Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands' population, as of August 2025, is approximately 16,515. This figure represents an increase of 1,471 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 15,044. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,459 in June 2024 and an additional 58 validated new addresses post-Census. The population density stands at 2,059 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 9.8% since the 2021 Census surpasses the national average of 8.6%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 91.4% to overall population gains, although all factors including interstate migration and natural growth were positive.

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, post-2032 growth estimates are based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, using 2022 data). Future population projections indicate an above-median growth for statistical areas nationwide. The area is expected to increase by 2,325 persons to 2041, marking a total gain of 13.7% over the 17-year period.

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

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands averaged approximately 57 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 289 homes approved over the past five financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), and four approvals so far in FY-26. An average of 4.4 new residents was recorded per home built annually over these five years, indicating a significant demand exceeding supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $874,000, reflecting developers' focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

Commercial approvals registered this financial year totaled $12.9 million, indicating steady commercial investment activity in the area. Compared to Greater Perth, Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands has 16.0% less new development per person but ranks among the 57th percentile of areas assessed nationally. Recent construction comprises 88.0% detached dwellings and 12.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

This pattern differs from current patterns (70.0% at Census), demonstrating robust ongoing demand for family homes. With around 267 people per dwelling approval, Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands shows a developing market. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by approximately 2,269 residents. Development appears to be keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 21 projects likely impacting the region. Notable projects include Glendalough Green, Bold Park Aquatic Centre Redevelopment, Floreat Beach Masterplan, and Perth High Capacity Signalling Project. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

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

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 1.3% as of June 2025.

There was an estimated employment growth of 4.1% over the past year. In June 2025, 9,101 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.6% lower than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training.

The area shows strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, manufacturing has lower representation at 2.9% compared to the regional average of 5.5%. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 4.1% while labour force increased by 4.0%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 3.7% and unemployment rose slightly by 0.1 percentage points during this period. State-level data as of Sep-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.82% with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, with employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.0%% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands has an extremely high income level nationally according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Its median income among taxpayers is $67,601 and average income stands at $92,053, which compares to Greater Perth's figures of $58,380 and $78,020 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $75,449 (median) and $102,740 (average). Census data reveals that household, family, and personal incomes all rank highly in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands, between the 78th and 87th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 30.4% earning $4000+ weekly (5,020 residents), differing from regional patterns where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 32.0%. The district demonstrates considerable affluence with 42.0% earning over $3,000 per week. After housing costs, residents retain 86.9% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

In Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands, as per the latest Census, 69.6% of dwellings were houses while 30.3% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments and others. This differed from Perth metro's figures which showed 59.6% houses and 40.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in the area was high at 43.4%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 37.3% and rented ones for 19.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,669, surpassing Perth metro's average of $1,950. Similarly, the median weekly rent figure stood at $420 compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents substantially exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 75.1% of all households, including 40.0% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.9%, with lone person households at 22.5% and group households making up 2.4%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 50.4% have university qualifications, compared to 27.9% in Western Australia (WA) and 29.0% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 32.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.6% and graduate diplomas at 5.2%. Vocational pathways account for 22.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 11.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in secondary education, 10.3% in primary education, and 6.8% pursuing tertiary education. There are seven schools operating within Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands, educating approximately 7,357 students. The area has significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1135. The educational mix includes four primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools. The area functions as an education hub, with 44.5 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 14.5. This attracts students from surrounding communities.

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

Transport analysis shows 79 active transport stops operating in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands area. These comprise various bus routes totalling 19 individual services. Together, these routes facilitate 2,807 weekly passenger trips.

The region's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically residing 183 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 401 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 35 weekly trips per stop.

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance across Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 67% of the total population (11,081 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Perth and 55.3% nationally. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 6.6 and 6.0% of residents respectively, with 74.0% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 73.0% in Greater Perth.

As of the latest data (2021), 20.4% of residents are aged 65 and over (3,372 people), higher than the 18.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors align with those of the general 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 has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 20.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home, as recorded in the 2016 Census. Additionally, 35.3% of its residents were born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Wembley Downs-Churchlands-Woodlands, making up 49.5% of the population.

However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Perth, comprising 0.2% locally versus 1.4% regionally. The top three ancestry groups are English (26.6%), Australian (21.9%), and Other (8.8%), which is lower than the regional average of 13.8%. Notably, South African ancestry is overrepresented at 1.6%, compared to 1.0% regionally, while Croatian and French ancestries are also slightly higher at 0.9% and 0.7%, respectively.

Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands is 42 years, significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and Australia's 38 years. The 45-54 age group comprises 14.8%, compared to Greater Perth's figure, while the 25-34 cohort stands at 8.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 13.1% to 14.6%, and the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 15.2% to 13.4%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 125% (817 people), reaching 1,473 from 655. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 61% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.