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 is approximately 6,288 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 841 people, a 15.4% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5,447. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,075 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,008 persons per square kilometer, placing Willagee in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate exceeded the national average of 9.9%, with a primary driver being interstate migration contributing approximately 54.7% of overall population gains during recent periods. 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 post-2032 growth estimation, AreaSearch uses growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Projecting demographic trends, Willagee is expected to grow by an above median rate for national areas. By 2041, the area's population is projected to increase by 985 persons, reflecting a total gain of 12.3% over the 17 years.

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

Willagee has seen approximately 50 new homes approved each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 252 homes were approved, with an additional 20 approved so far in FY26. On average, for every dwelling built over these five years, around 2.9 new residents were gained annually, indicating strong demand which should support property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $252,000. This year alone, Willagee has seen $2.5 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting its primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Perth, Willagee has slightly more development activity, with a 41.0% increase above the regional average per person over the past five years.

However, building activity has slowed in recent years. The types of housing being constructed show a balance between detached houses (69.0%) and medium to high-density housing (31.0%), indicating an expanding range of medium-density options across various price brackets. With around 167 people per dwelling approval, Willagee displays characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to grow by 772 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

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

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that could potentially impact this area. Notable projects include Kardinya Park Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Kardinya District Centre Precinct Structure Plan, Fremantle to Murdoch and Cockburn Central Transport Capacity enhancement, Santa Clara Estate development, with the following list highlighting those most pertinent.

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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 notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.9% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.8%.

As of September 2025, 3,347 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.9% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Willagee was broadly similar to Greater Perth's rate of 71.6%. According to Census responses, only 8.3% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

The area showed a particularly notable concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, mining had lower representation at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 7.0%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. 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%, with a marginal rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Willagee. These projections estimate national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Willagee's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2023 shows median income in Willagee SA2 is $66,697 and average income is $103,695. This contrasts with Greater Perth's median income of $60,748 and average income of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated current incomes are approximately $73,113 (median) and $113,670 (average). According to the 2021 Census, income in Willagee clusters around the 50th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 28.0% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999, aligning with surrounding regions at 32.0%. Both lower-income residents (30.4%) and affluent households (25.1%) are well-represented in Willagee's diverse economic landscape. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 43rd percentile nationally. The area'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

The dwelling structure in Willagee, as per the latest Census, consisted of 79.4% houses and 20.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Perth metro had 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Willagee stood at 20.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.9% and rented ones at 37.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,967, higher than the Perth metro average of $1,907. The median weekly rent in Willagee was $283, lower than the Perth metro figure of $350. Nationally, Willagee's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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 at 32.8% and group households comprising 4.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is 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

Educational qualifications in Willagee trail regional benchmarks with 32.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 42.3% in SA3 area. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 22.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 6.2% and graduate diplomas at 3.8%. Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 32.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 21.4%.

Educational participation is notably 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

Public transport analysis shows 33 active transport stops in Willagee, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by three individual routes, collectively providing 496 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 159 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 83%, with 8% using the train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 70 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Willagee is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Willagee faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A variety of health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 72% of the total population (4,546 people), compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 10.6% and 7.5% of residents respectively. However, 67.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 18.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,138 people), which is higher than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they are broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

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 cultural diversity with 13.8% speaking languages other than English at home, and 26.9% born overseas. Christianity was the dominant religion at 40.6%. Islam was overrepresented at 1.6%, compared to Greater Perth's 3.2%.

For ancestry, top groups were English (28.0%), Australian (24.8%), and Other (9.3%). Notably, Croatian (1.1% vs regional 0.8%), New Zealand (1.1% vs 0.8%), and French (0.7% vs 0.5%) ethnicities were overrepresented in Willagee.

Willagee's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Willagee's median age is 37, matching Greater Perth's figure and closely aligning with Australia's 38 years. The 85+ age group composes 3.6% of Willagee's population, higher than Greater Perth's percentage. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort makes up 10.8%, lower than Greater Perth's figure. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group has risen from 7.4% to 8.7%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 14.3% to 15.3%. However, the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 13.1% to 10.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Willagee's age structure. Notably, the 75-84 group is set to grow by 78%, reaching 646 people from its current 362. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above contributing to 64% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 15-24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.