Stirling - Osborne Park
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Stirling - Osborne Park are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Stirling - Osborne Park's population is 16,077 as of August 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 1,457 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,620. The increase was inferred from ABS estimates showing an estimated resident population of 16,008 in June 2024 and an additional 122 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,473 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's growth rate of 10.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.6%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 76.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 post-2032 growth estimation, AreaSearch utilises ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends project an above median growth, with the area expected to increase by 2,774 persons to reach a total of 18,851 by 2041, reflecting a 16.8% increase over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Stirling - Osborne Park among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Stirling - Osborne Park has seen approximately 41 dwellings granted development approval annually. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 208 approvals over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with 22 already recorded in FY-26. On average, around 6.1 new residents per year have been associated with each dwelling built during these five years. This indicates that demand significantly outpaces supply, which tends to put upward pressure on prices and increase competition among buyers.

The average expected construction cost of new dwellings is $435,000. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $27.7 million have been registered in the current financial year, suggesting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Perth, Stirling - Osborne Park has roughly two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 53rd percentile nationally when assessed areas are considered. This suggests that development activity has picked up recently but remains below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New developments consist of approximately 47% detached dwellings and 53% townhouses or apartments, favouring compact living which offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

The location has about 334 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. Future projections estimate Stirling - Osborne Park will add approximately 2,705 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Stirling - Osborne Park has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 13thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 32 projects likely influencing the region. Notable initiatives include Stirling Bus Interchange Upgrade, Osborne Park Hospital Expansion, Stephenson Avenue Extension, Lake Monger Primary School Additions and Relocation. Below is a list detailing projects of greatest relevance.

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

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Stirling - Osborne Park performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Stirling-Osborne Park has an educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate is 2.2% as of June 2025.

Employment growth in the past year was estimated at 4.3%. There are 9,827 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7%, below Greater Perth's 3.9%. Workforce participation is 67.4%, close to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Key sectors for employment include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

The area has a notably high concentration in professional & technical jobs, at 1.2 times the regional average. Mining employment is limited at 5.0% compared to the regional average of 7.0%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparisons. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment increased by 4.3%, labour force grew by 4.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment rise by 3.7% with a slight increase in unemployment. State-wide, WA employment contracted by 0.82% to Sep-25, losing 14,590 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.5%, and employment grew by 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Stirling-Osborne Park's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

Stirling-Osborne Park has a high national income level according to AreaSearch aggregated ATO data for financial year 2022. The median income among taxpayers in Stirling-Osborne Park is $58,910 and the average income is $74,163. These figures compare to Greater Perth's median income of $58,380 and average income of $78,020 respectively. Based on a 11.61% increase in wages since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes are approximately $65,749 (median) and $82,773 (average) as of March 2025. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Stirling-Osborne Park are around the 60th percentile nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 30.4% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (4,887 residents), similar to broader trends across the area showing 32.0% in the same category. After housing costs, 86.3% of income remains for other expenses. Stirling-Osborne Park's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Stirling - Osborne Park displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Stirling - Osborne Park's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 61.3% houses and 38.7% other dwellings. This compares to Perth metro's 59.6% houses and 40.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Stirling - Osborne Park was 34.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.9% and rented ones at 30.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, above Perth metro's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent was $310, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Stirling - Osborne Park's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $310 compared to the national figure of $375.

Stirling - Osborne Park has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 69.5 percent of all households, including 31.9 percent that are couples with children, 28.7 percent that are couples without children, and 7.5 percent that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.5 percent, with lone person households at 27.6 percent and group households comprising 2.9 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the Greater Perth average.

The educational profile of Stirling - Osborne Park exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 37.4%, exceeding the Western Australia average of 27.9% and the Statistical Area Level 4 region average of 29.0%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 27.9% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 16.9%.

Current educational participation is high, with 26.6% enrolled in formal education: 8.2% in primary, 6.8% in tertiary, and 6.2% pursuing secondary education. Osborne Primary School serves the area, with an enrollment of 267 students as of a recent date. Stirling - Osborne Park has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1043) with balanced educational opportunities. The one primary-focused school caters to local needs; secondary options are available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited, with 1.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.5.

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

The analysis of public transport in Stirling - Osborne Park shows there are currently 80 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services, with 20 individual routes providing a total of 5,017 weekly passenger trips combined. The report rates transport accessibility as excellent, with residents located an average of 187 meters from their nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages at 716 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 62 weekly trips per individual stop.

Stirling - Osborne Park's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance throughout Stirling-Osborne Park, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (around 9,083 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Perth.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 6.8 and 6.4% of residents respectively. Approximately 74.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.0% across Greater Perth. The area has 18.7% of residents aged 65 and over (around 3,011 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Stirling-Osborne Park has a high cultural diversity, with 38.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 44.3% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Stirling-Osborne Park, comprising 53.9%. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Perth, making up 6.3% versus 3.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.8%), Australian (15.0%), and Italian (14.3%). Notably, Croatian (2.5%) and Macedonian (2.9%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.1% and 1.5%, respectively. Vietnamese, at 1.5%, is also slightly higher than the regional average of 1.7%.

Stirling - Osborne Park's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Stirling - Osborne Park is close to Greater Perth's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Stirling - Osborne Park has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (16.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.5%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 15.4% to 16.3%. Conversely, the population aged 55-64 has declined from 11.5% to 10.7%. By 2041, Stirling - Osborne Park's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The number of residents aged 75-84 is projected to grow by 77%, reaching 1,854 people from the current figure of 1,048. The population aged 65 and above is expected to comprise 54% of the total projected growth. Meanwhile, declines are projected for the populations aged 0-4 and 5-14.