Willagee

Population growth drivers in Willagee are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Willagee's population was approximately 6,075 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 628 people, a rise of 11.5% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 5,447. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,075 in June 2024 and an additional 61 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,906 persons per square kilometer, placing Willagee in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Willagee's growth of 11.5% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.9%. This growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 54.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

However, all drivers including overseas 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, 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. Looking ahead, demographic trends project an above median population growth for national areas. By 2041, Willagee is expected to grow by 985 persons, reflecting a gain of 16.2% over the 17-year period, based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Willagee among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Willagee has seen approximately 50 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 252 homes were approved, with an additional 14 approved so far in FY-26. On average, each dwelling built over these five years attracted around 2.9 new residents per year.

This healthy demand supports property values, with new homes constructed at an average cost of $252,000. In FY-26, $2.5 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Willagee's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Perth, Willagee has seen slightly more development activity, approximately 41.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

This balances buyer choice while supporting current property values. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. The new building activity shows a mix of housing types: around 69.0% detached houses and approximately 31.0% medium and high-density housing, expanding the range of medium-density options. With around 167 people per dwelling approval, Willagee exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Willagee is forecasted to gain approximately 985 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Willagee has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 29thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. A total of one project has been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include the Kwinana Freeway Upgrade (Roe Highway to Safety Bay Road), Kardinya Park Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Fremantle to Murdoch and Cockburn Central Transport Capacity improvement, and the Kardinya District Centre Activity Centre Plan. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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Willagee shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Willagee has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.9% as of September 2024, with an estimated employment growth of 3.8% over the past year.

As of September 2025, 3,347 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 6.9%, which is 1.9% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 5%. Workforce participation was lower in Willagee at 62.4%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Notably, education & training had employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, mining showed lower representation at 5.4% versus the regional average of 7.0%. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.8%, and labour force increased by 4.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 2.9% and labour force growth of 3.0%. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.27%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.6%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Willagee's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Willagee SA2 had a median income of $63,923 and an average income of $97,128. This is higher than Greater Perth's median income of $58,380 and average income of $78,020. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be around $73,000 (median) and $110,920 (average), based on a 14.2% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census indicates Willagee's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 50th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 28.0% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 32.0%. The area has a diverse economic landscape, with both lower-income residents (30.4%) and affluent households (25.1%). Housing affordability is severe, with only 82.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 43rd percentile. Willagee's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Willagee is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Willagee, as per the latest Census evaluation, 79.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 20.5% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Perth metropolitan area had 76.5% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Willagee was at 20.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.9% and rented ones at 37.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Willagee was $1,967, below the Perth metro average of $2,200. The median weekly rent figure in Willagee was $283, compared to Perth metro's $400 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Willagee's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower.

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

Family households account for 62.6% of all households, including 26.0% couples with children, 20.6% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.4%, with lone person households making up 32.8% and group households comprising 4.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Willagee aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

In Willagee Trail, 32.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to the SA3 area's 42.3%. The majority of these are bachelor degrees at 22.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 6.2% and graduate diplomas at 3.8%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 32.2% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications. Advanced diplomas account for 10.8% and certificates for 21.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.4% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis in Willagee shows 33 active public transport stops operating, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by three individual routes that collectively provide 502 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 159 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 71 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Willagee is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Willagee faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions being somewhat prevalent across all age groups but notably higher among older cohorts. Approximately 70% of Willagee's total population (4240 people) has private health cover, which is higher than Greater Perth's 65.2% and the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 10.6% of residents and arthritis impacting 7.5%.

Conversely, 67.0% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to Greater Perth's 72.5%. Willagee has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.3% (1049 people) than Greater Perth's 22.4%. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to the challenges they face.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Willagee was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Willagee's population showed higher than average linguistic diversity, with 13.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Born overseas, 26.9% of Willagee residents were not native Australians. Christianity dominated religious demographics in Willagee at 40.6%.

While this was similar to Greater Perth's 42.5%, Islam had a slightly higher representation in Willagee at 1.6% compared to the regional average of 1.4%. The top three ancestral groups were English (28.0%), Australian (24.8%), and Other (9.3%). Notably, Croatian (1.1%) and New Zealand (1.1%) ancestry were equally represented in Willagee and Greater Perth. French ancestry was slightly higher in Willagee at 0.7%, compared to the regional average of 0.6%.

Willagee's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Willagee's median age is 37 years, matching Greater Perth's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The proportion of residents aged 85 and above is 3.5%, higher than Greater Perth's figure, while those aged 15 to 24 comprise 11.3% of the population. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of Willagee's population in the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 14.3% to 15.2%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 13.1% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Willagee's age structure. Notably, the 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 93%, adding 311 people and reaching a total of 646 from its current size of 334. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 63% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 35 to 44 and 5 to 14 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.