Mount Hawthorn - Leederville

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

AreaSearch indicates that the population of Mount Hawthorn - Leederville reaches approximately 13,414 in May 2026. Compared to the 11,872 residents recorded in the 2021 Census, this represents a growth of 1,542 people (13.0%). This adjustment is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 13,402 from June 2025 alongside 139 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The resulting population density stands at 3,439 persons per square kilometer, placing the area within the top quartile of all nationwide locations evaluated by AreaSearch. Furthermore, the 13.0% expansion rate since the 2021 census outpaced the national average (9.3%), establishing the locality as a regional leader in growth. Overseas migration served as the principal driver of this expansion, accounting for roughly 79.9% of the total population increase in recent times.

Projections published by the ABS and Geoscience Australia in 2024, using 2022 as a baseline, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 division. Where such data is unavailable, or to project changes past 2032, growth rates by age cohort from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (anchored on 2022 data) are applied. Future outlooks suggest population growth will exceed the national median, with the community projected to expand by 1,963 persons by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP figures, translating to a total growth of 14.5% over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Mount Hawthorn - Leederville when compared nationally

Mount Hawthorn - Leederville has recorded an average of roughly 63 new residential approvals annually, amounting to 317 dwellings over the previous 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 19 approvals have been logged. With an average influx of 4 new residents per year for each completed dwelling during the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, demand remains well ahead of new supply, typically fostering upward price pressure and heightened competition among buyers. The average construction value of these new builds is $241,000, consistent with wider regional trends. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $54.3 million have been documented in the current financial year, indicating robust local business investment.

Dwelling approvals per capita in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville run at about two-thirds of the rate observed across Greater Perth, ranking in the 24th percentile of assessed areas nationwide, which restricts options for prospective purchasers and sustains demand for established properties. Recent building activity is composed of 88.0% detached houses and 12.0% medium and high-density structures, maintaining the local suburban character through an emphasis on single-family homes that draw buyers seeking extra space. Notably, developers are generating a higher proportion of detached housing than historical patterns indicate (64.0% at Census), pointing to sustained demand for family residences despite broader densification trends. The area exhibits approximately 718 people per dwelling approval, reflecting a mature residential market.

Looking forward, Mount Hawthorn - Leederville is projected to add 1,951 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. While construction activity is proceeding at a moderate pace in line with this projected expansion, buyers may face increasing competition as the local population rises.

Mount Hawthorn - Leederville has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 5thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and development strategies significantly shape regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 developments that are expected to influence the local area. Key initiatives include the Scarborough Beach Road Streetscape Upgrade, the Mt Hawthorn Community Centre Upgrade, the Leederville Car Park Redevelopment, and the Mt Hawthorn Town Centre Precinct Enhancement, with details on the most relevant projects listed below.

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

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Employment performance in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville has been broadly consistent with national averages

The workforce in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville is highly educated, featuring a strong concentration of professionals, an unemployment rate of 4.8%, and a 1.4% expansion in estimated employment over the previous year. As of March 2026, 8,181 residents are employed. The unemployment rate is 0.6% higher than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%, while the workforce participation rate of 77.8% sits significantly above the Greater Perth average of 70.2%. Census data indicates that a modest 12.1% of employees worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Local employment is largely concentrated in the health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training sectors. The area is particularly specialized in professional & technical services, with employment shares reaching 1.8 times the regional average. In contrast, manufacturing is underrepresented at 2.9% of the workforce, compared to the regional average of 5.5%. At the time of the Census, there were 0.8 local workers for every resident, indicating an above-average availability of local job opportunities.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that over the 12-month period, employment rose by 1.4% while the labor force grew by 2.7%, resulting in a 1.2 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe in Greater Perth, employment increased by 2.0%, the labor force expanded by 2.5%, and unemployment ticked up by 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context for future trends in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville. These five and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with the local industry profile to project growth. Nationwide employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sector growth rates vary. Applying these trends to the local industry mix indicates that employment within Mount Hawthorn - Leederville could grow by 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Aggregated postcode-level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows that taxpayers in the Mount Hawthorn - Leederville SA2 recorded a median income of $70,160 and an average income of $99,217. These figures rank in the top national percentile and compare to Greater Perth levels of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 10.93% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 stand at approximately $77,828 for the median and $110,061 for the average. Based on the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes are all elevated, placing between the 93rd and 94th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.4% of the population (4,077 individuals) fall into the $4000+ weekly earnings bracket, whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the largest in the broader region at 32.0%. High affluence is evident as 44.5% of residents earn more than $3,000 weekly, which underpins local premium retail and service businesses. Housing costs consume 13.5% of income, and strong overall earnings place residents in the 93rd percentile for disposable income, with the SEIFA index ranking the area in the 9th decile.

