 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 0.3% below Greater Perth's. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 62.7%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

The area shows strong specialization in accommodation & food services with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level. Conversely, mining has lower representation at 5.1% versus the regional average of 7.0%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 3.9%, and labour force increased by 4.1%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 3.7% with unemployment rising by 0.1 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.82%, losing 14,590 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National unemployment rate was 4.5%, with national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a five-year growth of 6.6% and ten-year growth of 13.7%. Applying these projections to Morley's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, using simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

Morley's median taxpayer income was $52,887 and average was $63,500 based on latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages, differing from Greater Perth's median income of $58,380 and average of $78,020. By March 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $59,027 (median) and $70,872 (average), accounting for Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates Morley's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly, between the 36th and 40th percentiles. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 33.2% of Morley's population (8,307 individuals), aligning with broader regional trends at 32.0%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 41st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

In Morley, as per the latest Census evaluation, 83.6% of dwellings were houses while 16.3% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This contrasts with Perth metro's figures of 72.7% houses and 27.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Morley stood at 35.3%, with mortgaged properties making up 36.0% and rented dwellings accounting for 28.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Perth metro's average of $1,855. Weekly rent in Morley was recorded at $360 compared to Perth metro's $340. Nationally, Morley's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 70.0% of all households, including 29.5% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.0%, with lone person households at 25.5% and group households comprising 4.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.3.

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

Educational qualifications in Morley trail regional benchmarks; as of 2016, 25.5% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to 33.0% in the SA3 area. The gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 18.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 33.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (22.7%).

Educational participation is notably high; as of 2016, 26.5% of residents are currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.0% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 5.4% pursuing tertiary education. A robust network of 6 schools operates within Morley, educating approximately 3,313 students as of 2016. Morley demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1028) with balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with 4 primary and 2 secondary schools serving distinct age groups.

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

Morley has 162 active public transport stops, consisting of both train and bus services. These stops are served by 28 individual routes that together facilitate 6,197 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 194 meters to the nearest stop.

On a daily basis, there are approximately 885 trips across all routes, equating to around 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

Morley's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data shows Morley residents have relatively positive health outcomes, with low prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 51% (about 12,811 people), slightly lower than Greater Perth's 55.2%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.1% and 7.0% respectively. Around 71.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in Greater Perth. Morley has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.6% (4,917 people), compared to Greater Perth's 18.1%. Senior health outcomes are above average, mirroring the general population's profile.

Morley is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Morley has a high level of cultural diversity, with 37.3% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 44.4% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Morley, making up 49.4% of people there. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Perth, comprising 0.6% of Morley's population versus 0.7%.

The top three represented ancestry groups are English (19.8%), Australian (16.7%), and Other (14.6%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences in representation: Serbian is overrepresented at 1.0%, Vietnamese at 4.0%, and Italian at 8.4% compared to regional percentages of 0.7%, 2.4%, and 6.6% respectively.

Morley's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Morley is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and close to Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, the 75-84 age group is notably over-represented in Morley at 7.2%, while the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 10.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has grown from 14.2% to 15.2% of Morley's population, while the 0-4 cohort has declined from 5.9% to 5.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Morley. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 135%, reaching 1,893 people from 805. This growth is largely driven by residents aged 65 and older, who are anticipated to represent 60% of the population growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to experience population declines.