Spearwood
Statistical Area - sa2

Spearwood lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Spearwood's population was around 12,649 as of August 2025. This reflected an increase of 1,381 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,268 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,592 in June 2024 and an additional 219 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 1,940 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Spearwood's growth of 12.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.6%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 56.7% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

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. Future population trends project an above median growth for Australian statistical areas, with Spearwood expected to grow by 2,653 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 20.5% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Spearwood was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Spearwood has averaged approximately 94 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is sourced from the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 473 approvals over the past five financial years between FY21 and FY25, with 10 approvals recorded so far in FY26. On average, 3.1 new residents have been added annually for every home built during these five years, indicating a significant gap between supply and demand, which typically leads to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost value of new homes is $376,000, aligning with broader regional development figures.

This financial year has seen $3.5 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting the area's predominantly residential character. Compared to Greater Perth, Spearwood has 15% fewer new developments per person but ranks among the 84th percentile of areas assessed nationally. New building activity comprises 82% detached houses and 18% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban identity with a focus on family homes suited to buyers seeking space.

With approximately 123 people per approval, Spearwood is considered a developing area. Looking ahead, Spearwood is projected to grow by 2,596 residents by the year 2041. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Spearwood has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified four projects likely impacting the area: Spearwood Housing Project - Uniting WA, Phoenix Activity Centre Redevelopment, Shoreline North Coogee, and Windfall Residences Port Coogee. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis reveals Spearwood recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Spearwood's workforce consists of skilled individuals with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 6.0% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.3% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 6,868 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 2.1% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Spearwood was 61.1%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Manufacturing has particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

Professional & technical services have limited presence, with 5.4% employment compared to 8.2% regionally. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 4.3%, while labour force grew by 5.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment rise by 3.7%, labour force grow by 3.8%, and unemployment increase by 0.1 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.82% (losing 14,590 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Spearwood's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.0%% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Spearwood's median income among taxpayers was $57,076 and average income was $71,844 in financial year 2022. These figures compare to Greater Perth's median of $58,380 and average of $78,020 respectively. By March 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $63,703 and average income would be around $80,185, considering an 11.61% growth in wages since financial year 2022. Spearwood's household incomes rank between the 34th and 41st percentiles according to census data. Income distribution shows that 30.6% of Spearwood's population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which is consistent with the broader regional trend of 32.0%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Spearwood, with only 83.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 34th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Spearwood's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 74.3% houses and 25.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Perth metro had 81.2% houses and 18.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Spearwood was at 35.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.3% and rented dwellings at 29.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Perth metro's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent in Spearwood was $350, compared to Perth metro's $370. Nationally, Spearwood's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.1% of all households, including 25.8% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.9%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households comprising 3.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Spearwood shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

Spearwood, as of 2021, has 20.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 28.4%. A significant 24.7% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 7.8% in primary, 6.3% in secondary, and 5.1% in tertiary education.

Spearwood's three schools have a combined enrollment of 536 students, serving typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1016). These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby due to limited local capacity (4.2 places per 100 residents vs the regional average of 11.4), leading many families to commute for schooling.

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

Spearwood has 62 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by six different routes that together facilitate 1,416 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 188 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 202 daily trips across all routes, which equates to approximately 22 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Spearwood are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Spearwood shows lower-than-average health outcomes, with common conditions somewhat more prevalent than usual across both younger and older residents.

Approximately 55% (~6,994 people) have private health cover, a rate notably higher than the average. Mental health issues affect 8.9% of residents, while arthritis impacts 8.4%. About 68.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 72.9% in Greater Perth. Spearwood has 22.5% (2,843 people) aged 65 and over, higher than the Greater Perth average of 14.8%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with the general population's health profile.

Spearwood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Spearwood's population comprises 25.9% who speak a language other than English at home, with 36.4% born overseas. The predominant religion is Christianity, practiced by 57.0% of Spearwood residents, compared to 48.5% in Greater Perth. For ancestry, the top groups are English (24.5%), Australian (19.7%), and Italian (11.3%).

Notably, Croatian ethnicity is overrepresented at 5.3%, compared to 2.3% regionally; Serbian is also higher at 1.3% versus 0.7%, and Filipino is at 2.8% compared to the regional average of 2.1%.

Spearwood's median age exceeds the national pattern

Spearwood's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and slightly older than Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth's average, Spearwood has a notably higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (8.2%) and a lower percentage of residents aged 5-14 (9.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the age group 75 to 84 has increased from 7.0% to 8.2%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.0% to 11.9%. By 2041, Spearwood's age profile is projected to change significantly. The strongest growth is expected in the 65 to 74 age group, with a 46% increase adding 629 residents to reach 1,996. Residents aged 65 and older are anticipated to represent 65% of the population growth, while declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age cohorts.