Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands

Population growth drivers in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to data from AreaSearch, the resident count for Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands stands at approximately 16,817 by May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,773 residents (11.8%) from the 15,044 individuals recorded during the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 16,742 combined with 71 validated new addresses identified after the Census. Consequently, the local density reaches 2,096 persons per square kilometer, outstripping the typical density of other locations nationally evaluated by AreaSearch. The area's 11.8% expansion rate since the 2021 census paced ahead of the country's average (9.3%), positioning it as a local leader in expansion. This upward trajectory was largely underpinned by overseas migration, which represented roughly 98.1% of the total demographic growth in recent times.

For each SA2 region, AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia projections published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. Where such data is unavailable, or to calculate growth trends past 2032, the analysis applies cohort-specific growth rates from the latest ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 utilizing 2022 information. Future trends indicate that this location is set to experience population growth exceeding the national median, with an anticipated rise of 2,185 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, translating to a total expansion of 12.6% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands records an average of approximately 57 residential building approvals annually, accumulating to 289 residential units over the preceding 5 financial years. Thus far during FY-26, there have been 46 approvals documented. With an average influx of 4.5 new citizens annually for every residential unit constructed over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand outstrips incoming supply by a wide margin, which generally drives up property values and heightens purchaser rivalry. Meanwhile, newly constructed properties have an average building cost of $567,000, showing that developers are prioritizing the upscale market with high-end designs. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $12.9 million during the current financial year, demonstrating consistent commercial investment.

In comparison to Greater Perth, the rate of new development per resident in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands is 16.0% lower, placing it in the 57th percentile of all analyzed locations across the country. Recent building projects consist of 88.0% standalone houses and 12.0% semi-detached options or multi-residential units, preserving the established neighborhood feel centered on spacious family living. The proportion of standalone builds in new construction is higher than the historical mix (70.0% at Census), illustrating persistent interest in houses despite density changes. Reflecting a growing property market, there are roughly 272 residents for each residential building approval in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands.

Projecting forward, the population of Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands is anticipated to expand by 2,110 people by 2041, measured from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly projection. Construction activity is keeping reasonable pace with this anticipated population increase, although purchasers might experience heightened rivalry as the resident base grows.

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning policies are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 24 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Among the key developments are Glendalough Green, the Bold Park Aquatic Centre Redevelopment, the Floreat Beach Masterplan, and the Wembley Downs Local Centre Precinct Structure Plan, with the primary projects of interest outlined below.

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Employment conditions in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

The Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands area features a highly educated workforce with strong professional services representation and an unemployment rate of just 1.3%. Estimated employment growth over the past year stands at 3.8%. As of March 2026, 9,285 residents are employed, reflecting an unemployment rate of 2.9% which is lower than Greater Perth's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation is somewhat below standard, standing at 67.7% compared to Greater Perth's 70.2%. Census data indicates that a low 13.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Local workers are predominantly employed in fields related to health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The region displays a notable concentration in professional & technical fields, where the employment proportion is 1.7 times the broader regional benchmark. On the other hand, manufacturing activities are underrepresented at 2.9% compared to the regional figure of 5.5%. Given the comparison between the Census working population and resident worker numbers, this heavily residential locality offers relatively few job opportunities within its own boundaries.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics indicates that during the 12-month period leading to March 2026, the employed population grew by 3.8% and the total labor force grew by 3.8%, which kept the unemployment rate steady. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced a 2.0% rise in employment and a 2.5% increase in the labor force, with the unemployment rate tick up by 0.4 percentage points. For additional context on future worker demand in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands, one can examine the national employment projections issued by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These estimates, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project future growth. While the overall national workforce is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary widely across different fields. Adjusting these industry-specific projections to the local employment mix suggests a 7.0% rise in local employment over five years and a 14.4% rise over ten years, noting that this is a basic weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes that does not account for local population changes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to the aggregated ATO figures compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, personal income levels within the Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands SA2 are exceptionally high by national standards. The median income among local taxpayers is $69,566, with the average income reaching $94,136, comparing to $60,748 and $80,248 respectively in Greater Perth. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current projections estimate these figures at approximately $77,170 for the median and $104,425 for the average as of March 2026. Census data confirms that household, family, and individual incomes are all positioned near the top of national rankings, placing between the 77th and 86th percentiles. The most common weekly income bracket is $4000+ at 30.4% (representing 5,112 residents), differing from the broader metropolitan area where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is largest at 32.0%. High levels of affluence are evident, with 42.0% of earners receiving over $3,000 per week, which helps support upscale retail and local services. Residents retain 86.9% of their earnings after accounting for housing expenditures, demonstrating strong disposable income, and the region ranks in the 9th decile on the SEIFA income index.

