Murray

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

According to the demographic assessments compiled by AreaSearch, the population residing in Murray stands at approximately 2,597 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 221 people (9.3%) compared to the 2,376 people recorded during the 2021 Census. This population shift is calculated utilizing the ABS estimated resident population figure of 2,586 from June 2025 alongside 70 validated new addresses identified since the Census. Such population numbers yield a density of 0.90 persons per square kilometer, which ensures a significant amount of space per resident. This 9.3% rate of growth since the 2021 census outpaced the broader SA3 area (5.6%), positioning Murray as a local leader in population expansion. The upward population trend was mostly driven by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 36.5% of the total demographic growth, though all contributors, including overseas migration and natural growth, registered positive gains.

Projections for each individual SA2 area published by the ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 (using 2022 as its base year) have been adopted by AreaSearch. In cases where SA2 territories lack this specific data, or to project demographic trends beyond 2032, growth rates organized by age cohort from the latest Greater Capital Region projections (published by the ABS in 2023 using 2022 data) are applied. Factoring in these demographic shifts, the population growth is projected to exceed the median for non-metropolitan regions in Australia, with the local area expected to gain 321 persons by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP statistics, indicating a total growth rate of 11.9% across the 16 years.

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

Approximately 14 dwellings are granted building consent in Murray annually, resulting in 72 homes approved during the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 12 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. An average intake of 2 new residents for every built home over these past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) indicates steady demand that underpins property valuations, while new residential projects present an average construction cost of $226,000—a figure below regional benchmarks—pointing to more affordable options for purchasers. Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $2.3 million this financial year, highlighting the dominant residential nature of the locality.

Compared against the Rest of WA, building activity per capita in Murray is 108.0% higher, offering purchasers a wider array of options. The profile of new residential construction is split between 80.0% detached dwellings and 20.0% attached dwellings, which preserves the established low-density aesthetic of the area and emphasizes spacious homes suited for families. This distribution is a marked departure from the existing dwelling profile (which consists of 97.0% houses), driven by a tightening supply of available development sites and aligning with evolving preferences for lifestyle and affordable living. With a ratio of approximately 183 people for every approved dwelling, Murray exhibits the classic hallmarks of a developing growth corridor.

Long-term forecasts suggest Murray will welcome an additional 310 residents by 2041 (computed from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on ongoing construction volumes, residential supply is expected to sufficiently satisfy demand, maintaining balanced conditions for prospective buyers while potentially supporting expansion that outpaces current predictions.

Murray has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, major construction projects, and zoning plans can significantly influence regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a single project expected to influence the local area. Key regional projects include the Dardadine Wind Farm, the Additional Australind Trains Procurement, the South West Interconnected System Transformation, and the Bellwether Wind Farm, with the following list detailing the most relevant developments.

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While Murray retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.0%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

The local labor pool in Murray displays a balanced distribution between professional and industrial roles, showing strong representation in production and manufacturing, alongside an unemployment rate of only 3.0%. There are 1,281 employed residents as of March 2026, and the unemployment rate sits 0.6% below the 3.5% recorded across Regional WA, while participation in the labor force aligns closely with the Regional WA level of 65.6%. According to Census records, a modest 8.6% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure should be interpreted with consideration for the disruptions caused by Covid-19 lockdowns.

The primary sectors employing local residents are mining, manufacturing, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The local economy is notably weighted toward mining, showing an employment concentration 2.6 times higher than the regional benchmark. Conversely, health care & social assistance has a minor footprint, accounting for 6.8% of employment compared to 11.9% regionally. With a ratio of 1.3 workers for every resident at the time of the Census, the locality serves as a regional employment node, offering more jobs than local residents and drawing commuting workers from nearby districts.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, the labor force contracted by 5.2% and total employment fell by 6.8% over the 12 months ending March 2026, driving a 1.7 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional WA experienced a minor 0.1% dip in employment, labor force growth of 0.3%, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Long-term employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 provide additional context on future demand trends in Murray. These five and ten-year forecasts have been correlated with local employment structures to project growth. While national employment is expected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of growth fluctuate significantly by sector. Mapping these industry-specific trends to the local employment makeup suggests that employment in Murray will rise by 4.2% over five years and 10.5% over ten years (note that this represents a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population projections).

