South Hedland (WA)

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Based on demographic evaluations from the ABS for the wider region alongside newly verified addresses compiled by Districts since the Census, the suburb of South Hedland is home to approximately 12,982 residents as of May 2026. This representing a rise of 1,936 people (17.5%) compared to the 2021 Census, which registered a population of 11,046 people. The current figure is modeled from the 12,982 resident total determined by Districts following analysis of the ABS Estimated Resident Population dataset from June 2025 and 30 validated new addresses added since the Census. With this population level, the local density stands at 583 persons per square kilometer, indicating substantial space per resident and opportunity for expansion. The 17.5% expansion rate in the suburb of South Hedland post-2021 outperformed the national benchmark of 9.3% and the Rest of WA, placing it among the fastest-expanding zones in the region. Demographic expansion was mostly propelled by natural increase, which accounted for roughly 57% of the net population addition, though other elements like interstate and overseas migration also made positive contributions.

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South Hedland features a mixed labor force that includes both white collar and blue collar positions, with manufacturing and industrial industries making up a significant share, an unemployment rate of just 4.0%, and an estimated employment growth of 3.4% over the previous year, according to Districts aggregation of statistical area information. As of March 2026, 7,220 residents are employed, and the local unemployment rate stands at 0.5% higher than Regional WA's rate of 3.5%, while workforce participation reaches 75.4%, which is notably above the Regional WA average of 65.6%. Census data indicates that only 2.5% of residents were working from home, although the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account when interpreting this figure.

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According to the latest postcode tax data from the ATO for financial year 2023, the suburb of South Hedland has a median taxpayer income of $83,222 and an average of $95,715. This is exceptionally high on a national scale, comparing to a median of $59,973 and an average of $74,392 across Regional WA. Applying the Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% recorded since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 stand at roughly $92,318 for the median and $106,177 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in South Hedland ranked in the upper tier nationally, placing between the 92nd and 96th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 36.3% of the population (4,712 people) earn within the $1,500 - range, which is similar to the wider region where are in this bracket. Economic affluence is demonstrated by the of households with weekly incomes above supporting strong consumer activity. After housing costs, residents keep of their earnings, indicating substantial disposable income, while the SEIFA index places the area in the th decile.

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At the latest Census, housing types in South Hedland consisted of 71.8% standalone houses and 28.3% other dwellings like townhouses and apartments, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other options in Regional WA. Homeownership in South Hedland was lower than the regional rate, standing at 7.4%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (20.4%) or renting (72.2%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,387 was lower than the Regional WA average, while the median weekly rent was $240, compared to regional figures of $1,560 and $265. Nationally, South Hedland mortgage payments are below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are lower than the national figure of $375.

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Families comprise the majority of households at 71.4%, consisting of couples with children at 35.2%, couples without children at 23.0%, and single-parent homes at 11.8%. The remaining 28.6% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 25.2% and group housing making up 3.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 residents, which is larger than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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Educational characteristics in the area present challenges, with tertiary qualification rates at 14.9% compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents a key area for potential educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education qualification at 11.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.0% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational and technical training is highly represented, with 48.6% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, including 9.7% with advanced diplomas and 38.9% with certificates.

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Public transport infrastructure includes 81 active stops in South Hedland offering bus services. These stops are connected to 3 separate routes, providing a total of 183 weekly passenger services. Accessibility is rated as excellent, with the average resident living 186 meters from the nearest stop. Because the area is primarily residential, most workers travel out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 93%. Motor vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per household. A low 2.5% of workers worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era workplace settings.

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South Hedland exhibits notable public health concerns, based on Districts assessments of mortality and chronic illness rates, with health conditions present in both younger and older cohorts, though private health insurance coverage is high at approximately 65% of the population (8,464 residents). This compares to 56.4% in Regional WA and a national average of 55.7%.

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Cultural diversity in South Hedland is higher than in most local markets, with 24.8% of the population born outside Australia and 19.0% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 39.5% of residents. Islam shows the most notable relative concentration, representing 4.7% of the local population compared to 0.8% across Regional WA.

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The median age in South Hedland is 32 years, which is younger than the Regional WA median of 40 and the national median of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 20.4% of the population, whereas the 65 - 74 bracket is smaller at 3.5%. The concentration of residents aged 25 - 34 is higher than the national share of 14.6%. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 cohort has expanded from 17.0% to 18.5% of the population, and the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 11.6% to 12.8%. In contrast, the 5 to cohort declined from to . Demographic projections for indicate shifts, with the to age group expected to increase by people () from to while population declines are projected for the to and to brackets.

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South Hedland currently has an estimated 1,168 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 704 children aged 0-2 and 469 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 16% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 20% by 2041 (to approximately 1,404 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 1,459. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 15.5 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 20% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.