Mount Hawthorn - Leederville displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

According to the latest Census, residential structures in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville consisted of 64.4% houses and 35.6% alternative dwellings such as semi-detached properties and apartments, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings across metropolitan Perth. The home ownership rate matched the metropolitan Perth average at 27.9%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (39.2%) or tenants renting (33.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,383 was higher than the Perth metropolitan average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent stood at $425 compared to the metropolitan average of $350. Nationally, the mortgage payments in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are above the national median of $375.

Mount Hawthorn - Leederville features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up 68.0% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 32.7%, couples without children at 25.9%, and single-parent households at 8.1%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 32.0%, with single-person households representing 26.9% and group households making up 5.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 residents, which is slightly below the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Mount Hawthorn - Leederville shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Levels of educational attainment in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville are significantly higher than state and metropolitan benchmarks, with 52.6% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 27.9% in WA and 30.1% in Greater Perth. This educational profile positions the locality well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 34.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees (12.8%) and graduate diplomas (5.7%). Vocational qualifications are held by 23.0% of residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (13.1%).

Enrolment in education is high, with 30.0% of the population participating in some form of study. This is comprised of 9.7% of residents in primary school, 7.6% in secondary school, and 7.3% enrolled in tertiary courses.

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

Public transportation options in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville include 69 active transport stops consisting of bus services. These locations are served by 8 separate routes, which support 1,739 passenger trips each week. Transport connectivity is high, with the average distance to the nearest stop standing at 151 meters. The suburb is predominantly residential, meaning the majority of residents travel outside the area for work; private vehicles remain the primary transit mode at 71%, followed by buses at 11% and trains at 8%. Average vehicle ownership is 1.2 cars per household, which is below the metropolitan average. A relatively low 12.1% of residents worked from home at the time of the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 rules.

Service runs average 248 daily trips across the transit network, translating to approximately 25 departures per week at each individual stop.

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

Mount Hawthorn - Leederville displays favorable health indicators based on AreaSearch analysis of mortality rates and chronic health conditions, with both younger and older cohorts exhibiting low rates of common health issues. The level of private health insurance coverage is high, encompassing approximately 70% of the population (9,443 people), compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health issues recorded among local residents were mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 8.6 and 6.9% of the population respectively. In contrast, 74.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The working-age population exhibits good health outcomes with low chronic illness rates. Residents aged 65 and older make up 12.8% of the community (1,719 people), which is lower than the Greater Perth proportion of 16.1%. Senior health outcomes are positive, with national comparative standings mirroring those of the broader local population.

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

The cultural mix in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville is more diverse than in most comparable local markets, with 15.3% of the population using a language other than English at home and 28.6% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 41.5% of residents. The most distinct religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.7% of the population in contrast to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

English ancestry is the most common at 26.2% of the population, followed by Australian ancestry at 21.8% and Irish ancestry at 9.1%. There are also distinct concentrations of other backgrounds: Italian ancestry is represented at 7.7% (compared to 4.2% across the region), Welsh ancestry at 0.8% (compared to 0.7% regionally), and Polish ancestry at 1.0% (compared to 0.7% regionally).

Mount Hawthorn - Leederville's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age of 37 in Mount Hawthorn - Leederville matches the Greater Perth median of 37 and is close to the Australian national median of 38 years. The 35 - 44 cohort is highly represented at 17.5% compared to Greater Perth, while the 75 - 84 cohort is less common at 3.8%. Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 grew from 10.4% to 11.7%, and the 65 to 74 cohort rose from 6.5% to 7.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group decreased from 15.0% to 13.5% and the 0 to 4 group fell from 6.6% to 5.3%. Projections to 2041 indicate shifts in the local age structure, with the 75 to 84 cohort expected to grow by 82% (413 people) to reach 917 from an initial 503, while both the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 age cohorts are projected to decrease in size.