Council (LGA) · Area profile
Swan
1,043 km²
Sprawling across 1,043 square kilometres of the Greater Perth region, Swan is a fast-growing area that attracts young families. The population grew by 41% since 2011, and the typical resident is now 35, which is noticeably younger than the national figure. This shift is reflected in the community's character, as it has a much higher proportion of children and larger family homes than most other areas. It is a diverse place where over a third of people were born overseas.
Swan has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
A fast-growing area where schools haven't kept pace per child.
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The population is notably young, with children under 15 making up 21.7%, a figure well above the national average. Meanwhile, the proportion of seniors is much lower than in most areas, sitting at 11.6%.
Overseas birth is common here, with 33.6% of residents born abroad, which is well above the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Scottish and Irish.
Language diversity has risen sharply, with 23.2% of people using a language other than English at home. This is well above the state average, though only 3.1% of residents speak little or no English.
People with no religion now make up 40.2% of the community, a figure that rose 16 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common religious affiliation at 41.3%.
The area has seen a rise in qualifications, with 55.9% of residents completing Year 12. While the share of adults with a bachelor degree is higher than most areas, it remains well below the state and national figures.
Typical family incomes are much higher than in most areas at $2,109 a week. The number of households earning $3,000 or more per week also rose significantly since 2011.
Residents are generally healthy, with a lower rate of long-term health conditions and fewer people needing help with daily activities compared to most areas.
Unpaid childcare is very common here, with 31.1% of people caring for children, which is well above the national figure. However, volunteering is much lower than in most other areas.
The First Nations community is among the largest at this level. Typical personal incomes and Year 12 completion rates for First Nations people are higher than the state and national figures.
Homes here tend to be larger, with an average of 2.8 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 62.2% of families.
Detached houses are very common, and nearly 90% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Very few people rent here compared to the state or national figures, and fewer residents own their homes outright.
Most people rely on cars, though public transport infrastructure is extensive, with a very high number of stops and departures per 1,000 people. Only 5.9% of the workforce works from home, which is far below the national figure.
The area is quite mobile, with 37.8% of people moving house in the last five years. However, the number of recent arrivals from overseas has fallen sharply since 2011.
A high proportion of adults are working or looking for work, which is well above the national figure. The most common industries for local workers are health care, retail, and construction.
The region is seeing rapid growth, with a population increase of 17.9% since 2021. It also has a high number of businesses and strong overall access to money and resources.
The local climate is wetter than most of Western Australia, with an average annual rainfall of 680mm. Maximum temperatures are slightly lower than the state average.
While most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, the area is less walkable for daily needs. Many residents live more than 15 minutes away from groceries and health services.