Port Kennedy

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

According to the analysis conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Port Kennedy is approximately 14,789 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 1,312 residents (9.7%) compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 13,477 individuals. This demographic shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 14,778 along with 274 validated new addresses identified after the Census. The population density stands at 697 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical figures recorded in other areas reviewed by AreaSearch. The local growth rate of 9.7% since the 2021 census outpaced the national figure of 9.3%, positioning the area as a regional growth leader. The primary driver of this population increase was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 71.1% of the total gains, though natural increase and interstate migration also made positive contributions.

AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For SA2 regions lacking this specific data, and to project trends beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies age cohort growth rates from the latest Greater Capital Region projections released by the ABS in 2023, utilizing 2022 data. Based on these projected demographic trends, growth is expected to fall within the lower quartile of areas assessed by AreaSearch, with the locality projected to add 453 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, representing a total increase of 3.0% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Port Kennedy among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Port Kennedy has seen an average of approximately 37 new residential approvals annually, amounting to 186 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 127 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 4.6 additional residents for each completed dwelling during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, demand is outpacing supply, a trend that typically drives upward price pressure and intensifies competition among buyers, while new homes average a construction value of $433,000, indicating that developers are prioritizing the premium sector with higher-end properties. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $9.2 million have been registered during this financial year, highlighting that the locality remains predominantly residential.

When compared to Greater Perth, Port Kennedy exhibits substantially lower levels of development, running at 70.0% below the regional per capita average. This limited addition of new housing stock generally supports demand and values for established homes, even though building activity has risen recently. The volume of development is also below the national benchmark, reflecting the established character of the area and pointing to potential zoning constraints. Recent building activity is composed of 97.0% detached houses and 3.0% townhouses or apartments, which preserves the traditional low-density profile dominated by spacious family residences. A ratio of roughly 243 people per residential approval indicates an evolving local market.

Future forecasts indicate that Port Kennedy will add 442 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. At the current pace of construction, the supply of new housing is anticipated to easily accommodate this growth, offering favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially underpinning growth beyond the baseline projections.

Port Kennedy has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and planning schemes have a significant impact on local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 5 projects that are expected to influence the area. Prominent developments include the Kennedy Bay Coastal Community, the Port Kennedy Industrial Estate, the Koorana Reserve Sports Complex Upgrade, and the DHA Defence Housing Program - Rockingham, with details on the most relevant initiatives provided below.

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

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Port Kennedy faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

The local workforce features a mix of white and blue collar occupations, with manufacturing and industrial businesses prominently represented, alongside an unemployment rate of 6.9%. As of March 2026, there are 7,619 employed residents, and the unemployment rate is 2.7% higher than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%, while the participation rate closely matches the capital city level of 70.2%. Census data indicates that a modest 6.6% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 restriction periods.

Local employment is concentrated primarily in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area displays a clear specialization in manufacturing, where the concentration of jobs is 1.5 times the wider regional benchmark. Conversely, professional & technical services account for only 3.9% of employment, which is lower than the Greater Perth average of 8.2%. The relationship between the count of the Census working population and the resident workforce suggests that local job opportunities are relatively limited.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics reveals that over the 12-month period, the local labor force contracted by 0.9% and employment fell by 1.4%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This trend diverged from Greater Perth, which experienced a 2.0% rise in employment, a 2.5% expansion of the labor force, and an identical 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Employment forecasts published by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future demand trends in Port Kennedy. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Although total national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary significantly across different industries. Applying these sector-specific trends to the local employment structure suggests that employment in Port Kennedy could grow by 5.7% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, noting that this is a basic weighted projection for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population changes.

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

Data compiled by AreaSearch from the latest postcode-level ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year shows that taxpayers in the Port Kennedy SA2 recorded a median income of $59,167 and an average income of $71,778. This is higher than the national median and compares to figures of $60,748 and $80,248 for Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to approximately $65,634 (median) and $79,623 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, weekly household income ranks at the 60th percentile ($1,921 weekly), whereas individual income is at the 39th percentile. The records show that 37.0% of the population (5,471 individuals) have incomes in the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, which is similar to the broader region where 32.0% of residents fall into this range. Housing costs account for 15.3% of income, but solid overall earnings keep disposable income at the 61st percentile.

