Sorrento (WA)

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Following assessment of ABS demographic releases for the wider region alongside newly verified addresses tracked by Districts post-Census, the suburb of Sorrento (WA) is calculated to have 8,576 residents as of May 2026. This represents a rise of 781 individuals (10.0%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 7,795. This shift is deduced from a resident base of 8,569, which Districts estimated using the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 23 validated new addresses added since the Census. Such a population size translates to a density of 2,409 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the highest quartile among domestic areas monitored by Districts. The 10.0% growth rate observed in the suburb of Sorrento (WA) since the 2021 census outpaced the national benchmark of 9.3%, establishing it as a regional growth leader. Population expansion was heavily influenced by international arrivals, which accounted for roughly 85.0% of the total demographic gains in recent times.

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Sorrento is characterized by a highly educated labor force with a substantial share of professionals, an unemployment rate of only 0.9%, and an estimated employment growth rate of 3.7% over the previous year, according to Districts regional data. As of March 2026, there are 4,855 residents employed, with the local unemployment rate sitting 3.3% below the Greater Perth figure of 4.2%, while labor force participation is slightly suppressed at 67.7% compared to 70.2% across Greater Perth. Census records indicate a moderate 13.9% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure reflects the influence of pandemic restrictions.

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According to tax records from the ATO for financial year 2023 compiled by Districts, household earnings in Sorrento rank within the highest percentile nationwide. The median taxpayer income is $62,747 and the average taxpayer income is $98,895, compared to Greater Perth values of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 stand at roughly $69,605 for the median and $109,704 for the average. Census data places household, family, and individual incomes high on a national scale, falling between the 75th and 90th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 31.1% of the population (2,667 residents) falls into the $4000+ weekly bracket, whereas the leading regional bracket is - at . High-income earners are highly visible, with earning over weekly, pointing to substantial spending capacity. After paying for housing, residents keep of their earnings, and the area is positioned in the th decile for SEIFA income metrics.

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At the time of the last Census, the housing distribution in Sorrento was recorded at 80.8% detached houses and 19.2% other housing types (including apartments, townhouses, and alternative dwellings), compared to the Perth metropolitan averages of 77.8% and 22.1% respectively. Home ownership rates in the suburb were high at 49.9%, while the remaining properties were held under mortgages (38.8%) or occupied by tenants (11.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,600 was notably higher than the Perth metro average of $1,907, while the median weekly rental cost was $480 compared to the metropolitan benchmark of $350. Nationally, local mortgage commitments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also above the national average of $375.

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Families make up 81.2% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 41.0%, couples without children at 32.8%, and single parent households at 6.3%. The remaining 18.8% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 18.0% and group housing making up 0.9%. The median household size is 2.7 residents, slightly higher than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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The educational profile of the neighborhood is distinct within the region, with university graduation rates among residents aged 15 and over at 37.9%, exceeding the state benchmark of 27.9% and the broader SA4 region rate of 29.0%. Bachelor degrees represent the most common credential at 26.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 7.9% and graduate diplomas at 3.9%. Vocational and technical training is also well represented, with 30.9% of residents aged 15 and over holding trade qualification credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 12.9% and certificates at 18.0%.

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Public transport connectivity includes 59 active passenger stops inside Sorrento, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 4 distinct routes, which combine to support 1,005 weekly passenger trips. Access is rated highly, with homes located an average of 173 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential focus of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area, with private cars remaining the primary transport mode at 81% and trains accounting for 13%. Household vehicle ownership stands at 1.9 cars, which is above the regional average. Working from home was recorded at 13.9% in the 2021 Census, a figure that may reflect pandemic response measures.

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Health metric evaluations by Districts indicate excellent physical outcomes across Sorrento, characterized by low mortality rates and minimal prevalence of chronic diseases across all age categories, while private health insurance coverage is high at approximately 66% of the population (5,699 residents). This compares to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

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Sorrento shows elevated cultural diversity metrics, with 9.4% of residents using a language other than English at home and 30.0% of the population born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 57.9% of the local population, compared to 45.0% across Greater Perth.

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The median age of 47 years in Sorrento is higher than the Greater Perth median of 37 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 age bracket is highly represented at 13.8% compared to Greater Perth, while the 25 - 34 cohort is lower at 6.4%. Post-2021 Census estimates indicate the 75 to 84 cohort expanded from 7.2% to 10.4%, and the 15 to 24 group rose from 12.2% to 13.7%. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 bracket fell from 14.5% to 12.9%, and the 65 to 74 cohort decreased from to . Projections suggest significant shifts in the age structure by with the + cohort expected to experience the highest growth at , adding residents to reach a total of . Seniors aged and over are projected to account for of total population growth, highlighting local aging trends, while the to and to cohorts are expected to decrease in size.

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Sorrento currently has an estimated 283 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 172 children aged 0-2 and 114 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 13% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 2% by 2041 (to approximately 277 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 871. Birth rates in the area have averaged 5.8 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a low rate (among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.