Mount Helena (WA)

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According to census data and post-census updates from Districts, the suburb of Mount Helena has a population of approximately 3,749 as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 376 residents (11.1%) from the 2021 Census, when the population was 3,373. This projection is built on an Estimated Resident Population of 3,744 calculated from June 2025 ABS records, combined with 47 verified addresses established after the census. The population density stands at 128 individuals per square kilometer, indicating low-density living and space for prospective construction. Outpacing the country's average growth rate of 9.3%, the suburb of Mount Helena stands out for its demographic gains. The expansion was largely propelled by arrivals from abroad, who accounted for about 41.0% of the overall increase, though natural growth and interstate migration also made positive contributions.

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Mount Helena has a qualified workforce with strong participation in key service industries, an unemployment rate of only 2.8%, and a 4.4% expansion in local employment over the past year. By March 2026, 2,125 residents were employed, and the jobless rate sat 1.4% below the 4.2% figure recorded for Greater Perth. Workforce participation matches the wider metropolitan rate of 70.2%. Census figures show a modest 9.1% of the workforce operated from home, though this data is subject to the influence of pandemic restrictions.

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Tax data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year reveals that taxpayers in Mount Helena earn a median income of $57,550 and an average income of $75,151. This represents a strong national position, though it is below the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Adjusted for a 10.93% rise in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimated values for March 2026 are approximately $63,840 for the median and $83,365 for the average. Census records place overall household, family, and individual earnings in the 57th percentile nationwide. Looking at distribution, the cohort earning between $1,500 and $2,999 accounts for 32.9% of the population, which totals 1,233 individuals, very close to the metropolitan average of 32.0%. While local households allocate of their income to housing expenses, strong earnings keep disposable income in the nd percentile, placing the area in the th decile of the SEIFA index.

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Census data reveals that standalone houses make up 99.4% of the local property market, while semi-detached homes, apartments, and other housing formats account for just 0.6%. This contrasts with the broader Perth metropolitan area, which consists of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwelling types. Home ownership stands at 34.5%, representing a higher rate than the metropolitan average, with the remaining residential properties divided between mortgaged homes at 55.0% and rental properties at 10.5%. The typical monthly mortgage commitment is $2,048, which exceeds the metropolitan average of $1,907. Weekly rent stands at $380, compared to $350 for Greater Perth. These housing costs also exceed the national averages, which sit at $1,863 for mortgages and $375 for weekly rents.

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Families make up 80.8% of all households, with couples raising children representing 36.9%, couples without children at 31.8%, and single parents at 11.5%. The remaining 19.2% are non-family households, which are composed of lone-person households at 17.4% and group living situations at 2.0%. The local median household size of 2.8 individuals is slightly larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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The region shows lower rates of tertiary education, with 18.1% of residents holding a university degree compared to the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are held by 12.6% of the population, while 2.9% have postgraduate qualifications and 2.6% hold graduate diplomas. Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 45.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding a trade qualification, consisting of 11.9% with advanced diplomas and 33.5% with certificates.

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Public transit services in the area include 50 active stops serviced by bus routes. These stops are served by 4 separate lines that provide a combined total of 82 passenger journeys per week. Transit accessibility is moderate, with residents living an average of 574 meters from their nearest stop. Given the residential nature of the community, commuting is common, with 89% of workers using private vehicles. Household car ownership stands at an average of 2.2 vehicles, which is above the metropolitan average. A relatively low 9.1% of the workforce worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era habits.

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Public health records indicate favorable conditions for local residents, with health trends and mortality rates matching national standards. The incidence of common medical conditions remains low for both younger and older residents, and private healthcare insurance coverage is high, representing approximately 57% of the population, or about 2,138 individuals.

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Cultural diversity is below the national average, with 78.2% of residents born in Australia, 89.4% holding citizenship, and 96.0% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 36.2% of the population. In terms of relative differences, the Jewish population is recorded at a natural baseline, making up none of the community compared to 0.3% across the wider Perth area.

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The local median age of 41 years is older than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national median of 38. Compared to metropolitan averages, the 55 - 64 age bracket is highly represented locally at 15.1%, while 25 - 34 year-olds are underrepresented at 9.3%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 4.5% to 6.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 bracket fell from 13.9% to 12.1%, and the 25 to 34 group declined from 10.7% to 9.3%. Future demographic modeling suggests significant shifts by 2041, with the to cohort projected to grow by , adding residents to reach . Aging trends will continue, with residents aged and over accounting for of all projected population increases. In contrast, population declines are forecast for the to and to age cohorts.

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Mount Helena currently has an estimated 183 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 97 children aged 0-2 and 65 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 1% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 0% by 2041 (to approximately 183 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 376. Birth rates in the area have averaged 8.0 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a low rate (among the bottom 30% of areas assessed nationally).