Murdoch - Kardinya
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Murdoch - Kardinya reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Murdoch Kardinya's population is approximately 14,149 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,660 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,489. The increase was inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses between June 2024 and the Census date. The population density is around 1,635 persons per square kilometer, higher than the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Murdoch Kardinya's growth rate of 13.3% since the 2021 census exceeds both the national average (8.9%) and the SA3 area average. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 95.5% of recent population gains in the area.

AreaSearch uses 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 growth estimation, AreaSearch utilises ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Based on these projections, the area is expected to grow by 2,275 persons to 2041, representing a total gain of 15.4% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Murdoch - Kardinya when compared nationally

Murdoch - Kardinya recorded approximately 101 residential properties granted approval annually. Between FY21 and FY25, a total of 507 homes were approved, with an additional 14 approved in FY26 so far. Over these five financial years, each dwelling accommodated an average of 2.5 new residents per year.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $109,000, reflecting more affordable housing options compared to regional norms. This year, commercial approvals totaled $333.1 million, indicating strong commercial development momentum in the area. Compared to Greater Perth, Murdoch - Kardinya demonstrated moderately higher development activity, with a 23.0% increase per person over the five-year period.

This maintained good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. Recent construction comprised 93.0% standalone homes and 7.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes. With around 418 people per approval, Murdoch - Kardinya indicates a mature market. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by approximately 2,173 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Murdoch - Kardinya has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 11 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the Kardinya Park Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Kardinya Rise Estate, North Lake Road - Winterfold Road Intersection Upgrade, and New Women and Babies Hospital. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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 conditions in Murdoch - Kardinya demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Murdoch - Kardinya has a highly educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% as of June 2025, which is lower than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%.

The area experienced an estimated employment growth of 5.4% over the past year. As of June 2025, there were 7,962 residents employed with a workforce participation rate of 59.7%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Notably, education & training has a significantly higher share in Murdoch - Kardinya than the regional level.

Conversely, mining shows lower representation at 5.0% versus the regional average of 7.0%. The area hosts more jobs than residents with a worker-to-resident ratio of 1.3:1 as per the Census data. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 5.4% while labour force grew by 5.8%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 3.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May 2025, project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Murdoch - Kardinya's current employment mix suggests local growth rates of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Murdoch - Kardinya had a median income of $54,940 and an average income of $71,892. This is higher than Greater Perth's figures of $58,380 median and $78,020 average. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $62,741 median and $82,101 average, based on a 14.2% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 55th percentile ($1,824 weekly) and personal income at the 37th percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominates with 29.2% of residents (4,131 people), similar to broader metropolitan trends at 32.0%. After housing costs, residents retain 86.9% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Murdoch-Kardinya's dwelling structure in the latest Census showed 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Perth metro had 76.5% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Murdoch-Kardinya was 45.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.8% and rented at 21.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,015, below Perth metro's $2,200. Median weekly rent was $400, matching Perth metro's figure. Nationally, Murdoch-Kardinya's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

Murdoch - Kardinya features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 73.4% of all households, including 30.8% couples with children, 31.9% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.6%, with lone person households at 21.7% and group households comprising 4.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Murdoch - Kardinya exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 36.1% of residents aged 15+, surpassing both the WA average of 27.9% and the SA4 region average of 28.6%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.2% and graduate diplomas at 3.5%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.2% and certificates for 18.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 12.4% in tertiary, 6.5% in secondary, and 6.1% in primary education. Six schools operate within Murdoch - Kardinya, educating approximately 1,972 students, while the area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1070. The educational mix includes one primary, three secondary, and two K-12 schools. School places per 100 residents stand at 14.0, falling below the regional average of 19.6, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Murdoch-Kardinya has 102 operational public transport stops. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. There are 30 different routes serving these stops, collectively facilitating 5,958 weekly passenger trips.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 184 meters to the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 851 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 58 weekly trips per individual stop.

Murdoch - Kardinya'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 relatively positive outcomes for Murdoch - Kardinya residents. The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 55% (~7,824 people) have private health cover, compared to 65.2% across Greater Perth. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.8 and 7.0% of residents respectively. About 70.2% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.5% across Greater Perth. As of 31 December 2020, 24.6% (3,484 people) of residents are aged 65 and over, higher than the 22.4% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Murdoch-Kardinya has a high level of cultural diversity, with 27.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 39.9% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Murdoch-Kardinya, comprising 52.3% of its population. Buddhism is overrepresented in Murdoch-Kardinya compared to Greater Perth, making up 3.7% versus 2.9%.

The top three ancestry groups in Murdoch-Kardinya are English (24.0%), Australian (19.1%), and Other (10.9%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences in representation: Croatian at 1.6% compared to the regional average of 1.1%, South African at 1.0% versus 0.9%, and Italian at 6.6% compared to 4.9%.

Murdoch - Kardinya hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Murdoch-Kardinya's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and slightly older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 2021 Census shows that the 15-24 age group is over-represented in Murdoch-Kardinya at 17.2%, compared to Greater Perth's average, while the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 8.4%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the 15-24 age group grew from 15.5% to 17.2%, and the 75-84 age group increased from 7.6% to 8.8%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group declined from 13.5% to 10.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Murdoch-Kardinya's age profile. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 139%, adding 749 residents to reach 1,289. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 70% of the population growth, while the 5-14 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decline in population.