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

Based on the most recent postcode-level ATO statistics released by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, taxpayers in the Murray SA2 earn a median income of $64,874, with an average income of $80,500. These figures are exceptionally high on a national scale, comparing favorably to the Regional WA median of $59,973 and average of $74,392. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes would stand at roughly $71,965 (median) and $89,299 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Murray are relatively modest, falling within the 43rd to 44th percentiles. The income distribution is dominated by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, which contains 30.7% of residents (797 people), mirroring the metropolitan region where this group makes up 31.1%. Housing expenditures remain manageable, leaving residents with 87.2% of their income, though disposable income is slightly below average at the 48th percentile.

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

According to the latest Census data, the residential mix in Murray consisted of 96.9% houses and 3.2% other housing styles (such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative structures), compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other options in Regional WA. Home ownership rates in Murray were significantly higher than those in Regional WA, standing at 39.3%, while the remaining homes were split between those with mortgages (34.3%) and rental properties (26.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was recorded at $1,733, which is higher than the Regional WA average of $1,560, while the median weekly rent was $280, compared to $265 across Regional WA. On a national level, mortgage outlays in Murray are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs remain well below the national benchmark of $375.

Murray has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 73.5%, consisting of couples with children at 30.0%, couples without children at 33.7%, and single parent households at 8.6%. The remaining 26.5% are non-family households, which are predominantly lone person households at 25.0% and group houses at 1.7%. The median household size stands at 2.5 people, aligning with the Regional WA average.

Educational outcomes in Murray fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational attainment in the area points to room for growth, with university completion rates (15.0%) falling significantly short of the national average of 30.4%. This gap highlights a clear opportunity for targeted educational programs. Among degree holders, Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (33.3%).

Enrolment in education is remarkably strong, with 29.0% of local residents actively participating in formal study. This student cohort comprises 13.6% in primary school, 8.7% in high school, and 1.3% enrolled 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 the public transport network shows 3 active transit stops operating in Murray, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 2 separate routes, which provide a total of 23 weekly passenger trips. Transport connectivity is considered limited, with residents living an average of 13434 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the area, the majority of workers commute to jobs elsewhere, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 85%, while 7% walk. Average vehicle ownership is 1.8 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average. A relatively low 8.6% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect the influence of COVID-19 conditions.

Transit services average 3 trips per day across the available routes, which translates to approximately 7 weekly trips for each transit stop.

Murray's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health indicators in Murray align closely with national averages, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality patterns and chronic illness rates, showing standard health trends across both younger and older populations, while private health insurance membership is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the population (1,545 people). This exceeds the 56.4% coverage rate observed across Regional WA.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent medical issues reported locally, affecting 10.1 and 8.0% of the population, respectively, while 67.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. Residents of working age display a higher than average rate of chronic health issues. Those aged 65 and over make up 17.8% of the local population (463 people), which is lower than the Regional WA proportion of 19.2%. Senior residents exhibit particularly strong health outcomes, ranking higher than the general population.

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

Murray exhibits lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 84.8% of the population, 83.7% of residents born in Australia, and 95.5% using only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 41.3% of the local population. However, the most distinct variation is in the Other category, which accounts for 0.7% of the population, matching the 0.7% average across Regional WA.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds (based on parents' place of birth), the three largest groups in Murray are English at 35.4%, Australian at 30.6%, and Scottish at 8.1%. There are also notable differences in the representation of other ethnic backgrounds, with New Zealanders comprising 0.9% of Murray (compared to 0.9% regionally), Maori representing 0.8% (compared to 1.0%), and French backgrounds accounting for 0.5% (compared to 0.4%).

Murray hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age of 44 years in Murray is much higher than the Regional WA benchmark of 40 and also well above the national median of 38 years. The 55 - 64 age bracket is strongly represented at 15.6% relative to Regional WA, while the 15 - 24 age group is less common at 9.5%. Post-2021 Census figures indicate that younger arrivals have pulled the median age down by 1.0 years to 44. Significant demographic changes include the 15 to 24 age cohort growing from 7.4% to 9.5% of the population, and the 25 to 34 cohort rising from 10.2% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 age group decreased from 12.8% to 10.3%, and the 45 to 54 group fell from 14.6% to 12.1%. Population projections for 2041 suggest major demographic changes ahead for Murray, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to show the highest growth at 40%, adding 125 residents to reach 441, while the 75 to 84 and 65 to 74 cohorts are projected to contract.