Margaret River (WA)

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Estimated at 10,690 as of May 2026, the population of the suburb of Margaret River (WA) has expanded by 1,772 residents since the 2021 Census, when the count stood at 8,918. This 19.9% rate of growth is calculated from an estimated resident base of 10,677 derived from June 2025 ABS figures, combined with 256 newly validated residential addresses since the Census. Currently, the suburb of Margaret River (WA) has a population density of 174 individuals per square kilometer, which points to significant space per resident and capacity for additional residential expansion. With its 19.9% growth rate, the suburb of Margaret River (WA) outpaced the national growth average of 9.3% and the Rest of WA, placing it among the fastest-expanding areas in the state. Interstate migrants represented the largest driver of population growth, contributing 46.0% of the overall gains, though other components including natural increase and overseas migration also registered positive trends.

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Margaret River features a highly qualified labor force with a prominent tourism and hospitality presence, an unemployment rate of 2.2%, and a 0.9% rise in local employment over the past year. Employment figures for March 2026 show 6,099 working residents, with unemployment sitting 1.3% below the Regional WA average of 3.5%, and labor force participation reaching 72.3% compared to the 65.6% recorded across Regional WA. According to Census data, a modest 11.9% of the workforce worked from home, a figure that may reflect pandemic-related restrictions.

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Tax office data from the 2023 financial year indicates that incomes in the suburb of Margaret River are lower than the national average, with a median of $46,818 and an average of $62,404, compared to Regional WA values of $59,973 and $74,392 respectively. Factoring in a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of $51,935 and an average income of $69,225 as of March 2026. Census data places household, family, and individual earnings around the national 50th percentile. Specifically, 35.7% of the population, representing 3,816 people, earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is comparable to the 31.1% recorded in the wider region. Housing costs present a major challenge, leaving residents with 83.4% of their income, which ranks in the th percentile, while the SEIFA index places the area in the th decile for income.

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Census data shows that detached houses make up 92.4% of housing in Margaret River, with apartments, semi-detached properties, and other structures accounting for the remaining 7.6%, compared to Regional WA averages of 88.5% and 11.6% respectively. Homeownership in Margaret River stands at 29.7%, which is lower than the Regional WA average, while mortgaged properties account for 42.9% and rental homes make up 27.4%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,694 and median weekly rent of $380 both exceed the regional averages of $1,560 and $265. However, compared to national benchmarks, mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents exceed the national median of $375.

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Families comprise the majority of households at 72.1%, consisting of couples with children at 32.3%, couples without children at 27.0%, and single-parent households at 12.4%. The remaining 27.9% are non-family households, which include single person households at 22.5% and group households at 5.2%. The average household size is 2.6 residents, slightly higher than the Regional WA median of 2.5.

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Educational qualification rates in Margaret River are high, with 28.8% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 17.6% across the Rest of WA and 18.0% in the broader SA4 region. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common at 21.0%, with postgraduate degrees at 4.6% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Technical and vocational training is also well represented, with 40.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding vocational qualifications, split between advanced diplomas at 12.7% and certificates at 27.7%.

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Public transport services in Margaret River include 1 active stop with bus access, serviced by 1 route that provides 22 weekly trips. Access is limited, with residents living an average of 1957 meters from their nearest stop. Car travel is the main commuting method, used by 88% of residents, while 5% walk and 2% cycle to work. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles, and a lower-than-average 11.9% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census.

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Health indicators show positive outcomes in Margaret River, with low rates of chronic illness and mortality across all age demographics. Private health insurance coverage is slightly lower than the SA2 average, with approximately 52% of the population, or about 5,556 individuals, having private cover, compared to 56.4% across Regional WA.

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Margaret River exhibits moderate cultural diversity, with 26.9% of the population born outside Australia and 10.8% of residents speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 27.5% of the population. Notably, Jewish residents make up 0.1% of the population, compared to a nominal regional average of exactly zero percent.

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The median age of 39 in Margaret River aligns closely with the Regional WA average of 40 and the national median of 38. The 45 to 54 age bracket is well represented at 16.4% compared to Regional WA, while the 55 to 64 group is less common at 10.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group increased from 12.3% to 13.7% and the 45 to 54 group grew from 15.2% to 16.4%, while the 5 to 14 cohort decreased from 15.3% to 13.2%. By 2041, demographic forecasts project a increase in the to age group, growing from to people, while the and over and to age groups are expected to decline.

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Margaret River currently has an estimated 673 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 385 children aged 0-2 and 256 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 20% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 29% by 2041 (to approximately 866 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 1,129. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 9.9 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.