Ocean Reef

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

Ocean Reef's population was 9,002 as of May 2026. This showed an increase of 877 people from the 2021 Census figure of 8,125, marking a 10.8% rise. This change was inferred from ABS estimates: 8,985 in June 2025 and an additional 22 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 1,711 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages. Ocean Reef's growth rate of 10.8% since the 2021 Census surpassed the national average of 9.3%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.3% of recent population gains.

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 estimates, AreaSearch employs ABS Greater Capital Region projections from 2023, based on 2022 data. Future population trends indicate an above median growth for the area. By 2041, Ocean Reef is projected to grow by 1,096 persons, reflecting a 12.0% increase over the 16-year period, based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Ocean Reef has recorded approximately 14 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, 72 homes were approved, and an additional 6 have been approved so far in FY-26. This results in an average of 8.6 new residents per year for every home built during this period.

The demand significantly outpaces supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers. Developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments, as indicated by the average construction value of $445,000 per property. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaling $10.9 million have been registered, indicating steady commercial investment activity in the area. Compared to Greater Perth, Ocean Reef has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 20th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

This limited supply supports demand for existing dwellings and indicates the area's established nature, potentially suggesting planning limitations. Recent development has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, maintaining Ocean Reef's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. As of FY-26, Ocean Reef has an estimated population of around 798 people per approval, reflecting its mature and established nature. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Ocean Reef is projected to add 1,079 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth in the area.

Ocean Reef has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects likely impacting the area. Major initiatives include Ocean Reef Primary School Expansion, Ocean Reef Marina Redevelopment, Ocean Reef Marina Redevelopment, and 82 Marina Boulevard Commercial Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Ocean Reef places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Ocean Reef has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.0% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Perth's 4.1%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.8%.

As of December 2025, 5,187 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 2.1%, similar to Greater Perth's workforce participation rate of 69.7%. Census responses indicated that 11.6% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training, particularly in construction at 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing employed only 3.0% of local workers, below Greater Perth's 4.7%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as shown by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 3.8%, while the labour force grew by 4.2%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 0.3 percentage points. Greater Perth recorded similar trends with employment growth of 2.3% and unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years for national employment. Applying these projections to Ocean Reef's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch reports median taxpayer income in Ocean Reef SA2 was $61,074 and average income was $77,590 in financial year 2023. Nationally, these figures are high compared to Greater Perth's median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. By March 2026, estimated median income is approximately $67,749 and average income is around $86,071, based on a 10.93% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Ocean Reef's household incomes rank at the 90th percentile, with weekly earnings of $2,480. Income distribution shows 28.7% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, mirroring this income bracket in Greater Perth where 32.0% reside. Notably, 40.9% of Ocean Reef's population exceeds $3,000 weekly earnings. After housing costs, residents retain 87.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power within the area. The SEIFA income ranking places Ocean Reef in the 8th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Ocean Reef, as evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 95.9% houses and 4.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ocean Reef was at 42.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.7% and rented dwellings at 12.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,253, while the median weekly rent was $525. Nationally, Ocean Reef's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Ocean Reef features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 85.9% of all households, including 45.1% couples with children, 31.8% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 14.1%, with lone person households at 12.4% and group households making up 1.8%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Tertiary education reaches 28.9% of residents aged 15+ in Ocean Reef. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 20.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.1%) and certificates (24.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in secondary education, 9.4% in primary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ocean Reef has 46 active public transport stops, all of which are bus services. These stops are served by four routes that collectively facilitate 738 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered good, with residents located an average of 227 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 81%, while train usage stands at 13%. On average, there are 2.0 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, only 11.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 105 trips per day, equating to roughly 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

Ocean Reef's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Ocean Reef's health outcomes show remarkable results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 58% (~5,221 people) of Ocean Reef's total population have private health cover, which is notably high. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.8 and 6.4% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 72.9%, reported being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Working-age residents in Ocean Reef exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 20.6% (1,854 people) compared to Greater Perth's 16.1%. Health outcomes among seniors in Ocean Reef are particularly strong, aligning broadly with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Ocean Reef was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ocean Reef was found to have higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 10.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 44.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Ocean Reef, making up 52.9% of people there, compared to 45.0% across Greater Perth. The top three ancestry groups in Ocean Reef are English (34.6%), Australian (19.1%), and Irish (9.1%).

Notably, South Australian ancestry is overrepresented at 2.3%, Welsh at 1.1%, and French at 0.9%.

Ocean Reef hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Ocean Reef has a median age of 44, which exceeds Greater Perth's figure of 37 and is substantially higher than the national norm of 38. The 55-64 age group makes up 15.3% of Ocean Reef's population compared to Greater Perth, while the 25-34 cohort represents only 6.8%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has grown from 4.4% to 6.5%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 13.7% to 15.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 16.0% to 13.9%, and the 25-34 group dropped from 7.8% to 6.8%. Demographic modeling suggests that Ocean Reef's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 75-84 group projected to grow by 82% (477 people), reaching 1,059 from 581. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 66% of this growth, while the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.