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Analysis of housing types from the most recent Census shows that Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands consists of 69.6% separate houses and 30.3% alternative housing types, such as duplexes, townhouses, apartments, or other structures, whereas the Perth metropolitan area registers 77.8% separate houses and 22.1% alternative housing types. The rate of home ownership in the locality is higher than the Perth metropolitan average, standing at 43.4%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents holding a mortgage (37.3%) or renting (19.3%). The median monthly housing payment for mortgagees is $2,669, and the median weekly rent is $420, compared to regional figures of $1,907 and $350. By national standards, mortgage costs in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands are significantly higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and typical rent levels are also notably above the national median of $375.

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up 75.1% of all local households, consisting of couples with children at 40.0%, couples without children at 24.9%, and single parent households at 9.5%. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.9%, comprising single-person households at 22.5% and shared group households at 2.4%. The typical household size is 2.7 people, which is slightly larger than the Greater Perth median of 2.6.

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

The proportion of residents with tertiary qualifications in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands is significantly higher than broader benchmarks, with 50.4% of those aged 15 and over possessing university degrees, compared to 27.9% across WA and 29.0% across the SA4 region. This high concentration of advanced credentials positions the local population well for professional and knowledge-based roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 32.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 12.6% and graduate diplomas at 5.2%. Technical and vocational credentials represent 22.3% of qualifications for those aged 15 and over, split between advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 11.5%.

Participation in study is quite strong, with 32.5% of the population enrolled in an educational institution. This figure is made up of 11.1% attending secondary schools, 10.3% in primary schools, and 6.8% engaged in tertiary studies.

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

An analysis of public transport options reveals 79 active stops within Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands, consisting of various bus options. These stops accommodate 13 distinct routes, which combine to support 2,530 passenger journeys per week. Access to transport is rated as excellent, with the average distance from a home to the nearest stop standing at 184 meters. As a suburban residential district, most workers travel outside the area to work, with cars remaining the main transit choice at 82%, followed by buses at 7% and trains at 6%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.5. A relatively low proportion of 13.2% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 rules.

Across all active routes, service frequencies average 361 runs daily, which translates to approximately 32 departures weekly for each individual stop.

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Local health data indicates excellent outcomes for Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of death rates and the frequency of chronic illnesses, which reveals a low rate of common health issues across all demographics. Additionally, the rate of residents with private health insurance is extremely high, covering about 68% of the local population (11,351 people). This is higher than the 59.0% recorded for Greater Perth and the national average of 55.7%.

The medical issues reported most frequently by residents are arthritis and asthma, which affect 6.6% and 6.0% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 74.0% of the population reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The proportion of residents aged 65 and over is 20.5% (representing 3,442 people), which exceeds the 16.1% average for Greater Perth. While seniors in this area exhibit strong health indicators, their national health rankings are slightly lower than those of the younger local population.

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands 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

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands exhibits higher cultural diversity than most typical local markets, with 20.9% of residents using a language other than English at home and 35.3% of the population born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, represented by 49.5% of the local population. However, the most notable difference in religious composition is in Judaism, which is practiced by 0.2% of the local population compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

Regarding family heritage and parental birthplaces, the three most common ancestries in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands are English at 26.6%, Australian at 21.9%, and Other at 8.8%. There are also notable differences in the concentration of other backgrounds: South Australian ancestry is overrepresented at 1.6% of the population (compared to 1.0% across the region), Croatian heritage is at 0.9% (compared to 0.8% regionally), and French ancestry stands at 0.7% (compared to 0.5% regionally).

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age of 42 years in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands is higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 years and the national figure of 38 years. The 45 - 54 age bracket is highly represented at 14.6% of the population compared to Greater Perth, while the 25 - 34 bracket is less common at 9.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 13.1% to 14.6%, while the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 15.2% to 13.0%. Demographic projections for 2041 suggest major shifts in the age structure of Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands. The population aged 85 and over is expected to grow by 109% (an increase of 758 people), rising from 697 to 1,456. The demographic groups aged 65 and over will account for 61% of the total population growth, highlighting the aging profile of the suburb. In contrast, the cohorts aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 are projected to decrease in size.