Perth (North) - Highgate

Population growth drivers in Perth (North) - Highgate are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Perth (North) - Highgate stands at approximately 13,741 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 2,327 individuals (20.4%) from the 11,414 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated using the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 13,732 combined with 130 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The resulting population density is 4,642 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality within the top 10% of all areas evaluated nationwide and highlighting the high demand for local land. The area's 20.4% expansion rate since the 2021 census outpaced the national average (9.3%) and the state benchmark, establishing it as a regional growth leader. This population rise was mainly fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 97.3% of the total demographic gains in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for SA2 localities, using 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 regions lacking this data, and to project trends beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies cohort-specific growth rates from the latest ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 statistics. These demographic models forecast substantial population gains, placing the locality in the top quartile nationally, with an expected increase of 3,182 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP figures, translating to a overall rise of 23.1% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Perth (North) - Highgate was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Perth (North) - Highgate averages approximately 51 residential building approvals annually, resulting in a total of 259 new dwellings over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 71 approvals have been documented so far. With an average of 6.2 additional residents per built dwelling arriving annually between FY-21 and FY-25, the volume of new housing is falling short of demand, driving up purchaser competition and property values. Developers are targeting the upper end of the market, with new dwellings averaging a construction value of $547,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $60.8 million during this financial year, pointing to robust local business development.

Perth (North) - Highgate registers approximately half the rate of new residential approvals per capita compared to Greater Perth, though it ranks in the 76th percentile among all assessed areas in Australia, reflecting a recent acceleration in building projects. The latest construction activity consists of 10.0% detached houses and 90.0% attached dwellings. This emphasis on denser housing options offers entry-level pricing paths and caters to downsizers, property investors, and first-time buyers. With a ratio of roughly 652 people for every residential approval, Perth (North) - Highgate exhibits a highly established property market.

Demographic projections indicate that the population of Perth (North) - Highgate will expand by 3,173 residents by 2041, according to the latest quarterly figures from AreaSearch. Should current construction volumes persist, the residential supply might fail to meet this population expansion, potentially intensifying buyer rivalry and underpinning accelerated price growth.

Perth (North) - Highgate has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 13thth percentile nationally

Local area dynamics are highly influenced by updates to regional infrastructure, key development projects, and town planning initiatives. In total, 55 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a potential impact on the local area. Key developments include Sydney Charles Quarter, Little Italy, Smith Street Build-to-Rent Project, and the 533-545 Newcastle Street Commercial Project, with details of the most significant works listed below.

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

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Employment performance in Perth (North) - Highgate has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Perth (North) - Highgate features a highly educated workforce with strong representation in the professional services sector, a 6.9% unemployment rate, and relatively stable employment over the past year. As of March 2026, 9,339 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 2.8% above Greater Perth's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (79.8% compared to Greater Perth's 70.2%). Based on Census responses, a low 9.7% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food. Professional & technical services represent a key local specialty, with a employment share 1.9 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, construction accounts for only 5.2% of local employment, which is below the 9.3% average for Greater Perth. The presence of 0.9 workers for every resident at the time of the Census indicates a strong local job market.

AreaSearch evaluated SALM and ABS data to show that from the year to March 2026, employment grew by 0.3% while the labour force expanded by 2.6%, which led to an increase of 2.1 percentage points in the unemployment rate. Meanwhile, Greater Perth saw employment rise by 2.0% and the labour force grow by 2.5%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Insights into potential future demand in Perth (North) - Highgate can be drawn from Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts published in May-25. These forecasts span five and ten-year horizons and were compared with local employment characteristics to estimate growth trends. Over five years, national employment is projected to grow by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%, though sectoral growth varies considerably. When these industry-specific projections are applied to the employment mix in Perth (North) - Highgate, local employment is expected to grow by 6.9% over five years and by 14.0% over ten years. This approach uses a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

According to the latest postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, personal incomes in the Perth (North) - Highgate SA2 are exceptionally high by national standards, with a median of $57,045 and an average of $79,637. For comparison, Greater Perth recorded a median of $60,748 and an average of $80,248. Adjusted for the 10.93% growth in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated figures for March 2026 stand at roughly $63,280 for the median and $88,341 for the average. Census data from 2021 places individual weekly income in the 88th percentile nationally at $1,156, though household income is lower in the 58th percentile. In terms of earnings brackets, the $1,500 - 2,999 range accounts for 34.3% of the local population (4,713 individuals), which aligns with the broader regional proportion of 32.0%. High housing costs absorb 17.7% of total earnings, yet strong wages keep disposable income in the 57th percentile, and the local SEIFA index ranks in the 8th decile for income.

