Urban Centre · Area profile
Perth
1,720 km²
Growth has been rapid in Perth (WA), with the population climbing 26% since 2011 to over two million people. This is a young, well-educated community where the typical resident is 37, slightly younger than the national figure. It is marked by high levels of overseas birth and a workforce with high qualifications and incomes. The area combines a high proportion of large family homes with an exceptionally walkable urban layout.
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The community is younger than average, with 19% of people being children under 15. While the typical age is 37, the proportion of seniors has risen to 15.7% since 2011.
Overseas birth is very common here, with 36.4% of residents born abroad—well above the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
The area is linguistically diverse, as 21.4% of people use a language other than English at home. This figure has risen by 4.1 percentage points since 2011.
A shift away from organised religion is evident, with 42.1% of residents reporting no religion. This is 3.2 percentage points higher than the Australian average.
The workforce is highly qualified, with 27% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This trend has grown since 2011, alongside a rise in Year 12 completion to 62.4%.
Incomes are notably high, with a typical weekly family income of $2,262. The number of people earning $2,000 or more per week is also higher than the national figure.
Residents are slightly healthier than the national average, with only 26% reporting a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities make up 4.6% of the population.
Unpaid childcare is common, with 29.2% of people providing this care. However, the proportion of people doing 15 or more hours of housework per week is lower than most areas.
Families with children are the most common household type at 60%. Homes tend to be larger than average, with 2.6 people living in each.
Most people live in separate houses, and 82.2% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Typical weekly rents are $350, while the usual monthly mortgage payment is $1,900.
Public transport use for commuting is among the highest for this level at 5.3%. Most households rely on cars, with 39.9% owning two vehicles.
The population is quite mobile, with 39.6% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 10.7% of the community.
Employment rates are strong, with 65.3% of adults working or looking for work. The most common industries are health care, retail, and education.
The area is very walkable, with 95.3% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents can also reach parks, schools, and groceries on foot within 15 minutes.