Perth (West) - Northbridge

Perth (West) - Northbridge lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Perth (West) - Northbridge's population is around 15,281 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 3,162 people (26.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,119 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,268 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 502 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,358 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Perth (West) - Northbridge's 26.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is utilising the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering the projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national areas is forecast, with the area expected to increase by 5,271 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, recording a gain of 34.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

Perth (West) - Northbridge has seen around 103 new homes approved each year, totalling 519 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 0 approvals have been recorded. Given an average of 7.1 new residents per year arriving per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is substantially lagging demand, which generally means heightened buyer competition, leading to pricing pressures, while new homes are being built at an average value of $287,000. Additionally, $332.3 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, indicating strong commercial development momentum.

Relative to Greater Perth, Perth (West) - Northbridge maintains similar construction rates (per person), maintaining a market balance consistent with the broader area. Meanwhile, recent building activity consists entirely of townhouses or apartments. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

Looking ahead, Perth (West) - Northbridge is expected to grow by 5,258 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Perth (West) - Northbridge has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 69 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Edith Cowan University City Campus, Perth City Link Redevelopment, and Perth Cultural Centre Rejuvenation, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Perth (West) - Northbridge faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Perth (West) - Northbridge possesses a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, and an unemployment rate of 9.1%. As of December 2025, 10,428 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 5.0% above Greater Perth's rate of 4.1%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (79.1% compared to Greater Perth's 71.9%). Based on Census responses, a low 8.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance. The area shows particularly strong specialization in professional & technical, with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level. On the other hand, construction is under-represented, with only 5.1% of Perth (West) - Northbridge's workforce compared to 9.3% in Greater Perth. With 11.0 workers for every resident, as at the Census, the area functions as an employment hub, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.5% while employment declined by 2.1%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.5 percentage points. This compares to Greater Perth, where employment grew by 2.3%, labour force expanded by 2.6%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Perth (West) - Northbridge. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Perth (West) - Northbridge's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Perth (West) - Northbridge SA2 is among the highest in Australia, with the median assessed at $58,025 while the average income stands at $81,351. This contrasts to Greater Perth's figures of a median income of $60,748 and an average income of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $63,607 (median) and $89,177 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, individual earnings stand out at the 89th percentile nationally ($1,176 weekly), though household income ranks lower at the 63rd percentile. The earnings profile shows the predominant cohort spans 35.8% of locals (5,470 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting patterns seen in the region where 32.0% similarly occupy this range. High housing costs consume 18.5% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 60th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Perth (West) - Northbridge, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 0.5% houses and 99.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Perth (West) - Northbridge was lagging that of Perth metro, at 12.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (17.3%) or rented (70.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Perth metro average at $1,840, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $410, compared to Perth metro's $1,907 and $350. Nationally, Perth (West) - Northbridge's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are exceeding the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 43.1% of all households, comprising 8.6% couples with children, 29.4% couples without children, and 3.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 56.9%, with lone person households at 47.4% and group households comprising 9.4% of the total. The median household size of 1.7 people is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Educational attainment in Perth (West) - Northbridge significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 56.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 27.9% in WA and 30.1% in Greater Perth. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 36.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational pathways account for 23.9% of qualifications among those aged 15+; advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (12.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 16.3% in tertiary education, 2.9% in primary education, and 1.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 230 active transport stops operating within Perth (West) - Northbridge, comprising a mix of ferry, train, and buses. These stops are serviced by 164 individual routes, collectively providing 45,846 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 96 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 37%, with 27% walking and 20% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 0.3 per dwelling, below the regional average. A relatively low 8.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 6,549 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 199 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Perth (West) - Northbridge's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Perth (West) - Northbridge, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population (9,153 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be mental health issues and asthma, impacting 8.5 and 5.8% of residents, respectively, while 78.6% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The area has 12.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,867 people), which is lower than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Perth (West) - Northbridge 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 (West) - Northbridge is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country, with 43.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 62.1% born overseas. The main religion in Perth (West) - Northbridge is Christianity, which makes up 32.9% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which comprises 5.2% of the population, compared to 2.7% across Greater Perth.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Perth (West) - Northbridge are English, comprising 19.8% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 28.0%, Other, comprising 18.6% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 11.2%, and Chinese, comprising 12.1% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 4.0%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Spanish is notably overrepresented at 1.1% of Perth (West) - Northbridge (vs 0.4% regionally), French at 1.1% (vs 0.5%) and Korean at 1.5% (vs 0.3%).

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

At 34 years, Perth (West) - Northbridge's median age is somewhat lower than the Greater Perth average of 37 and similarly considerably younger than Australia's 38 years. Relative to Greater Perth, Perth (West) - Northbridge has a higher concentration of 25 - 34 residents (33.8%) but fewer 5 - 14 year-olds (2.3%). This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 2.6% to 4.2% of the population, while the 85+ cohort increased from 0.9% to 2.1%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 cohort has declined from 14.1% to 12.4% and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 35.1% to 33.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Perth (West) - Northbridge. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 27%, adding 1,415 residents to reach 6,587. In contrast, the 5 to 14 cohort shows minimal growth of just 6% (21 people).