Perth (North) - Highgate features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The residential profile in Perth (North) - Highgate at the time of the last Census consisted of 19.1% separate houses and 81.0% multi-unit structures such as semi-detached homes and apartments, compared to the wider Perth metropolitan distribution of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Perth (North) - Highgate was lower than the metropolitan average at 15.4%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (24.4%) or rented (60.2%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,900 was slightly below the Perth metro average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent of $380 was higher than the metropolitan figure of $350. On a national level, mortgage costs in Perth (North) - Highgate exceed the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are above the national median of $375.

Perth (North) - Highgate features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households represent 46.8% of the local residential mix, consisting of couples with children at 11.7%, couples without children at 29.2%, and single-parent households at 4.9%. The remaining 53.2% are non-family households, which include lone-person residences at 41.9% and shared group households at 11.3%. The median household size is 1.9 persons, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Perth (North) - Highgate demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

The level of education in Perth (North) - Highgate is significantly higher than broader benchmarks, with 52.1% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 27.9% across WA and 30.1% in Greater Perth. This educational profile positions the community well for professional services and knowledge-focused careers. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 33.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 13.8% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Vocational and technical qualifications are also common, with 25.8% of the population aged 15+ holding qualifications such as advanced diplomas (11.5%) or certificates (14.3%).

Participation in study is quite high, with 29.0% of the local population enrolled in an educational program. This includes 12.5% studying at the tertiary level, 5.0% in primary school, and 2.3% in secondary school.

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

Public transport services in Perth (North) - Highgate include 48 active stops, which are serviced by bus routes. There are 39 distinct routes operating across these stops, delivering a combined total of 6,575 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 148 meters from the nearest stop. The majority of working residents commute outside the local area, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 54%, followed by buses at 17%, and walking at 14%. Household vehicle ownership averages 0.7 cars per dwelling, which is below the wider metropolitan average. A relatively low 9.7% of the workforce worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequencies average 939 trips per day across the network, which translates to approximately 136 weekly departures for each individual transit stop.

Health outcomes in Perth (North) - Highgate are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Local health profiles indicate below-average outcomes in Perth (North) - Highgate, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, with typical medical issues being slightly more common across both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is high at roughly 58% of the population (~8,024 individuals).

Mental health conditions and asthma are the most common medical issues reported by local residents, affecting 10.5% and 6.8% of the population respectively, while 75.1% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The working-age population exhibits good health outcomes with a low rate of chronic disease. Residents aged 65 and over make up 9.3% of the community (1,284 people), which is lower than the Greater Perth average of 16.1%. Seniors in the area display strong health metrics, ranking higher than the broader national population.

Perth (North) - Highgate is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Perth (North) - Highgate demonstrates high levels of cultural diversity, with 29.0% of residents using a non-English language at home and 44.6% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 31.0% of the population. The most distinct religious concentration relative to the metropolitan area is Judaism, which accounts for 0.7% of local residents compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages in Perth (North) - Highgate are English at 23.3%, Australian at 15.9% (which is below the regional average of 21.2%), and Other at 13.3%. There are also notable concentrations of other background groups, with French ancestry representing 0.9% of the population (compared to 0.5% regionally), Spanish at 0.8% (compared to 0.4% regionally), and Korean at 1.0% (compared to 0.3% regionally).

Perth (North) - Highgate's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

With a median age of 32 years, the population of Perth (North) - Highgate is younger than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national average of 38. Compared to the capital city average, the local area has a high concentration of young adults aged 25 - 34 (34.7%) and a low proportion of children aged 5 - 14 (5.2%). The concentration of residents aged 25 - 34 is also above the national average of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census figures show the 25 to 34 age bracket has increased from 33.3% to 34.7% of the total, while the 45 to 54 group has decreased from 10.3% to 9.1%. Population forecasts indicate the local age profile will shift by 2041, with the 25 to 34 group projected to grow by 21% to reach 5,786 (an increase of 1,017 residents), while the 5 to 14 cohort is expected to grow by a modest 6%, adding 41 children.