South Lake - Cockburn Central

An assessment of population growth drivers in South Lake - Cockburn Central reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

South Lake - Cockburn Central's population is approximately 13,022 as of February 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 1,299 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,723. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,878 in June 2024 and an additional 171 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,463 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 11.1% since the 2021 census exceeds the national average of 9.9%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 64.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary population growth for the area.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Based on demographic trends and the latest annual ERP population numbers, South Lake - Cockburn Central is projected to have an above median population growth. The area is expected to increase by 2,344 persons to reach a total of 15,366 by 2041, reflecting a 16.9% overall increase over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions South Lake - Cockburn Central among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

South Lake - Cockburn Central has seen approximately 66 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 332 homes. As of FY-26307 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.7 people per year have moved to the area for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, suggesting strong demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $285,000.

This financial year has seen $54.2 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Perth, South Lake - Cockburn Central shows around 57% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 79th percentile of areas assessed nationally, with increased development activity in recent periods. New building activity comprises 56.0% detached dwellings and 44.0% medium and high-density housing, including a growing mix of townhouses and apartments to cater to different price points and lifestyle demands. This marks a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (79.0%).

With around 197 people per dwelling approval, South Lake - Cockburn Central exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by approximately 2,200 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with population growth projections, although heightened competition among buyers may arise as the population increases.

South Lake - Cockburn Central has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 29thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure projects and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 30 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are Glen Iris Local Shopping Centre (Glen Iris Estate), Stockland Bull Creek Shopping Centre Upgrade, Glen Iris Estate, and Yangebup Primary School Expansion and Modernisation. The following list details those considered most relevant.

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.

Employment conditions in South Lake - Cockburn Central remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

South Lake - Cockburn Central has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.1% over the past year. In September 2025, 7,536 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.5% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation was at 73.7%, slightly above Greater Perth's 71.6%. According to Census responses in September 2025, only 6.2% of residents worked from home. The key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area has a specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, mining is under-represented, with only 5.8% of South Lake - Cockburn Central's workforce compared to Greater Perth's 7.0%. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 3.1%, while labour force increased by 4.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 2.9% and labour force growth of 3.0%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Lake - Cockburn Central's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The South Lake - Cockburn Central SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $63,213 and an average of $77,076 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than the national averages of $59,843 (median) and $77,552 (average). By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $69,294 and the average $84,491, based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023. According to census data, incomes in South Lake - Cockburn Central cluster around the 52nd percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 35.4% (4,609 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 49th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

South Lake - Cockburn Central is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In South Lake - Cockburn Central, as per the latest Census, 78.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 21.4% being semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In comparison, Perth metro had 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Lake - Cockburn Central stood at 29.1%, similar to Perth metro's level. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 42.6%, while rented ones made up 28.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,680, below the Perth metro average of $1,907 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in South Lake - Cockburn Central was $360, slightly higher than Perth metro's $350 but lower than the national figure of $375.

South Lake - Cockburn Central features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 68.4% of all households, including 28.2% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.6%, consisting of 27.2% lone person households and 4.4% group households. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in South Lake - Cockburn Central aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

University qualification levels in South Lake - Cockburn Central are at 25.8%, slightly below the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 18.1% of residents holding one. Postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas follow, at 5.2% and 2.5% respectively.

Vocational credentials are prominent, with 36.0% of residents aged 15+ having them. This includes advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (25.6%). Educational participation is high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% in primary, 6.5% in secondary, and 5.9% in tertiary education.

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

The public transport analysis indicates that South Lake - Cockburn Central has 106 active transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are serviced by 22 individual routes collectively providing 5,010 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent with residents typically located 197 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using their cars at an 80% rate, while 11% use trains. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 6.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 715 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 47 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

The level of general health in South Lake - Cockburn Central is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

South Lake - Cockburn Central shows superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 57% (~7,422 people) of the total population has private health cover, which is very high. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 9.0 and 8.0% of residents respectively. 68.8% of residents claim to be completely free of medical ailments compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among the working-age population are generally typical. The area has 18.6% (2,418 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is higher than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

South Lake - Cockburn Central 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

South Lake-Cockburn Central was found to have higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 20.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 35.2% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in South Lake-Cockburn Central, comprising 44.4% of its population. However, Islam had an overrepresentation of 2.1%, compared to the regional average of 3.2%.

The top three represented ancestry groups were English (26.9%), Australian (22.7%), and Other (11.6%). Notably, Croatian (1.0% vs 0.8%) and Serbian (0.5% vs 0.3%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages, while South African was underrepresented at 0.8% (vs 1.0%).

South Lake - Cockburn Central's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

South Lake - Cockburn Central has a median age of 37, matching Greater Perth's figure of 37 and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The 65-74 age group constitutes 10.3% of the population in South Lake - Cockburn Central, higher than Greater Perth's percentage, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 10.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group has grown from 8.8% to 10.3%, and the 75-84 cohort has increased from 4.4% to 5.7%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 12.9% to 11.7%, and the 25-34 group has dropped from 16.6% to 15.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in South Lake - Cockburn Central's age structure. The 75-84 group is expected to grow by 85%, reaching 1,378 people from 746. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 60% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 35-44 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.