Port Kennedy is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

At the most recent Census, the mix of housing types in Port Kennedy consisted of 93.9% standalone houses and 6.1% alternative dwellings such as townhouses, apartments, and other units, compared to the Perth metropolitan average of 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative types. The level of outright home ownership was below the Perth metro average at 22.5%, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgagors (54.2%) or tenants (23.3%). The median mortgage payment in the area was lower than the Perth metropolitan average at $1,700 per month, while the median weekly rent was $350, compared to $1,907 and $350 in the wider Perth area. Nationally, mortgage costs in Port Kennedy are below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are lower than the national median of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 80.9%, consisting of couples with children (38.3%), couples without children (26.6%), and single parents (15.0%). Non-family households account for the remaining 19.1%, with single-person households representing 16.8% and group households making up 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.8 persons, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

The locality displays low levels of higher education, with university graduation rates at 11.6%, which is below the national average of 30.4%. This represents an opportunity for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.7% and graduate diplomas at 1.5%. Vocational and technical qualifications are common, with 45.5% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (34.5%).

Enrollment rates in education are high, with 32.0% of the population engaged in formal study. This includes 11.3% of residents attending primary school, 10.8% in secondary school, and 3.5% enrolled in higher education.

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

Public transit infrastructure in Port Kennedy consists of 72 active bus stops. These stops are served by 4 routes, which together provide 1,060 passenger trips each week. Transport access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 228 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, and most workers commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel at 84%, followed by train travel at 8%. Average vehicle ownership is 1.7 cars per household, which is higher than the regional average. A low share of 6.6% of residents worked from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect COVID-19 circumstances.

Services average 151 trips per day across the network, which translates to approximately 14 weekly services for each individual transit stop.

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

Based on AreaSearch's review of mortality statistics and the occurrence of chronic illnesses, Port Kennedy faces notable health challenges across both younger and older demographics, while the rate of private health insurance is relatively high at roughly 55% of the population (~8,119 people). This compares to a rate of 59.0% across the Greater Perth region.

Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most prevalent medical issues, affecting 9.7% and 8.1% of the population respectively, while 67.2% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Working-age residents experience chronic health issues at rates above the regional average. The proportion of residents aged 65 and over is 14.8% (2,187 people), which is lower than the Greater Perth average of 16.1%. Senior health profiles show some challenges, with national percentiles matching the broader population.

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

Cultural diversity in Port Kennedy is higher than average, with 7.3% of the population speaking a non-English language at home and 30.7% born outside Australia. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 42.6% of residents. The most distinct religious overrepresentation is Islam, which accounts for 0.7% of the population compared to 3.2% across Greater Perth.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds based on the birthplaces of parents, the three largest groups in Port Kennedy are English at 36.3% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 28.0%, Australian at 25.4%, and Scottish at 7.7%. There are also notable differences in other backgrounds, with Maori overrepresented at 2.4% of the population compared to 0.9% regionally, Welsh at 0.9% compared to 0.7%, and New Zealand ancestry at 1.2% compared to 0.8%.

Port Kennedy's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Port Kennedy is 36 years, which is close to the Greater Perth median of 37 and slightly below the national median of 38. Compared to the wider Perth area, there is a higher proportion of residents aged 15 - 24 (15.7%) but a lower share of those aged 25 - 34 (11.5%). Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 14.0% to 15.7% of the population, and the 55 to 64 group has grown from 12.2% to 13.5%. Meanwhile, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 14.9% to 12.6% and the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 15.6% to 13.5%. Demographic projections indicate that the local age profile will shift by 2041. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow the fastest, rising by 63% with the addition of 470 residents to reach 1,219. Older residents aged 65 and over will account for 98% of total population growth, highlighting the aging trend. In contrast, contractions are projected for the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 age groups.