Parmelia - Orelia
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Parmelia - Orelia's population is around 12,476 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,190 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 11,286 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,301 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 106 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,593 persons per square kilometer. Parmelia - Orelia's growth of 10.5% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 53.1% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch uses the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Moving forward with demographic trends, an above median population growth is projected for statistical areas across the nation, with Parmelia - Orelia expected to increase by 1,604 persons to 2041 reflecting a total increase of 11.4% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Parmelia - Orelia among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Parmelia - Orelia has averaged approximately 73 new dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 365 dwellings approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, there have been 30 dwelling approvals recorded so far. On average, each dwelling has resulted in approximately 2.6 new residents per year over the past five financial years, indicating solid demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $340,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing choices for buyers. This financial year has seen approximately $4.0 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Greater Perth, Parmelia - Orelia records significantly lower building activity, at 58.0% below the regional average per person, which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction comprises approximately 93.0% standalone homes and 7.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space.

With around 149 people per dwelling approval, Parmelia - Orelia exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Future projections suggest Parmelia - Orelia will add approximately 1,429 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Parmelia - Orelia has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Five projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to influence the local area's performance significantly. These key projects are: Kwinana Education Precinct, Westport, Hammond West Private Estate (Vivente), and Wolfdene Wellard Development. The following details those considered most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment indicates Parmelia - Orelia faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Parmelia-Orelia has an evenly distributed workforce comprising white and blue-collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. The unemployment rate was 13.7% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the preceding year.

In June 2025, 5800 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate stood at 9.8%, surpassing Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was lower at 58.1%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, and construction are the dominant employment sectors among residents. Manufacturing is particularly strong, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

Professional and technical services have a limited presence, with only 3.4% of employment compared to the regional average of 8.2%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the difference between Census working population and resident population figures. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels rose by 2.1%, while labour force increased by 5.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 3.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 3.7%, labour force expansion of 3.8%, and an unemployment increase of only 0.1 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Western Australian employment contracted by 0.82% (a loss of 14,590 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, and employment grew by 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 indicate that overall employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parmelia-Orelia's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.6% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localized population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on 30 June 2022, Parmelia - Orelia had a median income among taxpayers of $55,729 with an average level standing at $65,010. This is approximately average nationally and compares to levels of $58,380 and $78,020 across Greater Perth respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $62,199 (median) and $72,558 (average) as of March 2025. From the 2021 Census, household incomes in Parmelia - Orelia fall between the 16th and 20th percentiles nationally. Family incomes also fall within this range, with personal incomes ranging from the 17th to 21st percentiles. The earnings profile shows that the largest segment comprises 31.8% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (3,967 residents). This pattern is similar to the surrounding region where 32.0% occupy this earnings range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Parmelia - Orelia, with only 82.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 19th percentile nationally.

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

In Parmelia-Orelia, as per the latest Census evaluation, 89.4% of dwellings were houses, with 10.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Perth metro's 93.0% houses and 7.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parmelia-Orelia stood at 23.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.4% and rented ones at 31.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,333, lower than Perth metro's average of $1,724. The median weekly rent was $270, compared to Perth metro's $315. Nationally, Parmelia-Orelia's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Parmelia - Orelia features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households compose 66.6% of all households, including 26.0% couples with children, 21.6% couples without children, and 17.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for 33.4%, with lone person households at 30.0% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.7.

Parmelia - Orelia faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 11.5%, substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (32.0%).

Educational participation is notably high at 29.4%, including 10.6% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education. Parmelia-Orelia's 4 schools have combined enrollment reaching 2,160 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 955) with balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with 3 primary and 1 secondary schools serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs at 17.3 places per 100 residents versus the regional average of 13.9, indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Parmelia-Orelia has 116 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 11 routes that facilitate 1,805 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 163 meters to the nearest stop.

Daily service frequency averages 257 trips across all routes, translating to about 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Parmelia - Orelia is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Parmelia-Orelia faces significant health challenges, as indicated by health data.

Both younger and older age groups have notable prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~6,475 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.4 and 9.0% of residents respectively. Only 64.1% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 71.4% across Greater Perth. The area has a higher proportion of seniors, with 15.2% aged 65 and over (1,890 people), compared to 10.4% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Parmelia - Orelia was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Parmelia-Orelia is more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 16.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 33.1% born overseas. The predominant religion in Parmelia-Orelia is Christianity, comprising 41.6%. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Perth, making up 1.7% versus 1.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (29.7%), Australian (24.4%), and Other (8.5%). Notably, Maori (2.4%) and Filipino (4.5%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages, while New Zealand remains at 1.1%.

Parmelia - Orelia's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Parmelia-Orelia has a median age of 37, matching Greater Perth's figure and closely aligning with Australia's median age of 38. The 15-24 age group is strongly represented at 14.2%, higher than Greater Perth's percentage. Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 13.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 12.9% to 14.2% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort has decreased from 14.6% to 13.6%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Parmelia-Orelia's age structure. The 75-84 group is projected to grow by 67%, reaching 1,062 people from 636. This growth will contribute significantly to the overall increase in those aged 65 and above, who are expected to comprise 55% of Parmelia-Orelia's population growth between now and 2041. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.